diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 978599 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/4271-h.htm | 6549 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p0b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 217948 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p0s.jpg | bin | 0 -> 32522 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p1b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 76181 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p1s.jpg | bin | 0 -> 28731 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p40b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 267113 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p40s.jpg | bin | 0 -> 23576 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p96b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 168483 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271-h/images/p96s.jpg | bin | 0 -> 25115 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271.txt | 6341 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4271.zip | bin | 0 -> 137507 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/mdtel10.txt | 6404 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/mdtel10.zip | bin | 0 -> 136279 bytes |
17 files changed, 19310 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4271-h.zip b/4271-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdc936b --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h.zip diff --git a/4271-h/4271-h.htm b/4271-h/4271-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59c662a --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/4271-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6549 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>A Modern Telemachus</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + P.headingsummary { margin-left: 5%;} + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4, H5 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">A Modern Telemachus, by Charlotte M. Yonge</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Modern Telemachus, by Charlotte M. Yonge, +Illustrated by W. J. Hennessy + + +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: A Modern Telemachus + + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + + + +Release Date: December 29, 2007 [eBook #4271] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODERN TELEMACHUS*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1889 Macmillan and Co. edition by David +Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h1>A MODERN TELEMACHUS</h1> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/p1b.jpg"> +<img alt="‘Be still’ illustration" +src="images/p1s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p style="text-align: center">‘Be still; I want to hear +what they are saying.’—P. 2.</p> +</blockquote> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">illustrated by +w. j. hennessy</span>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">London<br /> +MACMILLAN AND CO.<br /> +<span class="smcap">and new york</span><br /> +1889</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>First Edition</i> (2 <i>Vols. +Crown</i> 8<i>vo</i>) 1886<br /> +<i>Reprinted</i> 1887, 1889</p> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> +<p>The idea of this tale was taken from <i>The Mariners’ +Chronicle</i>, compiled by a person named Scott early in the last +century—a curious book of narratives of maritime +adventures, with exceedingly quaint illustrations. Nothing +has ever shown me more plainly that truth is stranger than +fiction, for all that is most improbable here is the actual +fact.</p> +<p>The Comte de Bourke was really an Irish Jacobite, naturalised +in France, and married to the daughter of the Marquis de +Varennes, as well as in high favour with the Marshal Duke of +Berwick.</p> +<p>In 1719, just when the ambition of Elizabeth Farnese, the +second wife of Philip V. of Spain, had involved that country in a +war with England, France, and Austria, the Count was transferred +from the Spanish Embassy to that of Sweden, and sent for his wife +and two elder children to join him at a Spanish port.</p> +<p>This arrangement was so strange that I can only account for it +by supposing that as this was the date of a feeble Spanish +attempt on behalf of the Jacobites in Scotland, Comte de Bourke +may not have ventured by the direct route. Or it may not +have been etiquette for him to re-enter France when appointed +ambassador. At any rate, the poor Countess did take this +route to the South, and I am inclined to think the narrative must +be correct, as all the side-lights I have been able to gain +perfectly agree with it, often in an unexpected manner.</p> +<p>The suite and the baggage were just as related in the +story—the only liberty I have taken being the bestowal of +names. ‘M. Arture’ was really of the party, but +I have made him Scotch instead of Irish, and I have no knowledge +that the lackey was not French. The imbecility of the +Abbé is merely a deduction from his helplessness, but of +course this may have been caused by illness.</p> +<p>The meeting with M. de Varennes at Avignon, Berwick’s +offer of an escort, and the Countess’s dread of the +Pyrenees, are all facts, as well as her embarkation in the +Genoese tartane bound for Barcelona, and its capture by the +Algerine corsair commanded by a Dutch renegade, who treated her +well, and to whom she gave her watch.</p> +<p>Algerine history confirms what is said of his treatment. +Louis XIV. had bombarded the pirate city, and compelled the Dey +to receive a consul and to liberate French prisoners and French +property; but the lady having been taken in an Italian ship, the +Dutchman was afraid to set her ashore without first taking her to +Algiers, lest he should fall under suspicion. He would not +venture on taking so many women on board his own vessel, being +evidently afraid of his crew of more than two hundred Turks and +Moors, but sent seven men on board the prize and took it in +tow.</p> +<p>Curiously enough, history mentions the very tempest which +drove the tartane apart from her captor, for it also shattered +the French transports and interfered with Berwick’s Spanish +campaign.</p> +<p>The circumstances of the wreck have been closely +followed. ‘M. Arture’ actually saved +Mademoiselle de Bourke, and placed her in the arms of the +<i>maître d’hôtel</i>, who had reached a rock, +together with the Abbé, the lackey, and one out of the +four maids. The other three were all in the cabin with +their mistress and her son, and shared their fate.</p> +<p>The real ‘Arture’ tried to swim to the shore, but +never was seen again, so that his adventures with the little boy +are wholly imaginary. But the little girl’s conduct +is perfectly true. When in the steward’s arms she +declared that the savages might take her life, but never should +make her deny her faith.</p> +<p>The account of these captors was a great difficulty, till in +the old <i>Universal History</i> I found a description of Algeria +which tallied wonderfully with the narrative. It was taken +from a survey of the coast made a few years later by English +officials.</p> +<p>The tribe inhabiting Mounts Araz and Couco, and bordering on +Djigheli Bay, were really wild Arabs, claiming high descent, but +very loose Mohammedans, and savage in their habits. Their +name of Cabeleyzes is said—with what truth I know +not—to mean ‘revolted,’ and they held +themselves independent of the Dey. They were in the habit +of murdering or enslaving all shipwrecked travellers, except +subjects of Algiers, whom they released with nothing but their +lives.</p> +<p>All this perfectly explains the sufferings of Mademoiselle de +Bourke. The history of the plundering, the threats, the +savage treatment of the corpses, the wild dogs, the councils of +the tribe, the separation of the captives, and the child’s +heroism, is all literally true—the expedient of +Victorine’s defence alone being an invention. It is +also true that the little girl and the <i>maître +d’hôtel</i> wrote four letters, and sent them by +different chances to Algiers, but only the last ever arrived, and +it created a great sensation.</p> +<p>M. Dessault is a real personage, and the kindness of the Dey +and of the Moors was exactly as related, also the expedient of +sending the Marabout of Bugia to negotiate.</p> +<p>Mr. Thomas Thompson was really the English Consul at the time, +but his share in the matter is imaginary, as it depends on +Arthur’s adventures.</p> +<p>The account of the Marabout system comes from the <i>Universal +History</i>; but the arrival, the negotiations, and the desire of +the sheyk to detain the young French lady for a wife to his son, +are from the narrative. He really did claim to be an equal +match for her, were she daughter of the King of France, since he +was King of the Mountains.</p> +<p>The welcome at Algiers and the <i>Te Deum</i> in the +Consul’s chapel also are related in the book that serves me +for authority. It adds that Mademoiselle de Bourke finally +married a Marquis de B---, and lived much respected in Provence, +dying shortly before the Revolution.</p> +<p>I will only mention further that a rescued Abyssinian slave +named Fareek (happily not tongueless) was well known to me many +years ago in the household of the late Warden Barter of +Winchester College.</p> +<p>Since writing the above I have by the kindness of friends been +enabled to discover Mr. Scott’s authority, namely, a book +entitled <i>Voyage pour la Redemption des captifs aux Royaumes +d’Alger et de Tunis</i>, <i>fait en</i> 1720 <i>par les +P.P. François Comelin</i>, <i>Philemon de la Motte</i>, +<i>et Joseph Bernard</i>, <i>de l’Ordre de la Sainte +Trinité</i>, <i>dit Mathurine</i>. This Order was +established by Jean Matha for the ransom and rescue of prisoners +in the hands of the Moors. A translation of the adventures +of the Comtesse de Bourke and her daughter was published in the +<i>Catholic World</i>, New York, July 1881. It exactly +agrees with the narration in <i>The Mariners’ Chronicle</i> +except that, in the true spirit of the eighteenth century, Mr. +Scott thought fit to suppress that these ecclesiastics were at +Algiers at the time of the arrival of Mademoiselle de +Bourke’s letter, that they interested themselves actively +on her behalf, and that they wrote the narrative from the lips of +the <i>maître d’hôtel</i> (who indeed may +clearly be traced throughout). It seems also that the gold +cups were chalices, and that a complete set of altar equipments +fell a prey to the Cabeleyzes, whose name the good fathers +endeavour to connect with <i>Cabale</i>—with about as much +reason as if we endeavoured to derive that word from the ministry +of Charles II.</p> +<p>Had I known in time of the assistance of these benevolent +brethren I would certainly have introduced them with all due +honour, but, like the Abbé Vertot, I have to say, <i>Mon +histoire est écrite</i>, and what is +worse—printed. Moreover, they do not seem to have +gone on the mission with the Marabout from Bugia, so that their +presence really only accounts for the <i>Te Deum</i> with which +the redeemed captives were welcomed.</p> +<p>It does not seem quite certain whether M. Dessault was Consul +or Envoy; I incline to think the latter. The translation in +the <i>Catholic World</i> speaks of Sir Arthur, but Mr. +Scott’s ‘M. Arture’ is much more +<i>vraisemblable</i>. He probably had either a surname to +be concealed or else unpronounceable to French lips. Scott +must have had some further information of the after history of +Mademoiselle de Bourke since he mentions her marriage, which +could hardly have taken place when Père Comelin’s +book was published in 1720.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">C. M. YONGE.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER I—COMPANIONS OF THE VOYAGE</h2> +<blockquote><p> ‘Make mention thereto<br +/> +Touching my much loved father’s safe return,<br /> +If of his whereabouts I may best hear.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Odyssey</i> (<span +class="smcap">Musgrave</span>).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>‘Oh! brother, I wish they had named you +Télémaque, and then it would have been all +right!’</p> +<p>‘Why so, sister? Why should I be called by so ugly +a name? I like Ulysses much better; and it is also the name +of my papa.’</p> +<p>‘That is the very thing. His name is Ulysses, and +we are going to seek for him.’</p> +<p>‘Oh! I hope that cruel old Mentor is not coming to +tumble us down over a great rook, like Télémaque in +the picture.’</p> +<p>‘You mean Père le Brun?’</p> +<p>‘Yes; you know he always says he is our Mentor. +And I wish he would change into a goddess with a helmet and a +shield, with an ugly face, and go off in a cloud. Do you +think he will, Estelle?’</p> +<p>‘Do not be so silly, Ulick; there are no goddesses +now.’</p> +<p>‘I heard M. de la Mêde tell that pretty lady with +the diamond butterfly that she was his goddess; so there +are!’</p> +<p>‘You do not understand, brother. That was only +flattery and compliment. Goddesses were only in the Greek +mythology, and were all over long ago!’</p> +<p>‘But are we really going to see our papa?’</p> +<p>‘Oh yes, mamma told me so. He is made Ambassador +to Sweden, you know.’</p> +<p>‘Is that greater than Envoy to Spain?’</p> +<p>‘Very, very much greater. They call mamma Madame +l’Ambassadrice; and she is having three complete new +dresses made. See, there are <i>la bonne</i> and Laurent +talking. It is English, and if we go near with our cups and +balls we shall hear all about it. Laurent always knows, +because my uncle tells him.’</p> +<p>‘You must call him <i>La Juenesse</i> now he is made +mamma’s lackey. Is he not beautiful in his new +livery?’</p> +<p>‘Be still now, brother; I want to hear what they are +saying.’</p> +<p>This may sound somewhat sly, but French children, before +Rousseau had made them the fashion, were kept in the background, +and were reduced to picking up intelligence as best they could +without any sense of its being dishonourable to do so; and, +indeed, it was more neglect than desire of concealment that left +their uninformed.</p> +<p>This was in 1719, four years after the accession of Louis XV., +a puny infant, to the French throne, and in the midst of the +Regency of the Duke of Orleans. The scene was a broad walk +in the Tuileries gardens, beneath a closely-clipped wall of +greenery, along which were disposed alternately busts upon +pedestals, and stone vases of flowers, while beyond lay formal +beds of flowers, the gravel walks between radiating from a +fountain, at present quiescent, for it was only ten o’clock +in the forenoon, and the gardens were chiefly frequented at that +hour by children and their attendants, who, like Estelle and +Ulysse de Bourke, were taking an early walk on their way home +from mass.</p> +<p>They were a miniature lady and gentleman of the period in +costume, with the single exception that, in consideration of +their being only nine and seven years old, their hair was free +from powder. Estelle’s light, almost flaxen locks +were brushed back from her forehead, and tied behind with a +rose-coloured ribbon, but uncovered, except by a tiny lace cap on +the crown of her head; Ulick’s darker hair was carefully +arranged in great curls on his back and shoulders, as like a +full-bottomed wig as nature would permit, and over it he wore a +little cocked hat edged with gold lace. He had a rich laced +cravat, a double-breasted waistcoat of pale blue satin, and +breeches to match, a brown velvet coat with blue embroidery on +the pockets, collar, and skirts, silk stockings to match, as well +as the knot of the tiny scabbard of the semblance of a sword at +his side, shoes with silver buckles, and altogether he might have +been a full-grown Comte or Vicomte seen through a diminishing +glass. His sister was in a full-hooped dress, with tight +long waist, and sleeves reaching to her elbows, the under skirt a +pale pink, the upper a deeper rose colour; but stiff as was the +attire, she had managed to give it a slight general air of +disarrangement, to get her cap a little on one side, a stray curl +loose on her forehead, to tear a bit of the dangling lace on her +arms, and to splash her robe with a puddle. He was in air, +feature, and complexion a perfect little dark Frenchman. +The contour of her face, still more its rosy glow, were more in +accordance with her surname, and so especially were the large +deep blue eyes with the long dark lashes and pencilled +brows. And there was a lively restless air about her full +of intelligence, as she manoeuvred her brother towards a stone +seat, guarded by a couple of cupids reining in sleepy-looking +lions in stone, where, under the shade of a lime-tree, her little +petticoated brother of two years old was asleep, cradled in the +lap of a large, portly, handsome woman, in a dark dress, a white +cap and apron, and dark crimson cloak, loosely put back, as it +was an August day. Native costumes were then, as now, +always worn by French nurses; but this was not the garb of any +province of the kingdom, and was as Irish as the brogue in which +she was conversing with the tall fine young man who stood at ease +beside her. He was in a magnificent green and gold livery +suit, his hair powdered, and fastened in a <i>queue</i>, the +whiteness contrasting with the dark brows, and the eyes and +complexion of that fine Irish type that it is the fashion to call +Milesian. He looked proud of his dress, which was viewed in +those days as eminently becoming, and did in fact display his +well-made figure and limbs to great advantage; but he looked +anxiously about, and his first inquiry on coming on the scene in +attendance upon the little boy had been—</p> +<p>‘The top of the morning to ye, mother! And where +is Victorine?’</p> +<p>‘Arrah, and what would ye want with Victorine?’ +demanded the <i>bonne</i>. ‘Is not the old mother +enough for one while, to feast her eyes on her an’ Lanty +Callaghan, now he has shed the <i>marmiton’s</i> slough, +and come out in old Ireland’s colours, like a butterfly +from a palmer? La Jeunesse, instead of Laurent here, and +Laurent there.’</p> +<p>La Pierre and La Jeunesse were the stereotyped names of all +pairs of lackeys in French noble houses, and the title was a mark +of promotion; but Lanty winced and said, ‘Have done with +that, mother. You know that never the pot nor the kettle +has blacked my fingers since Master Phelim went to the good +fathers’ school with me to carry his books and insinse him +with the larning. ’Tis all one, as his own +body-servant that I have been, as was fitting for his own +foster-brother, till now, when not one of the servants, barring +myself and Maître Hébert, the steward, will follow +Madame la Comtesse beyond the four walls of Paris. +“Will you desert us too, Laurent?” says the +lady. “And is it me you mane, Madame,” says I, +“Sorrah a Callaghan ever deserted a Burke!” +“Then,” says she, “if you will go with us to +Sweden, you shall have two lackey’s suits, and a couple of +<i>louis d’or</i> to cross your pocket with by the year, +forbye the fee and bounty of all the visitors to M. le +Comte.” “Is it M. l’Abbé goes with +Madame?” says I. “And why not,” says +she. “Then,” says I, “’tis myself +that is mightily obliged to your ladyship, and am ready to put on +her colours and do all in reason in her service, so as I am free +to attend to Master Phelim, that is M. l’Abbé, +whenever he needs me, that am in duty bound as his own +foster-brother.” “Ah, Laurent,” says she, +“’tis you that are the faithful domestic. We +shall all stand in need of such good offices as we can do to one +another, for we shall have a long and troublesome, if not +dangerous journey, both before and after we have met M. le +Comte.”’</p> +<p>Estelle here nodded her head with a certain satisfaction, +while the nurse replied—</p> +<p>‘And what other answer could the son of your father +make—Heavens be his bed—that was shot through the +head by the masther’s side in the weary wars in Spain? and +whom could ye be bound to serve barring Master Phelim, +that’s lain in the same cradle with yees—’</p> +<p>‘Is not Victorine here, mother?’ still restlessly +demanded Lanty.</p> +<p>‘Never you heed Victorine,’ replied she. +‘Sure she may have a little arrand of her own, and ye might +have a word for the old mother that never parted with you +before.’</p> +<p>‘You not going, mother!’ he exclaimed.</p> +<p>‘’Tis my heart that will go with you and Masther +Phelim, my jewel; but Madame la Comtesse will have it that this +weeny little darlint’—caressing the child in her +lap—‘could never bear the cold of that bare and +dissolute place in the north you are bound for, and old Madame la +Marquise, her mother, would be mad entirely if all the children +left her; but our own lady can’t quit the little one +without leaving his own nurse Honor with him!’</p> +<p>‘That’s news to me intirely, mother,’ said +Lanty; ‘bad luck to it!’</p> +<p>Honor laughed that half-proud, half-sad laugh of mothers when +their sons outgrow them. ‘Fine talking! Much he +cares for the old mother if he can see the young girl go with +him.’</p> +<p>For Lanty’s eyes had brightened at sight of a slight +little figure, trim to the last degree, with a jaunty little cap +on her dark hair, gay trimmings to the black apron, dainty shoes +and stockings that came tripping down the path. His tongue +instantly changed to French from what he called English, as in +pathetic insinuating modulations he demanded how she could be +making him weary his very heart out.</p> +<p>‘Who bade you?’ she retorted. ‘I never +asked you to waste your time here!’</p> +<p>‘And will ye not give me a glance of the eyes that have +made a cinder of my poor heart, when I am going away into the +desolate north, among the bears and the savages and the +heretics?’</p> +<p>‘There will be plenty of eyes there to look at your fine +green and gold, for the sake of the Paris cut; though a great +lumbering fellow like you does not know how to show it +off!’</p> +<p>‘And if I bring back a heretic <i>bru</i> to break the +heart of the mother, will it not be all the fault of the cruelty +of Mademoiselle Victorine?’</p> +<p>Here Estelle, unable to withstand Lanty’s piteous +intonations, broke in, ‘Never mind, Laurent, Victorine goes +with us. She went to be measured for a new pair of slices +on purpose!’</p> +<p>‘Ah! I thought I should disembarrass myself of a +great troublesome Irishman!’</p> +<p>‘No!’ retorted the boy, ‘you knew Laurent +was going, for Maître Hébert had just come in to say +he must have a lackey’s suit!’</p> +<p>‘Yes,’ said Estelle, ‘that was when you took +me in your arms and kissed me, and said you would follow Madame +la Comtesse to the end of the world.’</p> +<p>The old nurse laughed heartily, but Victorine cried out, +‘Does Mademoiselle think I am going to follow naughty +little girls who invent follies? It is still free to me to +change my mind. Poor Simon Claquette is gnawing his heart +out, and he is to be left <i>concierge</i>!’</p> +<p>The clock at the palace chimed eleven, Estelle took her +brother’s hand, Honor rose with little Jacques in her arms, +Victorine paced beside her, and Lanty as La Jeunesse followed, +puffing out his breast, and wielding his cane, as they all went +home to <i>déjeuner</i>.</p> +<p>Twenty-nine years before the opening of this narrative, just +after the battle of Boyne Water had ruined the hopes of the +Stewarts in Ireland, Sir Ulick Burke had attended James II. in +his flight from Waterford; and his wife had followed him, +attended by her two faithful servants, Patrick Callaghan, and his +wife Honor, carrying her mistress’s child on her bosom, and +her own on her back.</p> +<p>Sir Ulick, or Le Chevalier Bourke, as the French called him, +had no scruple in taking service in the armies of Louis +XIV. Callaghan followed him everywhere, while Honor +remained a devoted attendant on her lady, doubly bound to her by +exile and sorrow.</p> +<p>Little Ulick Burke’s foster-sister died, perhaps because +she had always been made second to him through all the hardships +and exposure of the journey. Other babes of both lady and +nurse had succumbed to the mortality which beset the children of +that generation, and the only survivors besides the eldest Burke +and one daughter were the two youngest of each mother, and they +had arrived so nearly at the same time that Honor Callaghan could +again be foster-mother to Phelim Burke, a sickly child, reared +with great difficulty.</p> +<p>The family were becoming almost French. Sir Ulick was an +intimate friend of one of the noblest men of the day, James +Fitz-James, Marshal Duke of Berwick, who united military talent, +almost equal to that of his uncle of Marlborough, to an +unswerving honour and integrity very rare in those evil +times. Under him, Sir Ulick fought in the campaigns that +finally established the House of Bourbon upon the throne of +Spain, and the younger Ulick or Ulysse, as his name had been +classicalised and Frenchified, was making his first campaign as a +mere boy at the time of the battle of Almanza, that solitary +British defeat, for which our national consolation is that the +French were commanded by an Englishman, the Duke of Berwick, and +the English by a Frenchman, the Huguenot Rubigné, Earl of +Galway. The first English charge was, however, fatal to the +Chevalier Bourke, who fell mortally wounded, and in the endeavour +to carry him off the field the faithful Callaghan likewise +fell. Sir Ulick lived long enough to be visited by the +Duke, and to commend his children to his friend’s +protection.</p> +<p>Berwick was held to be dry and stiff, but he was a faithful +friend, and well redeemed his promise. The eldest son, +young as he was, obtained as wife the daughter of the Marquis de +Varennes, and soon distinguished himself both in war and policy, +so as to receive the title of Comte de Bourke.</p> +<p>The French Church was called on to provide for the other two +children. The daughter, Alice, became a nun in one of the +Parisian convents, with promises of promotion. The younger +son, Phelim, was weakly in health, and of intellect feeble, if +not deficient, and was almost dependent on the devoted care and +tenderness of his foster-brother, Laurence Callaghan. +Nobody was startled when Berwick’s interest procured for +the dull boy of ten years old the Abbey of St. Eudoce in +Champagne. To be sure the responsibilities were not great, +for the Abbey had been burnt down a century and a half ago by the +Huguenots, and there had never been any monks in it since, so the +only effect was that little Phelim Burke went by the imposing +title of Monsieur l’Abbé de St. Eudoce, and his +family enjoyed as much of the revenues of the estates of the +Abbey as the Intendant thought proper to transmit to them. +He was, to a certain degree, ecclesiastically educated, having +just memory enough to retain for recitation the tasks that Lanty +helped him to learn, and he could copy the themes or translations +made for him by his faithful companion. Neither boy had the +least notion of unfairness or deception in this arrangement: it +was only the natural service of the one to the other, and if it +were perceived in the Fathers of the Seminary, whither Lanty +daily conducted the young Abbot, they winked at it. Nor, +though the quick-witted Lanty thus acquired a considerable amount +of learning, no idea occurred to him of availing himself of it +for his own advantage. It sat outside him, as it were, for +‘Masther Phelim’s’ use; and he no more thought +of applying it to his own elevation than he did of wearing the +<i>soutane</i> he brushed for his young master.</p> +<p>The Abbé was now five-and-twenty, had received the +tonsure, and had been admitted to minor Orders, but there was no +necessity for him to proceed any farther unless higher promotion +should be accorded to him in recompense of his brother’s +services. He was a gentle, amiable being, not at all fit to +take care of himself; and since the death of his mother, he had +been the charge of his brother and sister-in-law, or perhaps more +correctly speaking, of the Dowager Marquise de Varennes, for all +the branches of the family lived together in the Hotel de +Varennes at Paris, or its chateau in the country, and the fine +old lady ruled over all, her son and son-in-law being often +absent, as was the case at present.</p> +<p>A fresh European war had been provoked by the ambition of the +second wife of Philip V. of Spain, the Prince for whose cause +Berwick had fought. This Queen, Elizabeth Farnese, wanted +rank and dominion for her own son; moreover, Philip looked with +longing eyes at his native kingdom of France, all claim to which +he had resigned when Spain was bequeathed to him; but now that +only a sickly child, Louis XV., stood between him and the +succession in right of blood, he felt his rights superior to +those of the Duke of Orleans. Thus Spain was induced to +become hostile to France, and to commence the war known as that +of the Quadruple Alliance.</p> +<p>While there was still hope of accommodation, the Comte de +Bourke had been sent as a special envoy to Madrid, and there +continued even after the war had broken out, and the Duke of +Berwick, resigning all the estates he had received from the +gratitude of Philip V., had led an army across the frontier.</p> +<p>The Count had, however, just been appointed Ambassador to +Sweden, and was anxious to be joined by his family on the way +thither.</p> +<p>The tidings had created great commotion. Madame de +Varennes looked on Sweden as an Ultima Thule of frost and snow, +but knew that a lady’s presence was essential to the +display required of an ambassador. She strove, however, to +have the children left with her; but her daughter declared that +she could not part with Estelle, who was already a companion and +friend, and that Ulysse must be with his father, who longed for +his eldest son, so that only little Jacques, a delicate child, +was to be left to console his grandmother.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER II—A JACOBITE WAIF</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘Sac now he’s o’er the floods +sae gray,<br /> +And Lord Maxwell has ta’en his good-night.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Lord +Maxwell’s</span> <i>Good-night</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Madame La Comtesse de Bourke was by no means a helpless fine +lady. She had several times accompanied her husband on his +expeditions, and had only not gone with him to Madrid because he +did not expect to be long absent, and she sorely rued the +separation.</p> +<p>She was very busy in her own room, superintending the packing, +and assisting in it, when her own clever fingers were more +effective than those of her maids. She was in her <i>robe +de chambre</i>, a dark blue wrapper, embroidered with white, and +put on more neatly than was always the case with French ladies in +<i>déshabille</i>. The hoop, long stiff stays, rich +brocade robe, and fabric of powdered hair were equally unsuitable +to ease or exertion, and consequently were seldom assumed till +late in the day, when the toilette was often made in public.</p> +<p>So Madame de Bourke’s hair was simply rolled out of her +way, and she appeared in her true colours, as a little brisk, +bonny woman, with no actual beauty, but very expressive light +gray eyes, furnished with intensely long black lashes, and a +sweet, mobile, lively countenance.</p> +<p>Estelle was trying to amuse little Jacques, and prevent him +from trotting between the boxes, putting all sorts of undesirable +goods into them; and Ulysse had collected his toys, and was +pleading earnestly that a headless wooden horse and a kite, twice +as tall as himself, of Lanty’s manufacture, might go with +them.</p> +<p>He was told that another <i>cerf-volant</i> should be made for +him at the journey’s end; but was only partially consoled, +and his mother was fain to compound for a box of woolly +lambs. Estelle winked away a tear when her doll was +rejected, a wooden, highly painted lady, bedizened in brocade, +and so dear to her soul that it was hard to be told that she was +too old for such toys, and that the Swedes would be shocked to +see the Ambassador’s daughter embracing a doll. She +had, however, to preserve her character of a reasonable child, +and tried to derive consolation from the permission to bestow +‘Mademoiselle’ upon the <i>concierge’s</i> +little sick daughter, who would be sure to cherish her duly.</p> +<p>‘But, oh mamma, I pray you to let me take my +book!’</p> +<p>‘Assuredly, my child. Let us see! +What? Télémaque? Not “Prince +Percinet and Princess Gracieuse?”’</p> +<p>‘I am tired of them, mamma.’</p> +<p>‘Nor Madame d’Aulnoy’s Fairy +Tales?’</p> +<p>‘Oh no, thank you, mamma; I love nothing so well as +Télémaque.’</p> +<p>‘Thou art a droll child!’ said her mother.</p> +<p>‘Ah, but we are going to be like +Télémaque.’</p> +<p>‘Heaven forfend!’ said the poor lady.</p> +<p>‘Yes, dear mamma, I am glad you are going with us +instead of staying at home to weave and unweave webs. If +Penelope had been like you, she would have gone!’</p> +<p>‘Take care, is not Jacques acting Penelope?’ said +Madame de Bourke, unable to help smiling at her little +daughter’s glib mythology, while going to the rescue of the +embroidery silks, in which her youngest son was entangling +himself.</p> +<p>At that moment there was a knock at the door, and a message +was brought that the Countess of Nithsdale begged the favour of a +few minutes’ conversation in private with Madame. The +Scottish title fared better on the lips of La Jeunesse than it +would have done on those of his predecessor. There was +considerable intimacy among all the Jacobite exiles in and about +Paris; and Winifred, Countess of Nithsdale, though living a very +quiet and secluded life, was held in high estimation among all +who recollected the act of wifely heroism by which she had +rescued her husband from the block.</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke bade the maids carry off the little Jacques, +and Ulysse followed; but Estelle, who had often listened with +rapt attention to the story of the escape, and longed to feast +her eyes on the heroine, remained in her corner, usefully +employed in disentangling the embroilment of silks, and with the +illustrations to her beloved Télémaque as a +resource in case the conversation should be tedious. +Children who have hundreds of picture-books to rustle through can +little guess how their predecessors could once dream over +one.</p> +<p>Estelle made her low reverence unnoticed, and watched with +eager eyes as the slight figure entered, clad in the stately +costume that was regarded as proper respect to her hostess; but +the long loose sacque of blue silk was faded, the +<i>feuille-morte</i> velvet petticoat frayed, the lace on the +neck and sleeves washed and mended; there were no jewels on the +sleeves, though the long gloves fitted exquisitely, no gems in +the buckles of the high-heeled shoes, and the only ornament in +the carefully rolled and powdered hair, a white rose. Her +face was thin and worn, with pleasant brown eyes. Estelle +could not think her as beautiful as Calypso inconsolable for +Ulysses, or Antiope receiving the boar’s a head. +‘I know she is better than either,’ thought the +little maid; ‘but I wish she was more like +Minerva.’</p> +<p>The Countesses met with the lowest of curtseys, and apologies +on the one side for intrusion, on the other for +<i>déshabille</i>, so they concluded with an embrace +really affectionate, though consideration for powder made it +necessarily somewhat theatrical in appearance.</p> +<p>These were the stiffest of days, just before formality had +become unbearable, and the reaction of simplicity had set in; and +Estelle had undone two desperate knots in the green and yellow +silks before the preliminary compliments were over, and Lady +Nithsdale arrived at the point.</p> +<p>‘Madame is about to rejoin <i>Monsieur son +Mari</i>.’</p> +<p>‘I am about to have that happiness.’</p> +<p>‘That is the reason I have been bold enough to derange +her.’</p> +<p>‘Do not mention it. It is always a delight to see +<i>Madame la Comtesse</i>.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! what will Madame say when she hears that it is to +ask a great favour of her.’</p> +<p>‘Madame may reckon on me for whatever she would +command.’</p> +<p>‘If you can grant it—oh! Madame,’ +cried the Scottish Countess, beginning to drop her formality in +her eagerness, ‘we shall be for ever beholden to you, and +you will make a wounded heart to sing, besides perhaps saving a +noble young spirit.’</p> +<p>‘Madame makes me impatient to hear what she would have +of me,’ said the French Countess, becoming a little on her +guard, as the wife of a diplomatist, recollecting, too, that +peace with George I. might mean war with the Jacobites.</p> +<p>‘I know not whether a young kinsman of my Lord’s +has ever been presented to Madame. His name is Arthur +Maxwell Hope; but we call him usually by his Christian +name.’</p> +<p>‘A tall, dark, handsome youth, almost like a Spaniard, +or a picture by Vandyke? It seems to me that I have seen +him with M. le Comte.’ (Madame de Bourke could not +venture on such a word as Nithsdale.)</p> +<p>‘Madame is right. The mother of the boy is a +Maxwell, a cousin not far removed from my Lord, but he could not +hinder her from being given in marriage as second wife to Sir +David Hope, already an old man. He was good to her, but +when he died, the sons by the first wife were harsh and unkind to +her and to her son, of whom they had always been jealous. +The eldest was a creature of my Lord Stair, and altogether a +Whig; indeed, he now holds an office at the Court of the Elector +of Hanover, and has been created one of <i>his</i> peers. +(The scorn with which the gentle Winifred uttered those words was +worth seeing, and the other noble lady gave a little derisive +laugh.) ‘These half-brothers declared that Lady Hope +was nurturing the young Arthur in Toryism and disaffection, and +they made it a plea for separating him from her, and sending him +to an old minister, who kept a school, and who was very severe +and even cruel to the poor boy. But I am wearying +Madame.’</p> +<p>‘Oh no, I listen with the deepest interest.’</p> +<p>‘Finally, when the King was expected in Scotland, and +men’s minds were full of anger and bitterness, as well as +hope and spirit, the boy—he was then only fourteen years of +age—boasted of his grandfather’s having fought at +Killiecrankie, and used language which the tutor pronounced +treasonable. He was punished and confined to his room; but +in the night he made his escape and joined the royal army. +My husband was grieved to see him, told him he had no right to +political opinions, and tried to send him home in time to make +his peace before all was lost. Alas! no. The little +fellow did, indeed, pass out safely from Preston, but only to +join my Lord Mar. He was among the gentlemen who embarked +at Banff; and when my Lord, by Heaven’s mercy, had escaped +from the Tower of London, and we arrived at Paris, almost the +first person we saw was little Arthur, whom we thought to have +been safe at home. We have kept him with us, and I +contrived to let his mother know that he is living, for she had +mourned him as among the slain.’</p> +<p>‘Poor mother.’</p> +<p>‘You may well pity her, Madame. She writes to me +that if Arthur had returned at once from Preston, as my Lord +advised, all would have been passed over as a schoolboy frolic; +and, indeed, he has never been attainted; but there is nothing +that his eldest brother, Lord Burnside as they call him, dreads +so much as that it should be known that one of his family was +engaged in the campaign, or that he is keeping such ill company +as we are. Therefore, at her request, we have never called +him Hope, but let him go by our name of Maxwell, which is his by +baptism; and now she tells me that if he could make his way to +Scotland, not as if coming from Paris or Bar-le-Duc, but merely +as if travelling on the Continent, his brother would consent to +his return.’</p> +<p>‘Would she be willing that he should live under the +usurper?’</p> +<p>‘Madame, to tell you the truth,’ said Lady +Nithsdale, ‘the Lady Hope is not one to heed the question +of usurpers, so long as her son is safe and a good lad. +Nay, for my part, we all lived peaceably and happily enough under +Queen Anne; and by all I hear, so they still do at home under the +Elector of Hanover.’</p> +<p>‘The Regent has acknowledged him,’ put in the +French lady.</p> +<p>‘Well,’ said the poor exile, ‘I know my Lord +felt that it was his duty to obey the summons of his lawful +sovereign, and that, as he said when he took up arms, one can +only do one’s duty and take the consequences; but oh! when +I look at the misery and desolation that has come of it, when I +think of the wives not so happy as I am, when I see my dear Lord +wearing out his life in banishment, and think of our dear home +and our poor people, I am tempted to wonder whether it were +indeed a duty, or whether there were any right to call on brave +men without a more steadfast purpose not to abandon +them!’</p> +<p>‘It would have been very different if the Duke of +Berwick had led the way,’ observed Madame de Bourke. +‘Then my husband would have gone, but, being French +subjects, honour stayed both him and the Duke as long as the +Regent made no move.’ The good lady, of course, +thought that the Marshal Duke and her own Count must secure +victory; but Lady Nithsdale was intent on her own branch of the +subject, and did not pursue ‘what might have +been.’</p> +<p>‘After all,’ she said, ‘poor Arthur, at +fourteen, could have no true political convictions. He +merely fled because he was harshly treated, heard his grandfather +branded as a traitor, and had an enthusiasm for my husband, who +had been kind to him. It was a mere boy’s escapade, +and if he had returned home when my Lord bade him, it would only +have been remembered as such. He knows it now, and I +frankly tell you, Madame, that what he has seen of our exiled +court has not increased his ardour in the cause.’</p> +<p>‘Alas, no,’ said Madame de Bourke. ‘If +the Chevalier de St. George were other than he is, it would be +easier to act in his behalf.’</p> +<p>‘And you agree with me, Madame,’ continued the +visitor, ‘that nothing can be worse or more hopeless for a +youth than the life to which we are constrained here, with our +whole shadow of hope in intrigue; and for our men, no occupation +worthy of their sex. We women are not so ill off, with our +children and domestic affairs; but it breaks my heart to see +brave gentlemen’s lives thus wasted. We have done our +best for Arthur. He has studied with one of our good +clergy, and my Lord himself has taught him to fence; but we +cannot treat him any longer as a boy, and I know not what is to +be his future, unless we can return him to his own +country.’</p> +<p>‘Our army,’ suggested Madame de Bourke.</p> +<p>‘Ah! but he is Protestant.’</p> +<p>‘A heretic!’ exclaimed the lady, drawing herself +up. ‘But—’</p> +<p>‘Oh, do not refuse me on that account. He is a +good lad, and has lived enough among Catholics to keep his +opinions in the background. But you understand that it is +another reason for wishing to convey him, if not to Scotland, to +some land like Sweden or Prussia, where his faith would not be a +bar to his promotion.’</p> +<p>‘What is it you would have me do?’ said Madame de +Bourke, more coldly.</p> +<p>‘If Madame would permit him to be included in her +passport, as about to join the Ambassador’s suite, and thus +conduct him to Sweden; Lady Hope would find means to communicate +with him from thence, the poor young man would be saved from a +ruined career, and the heart of the widow and mother would bless +you for ever.</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke was touched, but she was a prudent woman, and +paused to ask whether the youth had shown any tendency to run +into temptation, from which Lady Nithsdale wished to remove +him.</p> +<p>‘Oh no,’ she answered; ‘he was a perfectly +good docile lad, though high-spirited, submissive to the Earl, +and a kind playfellow to her little girls; it was his very +excellence that made it so unfortunate that he should thus be +stranded in early youth in consequence of one boyish +folly.’</p> +<p>The Countess began to yield. She thought he might go as +secretary to her Lord, and she owned that if he was a brave young +man, he would be an addition to her little escort, which only +numbered two men besides her brother-in-law, the Abbé, who +was of almost as little account as his young nephew. +‘But I should warn you, Madame,’ added Madame de +Bourke, ‘that it may be a very dangerous journey. I +own to you, though I would not tell my poor mother, that my heart +fails me when I think of it, and were it not for the express +commands of their father, I would not risk my poor children on +it.’</p> +<p>‘I do not think you will find Sweden otherwise than a +cheerful and pleasant abode,’ said Lady Nithsdale.</p> +<p>‘Ah! if we were only in Sweden, or with my husband, all +would be well!’ replied the other lady; ‘but we have +to pass through the mountains, and the Catalans are always +ill-affected to us French.’</p> +<p>‘Nay; but you are a party of women, and belong to an +ambassador!’ was the answer.</p> +<p>‘What do those robbers care for that? We are all +the better prey for them! I have heard histories of Spanish +cruelty and lawlessness that would make you shudder! You +cannot guess at the dreadful presentiments that have haunted me +ever since I had my husband’s letter.’</p> +<p>‘There is danger everywhere, dear friend,’ said +Lady Nithsdale kindly; ‘but God finds a way for us through +all.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! you have experienced it,’ said Madame de +Bourke. ‘Let us proceed to the affairs. I only +thought I should tell you the truth.’</p> +<p>Lady Nithsdale answered for the courage of her +<i>protégé</i>, and it was further determined that +he should be presented to her that evening by the Earl, at the +farewell reception which Madame de Varennes was to hold on her +daughter’s behalf, when it could be determined in what +capacity he should be named in the passport.</p> +<p>Estelle, who had been listening with all her ears, and trying +to find a character in Fénelon’s romance to be +represented by Arthur Hope, now further heard it explained that +the party were to go southward to meet her father at one of the +Mediterranean ports, as the English Government were so suspicious +of Jacobites that he did not venture on taking the direct route +by sea, but meant to travel through Germany. Madame de +Bourke expected to meet her brother at Avignon, and to obtain his +advice as to her further route.</p> +<p>Estelle heard this with great satisfaction. ‘We +shall go to the Mediterranean Sea and be in danger,’ she +said to herself, unfolding the map at the beginning of her +Télémaque; ‘that is quite right! +Perhaps we shall see Calypso’s island.’</p> +<p>She begged hard to be allowed to sit up that evening to see +the hero of the escape from the Tower of London, as well as the +travelling companion destined for her, and she prevailed, for +mamma pronounced that she had been very sage and reasonable all +day, and the grandmamma, who was so soon to part with her, could +refuse her nothing. So she was full dressed, with hair +curled, and permitted to stand by the tall high-backed chair +where the old lady sat to receive her visitors.</p> +<p>The Marquise de Varennes was a small withered woman, with keen +eyes, and a sort of sparkle of manner, and power of setting +people at ease, that made her the more charming the older she +grew. An experienced eye could detect that she retained the +costume of the prime of Louis XIV., when headdresses were less +high than that which her daughter was obliged to wear. For +the two last mortal hours of that busy day had poor Madame de +Bourke been compelled to sit under the hands of the hairdresser, +who was building up, with paste and powder and the like, an +original conception of his, namely, a northern landscape, with +snow-laden trees, drifts of snow, diamond icicles, and even a +cottage beside an ice-bound stream. She could ill spare the +time, and longed to be excused; but the artist had begged so hard +to be allowed to carry out his brilliant and unique idea, this +last time of attending on Madame l’Ambassadrice, that there +was no resisting him, and perhaps her strange forebodings made +her less willing to inflict a disappointment on the poor +man. It would have been strange to contrast the fabric of +vanity building up outside her head, with the melancholy bodings +within it, as she sat motionless under the hairdresser’s +fingers; but at the end she roused herself to smile gratefully, +and give the admiration that was felt to be due to the +monstrosity that crowned her. Forbearance and Christian +patience may be exercised even on a toilette à la Louis +XV. Long practice enabled her to walk about, seat herself, +rise and curtsey without detriment to the edifice, or bestowing +the powder either on her neighbours or on the richly-flowered +white brocade she wore; while she received the compliments, one +after another, of ladies in even more gorgeous array, and +gentlemen in velvet coats, adorned with gold lace, cravats of +exquisite fabric, and diamond shoe buckles.</p> +<p>Phelim Burke, otherwise l’Abbé de St. Eudoce, +stood near her. He was a thin, yellow, and freckled youth, +with sandy hair and typical Irish features, but without their +drollery, and his face was what might have been expected in a +half-starved, half-clad gossoon in a cabin, rather than +surmounting a silken <i>soutane</i> in a Parisian salon; but he +had a pleasant smile when kindly addressed by his friends.</p> +<p>Presently Lady Nithsdale drew near, accompanied by a tall, +grave gentleman, and bringing with them a still taller youth, +with the stiffest of backs and the longest of legs, who, when +presented, made a bow apparently from the end of his spine, like +Estelle’s lamented Dutch-jointed doll when made to sit +down. Moreover, he was more shabbily dressed than any other +gentleman present, with a general outgrown look about his coat, +and darns in his silk stockings; and though they were made by the +hand of a Countess, that did not add to their elegance. And +as he stood as stiff as a ramrod or as a sentinel, +Estelle’s good breeding was all called into play, and her +mother’s heart quailed as she said to herself, ‘A +great raw Scot! What can be done with him?</p> +<p>Lord Nithsdale spoke for him, thinking he had better go as +secretary, and showing some handwriting of good quality. +‘Did he know any languages?’ ‘French, +English, Latin, and some Greek.’ ‘And, +Madame,’ added Lord Nithsdale, ‘not only is his +French much better than mine, as you would hear if the boy durst +open his mouth, but our broad Scotch is so like Swedish that he +will almost be an interpreter there.’</p> +<p>However hopeless Madame de Bourke felt, she smiled and +professed herself rejoiced to hear it, and it was further decided +that Arthur Maxwell Hope, aged eighteen, Scot by birth, should be +mentioned among those of the Ambassador’s household for +whom she demanded passports. Her position rendered this no +matter of difficulty, and it was wiser to give the full truth to +the home authorities; but as it was desirable that it should not +be reported to the English Government that Lord Burnside’s +brother was in the suite of the Jacobite Comte de Bourke, he was +only to be known to the public by his first name, which was not +much harder to French lips than Maxwell or Hope.</p> +<p>‘Tall and black and awkward,’ said Estelle, +describing him to her brother. ‘I shall not like +him—I shall call him Phalante instead of Arthur.’</p> +<p>‘Arthur,’ said Ulysse; ‘King Arthur was +turned into a crow!’</p> +<p>‘Well, this Arthur is like a crow—a great black +skinny crow with torn feathers.’</p> +<h2>CHAPTER III—ON THE RHONE</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘Fairer scenes the opening eye<br /> +Of the day can scarce descry,<br /> +Fairer sight he looks not on<br /> +Than the pleasant banks of Rhone.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Archbishop +Trench</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Long legs may be in the abstract an advantage, but scarcely so +in what was called in France <i>une grande Berline</i>. +This was the favourite travelling carriage of the eighteenth +century, and consisted of a close carriage or coach proper, with +arrangements on the top for luggage, and behind it another seat +open, but provided with a large leathern hood, and in front +another place for the coachman and his companions. Each +seat was wide enough to hold three persons, and thus within sat +Madame de Bourke, her brother-in-law, the two children, Arthur +Hope, and Mademoiselle Julienne, an elderly woman of the artisan +class, <i>femme de chambre</i> to the Countess. Victorine, +who was attendant on the children, would travel under the hood +with two more maids; and the front seat would be occupied by the +coachman, Laurence Callaghan—otherwise La Jeunesse, and +Maître Hébert, the <i>maître +d’hôtel</i>. Fain would Arthur have shared +their elevation, so far as ease and comfort of mind and body +went, and the Countess’s wishes may have gone the same way; +but besides that it would have been an insult to class him with +the servants, the horses of the home establishment, driven by +their own coachman, took the party the first stage out of Paris; +and though afterwards the post-horses or mules, six in number, +would be ridden by their own postilions, there was such an amount +of luggage as to leave little or no space for a third person +outside.</p> +<p>It had been a perfect sight to see the carriage packed; when +Arthur, convoyed by Lord Nithsdale, arrived in the courtyard of +the Hôtel de Varennes. Madame de Bourke was taking +with her all the paraphernalia of an ambassador—a service +of plate, in a huge chest stowed under the seat, a portrait of +Philip V., in a gold frame set with diamonds, being included +among her jewellery—and Lord Nithsdale, standing by, could +not but drily remark, ‘Yonder is more than we brought with +us, Arthur.’</p> +<p>The two walked up and down the court together, unwilling to +intrude on the parting which, as they well knew, would be made in +floods of tears. Sad enough indeed it was, for Madame de +Varennes was advanced in years, and her daughter had not only to +part with her, but with the baby Jacques, for an unknown space of +time; but the self-command and restraint of grief for the sake of +each other was absolutely unknown. It was a point of honour +and sentiment to weep as much as possible, and it would have been +regarded as frigid and unnatural not to go on crying too much to +eat or speak for a whole day beforehand, and at least two +afterwards.</p> +<p>So when the travellers descended the steps to take their +seats, each face was enveloped in a handkerchief, and there were +passionate embraces, literal pressings to the breast, and violent +sobs, as each victim, one after the other, ascended the carriage +steps and fell back on the seat; while in the background, Honor +Callaghan was uttering Irish wails over the Abbé and +Laurence, and the lamentable sound set the little lap-dog and the +big watch-dog howling in chorus. Arthur Hope, probably as +miserable as any of them in parting with his friend and hero, was +only standing like a stake, and an embarrassed stake (if that be +possible), and Lord Nithsdale, though anxious for him, heartily +pitying all, was nevertheless haunted by a queer recollection of +Lance and his dog, and thinking that French dogs were not devoid +of sympathy, and that the part of Crab was left for Arthur.</p> +<p>However, the last embrace was given, and the ladies were all +packed in, while the Abbé with his breast heaving with +sobs, his big hat in one hand, and a huge silk +pocket-handkerchief in the other, did not forget his manners, but +waved to Arthur to ascend the steps first. +‘Secretary, not guest. You must remember that another +time,’ said Lord Nithsdale. ‘God bless you, my +dear lad, and bring you safe back to bonny Scotland, a true and +leal heart.’</p> +<p>Arthur wrung his friend’s hand once more, and +disappeared into the vehicle; Nurse Honor made one more rush, and +uttered another ‘Ohone’ over Abbé Phelim, who +followed into the carriage; the door was shut; there was a last +wail over ‘Lanty, the sunbeam of me heart,’ as he +climbed to the box seat; the harness jingled; coachman and +postilions cracked their whips, the impatient horses dashed out +at the <i>porte cochére</i>; and Arthur, after +endeavouring to dispose of his legs, looked about him, and saw, +opposite to him, Madame de Bourke lying back in the corner in a +transport of grief, one arm round her daughter, and her little +son lying across her lap, both sobbing and crying; and on one +side of him the Abbé, sunk in his corner, his yellow silk +handkerchief over his face; on the other, Mademoiselle Julienne, +who was crying too, but with more moderation, perhaps more out of +propriety or from infection than from actual grief: at any rate +she had more of her senses about her than any one else, and +managed to dispose of the various loose articles that had been +thrown after the travellers, in pockets and under cushions. +Arthur would have assisted, but only succeeded in treading on +various toes and eliciting some small shrieks, which disconcerted +him all the more, and made Mademoiselle Julienne look daggers at +him, as she relieved her lady of little Ulysse, lifting him to +her own knee, where, as he was absolutely exhausted with crying, +he fell asleep.</p> +<p>Arthur hoped the others would do the same, and perhaps there +was more dozing than they would have confessed; but whenever +there was a movement, and some familiar object in the streets of +Paris struck the eye of Madame, the Abbé, or Estelle, +there was a little cry, and they went off on a fresh score.</p> +<p>‘Poor wretched weak creatures!’ he said to +himself, as he thought the traditions of Scottish heroic women in +whose heroism he had gloated. And yet he was wrong: Madame +de Bourke was capable of as much resolute self-devotion as any of +the ladies on the other side of the Channel, but tears were a +tribute required by the times. So she gave way to +them—just as no doubt the women of former days saw nothing +absurd in bottling them.</p> +<p>Arthur’s position among all these weeping figures was +extremely awkward, all the more so that he carried his sword +upright between his legs, not daring to disturb the lachrymose +company enough to dispose of it in the sword case appropriated to +weapons. He longed to take out the little pocket Virgil, +which Lord Nithsdale had given him, so as to have some occupation +for his eyes, but he durst not, lest he should be thought rude, +till, at a halt at a cabaret to water the horses, the striking of +a clock reminded the Abbé that it was the time for reading +the Hours, and when the breviary was taken out, Arthur thought +his book might follow it.</p> +<p>By and by there was a halt at Corbeil, where was the nunnery +of Alice Bourke, of whom her brother and sister-in-law were to +take leave. They, with the children, were set down there, +while Arthur went on with the carriage and servants to the inn to +dine.</p> +<p>It was the first visit of Ulysse to the convent, and he was +much amazed at peeping at his aunt’s hooded face through a +grating. However, the family were admitted to dine in the +refectory; but poor Madame de Bourke was fit for nothing but to +lie on a bed, attended affectionately by her sister-in-law, Soeur +Ste. Madeleine.</p> +<p>‘O sister, sister,’ was her cry, ‘I must say +it to you—I would not to my poor mother—that I have +the most horrible presentiments I shall never see her again, nor +my poor child. No, nor my husband; I knew it when he took +leave of me for that terrible Spain.’</p> +<p>‘Yet you see he is safe, and you will be with him, +sister,’ returned the nun.</p> +<p>‘Ah! that I knew I should! But think of those +fearful Pyrenees, and the bandits that infest them—and all +the valuables we carry with us!’</p> +<p>‘Surely I heard that Marshal Berwick had offered you an +escort.’</p> +<p>‘That will only attract the attention of the brigands +and bring them in greater force. O sister, sister, my heart +sinks at the thought of my poor children in the hands of those +savages! I dream of them every night.’</p> +<p>‘The suite of an ambassador is sacred.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! but what do they care for that, the robbers? +I know destruction lies that way!’</p> +<p>‘Nay, sister, this is not like you. You always +were brave, and trusted heaven, when you had to follow +Ulick.’</p> +<p>‘Alas! never had I this sinking of heart, which tells me +I shall be torn from my poor children and never rejoin +him.’</p> +<p>Sister Ste. Madeleine caressed and prayed with the poor lady, +and did her utmost to reassure and comfort her, promising a +<i>neuvaine</i> for her safe journey and meeting with her +husband.</p> +<p>‘For the children,’ said the poor Countess. +‘I know I never shall see him more.’</p> +<p>However, the cheerfulness of the bright Irish-woman had done +her some good, and she was better by the time she rose to pursue +her journey. Estelle and Ulysse had been much petted by the +nuns, and when all met again, to the great relief of Arthur, he +found continuous weeping was not <i>de rigueur</i>. When +they got in again, he was able to get rid of his sword, and only +trod on two pair of toes, and got his legs twice tumbled +over.</p> +<p>Moreover, Madame de Bourke had recovered the faculty of making +pretty speeches, and when the weapon was put into the sword case, +she observed with a sad little smile, ‘Ah, Monsieur! we +look to you as our defender!’</p> +<p>‘And me too!’ cried little Ulysse, making a +violent demonstration with his tiny blade, and so nearly poking +out his uncle’s eye that the article was relegated to the +same hiding-place as ‘Monsieur Arture’s,’ and +the boy was assured that this was a proof of his manliness.</p> +<p>He had quite recovered his spirits, and as his mother and +sister were still exhausted with weeping, he was not easy to +manage, till Arthur took heart of grace, and offering him a perch +on his knee, let him look out at the window, explaining the +objects on the way, which were all quite new to the little +Parisian boy. Fortunately he spoke French well, with +scarcely any foreign accent, and his answers to the little +fellow’s eager questions interspersed with observations on +‘What they do in my country,’ not only kept Ulysse +occupied, but gained Estelle’s attention, though she was +too weary and languid, and perhaps, child as she was, too much +bound by the requirements of sympathy to manifest her interest, +otherwise than by moving near enough to listen.</p> +<p>That evening the party reached the banks of one of the canals +which connected the rivers of France, and which was to convey +them to the Loire and thence to the Rhone, in a huge +flat-bottomed barge, called a <i>coche d’eau</i>, a sort of +ark, with cabins, where travellers could be fairly comfortable, +space where the berlin could be stowed away in the rear, and a +deck with an awning where the passengers could disport +themselves. From the days of Sully to those of the +Revolution, this was by far the most convenient and secure mode +of transport, especially in the south of France. It was +very convenient to the Bourke party; who were soon established on +the deck. The lady’s dress was better adapted to +travelling than the full costume of Paris. It was what she +called <i>en Amazone</i>—namely, a clothe riding-habit +faced with blue, with a short skirt, with open coat and +waistcoat, like a man’s, hair unpowdered and tied behind, +and a large shady feathered hat. Estelle wore a miniature +of the same, and rejoiced in her freedom from the whalebone +stiffness of her Paris life, skipping about the deck with her +brother, like fairies, Lanty said, or, as she preferred to make +it, ‘like a nymph.’</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/p40b.jpg"> +<img alt="The cohe d’eau" src="images/p40s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p>The water coach moved only by day, and was already arrived +before the land one brought the weary party to the +meeting-place—a picturesque water-side inn with a high +roof, and a trellised passage down to the landing-place, covered +by a vine, hung with clusters of ripe grapes.</p> +<p>Here the travellers supped on omelettes and <i>vin +ordinaire</i>, and went off to bed—Madame and her child in +one bed, with the maids on the floor, and in another room the +Abbé and secretary, each in a <i>grabat</i>, the two +men-servants in like manner, on the floor. Such was the +privacy of the eighteenth century, and Arthur, used to waiting on +himself, looked on with wonder to see the Abbé like a baby +in the hands of his faithful foster-brother, who talked away in a +queer mixture of Irish-English and French all the time until they +knelt down and said their prayers together in Latin, to which +Arthur diligently closed his Protestant ears.</p> +<p>Early the next morning the family embarked, the carriage +having been already put on board; and the journey became very +agreeable as they glided slowly, almost dreamily along, borne +chiefly by the current, although a couple of horses towed the +barge by a rope on the bank, in case of need, in places where the +water was more sluggish, but nothing more was wanting in the +descent towards the Mediterranean.</p> +<p>The accommodation was not of a high order, but whenever there +was a halt near a good inn, Madame de Bourke and the children +landed for the night. And in the fine days of early autumn +the deck was delightful, and to dine there on the provisions +brought on board was a perpetual feast to Estelle and Ulysse.</p> +<p>The weather was beautiful, and there was a constant panorama +of fair sights and scenes. Harvest first, a perfectly new +spectacle to the children and then, as they went farther south, +the vintage. The beauty was great as they glided along the +pleasant banks of Rhone.</p> +<p>Tiers of vines on the hillsides were mostly cut and trimmed +like currant bushes, and disappointed Arthur, who had expected +festoons on trellises. But this was the special time for +beauty. The whole population, in picturesque costumes, were +filling huge baskets with the clusters, and snatches of their +merry songs came pealing down to the <i>coche d’eau</i>, as +it quietly crept along. Towards evening groups were seen +with piled baskets on their heads, or borne between them, youths +and maidens crowned with vines, half-naked children dancing like +little Bacchanalians, which awoke classical recollections in +Arthur and delighted the children.</p> +<p>Poor Madame de Bourke was still much depressed, and would sit +dreaming half the day, except when roused by some need of her +children, some question, or some appeal for her admiration. +Otherwise, the lovely heights, surmounted with tall towers, +extinguisher-capped, of castle, convent, or church, the clear +reaches of river, the beautiful turns, the little villages and +towns gleaming white among the trees, seemed to pass unseen +before her eyes, and she might be seen to shudder when the +children pressed her to say how many days it would be before they +saw their father.</p> +<p>An observer with a mind at ease might have been much +entertained with the airs and graces that the two maids, Rosette +and Babette, lavished upon Laurence, their only squire; for +Maître Hébert was far too distant and elderly a +person for their little coquetries. Rosette dealt in little +terrors, and, if he was at hand, durst not step across a plank +without his hand, was sure she heard wolves howling in the woods, +and that every peasant was ‘<i>ce barbare</i>;’ while +Babette, who in conjunction with Maître Hébert acted +cook in case of need, plied him with dainty morsels, which he was +only too apt to bestow on the beggars, or the lean and hungry lad +who attended on the horses. Victorine, on the other hand, +by far the prettiest and most sprightly of the three, affected +the most supreme indifference to him and his attentions, and +hardly deigned to give him a civil word, or to accept the +cornflowers and late roses he brought her from time to +time. ‘Mere weeds,’ she said. And the +grapes and Queen Claude plums he brought her were always +sour. Yet a something deep blue might often be seen peeping +above her trim little apron.</p> +<p>Not that Lanty had much time to disport himself in this +fashion, for the Abbé was his care, and was perfectly +happy with a rod of his arranging, with which to fish over the +side. Little Ulysse was of course fired with the same +emulation, and dangled his line for an hour together. +Estelle would have liked to do the same, but her mother and +Mademoiselle Julienne considered the sport not <i>convenable</i> +for a <i>demoiselle</i>. Arthur was once or twice induced +to try the Abbé’s rod, but he found it as mere a toy +as that of the boy; and the mere action of throwing it made his +heart so sick with the contrast with the ‘paidling in the +burns’ of his childhood, that he had no inclination to +continue the attempt, either in the slow canal or the broadening +river.</p> +<p>He was still very shy with the Countess, who was not in +spirits to set him at ease; and the Abbé puzzled him, as +is often the case when inexperienced strangers encounter +unacknowledged deficiency. The perpetual coaxing chatter, +and undisguised familiarity of La Jeunesse with the young +ecclesiastic did not seem to the somewhat haughty cast of his +young Scotch mind quite becoming, and he held aloof; but with the +two children he was quite at ease, and was in truth their great +resource.</p> +<p>He made Ulysse’s fishing-rod, baited it, and held the +boy when he used it—nay, he once even captured a tiny fish +with it, to the ecstatic pity of both children. He played +quiet games with them, and told them stories—conversed on +Télémaque with Estelle, or read to her from his one +book, which was Robinson Crusoe—a little black copy in pale +print, with the margins almost thumbed away, which he had carried +in his pocket when he ran away from school, and nearly knew by +heart.</p> +<p>Estelle was deeply interested in it, and varied in opinion +whether she should prefer Calypso’s island or +Crusoe’s, which she took for as much matter of fact as did, +a century later, Madame Talleyrand, when, out of civility to Mr. +Robinson, she inquired after ‘<i>ce bon +Vendredi</i>.’</p> +<p>She inclined to think she should prefer Friday to the +nymphs.</p> +<p>‘A whole quantity of troublesome womenfolk to fash +one,’ said Arthur, who had not arrived at the age of +gallantry.</p> +<p>‘You would never stay there!’ said Estelle; +‘you would push us over the rock like Mentor. I think +you are our Mentor, for I am sure you tell us a great deal, and +you don’t scold.’</p> +<p>‘Mentor was a cross old man,’ said Ulysse.</p> +<p>To which Estelle replied that he was a goddess; and Arthur +very decidedly disclaimed either character, especially the +pushing over rocks. And thus they glided on, spending a +night in the great, busy, bewildering city of Lyon, already the +centre of silk industry; but more interesting to the travellers +as the shrine of the martyrdoms. All went to pray at the +Cathedral except Arthur. The time was not come for heeding +church architecture or primitive history; and he only wandered +about the narrow crooked streets, gazing at the toy piles of +market produce, and looking at the stalls of merchandise, but as +one unable to purchase. His mother had indeed contrived to +send him twenty guineas, but he knew that he must husband them +well in case of emergencies, and Lady Nithsdale had sewn them all +up, except one, in a belt which he wore under his clothes.</p> +<p>He had arrived at the front of the Cathedral when the party +came out. Madame de Bourke had been weeping, but looked +more peaceful than he had yet seen her, and Estelle was much +excited. She had bought a little book, which she insisted +on her Mentor’s reading with her, though his Protestant +feelings recoiled.</p> +<p>‘Ah!’ said Estelle, ‘but you are not +Christian.’</p> +<p>‘Yes, truly, Mademoiselle.’</p> +<p>‘And these died for the Christian faith. Do you +know mamma said it comforted her to pray there; for she was sure +that whatever happened, the good God can make us strong, as He +made the young girl who sat in the red-hot chair. We saw +her picture, and it was dreadful. Do read about her, +Monsieur Arture.’</p> +<p>They read, and Arthur had candour enough to perceive that this +was the simple primitive narrative of the death of martyrs +struggling for Christian truth, long ere the days of superstition +and division. Estelle’s face lighted with +enthusiasm.</p> +<p>‘Is it not noble to be a martyr?’ she asked.</p> +<p>‘Oh!’ cried Ulysse; ‘to sit in a red-hot +chair! It would be worse than to be thrown off a +rock! But there are no martyrs in these days, +sister?’ he added, pressing up to Arthur as if for +protection.</p> +<p>‘There are those who die for the right,’ said +Arthur, thinking of Lord Derwentwater, who in Jacobite eyes was a +martyr.</p> +<p>‘And the good God makes them strong,’ said +Estelle, in a low voice. ‘Mamma told me no one could +tell how soon we might be tried, and that I was to pray that He +would make us as brave as St. Blandina! What do you think +could harm us, Monsieur, when we are going to my dear +papa?’</p> +<p>It was Lanty who answered, from behind the Abbé, on +whose angling endeavours he was attending. ‘Arrah +then, nothing at all, Mademoiselle. Nothing in the four +corners of the world shall hurt one curl of your blessed little +head, while Lanty Callaghan is to the fore.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! but you are not God, Lanty,’ said Estelle +gravely; ‘you cannot keep things from happening.’</p> +<p>‘The Powers forbid that I should spake such +blasphemy!’ said Lanty, taking off his hat. +‘’Twas not that I meant, but only that poor Lanty +would die ten thousand deaths—worse than them as was thrown +to the beasts—before one of them should harm the tip of +that little finger of yours!’</p> +<p>Perhaps the same vow was in Arthur’s heart, though not +spoken in such strong terms.</p> +<p>Thus they drifted on till the old city of Avignon rose on the +eyes of the travellers, a dark pile of buildings where the +massive houses, built round courts, with few external windows, +recalled that these had once been the palaces of cardinals +accustomed to the Italian city feuds, which made every house +become a fortress.</p> +<p>On the wharf stood a gentleman in a resplendent uniform of +blue and gold, whom the children hailed with cries of joy and +outstretched arms, as their uncle. The Marquis de Varennes +was soon on board, embracing his sister and her children, and +conducting them to one of the great palaces, where he had rooms, +being then in garrison. Arthur followed, at a sign from the +lady, who presented him to her brother as ‘Monsieur +Arture’—a young Scottish gentleman who will do my +husband the favour of acting as his secretary.</p> +<p>She used the word <i>gentilhomme</i>, which conveyed the sense +of nobility of blood, and the Marquis acknowledged the +introduction with one of those graceful bows that Arthur hated, +because they made him doubly feel the stiffness of his own +limitation. He was glad to linger with Lanty, who was +looking in wonder at the grim buildings.</p> +<p>‘And did the holy Father live here?’ said +he. ‘Faith, and ’twas a quare taste he must +have had; I wonder now if there would be vartue in a bit of a +stone from his palace. It would mightily please my old +mother if there were.’</p> +<p>‘I thought it was the wrong popes that lived +here,’ suggested Arthur.</p> +<p>Lanty looked at him a moment as if in doubt whether to accept +a heretic suggestion, but the education received through the +Abbé came to mind, and he exclaimed—</p> +<p>‘May be you are in the right of it, sir; and I’d +best let the stones alone till I can tell which is the true and +which is the false. By the same token, little is the +difference it would make to her, unless she knew it; and if she +did, she’d as soon I brought her a hair of the old +dragon’s bristles.’</p> +<p>Lanty found another day or two’s journey bring him very +nearly in contact with the old dragon, for at Tarascon was the +cave in which St. Martha was said to have demolished the great +dragon of Provence with the sign of the cross. Madame de +Bourke and her children made a devout pilgrimage thereto; but +when Arthur found that it was the actual Martha of Bethany to +whom the legend was appended, he grew indignant, and would not +accompany the party. ‘It was a very different thing +from the martyrs of Lyon and Vienne! Their history was +credible, but this—’</p> +<p>‘Speak not so loud, my friend,’ said M. de +Varennes. ‘Their shrines are equally good to console +women and children.’</p> +<p>Arthur did not quite understand the tone, nor know whether to +be gratified at being treated as a man, or to be shocked at the +Marquis’s defection from his own faith.</p> +<p>The Marquis, who was able to accompany his sister as far as +Montpelier, was amused at her two followers, Scotch and Irish, +both fine young men—almost too fine, he averred.</p> +<p>‘You will have to keep a careful watch on them when you +enter Germany, sister,’ he said, ‘or the King of +Prussia will certainly kidnap them for his tall regiment of +grenadiers.’</p> +<p>‘O brother, do not speak of any more dangers: I see +quite enough before me ere I can even rejoin my dear +husband.’</p> +<p>A very serious council was held between the brother and +sister. The French army under Marshal Berwick had marched +across on the south side on the Pyrenees, and was probably by +this time in the county of Rousillon, intending to besiege +Rosas. Once with them all would be well, but between lay +the mountain roads, and the very quarter of Spain that had been +most unwilling to accept French rule.</p> +<p>The Marquis had been authorised to place an escort at his +sister’s service, but though the numbers might guard her +against mere mountain banditti, they would not be sufficient to +protect her from hostile troops, such as might only too possibly +be on the way to encounter Berwick. The expense and +difficulty of the journey on the mountain roads would likewise be +great, and it seemed advisable to avoid these dangers by going by +sea. Madame de Bourke eagerly acceded to this plan, her +terror of the wild Pyrenean passes and wilder inhabitants had +always been such that she was glad to catch at any means of +avoiding them, and she had made more than one voyage before.</p> +<p>Estelle was gratified to find they were to go by sea, since +Télémachus did so in a Phoenician ship, and, in +that odd dreamy way in which children blend fiction and reality, +wondered if they should come on Calypso’s island; and +Arthur, who had read the Odyssey, delighted her and terrified +Ulysse with the cave of Polyphemus. M. de Varennes could +only go with his sister as far as Montpelier. Then he took +leave of her, and the party proceeded along the shores of the +lagoons, in the carriage to the seaport of Cette, one of the old +Greek towns of the Gulf of Lyon, and with a fine harbour full of +ships. Maître Hébert was sent to take a +passage on board of one, while his lady and her party repaired to +an inn, and waited all the afternoon before he returned with +tidings that he could find no French vessel about to sail for +Spain, but that there was a Genoese tartane, bound for Barcelona, +on which Madame la Comtesse could secure a passage for herself +and her suite, and which would take her thither in twenty-four +hours.</p> +<p>The town was full of troops, waiting a summons to join Marshal +Berwick’s army. Several resplendent officers had +already paid their respects to Madame l’Ambassadrice, and +they concurred in the advice, unless she would prefer waiting for +the arrival of one of the French transports which were to take +men and provisions to the army in Spain.</p> +<p>This, however, she declined, and only accepted the services of +the gentlemen so far as to have her passports renewed, as was +needful, since they were to be conveyed by the vessel of an +independent power, though always an ally of France.</p> +<p>The tartane was a beautiful object, a one-decked, +single-masted vessel, with a long bowsprit, and a huge lateen +sail like a wing, and the children fell in love with her at first +sight. Estelle was quite sure that she was just such a ship +as Mentor borrowed for Télémachus; but the poor +maids were horribly frightened, and Babette might be heard +declaring she had never engaged herself to be at the mercy of the +waves, like a bit of lemon peel in a glass of <i>eau +sucrée</i>.</p> +<p>‘You may return,’ said Madame de Bourke. +‘I compel no one to share our dangers and +hardships.’</p> +<p>But Babette threw herself on her knees, and declared that +nothing should ever separate her from Madame! She was a +good creature, but she could not deny herself the luxury of the +sobs and tears that showed to all beholders the extent of her +sacrifice.</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke knew that there would be considerable +discomfort in a vessel so little adapted for passengers, and with +only one small cabin, which the captain, who spoke French, +resigned to her use. It would only, however, be for a short +time, and though it was near the end of October, the blue expanse +of sea was calm as only the Mediterranean can be, so that she +trusted that no harm would result to those who would have to +spend the night on dock.</p> +<p>It was a beautiful evening which the little Genoese vessel +left the harbour and Cette receded in the distance, looking +fairer the farther it was left behind. The children were +put to bed as soon as they could be persuaded to cease from +watching the lights in the harbour and the phosphorescent wake of +the vessel in the water.</p> +<p>That night and the next day were pleasant and peaceful; there +was no rough weather, and little sickness among the +travellers. Madame de Bourke congratulated herself on +having escaped the horrors of the Pyrenean journey, and the +Genoese captain assured her that unless the weather should change +rapidly, they would wake in sight of the Spanish coast the next +morning. If the sea were not almost too calm, they would be +there already. The evening was again so delightful that the +children were glad to hear that they would have again to return +by sea, and Arthur, who somewhat shrank from his presentation to +the Count, regretted that the end of the voyage was so near, +though Ulysse assured him that ‘<i>Mon papa</i> would love +him, because he could tell such charming stories,’ and +Lanty testified that ‘M. le Comte was a mighty friendly +gentleman.’</p> +<p>Arthur was lying asleep on deck, wrapped in his cloak, when he +was awakened by a commotion among the sailors. He started +up and found that it was early morning, the sun rising above the +sea, and the sailors all gazing eagerly in that direction. +He eagerly made his way to ask if they were in sight of land, +recollecting, however, as he made the first step, that Spain lay +to the west of them—not to the east.</p> +<p>He distinguished the cry from the Genoese sailors, +‘<i>Ii Moro—Il Moro</i>,’ in tones of horror +and consternation, and almost at the same moment received a shock +from Maître Hébert, who came stumbling against +him.</p> +<p>‘Pardon, pardon, Monsieur; I go to prepare Madame! +It’s the accursed Moors. Let me +pass—<i>miséricorde</i>, what will become of +us?’</p> +<p>Arthur struggled on in search of such of the crew as could +speak French, but all were in too much consternation to attend to +him, and he could only watch that to which their eyes were +directed, a white sail, bright in the morning light, coming up +with a rapidity strange and fearful in its precision, like a hawk +pouncing on its prey, for it did not depend on its sails alone, +but was propelled by oars.</p> +<p>The next moment Madame de Bourke was on deck, holding by the +Abbé’s arm, and Estelle, her hair on her shoulders, +clinging to her. She looked very pale, but her calmness was +in contrast to the Italian sailors, who were throwing themselves +with gestures of despair, screaming out vows to the Madonna and +saints, and shouting imprecations. The skipper came to +speak to her. ‘Madame,’ he said, ‘I +implore you to remain in your cabin. After the first, you +and all yours will be safe. They cannot harm a French +subject; alas! alas would it were so with us.’</p> +<p>‘How then will it be with you?’ she asked.</p> +<p>He made a gesture of deprecation.</p> +<p>‘For me it will be ruin; for my poor fellows slavery; +that is, if we survive the onset. Madame, I entreat of you, +take shelter in the cabin, yourself and all yours. None can +answer for what the first rush of these fiends may be! +<i>Diavoli</i>! <i>veri diavola</i>! Ah! for which of my +sins is it that after fifty voyages I should be condemned to lose +my all?’</p> +<p>A fresh outburst of screams from the crew summoned the +captain. ‘They are putting out the long-boat,’ +was the cry; ‘they will board us!’</p> +<p>‘Madame! I entreat of you, shut yourself into the +cabin.’</p> +<p>And the four maids in various stages of +<i>déshabille</i>, adding their cries to those of the +sailors, tried to drag her in, but she looked about for +Arthur. ‘Come with us, Monsieur,’ she said +quietly, for after all her previous depressions and alarms, her +spirit rose to endurance in the actual stress of danger. +‘Come with us, I entreat of you,’ she said. +‘You are named in our passports, and the treaties are such +that neither French nor English subjects can be maltreated nor +enslaved by these wretches. As the captain says, the danger +is only in the first attack.’</p> +<p>‘I will protect you, Madame, with my life,’ +declared Arthur, drawing his sword, as his cheeks and eyes +lighted.</p> +<p>‘Ah, put that away. What could you do but lose +your own?’ cried the lady. ‘Remember, you have +a mother—’</p> +<p>The Genoese captain here turned to insist that Madame and all +the women should shut themselves instantly into the cabin. +Estelle dragged hard at Arthur’s hand, with entreaties that +he would come, but he lifted her down the ladder, and then closed +the door on her, Lanty and he being both left outside.</p> +<p>‘To be shut into a hole like a rat in a trap when +there’s blows to the fore, is more than flesh could +stand,’ said Lanty, who had seized on a hand-spike and was +waving it about his head, true shillelagh fashion, by hereditary +instinct in one who had never behold a faction fight, in what +ought to have been his native land.</p> +<p>The Genoese captain looked at him as a madman, and shouted in +a confused mixture of French and Italian to lay down his +weapon.</p> +<p>‘<i>Quei cattivi—ces scelerats</i> were armed to +the teeth—would fire. All lie flat on the +deck.’</p> +<p>The gesture spoke for itself. With a fearful howl all +the Italians dropped flat; but neither Scotch nor Irish blood +brooked to follow their example, or perhaps fully perceived the +urgency of the need, till a volley of bullets were whistling +about their ears, though happily without injury, the mast and the +rigging having protected them, for the sail was riddled with +holes, and the smoke dimmed their vision as the report sounded in +their ears. In another second the turbaned, scimitared +figures were leaping on board. The Genoese still lay flat +offering no resistance, but Lanty and Arthur stood on either side +of the ladder, and hurled back the two who first approached; but +four or five more rushed upon them, and they would have been +instantly cut down, had it not been for a shout from the Genoese, +‘<i>Franchi</i>! <i>Franchi</i>!’ At that +magic word, which was evidently understood, the pirates only held +the two youths tightly, vituperating them no doubt in bad +Arabic,—Lanty grinding his teeth with rage, though scarcely +feeling the pain of the two sabre cuts he had received, and +pouring forth a volley of exclamations, chiefly, however, +directed against the white-livered spalpeens of sailors, who had +not lifted so much as a hand to help him. Fortunately no +one understood a word he said but Arthur, who had military +experience enough to know there was nothing for it but to stand +still in the grasp of his captor, a wiry-looking Moor, with a fez +and a striped sash round his waist.</p> +<p>The leader, a sturdy Turk in a dirty white turban, with a huge +sabre in his hand, was listening to the eager words, poured out +with many gesticulations by the Genoese captain, in a language +utterly incomprehensible to the Scot, but which was the <i>lingua +França</i> of the Mediterranean ports.</p> +<p>It resulted in four men being placed on guard at the hatchway +leading to the cabin, while all the rest, including Arthur, +Hébert, Laurence, were driven toward the prow, and made to +understand by signs that they must not move on peril of their +lives. A Tuck was placed at the helm, and the +tartane’s head turned towards the pirate captor; and all +the others, who were not employed otherwise, began to ransack the +vessel and feast on the provisions. Some hams were thrown +overboard, with shouts of evident scorn as belonging to the +unclean beast, but the wine was eagerly drank, and Maître +Hébert uttered a wail of dismay as he saw five Moors +gorging large pieces of his finest <i>pâté</i>.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV—WRECKED</h2> +<blockquote><p> ‘They had na sailed upon +the sea<br /> + A day but barely three,<br /> +When the lift grew dark and the wind blew cauld<br /> + And gurly grew the sea.</p> +<p> ‘Oh where will I find a little wee +boy<br /> + Will tak my helm in hand,<br /> + Till I gae up to my top mast<br /> + And see for some dry +land.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Sir Patrick +Spens</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>It was bad enough on the deck of the unfortunate Genoese +tartane, but far worse below, where eight persons were shut into +the stifling atmosphere of the cabin, deprived of the knowledge +of what was going on above, except from the terrific sounds they +heard. Estelle, on being shut into the cabin, announced +that the Phoenician ship was taken by the vessels of Sesostris, +but this did not afford any one else the same satisfaction as she +appeared to derive from it. Babette and Rosette were +echoing every scream of the crew, and quite certain that all +would be massacred, and little Ulysse, wakened by the hubbub, +rolled round in his berth and began to cry.</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke, very white, but quite calm, insisted on +silence and then said, ‘I do not think the danger is very +great to ourselves if you will keep silence and not attract +attention. But our hope is in Heaven. My brother, +will you lead our prayers? Recite our office.’ +Obediently the Abbé fell on his knees, and his example was +followed by the others. His voice went monotonously on +throughout with the Latin. The lady, no doubt, followed in +her heart, and she made the responses as did the others, +fitfully; but her hands and eyes were busy, looking to the +priming of two small pistols, which she took out of her jewel +case, and the sight of which provoked fresh shrieks from the +maids. Mademoiselle Julienne meantime was dressing Ulysse, +and standing guard over him, Estelle watching all with eager +bright eyes, scarcely frightened, but burning to ask questions, +from which her uncle’s prayers debarred her.</p> +<p>At the volley of shot, Rosette was reduced to quiet by a +swoon, but Victorine, screaming that the wretches would have +killed Laurent, would have rushed on deck, had not her mistress +forcibly withheld her. There ensued a prodigious yelling +and howling, trampling and scuffling, then the sounds of strange +languages in vituperation or command, steps coming down the +ladder, sounds of altercation, retreat, splashes in the sea, the +feeling that the ship was put about—and ever the trampling, +the wild cries of exultation, which over and over again made the +prisoners feel choked with the horror of some frightful crisis +close at hand. And all the time they were in ignorance, +their little window in the stern showed them nothing but sea; and +even if Madame de Bourke’s determination had not hindered +Victorine from peeping out of the cabin, whether prison or +fortress, the Moorish sentries outside kept the door closed.</p> +<p>How long this continued was scarcely to be guessed. It +was hours by their own feelings; Ulysse began to cry from hunger, +and his mother gave him and Estelle some cakes that were within +reach. Mademoiselle Julienne begged her lady to share the +repast, reminding her that she would need all her strength. +The Abbé, too, was hungry enough, and some wine and +preserved fruits coming to light all the prisoners made a meal +which heartened most of them considerably; although the heat was +becoming terrible, as the sun rose higher in the sky, and very +little air could be obtained through the window, so that poor +Julienne could not eat, and Rosette fell into a heavy sleep in +the midst of her sighs. Even Estelle, who had got out her +Télémaque, like a sort of oracle in the course of +being verified, was asleep over it, when fresh noises and grating +sounds were board, new steps on deck, and there were steps and +voices. The Genoese captain was heard exclaiming, +‘Open, Madame! you can do so safely. This is the +Algerine captain, who is bound to protect you.’</p> +<p>The maids huddled together behind their lady, who stood +forward as the door opened to admit a stout, squarely-built man +in the typical dress of a Turk,—white turban, purple coat, +broad sash crammed with weapons, and ample trousers,—a +truculent-looking figure which made the maids shudder and embrace +one another with suppressed shrieks, but which somehow, even in +the midst of his Eastern salaam, gave the Countess a sense that +he was acting a comedy, and carried her involuntarily back to the +Moors whom she had seen in the <i>Cid</i> on the stage. And +looking again, she perceived that though brown and +weather-beaten, there was a certain Northern ruddiness inherent +in his complexion; that his eyes were gray, so far as they were +visible between the surrounding puckers; and his eyebrows, +moustache, and beard not nearly so dark as the hair of the +Genoese who stood cringing beside him as interpreter. She +formed her own conclusions and adhered to them, though he spoke +in bad Arabic to the skipper, who proceeded to explain that El +Reis Hamed would offer no injury to Madame la Comtesse, her suite +or property, being bound by treaty between the Dey and the King +of France, but that he required to see her passport. There +was a little blundering in the Italian’s French rendering, +and Madame de Bourke was quick to detect the perception of it in +the countenance of the Reis, stolid though it was. She felt +no doubt that he was a renegade of European birth, and watched, +with much anxiety as well as curiosity, his manner of dealing +with her passports, which she would not let out of her own +hand. She saw in a moment that though he let the Genoese +begin to interpret them, his eyes were following intelligently; +and she hazarded the observation, ‘You understand, +sir. You are Frank.’</p> +<p>He turned one startled glance towards the door to see if there +were any listeners, and answered, ‘Hollander, +Madame.’</p> +<p>The Countess had travelled with diplomatists all her life, and +knew a little of the vernacular of most languages, and it was in +Dutch—broken indeed, but still Dutch—that she +declared that she was sure that she might rely on his +protection—a security which in truth she was far from +feeling; for while some of these unfortunate men, renegades only +from weakness, yearned after their compatriots and their lost +home and faith, others out-heroded the Moors themselves in +ferocity, especially towards the Christian captives; nor was a +Dutchman likely to have any special tenderness in his +composition, above all towards the French. However, there +was a certain smile on the lips of Reis Hamed, and he answered +with a very hearty, ‘Ja! ja! Madame. Upon my +soul I will let no harm come to you or the pretty little ones, +nor the young vrouwkins either, if they will keep close. +You are safe by treaty. A Reis would have to pay a heavy +reckoning with Mehemed Dey if a French ambassador had to complain +of him, and you will bear me witness, Madame, that I have not +touched a hair of any of your heads!’</p> +<p>‘I am sure you wish me well, sir,’ said Madame de +Bourke in a dignified way, ‘but I require to be certified +of the safety of the rest of my suite, my steward, my lackey, and +my husband’s secretary, a young gentleman of noble +birth.’</p> +<p>‘They are safe, Madame. This Italian slave can +bear me witness that no creature has been harmed since my crew +boarded this vessel.’</p> +<p>‘I desire then that they may be released, as being named +in my passport.’</p> +<p>To this the Dutchman consented.</p> +<p>Whereupon the skipper began to wring his hands, and piteously +to beseech Madame to intercede for him, but the Dutchman cut him +short before she could speak. ‘Dog of an Italian, the +lady knows better! You and your fellows are our +prize—poor enough after all the trouble you have given us +in chasing you.’</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke spoke kindly to the poor man, telling him +that though she could do nothing for him now, it was possible +that she might when she should have rejoined her husband, and she +then requested the Reis to land her and her suite in his +long-boat on the Spanish coast, which could be seen in the +distance, promising him ample reward if he could do so.</p> +<p>To this he replied: ‘Madame, you ask what would be death +to me.’</p> +<p>He went on to explain that if he landed her on Christian +ground, without first presenting her and her passport to the Dey +and the French Consul, his men might represent him as acting in +the interests of the Christians, and as a traitor to the Algerine +power, by taking a bribe from a person belonging to a hostile +state, in which case the bowstring would be the utmost mercy he +could expect; and the reigning Dey, Mehemed, having been only +recently chosen, it was impossible to guess how he might deal +with such cases. Once at Algiers, he assured Madame de +Bourke that she would have nothing to fear, as she would be under +the protection of the French Consul; and she had no choice but to +submit, though much concerned for the continued anxiety to her +husband, as well as the long delay and uncertainty of finding +him.</p> +<p>Still, when she perceived that it was inevitable, she +complained no more, and the Dutchman went on with a certain bluff +kindness—as one touched by her courtesy—to offer her +the choice of remaining in the tartane or coming on board his +larger vessel. The latter he did not recommend, as he had a +crew of full two hundred Turks and Moors, and it would be +necessary to keep herself and all her women as closely as +possible secluded in the cabins; and even then, he added, that if +once seen he could hardly answer for some of those corsairs not +endeavouring to secure a fair young Frank girl for his harem; and +as his eye fell on Rosette, she bridled and hid herself behind +Mademoiselle Julienne.</p> +<p>He must, he said, remove all the Genoese, but he would send on +board the tartane only seven men on whom he could perfectly +depend for respectful behaviour, so that the captives would be +able to take the air on deck as freely as before. There was +no doubt that he was in earnest, and the lady accepted his offer +with thanks, all the stronger since she and all around her were +panting and sick for want of fresh air.</p> +<p>It was a great relief when he took her on deck with him that +she might identify the three men whom she claimed as belonging to +her suite. Arthur, Lanty, and Hébert, who, in their +vague knowledge of the circumstances, had been dreading the oar +for the rest of their lives, could hardly believe their good +fortune when she called them up to her, and the Abbé +gripped Lanty’s arm as if he would never let him go +again. The poor Italians seemed to feel their fate all the +harder for the deliverance of those three, and sobbed, howled, +and wept so piteously that Arthur wondered how strong men could +so give way, while Lanty’s tears sprang forth in sympathy, +and he uttered assurances and made signs that he would never +cease to pray for their rescue.</p> +<p>‘Though,’ as he observed, ‘they were poor +creatures that hadn’t the heart of a midge, when there was +such a chance of a fight while the haythen spalpeens were coming +on board.’</p> +<p>Here Lanty was called on to assist Hébert in +identifying his lady’s bales of goods, when all those of +the unfortunate Genoese were put on board the corsair’s +vessel. A sail-cloth partition was extended across the deck +by the care of the Dutchman, ‘who’—as Lanty +said—‘for a haythen apostate was a very dacent +man.’ He evidently had a strong compassion and +fellow-feeling for the Christian lady, and assured her that she +might safely take the air and sit on deck as much as she pleased +behind its shelter; and he likewise carefully selected the seven +of his crew whom he sent on board to work the ship, the chief +being a heavy-looking old Turk, with a chocolate-coloured visage +between a huge white beard and eyebrows, and the others mere +lads, except one, who, from an indefinable European air about +him, was evidently a renegade, and could speak a sort of French, +so as to hold communication with the captives, especially Lanty, +who was much quicker than any of the rest in picking up +languages, perhaps from having from his infancy talked French and +English (or rather Irish), and likewise learnt Latin with his +foster-brother. This man was the only one permitted to go +astern of the partition, in case of need, to attend to the helm; +but the vessel was taken in tow by the corsair, and needed little +management. The old Turk seemed to regard the Frankish +women like so many basilisks, and avoided turning a glance in +their direction, roaring at his crew if he only saw them +approaching the sail-cloth, and keeping a close watch upon the +lithe black-eyed youths, whose brown limbs carried them up the +mast with the agility of monkeys. There was one in +especial—a slight, well-made fellow about twenty, with a +white turban cleaner than the rest—who contrived to cast +wonderful glances from the masthead over the barrier at Rosette, +who actually smiled in return at <i>ce pauvre garçon</i>, +and smiled the more for Mademoiselle Julienne’s +indignation. Suddenly, however, a shrill shout made him +descend hastily, and the old Turk’s voice might be heard in +its highest key, no doubt shrieking out maledictions on all the +ancestry of the son of a dog who durst defile his eyes with +gazing at the shameless daughters of the Frank. Little +Ulysse was, however, allowed to disport himself wherever he +pleased; and after once, under Arthur’s protection, going +forward, he found himself made very welcome, and offered various +curiosities, such as shells, corals, and a curious dried little +hippocampus or seahorse.</p> +<p>This he brought back in triumph, to the extreme delight of his +sister’s classical mind. ‘Oh mamma, +mamma,’ she cried, ‘Ulysse really has got the +skeleton of a Triton. It is exactly like the stone +creatures in the Champs Elysées.’</p> +<p>There was no denying the resemblance, and it so increased the +confusion in Estelle’s mind between the actual and the +mythological, that Arthur told her that she was looking out for +the car of Amphitrite to arise from the waters. Anxiety and +trouble had made him much better acquainted with Madame de +Bourke, who was grateful to him for his kindness to her children, +and not without concern as to whether she should be able to +procure his release as well as her own at Algiers. For +Laurence Callaghan she had no fears, since he was born at Paris, +and a naturalised French subject like her husband and his +brother; but Arthur was undoubtedly a Briton, and unless she +could pass him off as one of her suite, it would depend on the +temper of the English Consul whether he should be viewed as a +subject or as a rebel, or simply left to captivity until his +Scottish relations should have the choice of ransoming him.</p> +<p>She took a good deal of pains to explain the circumstances to +him as well as to all who could understand them; for though she +hoped to keep all together, and to be able to act for them +herself, no one could guess how they might be separated, and she +could not shake off that foreboding of misfortune which had +haunted her from the first.</p> +<p>The kingdom of Algiers was, she told them, tributary to the +Turkish Sultan, who kept a guard of Janissaries there, from among +whom they themselves elected the Dey. He was supposed to +govern by the consent of a divan, but was practically as despotic +as any Eastern sovereign; and the Aga of the Janissaries was next +in authority to him. Piracy on the Mediterranean was, as +all knew, the chief occupation of the Turks and Moors of any +spirit or enterprise, a Turk being in authority in each vessel to +secure that the Sultan had his share, and that the capture was so +conducted as not to involve Turkey in dangerous wars with +European powers. Capture by the Moors had for several +centuries been one of the ordinary contingencies of a voyage, and +the misfortune that had happened to the party was not at all an +unusual one.</p> +<p>In 1687, however, the nuisance had grown to such a height that +Admiral Du Quesne bombarded the town of Algiers, and destroyed +all the fortifications, peace being only granted on condition +that a French Consul should reside at Algiers, and that French +ships and subjects should be exempt from this violence of the +corsairs.</p> +<p>The like treaties existed with the English, but had been very +little heeded by the Algerines till recently, when the possession +of Gibraltar and Minorca had provided harbours for British ships, +which exercised a salutary supervision over these Southern +sea-kings. The last Dey, Baba Hali, had been a wise and +prudent man, anxious to repress outrage, and to be on good terms +with the two great European powers; but he had died in the spring +of the current year, 1718, and the temper of his successor, +Mehemed, had not yet been proved.</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke had some trust in the Dutch Reis, renegade +though he was. She had given him her beautiful watch, set +with brilliants, and he had taken it with a certain gruff +reluctance, declaring that he did not want it,—he was ready +enough to serve her without such a toy.</p> +<p>Nevertheless the lady thought it well to impress on each and +all, in case of any separation or further disaster, that their +appeal must be to the French Consul, explaining minutely the +forms in which it should be made.</p> +<p>‘I cannot tell you,’ she said to Arthur, +‘how great a comfort it is to me to have with me a +gentleman, one of intelligence and education to whom I can +confide my poor children. I know you will do your utmost to +protect them and restore them to their father.’</p> +<p>‘With my very heart’s blood, Madame.’</p> +<p>‘I hope that may not be asked of you, Monsieur,’ +she returned with a faint smile,—‘though I fear there +may be much of perplexity and difficulty in the way before again +rejoining him. You see where I have placed our +passports? My daughter knows it likewise; but in case of +their being taken from you, or any other accident happening to +you, I have written these two letters, which you had better bear +about your person. One is, as you see, to our Consul at +Algiers, and may serve as credentials; the other is to my +husband, to whom I have already written respecting +you.’</p> +<p>‘A thousand thanks, Madame,’ returned +Arthur. ‘But I hope and trust we may all reach M. le +Comte in safety together. You yourself said that you +expected only a brief detention before he could be communicated +with, and this captain, renegade though he be, evidently has a +respect for you.’</p> +<p>‘That is quite true,’ she returned, ‘and it +may only be my foolish heart that forebodes evil; nevertheless, I +cannot but recollect that <i>c’est l’imprévu +qui arrive</i>.’</p> +<p>‘Then, Madame, that is the very reason there should be +no misfortune,’ returned Arthur.</p> +<p>It was on the second day after the capture of the tartane that +the sun set in a purple angry-looking bank of cloud, and the sea +began to heave in a manner which renewed the earlier distresses +of the voyage to such as were bad sailors. The sails both +of the corsair and of the tartane were taken in, and it was plain +that a rough night was to be expected. The children were +lashed into their berths, and all prepared themselves to +endure. The last time Arthur saw Madame de Bourke’s +face, by the light of the lamp swinging furiously from the cabin +roof, as he assisted in putting in the dead lights, it bore the +same fixed expression of fortitude and resignation as when she +was preparing to be boarded by the pirates.</p> +<p>He remained on deck, but it was very perilous, for the vessel +was so low in the water that the waves dashed over it so wildly +that he could hardly help being swept away. It was pitch +dark, too, and the lantern of the other vessel could only just be +seen, now high above their heads, now sinking in the trouble of +the sea, while the little tartane was lifted up as though on a +mountain; and in a kind of giddy dream, he thought of falling +headlong upon her deck. Finally he found himself +falling. Was he washed overboard? No; a sharp blow +showed him that he had only fallen down the hatchway, and after +lying still a moment, he heard the voices of Lanty and +Hébert, and presently they were all tossed together by +another lurch of the ship.</p> +<p>It was a night of miseries that seemed endless, and when a +certain amount of light appeared, and Arthur and Lanty crawled +upon deck, the tempest was unabated. They found themselves +still dashed, as if their vessel were a mere cork, on the huge +waves; rushes of water coming over them, whether from sea or sky +there was no knowing, for all seemed blended together in one mass +of dark lurid gray; and where was the Algerine ship—so +lately their great enemy, now watched for as their guide and +guardian?</p> +<p>It was no place nor time for questions, even could they have +been heard or understood. It was scarcely possible even to +be heard by one another, and it was some time before they +convinced themselves that the large vessel had disappeared. +The cable must have parted in the night, and they were running +with bare poles before the gale; the seamanship of the man at the +helm being confined to avoiding the more direct blows of the +waves, on the huge crests of which the little tartane +rode—gallantly perhaps in mariners’ eyes, but very +wretchedly to the feelings of the unhappy landsmen within +her.</p> +<p>Arthur thought of St. Paul, and remembered with dismay that it +was many days before sun or moon appeared. He managed to +communicate his recollection to Lanty, who exclaimed, ‘And +he was a holy man, and he was a prisoner too. He will feel +for us if any man can in this sore strait! <i>Sancte +Paule</i>, <i>ora pro nobis</i>. An’ haven’t I +got the blessed scapulary about me neck that will bring me +through worse than this?’</p> +<p>The three managed to get down to tell the unfortunate inmates +of the cabin what was the state of things, and to carry them some +food, though at the expense of many falls and severe blows; and +almost all of them were too faint or nauseated to be able to +swallow such food as could survive the transport under such +circumstances. Yet high-spirited little Estelle entreated +to be carried on deck, to see what a storm was like. She +had read of them so often, and wanted to see as well as to +feel. She was almost ready to cry when Arthur assured her +it was quite impossible, and her mother added a grave order not +to trouble him.</p> +<p>Madame de Bourke looked so exhausted by the continual +buffeting and the closeness of the cabin, and her voice was so +weak, that Arthur grieved over the impossibility of giving her +any air. Julienne tried to make her swallow some <i>eau de +vie</i>; but the effort of steadying her hand seemed too much for +her, and after a terrible lurch of the ship, which lodged the +poor <i>bonne</i> in the opposite corner of the cabin, the lady +shook her head and gave up the attempt. Indeed, she seemed +so worn out that Arthur—little used to the sight of +fainting—began to fear that her forebodings of dying before +she could rejoin her husband were on the point of being +realised.</p> +<p>However, the gale abated towards evening, and the youth +himself was so much worn out that the first respite was spent in +sleep. When he awoke, the sea was much calmer, and the +eastern sun was rising in glory over it; the Turks, with their +prayer carpets in a line, were simultaneously kneeling and bowing +in prayer, with their faces turned towards it. Lanty +uttered an only too emphatic curse upon the misbelievers, and +Arthur vainly tried to make him believe that their ‘Allah +il Allah’ was neither addressed to Mohammed nor the +sun.</p> +<p>‘Sure and if not, why did they make their obeisance to +it all one as the Persians in the big history-book Master Phelim +had at school?’</p> +<p>‘It’s to the east they turn Lanty, not to the +sun.’</p> +<p>‘And what right have the haythen spalpeens to turn to +the east like good Christians?’</p> +<p>‘’Tis to their Prophet’s tomb they look, at +Mecca.’</p> +<p>‘There, an’ I tould you they were no better than +haythens,’ returned Lanty, ‘to be praying and +knocking their heads on the bare boards—that have as much +sense as they have—to a dead man’s tomb.’</p> +<p>Arthur’s Scotch mind thought the Moors might have had +the best of it in argument when he recollected Lanty’s +trust in his scapulary.</p> +<p>They tried to hold a conversation with the Reis, between +<i>lingua Franca</i> and the Provençal of the renegade; +and they came to the conclusion that no one had the least idea +where they were, or where they were going; the ship’s +compass had been broken in the boarding, and there was no chart +more available than the little map in the beginning of +Estelle’s precious copy of Télémaque. +The Turkish Reis did not trouble himself about it, but squatted +himself down with his chibouque, abandoning all guidance of the +ship, and letting her drift at the will of wind and wave, or, as +he said, the will of Allah. When asked where he thought she +was going, he replied with solemn indifference, +‘Kismet;’ and all the survivors of the crew—for +one had been washed overboard—seemed to share his +resignation.</p> +<p>The only thing he did seem to care for was that if the infidel +woman chose to persist in coming on deck, the canvas +screen—which had been washed overboard—should be +restored. This was done, and Madame de Bourke was assisted +to a couch that had been prepared for her with cloaks, where the +air revived her a little; but she listened with a faint smile to +the assurances of Arthur, backed by Hébert, that this +abandonment to fate gave the best chance. They might either +be picked up by a Christian vessel or go ashore on a Christian +coast; but Madame de Bourke did not build much on these +hopes. She knew too well what were the habits of wreckers +of all nations, to think that it would make much difference +whether they were driven on the coast of Sicily or of +Africa—‘barring,’ as Lanty said, ‘that +they should get Christian burial in the former case.’</p> +<p>‘We are in the hands of a good God. That at least +we know,’ said the Countess. ‘And He can hear +us through, whether for life in Paradise, or trial a little +longer here below.’</p> +<p>‘Like Blandina,’ observed Estelle.</p> +<p>‘Ah! my child, who knows whether trials like even that +blessed saint’s may not be in reserve even for your tender +age. When I think of these miserable men, who have +renounced their faith, I see what fearful ordeals there may be +for those who fall into the hands of those unbelievers. +Strong men have yielded. How may it not be with my poor +children?’</p> +<p>‘God made Blandina brave, mamma. I will pray that +He may make me so.’</p> +<p>Land was in sight at last. Purple mountains rose to the +south in wild forms, looking strangely thunderous and red in the +light of the sinking sun. A bay, with rocks jutting out far +into the sea, seemed to embrace them with its arms. +Soundings were made, and presently the Reis decided on +anchoring. It was a rocky coast, with cliffs descending +into the sea, covered with verdure, and the water beneath was +clear as glass.</p> +<p>‘Have we escaped the Syrtes to fall upon +Æneas’ cave?’ murmured Arthur to himself.</p> +<p>‘And if we could meet Queen Dido, or maybe Venus +herself, ’twould be no bad thing!’ observed Lanty, +who remembered his Virgil on occasion. ‘For +there’s not a drop of wather left barring <i>eau de +vie</i>, and if these Moors get at that, ’tis raving madmen +they would be.’</p> +<p>‘Do they know where we are?’ asked Arthur.</p> +<p>‘Sorrah a bit!’ returned Lanty, ‘tho’ +’tis a pretty place enough. If my old mother was +here, ’tis her heart would warm to the +mountains.’</p> +<p>‘Is it Calypso’s Island?’ whispered Ulysse +to his sister.</p> +<p>‘See, what are they doing?’ cried Estelle. +‘There are people—don’t you see, white specks +crowding down to the water.’</p> +<p>There was just then a splash, and two bronzed figures were +seen setting forth from the tartane to swim to shore. The +Turkish Reis had despatched them, to ascertain whether the vessel +had drifted, and who the inhabitants might be.</p> +<p>A good while elapsed before one of these scouts +returned. There was a great deal of talk and gesticulating +round him, and Lanty, mingling with it, brought back word that +the place was the Bay of Golo, not far from Djigheli, and just +beyond the Algerine frontier. The people were Cabeleyzes, a +wild race of savage dogs, which means dogs according the Moors, +living in the mountains, and independent of the Dey. A +considerable number rushed to the coast, armed, and in great +numbers, perceiving the tartane to be an Italian vessel, and +expecting a raid by Sicilian robbers on their cattle; but the +Moors had informed them that it was no such thing, but a prize +taken in the name of the Dey of Algiers, in which an illustrious +French Bey’s harem was being conveyed to Algiers. +From that city the tartane was now about a day’s sail, +having been driven to the eastward of it during the storm. +‘The Turkish commander evidently does not like the +neighbourhood,’ said Arthur, ‘judging by his +gestures.’</p> +<p>‘Dogs and sons of dogs are the best names he has for +them,’ rejoined Lanty.</p> +<p>‘See! They have cut the cable! Are we not to +wait for the other man who swam ashore?’</p> +<p>So it was. A favourable wind was blowing, and the Reis, +being by no means certain of the disposition of the Cabeleyzes, +chose to leave them behind him as soon as possible, and make his +way to Algiers, which began to appear to his unfortunate +passengers like a haven of safety.</p> +<p>They were not, however, out of the bay when the wind suddenly +veered, and before the great lateen sail could be reefed, it had +almost caused the vessel to be blown over. There was a +pitching and tossing almost as violent as in the storm, and then +wind and current began carrying the tartane towards the rocky +shore. The Reis called the men to the oars, but their +numbers were too few to be availing, and in a very few minutes +more the vessel was driven hopelessly towards a mass of +rocks.</p> +<p>Arthur, the Abbé, Hébert, and Lanty were all +standing together at the head of the vessel. The poor +Abbé seemed dazed, and kept dreamily fingering his rosary, +and murmuring to himself. The other three consulted in a +low voice.</p> +<p>‘Were it not better to have the women here on +deck?’ asked Arthur.</p> +<p>‘<i>Eh</i>, <i>non</i>!’ sobbed Master +Hébert. ‘Let not my poor mistress see what is +coming on her and her little ones!’</p> +<p>‘Ah! and ’tis better if the innocent creatures +must be drowned, that it should be without being insensed of it +till they wake in our Lady’s blessed arms,’ added +Lanty. ‘Hark! and they are at their +prayers.’</p> +<p>But just then Victorine rushed up from below, and throwing her +arms round Lanty, cried, ‘Oh! Laurent, Laurent. +It is not true that it is all over with us, is it? Oh! save +me! save me!’</p> +<p>‘And if I cannot save you, mine own heart’s core, +we’ll die together,’ returned the poor fellow, +holding her fast. ‘It won’t last long, +Victorine, and the saints have a hold of my scapulary.’</p> +<p>He had scarcely spoken when, lifted upon a wave, the tartane +dashed upon the rocks, and there was at once a horrible shivering +and crashing throughout her—a frightful mingling of shrieks +and yells of despair with the wild roar of the waves that poured +over her. The party at the head of the vessel were +conscious of clinging to something, and when the first +burly-burly ceased a little they found themselves all together +against the bulwark, the vessel almost on her beam ends, wedged +into the rocks, their portion high and dry, but the stern, where +the cabin was, entirely under water.</p> +<p>Victorine screamed aloud, ‘My lady! my poor +lady.’</p> +<p>‘I see—I see something,’ cried Arthur, who +had already thrown off his coat, and in another moment he had +brought up Estelle in his arms, alive, sobbing and panting. +Giving her over to the steward, he made another dive, but then +was lost sight of, and returned no more, nor was anything to be +seen of the rest. Shut up in the cabin, Madame de Bourke, +Ulysse, and the three maids must have been instantly drowned, and +none of the crew were to be seen. Maître +Hébert hold the little girl in his arms, glad that, though +living, she was only half-conscious. Victorine, sobbing, +hung heavily on Lanty, and before he could free his hands he +perceived to his dismay that the Abbé, unassisted, was +climbing down from the wreck upon the rock, scarcely perhaps +aware of his danger.</p> +<p>Lanty tried to put Victorine aside, and called out, +‘Your reverence, wait—Masther Phelim, wait till I +come and help you.’ But the girl, frantic with +terror, grappled him fast, screaming to him not to let her +go—and at the same moment a wave broke over the +Abbé. Lanty, almost wild, was ready to leap into it +after him, thinking he must be sucked back with it, but behold! +he still remained clinging to the rock. Instinct seemed to +serve him, for he had stuck his knife into the rock and was +holding on by it. There seemed no foothold, and while Lanty +was deliberating how to go to his assistance, another wave washed +him off and bore him to the next rock, which was only separated +from the mainland by a channel of smoother water. He tried +to catch at a floating plank, but in vain; however, an oar next +drifted towards him, and by it he gained the land, but only to be +instantly surrounded by a mob of Cabeleyzes, who seemed to be +stripping off his garments. By this time many were swimming +towards the wreck; and Estelle, who had recovered breath and +senses, looked over Hébert’s shoulder at them. +‘The savages! the infidels!’ she said. +‘Will they kill me? or will they try to make me renounce my +faith? They shall kill me rather than make me +yield.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! yes, my dear <i>demoiselle</i>, that is +right. That is the only way. It is my resolution +likewise,’ returned Hébert. ‘God give us +grace to persist.’</p> +<p>‘My mamma said so,’ repeated the child. +‘Is she drowned, Maître Hébert?’</p> +<p>‘She is happier than we are, my dear young +lady.’</p> +<p>‘And my little brother too! Ah! then I shall +remember that they are only sending me to them in +Paradise.’</p> +<p>By this time the natives were near the wreck, and Estelle, +shuddering, clung closer to Hébert; but he had made up his +mind what to do. ‘I must commit you to these men, +Mademoiselle,’ he said; ‘the water is rising—we +shall perish if we remain here.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! but it would not hurt so much to be drowned,’ +said Estelle, who had made up her mind to Blandina’s +chair.</p> +<p>‘I must endeavour to save you for your father, +Mademoiselle, and your poor grandmother! There! be a good +child! Do not struggle.’</p> +<p>He had attracted the attention of some of the swimmers, and he +now flung her to them. One caught her by an arm, another by +a leg, and she was safely taken to the shore, where at once a +shoe and a stocking were taken from her, in token of her becoming +a captive; but otherwise her garments were not meddled with; in +which she was happier than her uncle, whom she found crouched up +on a rock, stripped almost to the skin, so that he shrank from +her, when she sprang to his side amid the Babel of wild men and +women, who were shouting in exultation and wonder over his big +flapped hat, his <i>soutane</i> and bands, pointing at his white +limbs and yellow hair—or, what amazed them even more, +Estelle’s light, flaxen locks, which hung soaked around +her. She felt a hand pulling them to see whether anything +so strange actually grew on her head, and she turned round to +confront them with a little gesture of defiant dignity that +evidently awed them, for they kept their hands off her, and did +not interfere as she stood sentry over her poor shivering +uncle.</p> +<p>Lanty was by this time trying to drag Victorine over the rocks +and through the water. The poor Parisienne was very +helpless, falling, hurting herself, and screaming continually; +and trebly, when a couple of natives seized upon her, and dragged +her ashore, where they immediately snatched away her mantle and +cap, pulled off her gold chain and cross, and tore out her +earrings with howls of delight.</p> +<p>Lanty, struggling on, was likewise pounced upon, and bereft of +his fine green and gold livery coat and waistcoat, which, though +by no means his best, and stained with the sea water, were +grasped with ecstasy, quarrelled over, and displayed in +triumph. The steward had secured a rope by which he +likewise reached the shore, only to become the prey of the +savages, who instantly made prize of his watch and purse, as well +as of almost all his garments. The five unfortunate +survivors would fain have remained huddled together, but the +natives pointing to some huts on the hillside, urged them thither +by the language of shouts and blows.</p> +<p>‘Faith and I’m not an ox,’ exclaimed Lanty, +as if the fellow could have understood him, ‘and is it to +the shambles you’re driving me?’</p> +<p>‘Best not resist! There’s nothing for it but +to obey them,’ said the steward, ‘and at least there +will be shelter for the child.’</p> +<p>No objection was made to his lifting her in his arms, and he +carried her, as the party, half-drowned, nearly starved and +exhausted, stumbled on along the rocky paths which cut their feet +cruelly, since their shoes had all been taken from them. +Lanty gave what help he could to the Abbé and Victorine, +who were both in a miserable plight, but ere long he was obliged +to take his turn in carrying Estelle, whose weight had become too +much for the worn out Hébert. He was alarmed to +find, on transferring her, that her head sank on his shoulder as +if in a sleep of exhaustion, which, however, shielded her from +much terror. For, as they arrived at a cluster of five or +six tents, built of clay and the branches of trees, out rushed a +host of women, children, and large fierce dogs, all making as +much noise as they were capable of. The dogs flew at the +strange white forms, no doubt utterly new to them. +Victorine was severely bitten, and Lanty, trying to rescue her, +had his leg torn.</p> +<p>These two were driven into one hut; Estelle, who was evidently +considered as the greatest prize, was taken into another and +rather better one, together with the steward and the +Abbé. The Moors, who had swum ashore, had probably +told them that she was the Frankish Bey’s daughter; for +this, miserable place though it was, appeared to be the best hut +in the hamlet, nor was she deprived of her clothes. A sort +of bournouse or haik, of coarse texture and very dirty, was given +to each of the others, and some rye cakes baked in the +ashes. Poor little Estelle turned away her head at first, +but Hébert, alarmed at her shivering in her wet clothes, +contrived to make her swallow a little, and then took off the +soaked dress, and wrapped her in the bournouse. She was by +this time almost unconscious from weariness, and made no +resistance to the unaccustomed hands, or the disgusting +coarseness and uncleanness of her wrapper, but dropped asleep the +moment he laid her down, and he applied himself to trying to dry +her clothes at a little fire of sticks that had been lighted +outside the open space, round which the huts stood.</p> +<p>The Abbé too had fallen asleep, as Hébert +managed to assure poor Lanty, who rushed out of the other tent, +nearly naked, and bloodstained in many places, but more concerned +at his separation from his foster-brother than at anything else +that had befallen him. Men, women, children, and dogs were +all after him, supposing him to be trying to escape, and he was +seized upon and dragged back by main force, but not before the +steward had called out—</p> +<p>‘M. l’Abbé sleeps—sleeps +sound—he is not hurt! For Heaven’s sake, +Laurent, be quiet—do not enrage them! It is the only +hope for him, as for Mademoiselle and the rest of us.’</p> +<p>Lanty, on hearing of the Abbé’s safety, allowed +himself to be taken back, making himself, however, a passive dead +weight on his captor’s hands.</p> +<p>‘Arrah,’ he muttered to himself, ‘if ye will +have me, ye shall have the trouble of me, bad luck to you. +’Tis little like ye are to the barbarous people St. Paul +was thrown with; but then what right have I to expect the +treatment of a holy man, the like of him? If so be, I can +save that poor orphan that’s left, and bring off Master +Phelim safe, and save poor Victorine from being taken for some +dirty spalpeen’s wife, when he has half a dozen more to the +fore—’tis little it matters what becomes of Lanty +Callaghan; they might give him to their big brutes of dogs, and +mighty lean meat they would find him!’</p> +<p>So came down the first night upon the captives.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER V—CAPTIVITY</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘Hold fast thy hope and Heaven will not<br +/> +Forsake thee in thine hour.<br /> +Good angels will be near thee,<br /> +And evil ones will fear thee,<br /> +And Faith will give thee power.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">Southey</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The whole northern coast of Africa is inhabited by a medley of +tribes, all owning a kind of subjection to the Sultan, but more +in the sense of Pope than of King. The part of the coast +where the tartane had been driven on the rocks was beneath Mount +Araz, a spur of the Atlas, and was in the possession of the Arab +tribe called Cabeleyze, which is said to mean ‘the +revolted.’ The revolt had been from the Algerine +power, which had never been able to pursue them into the +fastnesses of the mountains, and they remained a wild independent +race, following all those Ishmaelite traditions and customs that +are innate in the blood of the Arab.</p> +<p>When Estelle awoke from her long sleep of exhaustion, she was +conscious of a stifling atmosphere, and moreover of the crow of a +cock in her immediate vicinity, then of a dog growling, and a +lamb beginning to bleat. She raised herself a little, and +beheld, lying on the ground around her, dark heaps with human +feet protruding from them. These were interspersed with +sheep, goats, dogs, and fowls, all seen by the yellow light of +the rising sun which made its way in not only through the +doorless aperture, but through the reeds and branches which +formed the walls.</p> +<p>Close as the air was, she felt the chill of the morning and +shivered. At the same moment she perceived poor +Maître Hébert covering himself as best he could with +a dirty brown garment, and bending over her with much solicitude, +but making signs to make as little noise as possible, while he +whispered, ‘How goes it with Mademoiselle?’</p> +<p>‘Ah,’ said Estelle, recollecting herself, +‘we are shipwrecked. We shall have to confess our +faith! Where are the rest?’</p> +<p>‘There is M. l’Abbé,’ said +Hébert, pointing to a white pair of the bare feet. +‘Poor Laurent and Victorine have been carried +elsewhere.’</p> +<p>‘And mamma? And my brother?’</p> +<p>‘Ah! Mademoiselle, give the good God thanks that +he has spared them our trial.’</p> +<p>‘Mamma! Ah, she was in the cabin when the water +came in? But my brother! I had hold of his hand, he +came out with me. I saw M. Arture swim away with him. +Yes, Maître Hébert, indeed I did.’</p> +<p>Hébert had not the least hope that they could be saved, +but he would not grieve the child by saying so, and his present +object was to get her dressed before any one was awake to watch, +and perhaps appropriate her upper garments. He was a +fatherly old man, and she let him help her with her fastenings, +and comb out her hair with the tiny comb in her +<i>étui</i>. Indeed, <i>friseurs</i> were the rule +in France, and she was not unused to male attendants at the +toilette, so that she was not shocked at being left to his +care.</p> +<p>For the rest, the child had always dwelt in an imaginary +world, a curious compound of the Lives of the Saints and of +Télémaque. Martyrs and heroes alike had been +shipwrecked, taken captive, and tormented; and there was a +certain sense of realised day-dream about her, as if she had +become one of the number and must act up to her part. She +asked Hébert if there were a Sainte Estelle, what was the +day of the month, and if she should be placed in the Calendar if +she never complained, do what these barbarians might to +her. She hoped she should hold out, for she would like to +be able to help all whom she loved, poor papa and all. But +it was hard that mamma, who was so good, could not be a martyr +too; but she was a saint in Paradise all the same, and thus +Estelle made her little prayer in hope. There was no +conceit or over confidence in the tone, though of course the poor +child little knew what she was ready to accept; but it was a +spark of the martyr’s trust that gleamed in her eye, and +gave her a sense of exaltation that took off the sharpest edge of +grief and fear.</p> +<p>By this time, however, the animals were stirring, and with +them the human beings who had lain down in their clothes. +Peace was over; the Abbé awoke, and began to call for +Laurent and his clothes and his beads; but this aroused the +master of the house, who started up, and threatening with a huge +stick, roared at him what must have been orders to be quiet.</p> +<p>Estelle indignantly flew between and cried, ‘You shall +not hurt my uncle.’</p> +<p>The commanding gesture spoke for itself; and, besides, poor +Phelim cowered behind her with an air that caused a word and sign +to pass round, which the captives found was equivalent to +innocent or imbecile; and the Mohammedan respect and tenderness +for the demented spared him all further violence or molestation, +except that he was lost and miserable without the attentions of +his foster-brother; and indeed the shocks he had undergone seemed +to have mobbed him of much of the small degree of sense he had +once possessed.</p> +<p>Coming into the space before the doorway, Estelle found +herself the object of universal gaze and astonishment, as her +long fair hair gleamed in the sunshine, every one coming to touch +it, and even pull it to see if it was real. She was a good +deal frightened, but too high-spirited to show it more than she +could help, as the dark-skinned, bearded men crowded round with +cries of wonder. The other two prisoners likewise appeared: +Victorine looking wretchedly ill, and hardly able to hold up her +head; Lanty creeping towards the Abbé, and trying to +arrange his remnant of clothing. There was a short respite, +while the Arabs, all turning eastwards, chanted their morning +devotions with a solemnity that struck their captives. The +scene was a fine one, if there had been any heart to +admire. The huts were placed on the verge of a fine forest +of chestnut and cork trees—and beyond towered up mountain +peaks in every variety of dazzling colour—red and purple +beneath, glowing red and gold where the snowy peaks caught the +morning sun, lately broken from behind them. The slopes +around were covered with rich grass, flourishing after the summer +heats, and to which the herds were now betaking themselves, +excepting such as were detained to be milked by the women, who +came pouring out of some of the other huts in dark blue garments; +and in front, still shadowed by the mountain, lay the bay, deep, +beautiful, pellucid green near the land, and shut in by fantastic +and picturesque rocks—some bare, some clothed with splendid +foliage, winter though it was—while beyond lay the +exquisite blue stretching to the horizon. Little recked the +poor prisoners of the scene so fair; they only saw the remnant of +the wreck below, the sea that parted them from hope, the savage +rocks behind, the barbarous people around, the squalor and dirt +of the adowara, as the hamlet was called.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/p96b.jpg"> +<img alt="Estelle" src="images/p96s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p>Comparatively, the Moor who had swum ashore to reconnoitre +seemed like a friend when he came forward and saluted Estelle and +the Abbé respectfully. Moreover the <i>lingua +Franca</i> Lanty had picked up established a very imperfect +double system of interpretation by the help of many +gestures. This was Lanty’s explanation to the rest: +in French, of course, but, like all his speech, Irish-English in +construction.</p> +<p>‘This Moor, Hassan, wants to stand our friend in his own +fashion, but he says they care not the value of an empty +mussel-shell for the French, and no more for the Dey of Algiers +than I do for the Elector of Hanover. He has told them that +M. l’Abbé and Mademoiselle are brother and daughter +to a great Bey—but it is little they care for that. +Holy Virgin, they took Mademoiselle for a boy! That is why +they are gazing at her so impudently. Would that I could +give them a taste of my cane! Do you see those broken +walls, and a bit of a castle on yonder headland jutting out into +the sea? They are bidding Hassan say that the French built +that, and garrisoned it with the help of the Dey; but there fell +out a war, and these fellows, or their fathers, surprised it, +sacked it, and carried off four hundred prisoners into +slavery. Holy Mother defend us! Here are all the +rogues coming to see what they will do with us!’</p> +<p>For the open space in front of the huts, whence all the +animals had now been driven, was becoming thronged with figures +with the haik laid over their heads, spear or blunderbuss in +hand, fine bearing, and sometimes truculent, though handsome, +browse countenances. They gazed at the captives, and +uttered what sounded like loud hurrahs or shouts; but after +listening to Hassan, Lanty turned round trembling. +‘The miserables! Some are for sacrificing us outright +on the spot, but this decent man declares that he will make them +sensible that their prophet was not out-and-out as bad as +that. Never you fear, Mademoiselle.’</p> +<p>‘I am not afraid,’ said Estelle, drawing up her +head. ‘We shall be martyrs.’</p> +<p>Lanty was engaged in listening to a moan from his +foster-brother for food, and Hébert joined in observing +that they might as well be sacrificed as starved to death; +whereupon the Irishman’s words and gesticulations induced +the Moor to make representations which resulted in some dry +pieces of <i>samh</i> cake, a few dates, and a gourd of water +being brought by one of the women; a scanty amount for the +number, even though poor Victorine was too ill to touch anything +but the water; while the Abbé seemed unable to understand +that the servants durst not demand anything better, and devoured +her share and a quarter of Lanty’s as well as his +own. Meantime the Cabeleyzes had all ranged themselves in +rows, cross-legged on the ground, opposite to the five +unfortunate captives, to sit in judgment on them. As they +kept together in one group, happily in the shade of a hut, +Victorine, too faint and sick fully to know what was going on, +lay with her head on the lap of her young mistress, who sat with +her bright and strangely fearless eyes confronting the wild +figures opposite.</p> +<p>Her uncle, frightened, though not comprehending the extent of +his danger, crouched behind Lanty, who with Hébert stood +somewhat in advance, the would-be guardians of the more helpless +ones.</p> +<p>There was an immense amount of deafening shrieking and +gesticulating among the Arabs. Hassan was responding, and +finally turned to Lanty, when the anxious watchers could perceive +signs as if of paying down coin made interrogatively. +‘Promise them anything, everything,’ cried +Hébert; ‘M. le Comte would give his last +sou—so would Madame la Marquise—to save +Mademoiselle.’</p> +<p>‘I have told him so,’ said Laurence presently; +‘I bade him let them know it is little they can make of us, +specially now they have stripped us as bare as themselves, the +rascals! but that their fortunes would be made—and little +they would know what to do with them—if they would only +send M. l’Abbé and Mademoiselle to Algiers safe and +sound. There! he is trying to incense them. Never +fear, Master Phelim, dear, there never was a rogue yet, black or +white, or the colour of poor Madame’s frothed chocolate, +who did not love gold better than blood, unless indeed +’twas for the sweet morsel of revenge; and these, for all +their rolling eyes and screeching tongues, have not the ghost of +a quarrel with us.’</p> +<p>‘My beads, my breviary,’ sighed the +Abbé. ‘Get them for me, Lanty.’</p> +<p>‘I wish they would end it quickly,’ said +Estelle. ‘My head aches so, and I want to be with +mamma. Poor Victorine! yours is worse,’ she added, +and soaked her handkerchief in the few drops of water left in the +gourd to lay it on the maid’s forehead.</p> +<p>The howling and shrieking betokened consultation, but was +suddenly interrupted by some half-grown lads, who came running in +with their hands full of what Lanty recognised to his horror as +garments worn by his mistress and fellow-servants, also a big +kettle and a handspike. They pointed down to the sea, and +with yells of haste and exultation all the wild conclave started +up to snatch, handle, and examine, then began rushing headlong to +the beach. Hassan’s explanations were scarcely needed +to show that they were about to ransack the ship, and he +evidently took credit to himself for having induced them to spare +the prisoners in case their assistance should be requisite to +gain full possession of the plunder.</p> +<p>Estelle and Victorine were committed to the charge of a +forbidding-looking old hag, the mother of the sheyk of the party; +the Abbé was allowed to stray about as he pleased, but the +two men were driven to the shore by the eloquence of the +club. Victorine revived enough for a burst of tears and a +sobbing cry, ‘Oh, they will be killed! We shall never +see them again!’</p> +<p>‘No,’ said Estelle, with her quiet yet childlike +resolution, ‘they are not going to kill any of us +yet. They said so. You are so tired, poor +Victorine! Now all the hubbub is over, suppose you lie +still and sleep. My uncle,’ as he roamed round her, +mourning for his rosary, ‘I am afraid your beads are lost; +but see here, these little round seeds, I can pierce them if you +will gather some more for me, and make you another set. +See, these will be the Aves, and here are shells in the grass for +the Paters.’</p> +<p>The long fibre of grass served for the string, and the sight +of the Giaour girl’s employment brought round her all the +female population who had not repaired to the coast. Her +first rosary was torn from her to adorn an almost naked baby; but +the Abbé began to whimper, and to her surprise the mother +restored it to him. She then made signs that she would +construct another necklace for the child, and she was rewarded by +a gourd being brought to her full of milk, which she was able to +share with her two companions, and which did something to revive +poor Victorine. Estelle was kept threading these necklaces +and bracelets all the wakeful hours of the day—for every +one fell asleep about noon—though still so jealous a watch +was kept on her that she was hardly allowed to shift her position +so as to get out of the sun, which even at that season was +distressingly scorching in the middle of the day.</p> +<p>Parties were continually coming up from the beach laden with +spoils of all kinds from the wreck, Lanty, Hébert, and a +couple of negroes being driven up repeatedly, so heavily +burthened as to be almost bent double. All was thrown down +in a heap at the other end of the adowara, and the old sheyk kept +guard over it, allowing no one to touch it. This went on +till darkness was coming on, when, while the cattle were being +collected for the night, the prisoners were allowed an interval, +in which Hébert and Lanty told how the natives, swimming +like ducks, had torn everything out of the wreck: all the bales +and boxes that poor Maître Hébert had secured with +so much care, and many of which he was now forced himself to open +for the pleasure of these barbarians.</p> +<p>That, however, was not the worst. Hébert +concealed from his little lady what Lanty did not spare +Victorine. ‘And there—enough to melt the heart +of a stone—there lay on the beach poor Madame la Comtesse, +and all the three. Good was it for you, Victorine, my +jewel, that you were not in the cabin with them.’</p> +<p>‘I know not,’ said the dejected Victorine; +‘they are better off than we?’</p> +<p>‘You would not say so, if you had seen what I +have,’ said Lanty, shuddering. ‘The +dogs!—they cut off Madame’s poor white fingers to get +at her rings, and not with knives either, lest her blessed flesh +should defile them, they said, and her poor face was an +angel’s all the time. Nay, nor that was not the +worst. The villainous boys, what must they do but pelt the +poor swollen bodies with stones! Ay, well you may scream, +Victorine. We went down on our knees, Maître +Hébert and I, to pray they might let us give them burial, +but they mocked us, and bade Hassan say they never bury +dogs. I went round the steeper path, for all the load at my +back, or I should have been flying at the throats of the cowardly +vultures, and then what would have become of M. +l’Abbé?’</p> +<p>Victorine trembled and wept bitterly for her companions, and +then asked if Lanty had seen the corpse of the little +Chevalier.</p> +<p>‘Not a sight of him or M. Arthur either,’ +returned Lanty; ‘only the ugly face of the old Turk captain +and another of his crew, and them they buried decently, being +Moslem hounds like themselves; while my poor lady that is a saint +in heaven—’ and he, too, shed tears of hot grief and +indignation, recovering enough to warn Victorine by no means to +let the poor young girl know of this additional horror.</p> +<p>There was little opportunity, for they had been appropriated +by different masters: Estelle, the Abbé, and Hébert +to the sheyk, or headman of the clan; and Lanty and Victorine to +a big, strong, fierce-looking fellow, of inferior degree but +greater might.</p> +<p>This time Estelle was to be kept for the night among the +sheyk’s women, who, though too unsophisticated to veil +their faces, had a part of the hut closed off with a screen of +reeds, but quite as bare as the outside. Hébert, who +could not endure to think of her sleeping on the ground, and saw +a large heap of grass or straw provided for a little brown cow, +endeavoured to take an armful for her. Unluckily it +belonged to Lanty’s master, Eyoub, who instantly flew at +him in a fury, dragged him to a log of wood, caught up an axe, +and had not Estelle’s screams brought up the sheyk, with +Hassan and one or two other men, the poor Maître +d’Hôtel’s head would have been off. There +was a sharp altercation between the sheyk and Eyoub, while +Estelle held the faithful servant’s hand, saying, +‘You did it for me! Oh, Hébert, do not make +them angry again. It would be beautiful to die for +one’s faith, but not for a handful of hay.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! my dear <i>demoiselle</i>, what would my poor +ladies say to see you sleeping on the bare ground in a filthy +hut?’</p> +<p>‘I slept well last night,’ returned Estelle; +‘indeed, I do not mind! It is only the more like the +dungeon at Lyon, you know! And I pray you, Hébert, +do not get yourself killed for nothing too soon, or else we shall +not all stand out and confess together, like St. Blandina and St. +Ponticus and St Epagathius.’</p> +<p>‘Alas, the dear child! The long names run off her +tongue as glibly as ever,’ sighed Hébert, who, +though determined not to forsake his faith, by no means partook +her enthusiasm for martyrdom. Hassan, however, having +explained what the purpose had been, Hébert was pardoned, +though the sheyk scornfully observed that what was good enough +for the daughters of a Hadji was good enough for the unclean +child of the Frankish infidels.</p> +<p>The hay might perhaps have spared a little stiffness, but it +would not have ameliorated the chief annoyances—the +closeness, the dirt, and the vermin. It was well that it +was winter, or the first of these would have been far worse, and, +fortunately for Estelle, she was one of those whom suffocating +air rather lulls than rouses.</p> +<p>Eyoub’s hovel did not rejoice in the refinement of a +partition, but his family, together with their animals, lay on +the rocky floor as best they might; and Victorine’s fever +came on again, so that she lay in great misery, greeted by a +growl from a great white dog whenever she tried to relieve her +restless aching limbs by the slightest movement, or to reach one +of the gourds of water laid near the sleepers, like Saul’s +cruse at his pillow.</p> +<p>Towards morning, however, Lanty, who had been sitting with his +back against the wall, awoke from the sleep well earned by acting +as a beast of burthen. The dog growled a little, but +Lanty—though his leg still showed its teeth-marks—had +made friends with it, and his hand on its head quieted it +directly, so that he was able cautiously to hand a gourd to +Victorine. The Arabs were heavy sleepers, and the two were +able to talk under their breath; as, in reply to a kind word from +Lanty, poor Victorine moaned her envy of the fate of Rosette and +Babette; and he, with something of their little mistress’s +spirit, declared that he had no doubt but that ‘one way or +the other they should be out of it: either get safe home, or be +blessed martyrs, without even a taste of purgatory.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! but there’s worse for me,’ sighed +Victorine. ‘This demon brought another to stare in my +face—I know he wants to make me his wife! Kill me +first, Laurent.’</p> +<p>‘It is I that would rather espouse you, my jewel,’ +returned a tender whisper.</p> +<p>‘How can you talk of such things at such a +moment?’</p> +<p>‘’Tis a pity M. l’Abbé is not a +priest,’ sighed Lanty. ‘But, you know, +Victorine, who is the boy you always meant to take.’</p> +<p>‘You need not be so sure of that,’ she said, the +coy coquetry not quite extinct.</p> +<p>‘Come, as you said, it is no time for fooling. +Give me your word and troth to be my wife so soon as we have the +good luck to come by a Christian priest by our Lady’s help, +and I’ll outface them all—were it Mohammed the +Prophet himself, that you are my espoused and betrothed, and woe +to him that puts a finger on you.’</p> +<p>‘You would only get yourself killed.’</p> +<p>‘And would not I be proud to be killed for your +sake? Besides, I’ll show them cause not to kill me if +I have the chance. Trust me, Victorine, my darling—it +is but a chance among these murdering villains, but it is the +only one; and, sure, if you pretended to turn the back of your +hand to me when there were plenty of Christian men to compliment +you, yet you would rather have poor Lanty than a thundering rogue +of a pagan Mohammedan.’</p> +<p>‘I hope I shall die,’ sighed poor Victorine +faintly. ‘It will only be your death!’</p> +<p>‘That is my affair,’ responded Lanty. +‘Come, here’s daylight coming in; reach me your hand +before this <i>canaille</i> wakes, and here’s this good +beast of a dog, and yonder grave old goat with a face like +Père Michel’s for our witnesses—and by good +luck, here’s a bit of gilt wire off my shoulder-knot that +I’ve made into a couple of rings while I’ve been +speaking.’</p> +<p>The strange betrothal had barely taken place before there was +a stir, and what was no doubt a yelling imprecation on the +‘dog Giaours’ for the noise they made.</p> +<p>The morning began as before, with the exception that Estelle +had established a certain understanding with a little +chocolate-coloured cupid of a boy of the size of her brother, and +his lesser sister, by letting them stroke her hair, and showing +them the mysteries of cat’s cradle. They shared their +gourd of goat’s-milk with her, but would not let her give +any to her companions. However, the Abbé had only to +hold out his hand to be fed, and the others were far too anxious +to care much about their food.</p> +<p>A much larger number of Cabeleyzes came streaming into the +forum of the adowara, and the prisoners were all again placed in +a row, while the new-comers passed before them, staring hard, and +manifestly making personal remarks which perhaps it was well that +they did not understand. The sheyk and Eyoub evidently +regarded them as private property, stood in front, and permitted +nobody to handle them, which was so far a comfort.</p> +<p>Then followed a sort of council, with much gesticulation, in +which Hassan took his share. Then, followed by the sheyk, +Eyoub, and some other headmen, he advanced, and demanded that the +captives should become true believers. This was eked out +with gestures betokening that thus they would be free, in that +case; while, if they refused, the sword and the smouldering flame +were pointed to, while the whole host loudly shouted +‘Islam!’</p> +<p>Victorine trembled, sobbed, tried to hide herself; but Estelle +stood up, her young face lighted up, her dark eyes gleaming, as +if she were realising a daydream, as she shook her head, cried +out to Lanty, ‘Tell him, No—never!’ and held to +her breast a little cross of sticks that she had been forming to +complete her uncle’s rosary. Her gesture was +understood. A man better clad than the rest, with a turban +and a broad crimson sash, rushed up to her, seized her by the +hair, and waved his scimitar over her head. The child felt +herself close to her mother. She looked up in his face with +radiant eyes and a smile on her lips. It absolutely daunted +the fellow: his arm dropped, and he gazed at her like some +supernatural creature; and the sheyk, enraged at the interference +with his property, darted forth to defend it, and there was a +general wrangling.</p> +<p>Seconded by their interpreter, Hassan, who knew that the Koran +did not prescribe the destruction of Christians, Hébert +and Lanty endeavoured to show that their conversion was out of +the question, and that their slaughter would only be the loss of +an exceedingly valuable ransom, which would be paid if they were +handed over safe and sound and in good condition.</p> +<p>There was no knowing what was the effect of this, for the +council again ended in a rush to secure the remaining pillage of +the wreck. Hébert and Lanty dreaded what they might +see, but to their great relief those poor remains had +disappeared. They shuddered as they remembered the +hyenas’ laughs and the jackals’ howls they had heard +at nightfall; but though they hoped that the sea had been +merciful, they could even have been grateful to the animals that +had spared them the sight of conscious insults.</p> +<p>The wreck was finally cleared, and among the fragments were +found several portions of books. These the Arabs +disregarded, being too ignorant even to read their own Koran, and +yet aware of the Mohammedan scruple which forbids the destruction +of any scrap of paper lest it should bear the name of +Allah. Lanty secured the greater part of the +Abbé’s breviary, and a good many pages of +Estelle’s beloved Télémaque; while the +steward gained possession of his writing case, and was permitted +to retain it when the Cabeleyzes, glutted with plunder, had +ascertained that it contained nothing of value to them.</p> +<p>After everything had been dragged up to the adowara, there +ensued a sort of auction or division of the plunder. Poor +Maître Hébert was doomed to see the boxes and bales +he had so diligently watched broken open by these +barbarians,—nay, he had to assist in their own dissection +when the secrets were too much for the Arabs. There was the +King of Spain’s portrait rent from its costly setting and +stamped upon as an idolatrous image. The miniature of the +Count, worn by the poor lady, had previously shared the same +fate, but that happily was out of sight and knowledge. Here +was the splendid plate, presented by crowned heads, howled over +by savages ignorant of its use. The silver they seemed to +value; but there were three precious gold cups which the salt +water had discoloured, so that they were taken for copper and +sold for a very small price to a Jew, who somehow was attracted +to the scene, ‘like a raven to the slaughter,’ said +Lanty.</p> +<p>This man likewise secured some of the poor lady’s store +of rich dresses, but a good many more were appropriated to make +sashes for the men, and the smaller articles, including +stockings, were wound turban fashion round the children’s +heads.</p> +<p>Lanty could not help observing, ‘And if the saints are +merciful to us, and get us out of this, we shall have stories to +tell that will last our lives!’ as he watched the solemn +old chief smelling to the perfumes, swallowing the rouge as +splendid medicine, and finally fingering a snuff-box, while half +a dozen more crowded round to assist in the opening, and in +another moment sneezing, weeping, tingling, dancing frantically +about, vituperating the Christian’s magic.</p> +<p>This gave Lanty an idea. A little round box lay near, +which, as he remembered, contained a Jack-in-the-box, or +Polichinelle, which the poor little Chevalier had bought at the +fair at Tarascon. This he contrived to secrete and hand to +Victorine. ‘Keep the secret,’ he said, +‘and you will find your best guardian in that bit of a +box.’ And when that very evening an Arab showed some +intentions of adding her to his harem, Victorine bethought +herself of the box, and unhooked in desperation. Up sprang +Punch, long-nosed and fur-capped, right in the bearded face.</p> +<p>Back the man almost fell; ‘Shaitan, Shaitan!’ was +the cry, as the inhabitants tumbled pell-mell out of the hovel, +and Victorine and Punch remained masters of the situation.</p> +<p>She heard Lanty haranguing in broken Arabic and <i>lingua +Franca</i>, and presently he came in, shaking with suppressed +laughter. ‘If ever we get home,’ said he, +‘we’ll make a pilgrimage to Tarascon! Blessings +on good St. Martha that put that sweet little imp in my +way! The rogues think he is the very genie that the +fisherman let out of the bottle in Mademoiselle’s book of +the Thousand and One Nights, and thought to see him towering over +the whole place. And a fine figure he would be with his +hook nose and long beard. They sent me to beg you fairly to +put up your little Shaitan again. I told them that Shaitan, +as they call him, is always in it when there’s meddling +between an espoused pair—which is as true as though the +Holy Father at Rome had said it—and as long as they were +civil, Shaitan would rest; but if they durst molest you, there +was no saying where he would be, if once you had to let him +out! To think of the virtue of that ugly face and bit of a +coil of wire!’</p> +<p>Meantime Hébert, having ascertained that both the Jew +and Hassan were going away, the one to Constantina, the other to +Algiers, wrote, and so did Estelle, to the Consul at Algiers, +explaining their position and entreating to be ransomed. +Though only nine years old, Estelle could write a very fair +letter, and the amazement of the Arabs was unbounded that any +female creature should wield a pen. Marabouts and merchants +were known to read the Koran, but if one of the goats had begun +to write, their wonder could hardly have been greater; and such +crowds came to witness the extraordinary operation that she could +scarcely breathe or see.</p> +<p>It seemed to establish her in their estimation as a sort of +supernatural being, for she was always treated with more +consideration than the rest of the captives, never deprived of +the clothes she wore, and allowed to appropriate a few of the +toilette necessaries that were quite incomprehensible to those +around her.</p> +<p>She learnt the names for bread, chestnuts, dates, milk, and +water, and these were never denied to her; and her little +ingenuities in nursery games won the goodwill of the women and +children around her, though others used to come and make ugly +faces at her, and cry out at her as an unclean thing. The +Abbé was allowed to wander about at will, and keep his +Hours, with Estelle to make the responses, and sometimes +Hébert. He was the only one that might visit the +other two captives; Lanty was kept hard at work over the crop of +chestnuts that the clan had come down from their mountains to +gather in; and poor Victorine, who was consumed by a low fever, +and almost too weak to move, lay all day in the dreary and dirty +hut, expecting, but dreading death.</p> +<p>Some days later there was great excitement, shouting, and +rage. It proved that the Bey of Constantina had sent to +demand the party, threatening to send an armed force to compel +their surrender; but, alas! the hope of a return to comparative +civilisation was instantly quashed, for the sheyk showed himself +furious. He and Eyoub stood brandishing their scimitars, +and with eyes flashing like a panther’s in the dark, +declaring that they were free, no subjects of the Dey nor the Bey +either; and that they would shed the blood of every one of the +captives rather than yield them to the dogs and sons of dogs at +Constantina.</p> +<p>This embassy only increased the jealousy with which the +prisoners were guarded. None of them were allowed to stir +without a man with a halbert, and they had the greatest +difficulty in entrusting a third letter to the Moor in command of +the party. Indeed, it was only managed by Estelle’s +coaxing of the little Abou Daoud, who was growing devoted to her, +and would do anything for the reward of hearing her sing life +<i>Malbrook s’en va-t’-n guerre</i>.</p> +<p>It might have been in consequence of this threat of the Bey, +much as they affected to despise it, that the Cabeleyzes prepared +to return to the heights of Mount Araz, whence they had only +descended during the autumn to find fresh pasture for their +cattle, and to collect dates and chestnuts from the forest.</p> +<p>‘Alas!’ said Hubert, ‘this is worse than +ever. As long as we were near the sea, I had hope, but now +all trace of us will be lost, even if the Consul should send +after us.’</p> +<p>‘Never fear, Maître Hubert,’ said Estelle; +‘you know Télémaque was a prisoner and tamed +the wild peasants in Egypt.’</p> +<p>‘Ah! the poor demoiselle, she always seems as if she +were acting a comedy.’</p> +<p>This was happily true. Estelle seemed to be in a curious +manner borne through the dangers and discomforts of her +surroundings by a strange dreamy sense of living up to her part, +sometimes as a possible martyr, sometimes as a figure in the +mythological or Arcadian romance that had filtered into her +nursery.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI—A MOORISH VILLAGE</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘Our laws and our worship on thee thou shalt +take,<br /> +And this shalt thou first do for Zulema’s sake.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">Scott</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>When Arthur Hope dashed back from the party on the prow of the +wrecked tartane in search of little Ulysse, he succeeded in +grasping the child, but at the same moment a huge breaker washed +him off the slipperily-sloping deck, and after a scarce conscious +struggle he found himself, still retaining his clutch of the boy, +in the trough between it and another. He was happily an +expert swimmer, and holding the little fellow’s clothes in +his teeth, he was able to avoid the dash, and to rise on another +wave. Then he perceived that he was no longer near the +vessel, but had been carried out to some little distance, and his +efforts only succeeded in keeping afloat, not in approaching the +shore. Happily a plank drifted so near him that he was able +to seize it and throw himself across it, thus obtaining some +support, and being able to raise the child farther above the +water.</p> +<p>At the same time he became convinced that a strong current, +probably from a river or stream, was carrying him out to sea, +away from the bay. He saw the black heads of two or three +of the Moorish crew likewise floating on spars, and yielding +themselves to the stream, and this made him better satisfied to +follow their example. It was a sort of rest, and gave him +time to recover from the first exhaustion to convince himself +that the little boy was not dead, and to lash him to the plank +with a handkerchief.</p> +<p>By and by—he knew not how soon—calls and shouts +passed between the Moors; only two seemed to survive, and they no +longer obeyed the direction of the current, but turned resolutely +towards the land, where Arthur dimly saw a green valley opening +towards the sea. This was a much severer effort, but by +this time immediate self-preservation had become the only +thought, and happily both wind and the very slight tide were +favourable, so that, just as the sun sank beneath the western +waves, Arthur felt foothold on a sloping beach of white sand, +even as his powers became exhausted. He struggled up out of +reach of the sea, and then sank down, exhausted and +unconscious.</p> +<p>His first impression was of cries and shrieks round him, as he +gasped and panted, then saw as in a dream forms flitting round +him, and then—feeling for the child and missing +him—he raised himself in consternation, and the movement +was greeted by fresh unintelligible exclamations, while a not +unkindly hand lifted him up. It belonged to a man in a sort +of loose white garment and drawers, with a thin dark-bearded +face; and Arthur, recollecting that the Spanish word +<i>niño</i> passed current for child in <i>lingua +Franca</i>, uttered it with an accent of despairing +anxiety. He was answered with a volley of words that he +only understood to be in a consoling tone, and the speaker +pointed inland. Various persons, among whom Arthur saw his +recent shipmates, seemed to be going in that direction, and he +obeyed his guide, though scarcely able to move from exhaustion +and cold, the garments he had retained clinging about him. +Some one, however, ran down towards him with a vessel containing +a draught of sour milk. This revived him enough to see +clearly and follow his guides. After walking a distance, +which appeared to him most laborious, he found himself entering a +sort of village, and was ushered through a courtyard into a kind +of room. In the centre a fire was burning; several figures +were busy round it, and in another moment he perceived that they +were rubbing, chafing, and otherwise restoring his little +companion.</p> +<p>Indeed Ulysse had just recovered enough to be terribly +frightened, and as his friend’s voice answered his screams, +he sprang from the kind brown hands, and, darting on Arthur, +clung to him with face hidden on his shoulder. The women +who had been attending to him fell back as the white stranger +entered, and almost instantly dry clothes were brought, and while +Arthur was warming himself and putting them on, a little table +about a foot high was set, the contents of a cauldron of a kind +of soup which had been suspended over the fire were poured into a +large round green crock, and in which all were expected to dip +their spoons and fingers. Little Ulysse was exceedingly +amazed, and observed that <i>ces gens</i> were not <i>bien +élevés</i> to eat out of the dish; but he was too +hungry to make any objection to being fed with the wooden spoon +that had been handed to Arthur; and when the warm soup, and the +meat floating in it, had refreshed them, signs were made to them +to lie down on a mat within an open door, and both were worn out +enough to sleep soundly.</p> +<p>It was daylight when Arthur was awakened by poor little Ulysse +sitting up and crying out for his <i>bonne</i>, his mother, and +sister, ‘Oh! take me to them,’ he cried; ‘I do +not like this dark place.’</p> +<p>For dark the room was, being windowless, though the golden +sunlight could be seen beyond the open doorway, which was under a +sort of cloister or verandah overhung by some climbing +plant. Arthur, collecting himself, reminded the child how +the waves had borne them away from the rest, with earnest +soothing promises of care, and endeavouring to get back to the +rest. ‘Say your prayers that God will take care of +you and bring you back to your sister,’ Arthur added, for +he did not think it possible that the child’s mother should +have been saved from the waves; and his heart throbbed at +thoughts of his promise to the poor lady.</p> +<p>‘But I want my <i>bonne</i>,’ sighed Ulysse; +‘I want my clothes. This is an ugly <i>robe de +nuit</i>, and there is no bed.’</p> +<p>‘Perhaps we can find your clothes,’ said +Arthur. ‘They were too wet to be kept on last +night.’</p> +<p>So they emerged into the court, which had a kind of farmyard +appearance; women with rows of coins hanging over their brows +were milking cows and goats, and there was a continuous confusion +of sound of their voices, and the lowing and bleating of +cattle. At the appearance of Arthur and the boy, there was +a general shout, and people seemed to throng in to gaze at them, +the men handsome, stately, and bearded, with white full drawers, +and a bournouse laid so as first to form a flat hood over the +head, and then belted in at the waist, with a more or less +handsome sash, into which were stuck a spoon and knife, and in +some cases one or two pistols. They did not seem +ill-disposed, though their language was perfectly +incomprehensible. Ulysse’s clothes were lying dried +by the hearth and no objection was made to his resuming +them. Arthur made gestures of washing or bathing, and was +conducted outside the court, to a little stream of pure water +descending rapidly to the sea. It was so cold that Ulysse +screamed at the touch, as Arthur, with more spectators than he +could have desired, did his best to perform their +toilettes. He had divested himself of most of his own +garments for the convenience of swimming, but his pockets were +left and a comb in them; and though poor Mademoiselle Julienne +would have been shocked at the result of his efforts, and the +little silken laced suit was sadly tarnished with sea water, +Ulysse became such an astonishing sight that the children danced +round him, the women screamed with wonder, and the men said +‘Mashallah!’ The young Scotsman’s height +was perhaps equally amazing, for he saw them pointing up to his +head as if measuring his stature.</p> +<p>He saw that he was in a village of low houses, with walls of +unhewn stone, enclosing yards, and set in the midst of +fruit-trees and gardens. Though so far on in the autumn +there was a rich luxuriant appearance; roots and fruits, corn and +flax, were laid out to dry, and girls and boys were driving the +cattle out to pasture. He could not doubt that he had +landed among a settled and not utterly uncivilised people, but he +was too spent and weary to exert himself, or even to care for +much beyond present safety; and had no sooner returned to his +former quarters, and shared with Ulysse a bowl of curds, than +they both feel asleep again in the shade of the gourd plant +trained on a trellised roof over the wall.</p> +<p>When he next awoke, Ulysse was very happily at play with some +little brown children, as if the sports of childhood defied the +curse of Babel, and a sailor from the tartane was being greeted +by the master of the house. Arthur hoped that some +communication would now be possible, but, unfortunately, the man +knew very little of the <i>lingua Franca</i> of the +Mediterranean, and Arthur knew still less. However, he made +out that he was the only one of the shipwrecked crew who had +managed to reach the land, and that this was a village of +Moors—settled agricultural Moors, not Arabs, good +Moslems—who would do him no harm. This, and he +pointed to a fine-looking elderly man, was the sheyk of the +village, Abou Ben Zegri, and if the young Giaours would conform +to the true faith all would be <i>salem</i> with them. +Arthur shook his head, and tried by word and sign to indicate his +anxiety for the rest of his companions. The sailor threw up +his hands, and pointed towards the sea, to show that he believed +them to be all lost; but Arthur insisted that five—marking +them off on his fingers—were on <i>gebal</i>, a rock, and +emphatically indicated his desire of reaching them. The +Moor returned the word ‘Cabeleyzes,’ with gestures +signifying throat-cutting and slavery, also that these present +hosts regarded them as banditti. How far off they were it +was not possible to make out, for of course Arthur’s own +sensations were no guide; but he knew that the wreck had taken +place early in the afternoon, and that he had come on shore in +the dusk, which was then at about five o’clock. There +was certainly a promontory, made by the ridge of a hill, and also +a river between him and any survivors there might be.</p> +<p>This was all that he could gather, and he was not sure of even +thus much, but he was still too much wearied and battered for any +exertion of thought or even anxiety. Three days’ +tempest in a cockle-shell of a ship, and then three hours’ +tossing on a plank, had left him little but the desire of repose, +and the Moors were merciful and let him alone. It was a +beautiful place—that he already knew. A Scot, and +used to the sea-coast, his eye felt at home as it ranged to the +grand heights in the dim distance, with winter caps of snow, and +shaded in the most gorgeous tints of colouring forests beneath, +slopes covered with the exquisite green of young wheat. +Autumn though it was, the orange-trees, laden with fruit, the +cork-trees, ilexes, and fan-palms, gave plenty of greenery, +shading the gardens with prickly pear hedges; and though many of +the fruit-trees had lost their leaves, fig, peach, and olive, and +mulberry, caper plants, vines with foliage of every tint of red +and purple, which were trained over the trellised courts of the +houses, made everything have a look of rural plenty and peace, +most unlike all that Arthur had ever heard or imagined of the +Moors, who, as he owned to himself, were certainly not all savage +pirates and slave-drivers. The whole within was surrounded +by a stone wall, with a deep horse-shoe-arched gateway, the +fields and pastures lying beyond with some more slightly-walled +enclosures meant for the protection of the flocks and herds at +night.</p> +<p>He saw various arts going on. One man was working in +iron over a little charcoal fire, with a boy to blow up his +bellows, and several more were busied over some pottery, while +the women alternated their grinding between two mill stones, and +other domestic cares, with spinning, weaving, and beautiful +embroidery. To Arthur, who looked on, with no one to speak +to except little Ulysse, it was strangely like seeing the life of +the Israelites in the Old Testament when they dwelt under their +own vines and fig-trees—like reading a chapter in the +Bible, as he said to himself, as again and again he saw some +allusion to Eastern customs illustrated. He was still more +struck—when, after the various herds of kine, sheep, and +goats, with one camel, several asses, and a few slender-limbed +Barbary horses had been driven in for the night—by the +sight of the population, as the sun sank behind the mountains, +all suspending whatever they were about, spreading their prayer +carpets, turning eastwards, performing their ablutions, and +uttering their brief prayer with one voice so devoutly that he +was almost struck with awe.</p> +<p>‘Are they saying their prayers?’ whispered Ulysse, +startled by the instant change in his play-fellows, and as Arthur +acquiesced, ‘Then they are good.’</p> +<p>‘If it were the true faith,’ said Arthur, thinking +of the wide difference between this little fellow and Estelle; +but though not two years younger, Ulysse was far more childish +than his sister, and when she was no longer present to lead him +with her enthusiasm, sank at once to his own level. He +opened wide his eyes at Arthur’s reply, and said, ‘I +do not see their idols.’</p> +<p>‘They have none,’ said Arthur, who could not help +thinking that Ulysse might look nearer home for idols—but +chiefly concerned at the moment to keep the child quiet, lest he +should bring danger on them by interruption.</p> +<p>They were sitting in the embowered porch of the sheyk’s +court when, a few seconds after the villagers had risen up from +their prayer, they saw a figure enter at the village gateway, and +the sheyk rise and go forward. There were low bending in +salutation, hands placed on the breast, then kisses exchanged, +after which the Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri went out with the stranger, +and great excitement and pleasure seemed to prevail among the +villagers, especially the women. Arthur heard the word +‘Yusuf’ often repeated, and by the time darkness had +fallen on the village, the sheyk ushered the guest into his +court, bringing with him a donkey with some especially precious +load—which was removed; after which the supper was served +as before in the large low apartment, with a handsomely tiled +floor, and an opening in the roof for the issue of the smoke from +the fire, which became agreeable in the evening at this +season. Before supper, however, the stranger’s feet +and hands were washed by a black slave in Eastern fashion; and +then all, as before, sat on mats or cushions round the central +bowl, each being furnished with a spoon and thin flat soft piece +of bread to dip into the mess of stewed kid, flakes of which +might be extracted with the fingers.</p> +<p>The women, who had fastened a piece of linen across their +faces, ran about and waited on the guests, who included three or +four of the principal men of the village, as well as the +stranger, who, as Arthur observed, was not of the uniform brown +of the rest, but had some colour in his cheeks, light eyes, and a +ruddy beard, and also was of a larger frame than these Moors, +who, though graceful, lithe, and exceedingly stately and +dignified, hardly reached above young Hope’s own +shoulder. Conversation was going on all the time, and +Arthur soon perceived that he was the subject of it. As +soon as the meal was over, the new-comer addressed him, to his +great joy, in French. It was the worst French +imaginable—perhaps more correctly <i>lingua Franca</i>, +with a French instead of an Arabic foundation, but it was more +comprehensible than that of the Moorish sailor, and bore some +relation to a civilised language; besides which there was +something indescribably familiar in the tone of voice, although +Arthur’s good French often missed of being +comprehended.</p> +<p>‘Son of a great man? Ambassador, +French!’ The greatness seemed impressed, but whether +ambassador was understood was another thing, though it was +accepted as relating to the boy.</p> +<p>‘Secretary to the Ambassador’ seemed to be an +equal problem. The man shook his head, but he took in +better the story of the wreck, though, like the sailor, he shook +his head over the chance of there being any survivors, and +utterly negatived the idea of joining them. The great point +that Arthur tried to convey was that there would be a very +considerable ransom if the child could be conveyed to Algiers, +and he endeavoured to persuade the stranger, who was evidently a +sort of travelling merchant, and, as he began to suspect, a +renegade, to convey them thither; but he only got shakes of the +head as answers, and something to the effect that they were a +good deal out of the Dey’s reach in those parts, together +with what he feared was an intimation that they were altogether +in the power of Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri.</p> +<p>They were interrupted by a servant of the merchant, who came +to bring him some message as well as a pipe and tobacco. +The pipe was carried by a negro boy, at sight of whom Ulysse gave +a cry of ecstasy, ‘Juba! Juba! +Grandmother’s Juba! Why do not you speak to +me?’ as the little black, no bigger than Ulysse himself, +grinned with all his white teeth, quite uncomprehending.</p> +<p>‘Ah! my poor laddie,’ exclaimed Arthur in his +native tongue, which he often used with the boy, ‘it is +only another negro. You are far enough from +home.’</p> +<p>The words had an astonishing effect on the merchant. He +turned round with the exclamation, ‘Ye’ll be frae +Scotland!’</p> +<p>‘And so are you!’ cried Arthur, holding out his +hand.</p> +<p>‘Tak tent, tak tent,’ said the merchant hastily, +yet with a certain hesitation, as though speaking a long +unfamiliar tongue. ‘The loons might jalouse our being +overfriendly thegither.’</p> +<p>Then he returned to the sheyk, to whom he seemed to be making +explanations, and presenting some of his tobacco, which probably +was of a superior quality in preparation to what was grown in the +village. They solemnly smoked together and conversed, while +Arthur watched them anxiously, relieved that he had found an +interpreter, but very doubtful whether a renegade could be a +friend, even though he were indeed a fellow-countryman.</p> +<p>It was not till several pipes had been consumed, and the +village worthies had, with considerable ceremony, taken leave, +that the merchant again spoke to Arthur. ‘I’ll +see ye the morn; I hae tell’d the sheyk we are frae the +same parts. Maybe I can serve you, if ye ken what’s +for your guid, but I canna say mair the noo.’</p> +<p>The sheyk escorted him out of the court, for he slept in one +of the two striped horse-hair tents, which had been spread within +the enclosures belonging to the village, around which were +tethered the mules and asses that carried his wares. Arthur +meanwhile arranged his little charge for the night.</p> +<p>He felt that among these enemies to their faith he must do +what was in his power to keep up that of the child, and not allow +his prayers to be neglected; but not being able to repeat the +Latin forms, and thinking them unprofitable to the boy himself, +he prompted the saying of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer in +English, and caused them to be repeated after him, though very +sleepily and imperfectly.</p> +<p>All the men of the establishment seemed to take their +night’s rest on a mat, wrapped in a bournouse, wherever +they chanced to find themselves, provided it was under shelter; +the women in some <i>penetralia</i> beyond a doorway, though they +were not otherwise secluded, and only partially veiled their +faces at sight of a stranger. Arthur had by this time made +out that the sheyk, who was a very handsome man over middle-age, +seemed to have two wives; one probably of his own age, and though +withered up into a brown old mummy, evidently the ruler at home, +wearing the most ornaments, and issuing her orders in a shrill, +cracked tone. There was a much younger and handsome one, +the mother apparently of two or three little girls from ten or +twelve years old to five, and there was a mere girl, with +beautiful melancholy gazelle-like eyes, and a baby in her +arms. She wore no ornaments, but did not seem to be classed +with the slaves who ran about at the commands of the elder +dame.</p> +<p>However, his own position was a matter of much more anxious +care, although he had more hope of discovering what it really +was.</p> +<p>He had, however, to be patient. The sunrise orisons were +no sooner paid than there was a continual resort to the tent of +the merchant, who was found sitting there calmly smoking his long +pipe, and ready to offer the like, also a cup of coffee, to all +who came to traffic with him. He seemed to have a +miscellaneous stock of coffee, tobacco, pipes, preparations of +sugar, ornaments in gold and silver, jewellery, charms, pistols, +and a host of other articles in stock, and to be ready to +purchase or barter these for the wax, embroidered handkerchiefs, +yarn, and other productions and manufactures of the place. +Not a single purchase could be made on either side without a +tremendous haggling, shouting, and gesticulating, as if the +parties were on the verge of coming to blows; whereas all was in +good fellowship, and a pleasing excitement and diversion where +time was of no value to anybody. Arthur began to despair of +ever gaining attention. He was allowed to wander about as +he pleased within the village gates, and Ulysse was apparently +quite happy with the little children, who were beautiful and +active, although kept dirty and ragged as a protection from the +evil eye.</p> +<p>Somehow the engrossing occupation of every one, especially of +the only two creatures with whom he could converse, made Arthur +more desolate than ever. He lay down under an ilex, and his +heart ached with a sick longing he had not experienced since he +had been with the Nithsdales, for his mother and his +home—the tall narrow-gabled house that had sprung up close +to the grim old peel tower, the smell of the sea, the tinkling of +the burn. He fell asleep in the heat of the day, and it was +to him as if he were once more sitting by the old shepherd on the +braeside, hearing him tell the old tales of Johnnie Armstrong or +Willie o’ the wudspurs.</p> +<p>Actually a Scottish voice was in his ears, as he looked up and +saw the turbaned head of Yusuf the merchant bending over him, and +saying—‘Wake up, my bonny laddie; we can hae our +crack in peace while these folks are taking their noonday +sleep. Awed, and where are ye frae, and how do you +ca’ yersel’?’</p> +<p>‘I am from Berwickshire,’ responded the youth, and +as the man started—‘My name is Arthur Maxwell Hope of +Burnside.’</p> +<p>‘Eh! No a son of auld Sir Davie?’</p> +<p>‘His youngest son.’</p> +<p>The man clasped his hands, and uttered a strange sound as if +in the extremity of amazement, and there was a curious +unconscious change of tone, as he said—‘Sir +Davie’s son! Ye’ll never have heard tell of +Partan Jeannie?’ he added.</p> +<p>‘A very old fishwife,’ said Arthur, ‘who +used to come her rounds to our door? Was she of kin to +you?’</p> +<p>‘My mither, sir. Mony’s the time I hae +peepit out on the cuddie’s back between the creels at the +door of the braw house of Burnside, and mony’s the bannock +and cookie the gude lady gied me. My minnie’ll no be +living thae noo,’ he added, not very tenderly.</p> +<p>‘I should fear not,’ said Arthur. ‘I +had not seen or heard of her for some time before I left home, +and that is now three years since. She looked very old +then, and I remember my mother saying she was not fit to come her +rounds.’</p> +<p>‘She wasna that auld,’ returned the merchant +gravely; ‘but she had led sic a life as falls to the lot of +nae wife in this country.’</p> +<p>Arthur had almost said, ‘Whose fault was that?’ +but he durst not offend a possible protector, and softened his +words into, ‘It is strange to find you here, and a +Mohammedan too.’</p> +<p>‘Hoots, Maister Arthur, let that flea stick by the +wa’. We maun do at Rome as Rome does, as ye’ll +soon find’—and disregarding Arthur’s +exclamation—‘and the bit bairn, I thocht ye said he +was no Scot, when I was daundering awa’ at the French +yestreen.’</p> +<p>‘No, he is half-Irish, half-French, eldest son of Count +Burke, a good Jacobite, who got into trouble with the Prince of +Orange, and is high in the French service.’</p> +<p>‘And what gars your father’s son to be +<i>secretaire</i>, as ye ca’d it, to Frenchman or Irishman +either?’</p> +<p>‘Well, it was my own fault. I was foolish enough +to run away from school to join the rising for our own +King’s—’</p> +<p>‘Eh, sirs! And has there been a rising on the +Border side against the English pock puddings? Oh, gin I +had kenned it!’</p> +<p>Yusuf’s knowledge of English politics had been dim at +the best, and he had apparently left Scotland before even Queen +Anne was on the throne. When he understood Arthur’s +story, he communicated his own. He had been engaged in a +serious brawl with some English fishers, and in fear of the +consequences had fled from Eyemouth, and after casting about as a +common sailor in various merchant ships, had been captured by a +Moorish vessel, and had found it expedient to purchase his +freedom by conversion to Islam, after which his Scottish +shrewdness and thrift had resulted in his becoming a prosperous +itinerant merchant, with his headquarters at Bona. He +expressed himself willing and anxious to do all he could for his +young countryman; but it would be almost impossible to do so +unless Arthur would accept the religion of his captors; and he +explained that the two boys were the absolute property of the +tribe, who had discovered and rescued them when going to the +seashore to gather kelp for the glass work practised by the Moors +in their little furnaces.</p> +<p>‘Forsake my religion? Never!’ cried Arthur +indignantly.</p> +<p>‘Saftly, saftly,’ said Yusuf; ‘nae doot ye +trow as I did that they are a’ mere pagans and savage +heathens, worshipping Baal and Ashtaroth, but I fand myself quite +mista’en. They hae no idols, and girn at the blinded +Papists as muckle as auld Deacon Shortcoats +himsel’.’</p> +<p>‘I know that,’ threw in Arthur.</p> +<p>‘Ay, and they are a hantle mair pious and devout than +ever a body I hae seen in Eyemouth, or a’ the country side +to boot; forbye, my minnie’s auld auntie, that sat graning +by the ingle, and ay banned us when we came ben. The +meneester himsel’ dinna gae about blessing and praying over +ilka sma’ matter like the meenest of us here, and for +a’ the din they make at hame about the honorable Sabbath, +wha thinks of praying five times the day? While as for +being the waur for liquor, these folks kenna the very taste of +it. Put yon sheyk down on the wharf at Eyemouth, and what +wad he say to the Christian folk there?’</p> +<p>A shock of conviction passed over Arthur, though he tried to +lose it in indignant defence; but Yusuf did not venture to stay +any longer with him, and bidding him think over what had been +said, since slavery or Islam were the only alternatives, returned +to the tents of merchandise.</p> +<p>First thoughts with the youth had of course been of horror at +the bare idea of apostacy, and yet as he watched his Moorish +hosts, he could not but own to himself that he never had dreamt +that to be among them would be so like dwelling under the oak of +Mamre, in the tents of Abraham. From what he remembered of +Partan Jeannie’s reputation as a being only tolerated and +assisted by his mother, on account of her extreme misery and +destitution, he could believe that the ne’er-do-weel son, +who must have forsaken her before he himself was born, might have +really been raised in morality by association with the grave, +faithful, and temperate followers of Mohammed, rather than the +scum of the port of Eyemouth.</p> +<p>For himself and the boy, what did slavery mean? He hoped +to understand better from Yusuf, and at any rate to persuade the +man to become the medium of communication with the outside world, +beyond that ‘dissociable ocean,’ over which his +wistful gaze wandered. Then the ransom of the little +Chevalier de Bourke would be certain, and, if there were any +gratitude in the world, his own. But how long would this +take, and what might befall them in the meantime?</p> +<p>Ulysse all this time seemed perfectly happy with the small +Moors, who all romped together without distinction of rank, of +master, slave or colour, for Yusuf’s little negro was +freely received among them. At night, however, +Ulysse’s old home self seemed to revive; he crept back to +Arthur, tired and weary, fretting for mother, sister, and home; +and even after he had fallen asleep, waking again to cry for +Julienne. Poor Arthur, he was a rough nurse, but pity kept +him patient, and he was even glad to see that the child had not +forgotten his home.</p> +<p>Meantime, ever since the sunset prayer, there had been smoking +of pipes and drinking of coffee, and earnest discussion between +the sheyk and the merchant, and by and by Yusuf came and sat +himself down by Arthur, smiling a little at the young man’s +difficulty in disposing of those long legs upon the ground.</p> +<p>‘Ye’ll have to learn this and other things, +sir,’ said he, as he crossed his own under him, Eastern +fashion; but his demeanour was on the whole that of the fisher to +the laird’s son, and he evidently thought that he had a +grand proposal to make, for which Master Arthur ought to be +infinitely obliged.</p> +<p>He explained to Arthur that Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri had never had +more than two sons, and that both had been killed the year before +in trying to recover their cattle from the Cabeleyzes, ‘a +sort of Hieland caterans.’</p> +<p>The girl whom Arthur had noticed was the widow of the elder of +the two, and the child was only a daughter. The sheyk had +been much impressed by Arthur’s exploit in swimming or +floating round the headland and saving the child, and regarded +his height as something gigantic. Moreover, Yusuf had +asserted that he was son to a great Bey in his own country, and +in consequence Abou Ben Zegri was willing to adopt him as his +son, provided he would embrace the true faith, and marry Ayesha, +the widow.</p> +<p>‘And,’ said Yusuf, ‘these women are no that +ill for wives, as I ken owre weel’—and he +sighed. ‘I had as gude and douce a wee wifie at Bona +as heart culd wish, and twa bonny bairnies; but when I cam’ +back frae my rounds, the plague had been there before me. +They were a’ gone, even Ali, that had just began to +ca’ me Ab, Ab, and I hae never had heart to gang back to +the town house. She was a gude wife—nae flying, nae +rampauging. She wad hae died wi’ shame to be likened +to thae randy wives at hame. Ye might do waur than +tak’ such a fair offer, Maister Arthur.’</p> +<p>‘You mean it all kindly,’ said Arthur, touched; +‘but for nothing—no, for nothing, can a Christian +deny his Lord, or yield up his hopes for hereafter.’</p> +<p>‘As for that,’ returned Yusuf, ‘the +meneester and Beacon Shortcoats, and my auld auntie, and the lave +of them, aye ca’ed me a vessel of destruction. That +was the best name they had for puir Tam. So what odds culd +it mak, if I took up with the Prophet, and I was ower lang leggit +to row in a galley? Forbye, here they say that a man who +prays and gies awmous, and keeps frae wine, is sicker to win to +Paradise and a’ the houris. I had rather it war my +puir Zorah than any strange houri of them a’; but any way, +I hae been a better man sin’ I took up wi’ them than +ever I was as a cursing, swearing, drunken, fechting sailor lad +wha feared neither God nor devil.’</p> +<p>‘That was scarce the fault of the Christian +faith,’ said Arthur.</p> +<p>‘Aweel, the first answer in the Shorter Carritch was +a’ they ever garred me learn, and that is what we here say +of Allah. I see no muckle to choose, and I <i>ken</i> ane +thing,—it is a hell on earth at ance gin ye gang not alang +wi’ them. And that’s sicker, as ye’ll +find to your cost, sir, gin ye be na the better +guided.’</p> +<p>‘With hope, infinite hope beyond,’ said Arthur, +trying to fortify himself. ‘No, I cannot, cannot deny +my Lord—my Lord that bought me!’</p> +<p>‘We own Issa Ben Mariam for a Prophet,’ said +Yusuf.</p> +<p>‘But He is my only Master, my Redeemer, and God. +No, come what may, I can never renounce Him,’ said Arthur +with vehemence.</p> +<p>‘Wed, awed,’ said Yusuf, ‘maybe ye’ll +see in time what’s for your gude. I’ll tell the +sheyk it would misbecome your father’s son to do sic a deed +owre lichtly, and strive to gar him wait while I am in these +parts to get your word, and nae doot it will be wiselike at the +last.’</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII—MASTER AND SLAVE</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘I only heard the reckless waters roar,<br +/> +Those waves that would not hear me from the shore;<br /> +I only marked the glorious sun and sky<br /> +Too bright, too blue for my captivity,<br /> +And felt that all which Freedom’s bosom cheers,<br /> +Must break my chain before it dried my tears.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Byron</span> +(<i>The Corsair</i>).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>At the rate at which the traffic in Yusuf’s tent +proceeded, Arthur Hope was likely to have some little time for +deliberation on the question presented to him whether to be a +free Moslem sheyk or a Christian slave.</p> +<p>Not only had almost every household in El Arnieh to chaffer +with the merchant for his wares and to dispose of home-made +commodities, but from other adowaras and from hill-farms Moors +and Cabyles came in with their produce of wax, wool or silk, to +barter—if not with Yusuf, with the inhabitants of El +Arnieh, who could weave and embroider, forge cutlery, and make +glass from the raw material these supplied. Other Cabyles, +divers from the coast, came up, with coral and sponges, the +latter of which was the article in which Yusuf preferred to deal, +though nothing came amiss to him that he could carry, or that +could carry itself—such as a young foal; even the little +black boy had been taken on speculation—and so indeed had +the big Abyssinian, who, though dumb, was the most useful, ready, +and alert of his five slaves. Every bargain seemed to +occupy at least an hour, and perhaps Yusuf lingered the longer in +order to give Arthur more time for consideration; or it might be +that his native tongue, once heard, exercised an irresistible +fascination over him. He never failed to have what he +called a ‘crack’ with his young countryman at the +hour of the siesta, or at night, perhaps persuading the sheyk +that it was controversial, though it was more apt to be on +circumstances of the day’s trade or the news of the +Border-side. Controversy indeed there could be little with +one so ignorant as kirk treatment in that century was apt to +leave the outcasts of society, nor had conversion to Islam given +him much instruction in its tenets; so that the conversation +generally was on earthly topics, though it always ended in +assurances that Master Arthur would suffer for it if he did not +perceive what was for his good. To which Arthur replied to +the effect that he must suffer rather than deny his faith; and +Yusuf, declaring that a wilful man maun have his way, and that he +would rue it too late, went off affronted, but always returned to +the charge at the next opportunity.</p> +<p>Meantime Arthur was free to wander about unmolested and pick +up the language, in which, however, Ulysse made far more rapid +progress, and could be heard chattering away as fast, if not as +correctly, as if it were French or English. The delicious +climate and the open-air life were filling the little fellow with +a strength and vigour unknown to him in a Parisian salon, and he +was in the highest spirits among his brown playfellows, ceasing +to pine for his mother and sister; and though he still came to +Arthur for the night, or in any trouble, it was more and more +difficult to get him to submit to be washed and dressed in his +tight European clothes, or to say his prayers. He was +always sleepy at night and volatile in the morning, and could not +be got to listen to the little instructions with which Arthur +tried to arm him against Mohammedanism into which the poor little +fellow was likely to drift as ignorantly and unconsciously as +Yusuf himself.</p> +<p>And what was the alternative? Arthur himself never +wavered, nor indeed actually felt that he had a choice; but the +prospect before him was gloomy, and Yusuf did not soften +it. The sheyk would sell him, and he would either be made +to work in some mountain-farm, or put on board a galley; and +Yusuf had sufficient experience of the horrors of the latter to +assure him emphatically that the gude leddy of Burnside would +break her heart to think of her bonny laddie there.</p> +<p>‘It would more surely break her heart to think of her +son giving up his faith,’ returned Arthur.</p> +<p>As to the child, the opinion of the tribe seemed to be that he +was just fit to be sent to the Sultan to be bred as a +Janissary. ‘He will come that gate to be as great a +man as in his ain countree,’ said Yusuf; ‘wi’ +horse to ride, and sword to bear, and braws to wear, like King +Solomon in all his glory.’</p> +<p>‘While his father and mother would far rather he were +lying dead with her under the waves in that cruel bay,’ +returned Arthur.</p> +<p>‘Hout, mon, ye dinna ken what’s for his gude, nor +for your ain neither,’ retorted Yusuf.</p> +<p>‘Good here is not good hereafter.’</p> +<p>‘The life of a dog and waur here,’ muttered Yusuf; +‘ye’ll mind me when it is too late.’</p> +<p>‘Nay, Yusuf, if you will only take word of our condition +to Algiers, we shall—at least the boy—be assuredly +redeemed, and you would win a high reward.’</p> +<p>‘I am no free to gang to Algiers,’ said +Yusuf. ‘I fell out with a loon there, one of those +Janissaries that gang hectoring aboot as though the world were +not gude enough for them, and if I hadna made the best of my way +out of the toon, my pow wad be a worricow on the wa’s of +the tower.’</p> +<p>‘There are French at Bona, you say. Remember, I +ask you to put yourself in no danger, only to bear the tidings to +any European,’ entreated Arthur.</p> +<p>‘And how are they to find ye?’ demanded +Yusuf. ‘Abou Ben Zegri will never keep you here after +having evened his gude-daughter to ye. He’ll sell you +to some corsair captain, and then the best that could betide ye +wad be that a shot frae the Knights of Malta should make quick +work wi’ ye. Or look at the dumbie there, +Fareek. A Christian, he ca’s himsel’, too, +though ’tis of a by ordinar’ fashion, such as Deacon +Shortcoats would scarce own. I coft him dog cheap at Tunis, +when his master, the Vizier, had had his tongue cut out—for +but knowing o’ some deed that suld ne’er have been +done—and his puir feet bastinadoed to a jelly. Gin +a’ the siller in the Dey’s treasury ransomed ye, what +gude would it do ye after that?’</p> +<p>‘I cannot help that—I cannot forsake my God. +I must trust Him not to forsake me.’</p> +<p>And, as usual, Yusuf went off angrily muttering, ‘He +that will to Cupar maun to Cupar.’</p> +<p>Perhaps Arthur’s resistance had begun more for the sake +of honour, and instinctive clinging to hereditary faith, without +the sense of heroism or enthusiasm for martyrdom which sustained +Estelle, and rather with the feeling that inconstancy to his +faith and his Lord would be base and disloyal. But, as the +long days rolled on, if the future of toil and dreary misery +developed itself before him, the sense of personal love and aid +towards the Lord and Master whom he served grew upon him. +Neither the gazelle-eyed Ayesha nor the prosperous village life +presented any great temptation. He would have given them +all for one bleak day of mist on a Border moss; it was the +appalling contrast with the hold of a Moorish galley that at +times startled him, together with the only too great probability +that he should be utterly incapable of saving poor little Ulysse +from unconscious apostacy.</p> +<p>Once Yusuf observed, that if he would only make outward +submission to Moslem law, he might retain his own belief and +trust in the Lord he seemed so much to love, and of whom he said +more good than any Moslem did of the Prophet.</p> +<p>‘If I deny Him, He will deny me,’ said Arthur.</p> +<p>‘And will na He forgive ane as is hard pressed?’ +asked Yusuf.</p> +<p>‘It is a very different thing to go against the light, +as I should be doing,’ said Arthur, ‘and what it +might be for that poor bairn, whom Cod preserve.’</p> +<p>‘And wow! sir. ’Tis far different wi’ +you that had the best of gude learning frae the gude +leddy,’ muttered Yusuf. ‘My minnie aye needit +me to sort the fish and gang her errands, and wad scarce hae sent +me to scule, gin I wad hae gane where they girned at me for +Partan Jeannie’s wean, and gied me mair o’ the tawse +than of the hornbook. Gin the Lord, as ye ca’ Him, +had ever seemed to me what ye say He is to you, Maister Arthur, I +micht hae thocht twice o’er the matter. But +there’s nae ganging back the noo. A Christian’s +life they harm na, though they mak’ it a mere weariness to +him; but for him that quits the Prophet, tearing the flesh +wi’ iron cleeks is the best they hae for him.’</p> +<p>This time Yusuf retreated, not as usual in anger, but as if +the bare idea he had broached was too terrible to be dwelt +upon. He had by the end of a fortnight completed all his +business at El Arnieh, and Arthur, having by this time picked up +enough of the language to make himself comprehensible, and to +know fully what was set before him, was called upon to make his +decision, so that either he might be admitted by regular ritual +into the Moslem faith, and adopted by the sheyk, or else be +advertised by Yusuf at the next town as a strong young slave.</p> +<p>Sitting in the gate among the village magnates, like an elder +of old, Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri, with considerable grace and +dignity, set the choice before the Son of the Sea in most +affectionate terms, asking of him to become the child of his old +age, and to heal the breach left by the swords of the robbers of +the mountains.</p> +<p>The old man’s fine dark eyes filled with tears, and +there was a pathos in his noble manner that made Arthur greatly +grieved to disappoint him, and sorry not to have sufficient +knowledge of the language to qualify more graciously the resolute +reply he had so often rehearsed to himself, expressing his hearty +thanks, but declaring that nothing could induce him to forsake +the religion of his fathers.</p> +<p>‘Wilt thou remain a dog of an unbeliever, and receive +the treatment of dogs?’</p> +<p>‘I must,’ said Arthur.</p> +<p>‘The youth is a goodly youth,’ said the sheyk; +‘it is ill that his heart is blind. Once again, young +man, Issa Ben Mariam and slavery, or Mohammed and +freedom?’</p> +<p>‘I cannot deny my Lord Christ.’</p> +<p>There was a pause. Arthur stood upright, with lips +compressed, hands clasped together, while the sheyk and his +companions seemed struck by his courage and high spirit. +Then one of them—a small, ugly fellow, who had some +pretensions to be considered the sheyk’s next +heir—cried, ‘Out on the infidel dog!’ and set +the example of throwing a handful of dust at him. The crowd +who watched around were not slow to follow the example, and +Arthur thought he was actually being stoned; but the missiles +were for the most part not harmful, only disgusting, blinding, +and confusing. There was a tremendous hubbub of +vituperation, and he was at last actually stunned by a blow, +waking to find himself alone, and with hands and feet bound, in a +dirty little shed appropriated to camels. Should he ever be +allowed to see poor little Ulysse again, or to speak to Yusuf, in +whom lay their only faint hope of redemption? He was +helpless, and the boy was at the mercy of the Moors. Was he +utterly forsaken?</p> +<p>It was growing late in the day, and he had had no food for +many hours. Was he to be neglected and starved? At +last he heard steps approaching, and the door was opened by the +man who had led the assault on him, who addressed him as +‘Son of an old ass—dog of a slave,’ bade him +stand up and show his height, at the same time cutting the cords +that bound him. It was an additional pang that it was to +Yusuf that he was thus to exhibit himself, no doubt in order that +the merchant should carry a description of him to some likely +purchaser. He could not comprehend the words that passed, +but it was very bitter to be handled like a horse at a +fair—doubly so that he, a Hope of Burnside, should thus be +treated by Partan Jeannie’s son.</p> +<p>There ensued outside the shrieking and roaring which always +accompanied a bargain, and which lasted two full hours. +Finally Yusuf looked into the hut, and roughly said in Arabic, +‘Come over to me, dog; thou art mine. Kiss the shoe +of thy master’—adding in his native tongue, +‘For ance, sir. It maun be done before these +loons.’</p> +<p>Certainly the ceremony would have been felt as less +humiliating towards almost anybody else, but Arthur endured it; +and then was led away to the tents beyond the gate.</p> +<p>‘There, sir,’ said Yusuf, ‘it ill sorts your +father’s son to be in sic a case, but it canna be +helpit. I culd na leave behind the bonny Scots tongue, let +alane the gude Leddy Hope’s son.’</p> +<p>‘You have been very good to me, Yusuf,’ said +Arthur, his pride much softened by the merchant’s evident +sense of the situation. ‘I know you mean me well, but +the boy—’</p> +<p>‘Hoots! the bairn is happy eno’. He will +come to higher preferment than even you or I. Why, mon, an +Aga of the Janissaries is as good as the Deuk +himsel’.’</p> +<p>‘Yusuf, I am very grateful—I believe you must have +paid heavily to spare me from ill usage.’</p> +<p>‘Ye may say that, sir. Forty piastres of Tunis, +and eight mules, and twa pair of silver-mounted pistols. +The extortionate rogue wad hae had the little dagger, but I stood +out against that.’</p> +<p>‘I see, I am deeply beholden,’ said Arthur; +‘but it would be tenfold better if you would take him +instead of me!’</p> +<p>‘What for suld I do that? He is nae countryman of +mine—one side French and the other Irish. He is +naught to me.’</p> +<p>‘He is heir to a noble house,’ waged Arthur. +‘They will reward you amply for saving him.’</p> +<p>‘Mair like to girn at me for a Moor. Na, na! +Hae na I dune enough for ye, Maister Arthur—giving half my +beasties, and more than half my silver? Canna ye be content +without that whining bairn?’</p> +<p>‘I should be a forsworn man to be content to leave the +child, whose dead mother prayed me to protect him, and those who +will turn him from her faith. See, now, I am a man, and can +guard myself, by the grace of God; but to leave the poor child +here would be letting these men work their will on him ere any +ransom could come. His mother would deem it giving him up +to perdition. Let me remain here, and take the helpless +child. You know how to bargain. His price might be my +ransom.’</p> +<p>‘Ay, when the jackals and hyenas have picked your banes, +or you have died under the lash, chained to the oar, as I hae +seen, Maister Arthur.’</p> +<p>‘Better so than betray the dead woman’s +trust. How no—’</p> +<p>For there was a pattering of feet, a cry of ‘Arthur, +Arthur!’ and sobbing, screaming, and crying, Ulysse threw +himself on his friend’s breast. He was pursued by one +or two of the hangers-on of the sheyk’s household, and the +first comer seized him by the arm; but he clung to Arthur, +screamed and kicked, and the old nurse who had come hobbling +after coaxed in vain. He cried out in a mixture of Arabic +and French that he <i>would</i> sleep with Arthur—Arthur +must put him to bed; no one should take him away.</p> +<p>‘Let him stay,’ responded Yusuf; ‘his time +will come soon enough.’</p> +<p>Indulgence to children was the rule, and there was an easy +good-nature about the race, which made them ready to defer the +storm, and acquiesce in the poor little fellow remaining for +another evening with that last remnant of his home to whom he +always reverted at nightfall.</p> +<p>He held trembling by Arthur till all were gone, then looked +about in terror, and required to be assured that no one was +coming to take him away.</p> +<p>‘They shall not,’ he cried. ‘Arthur, +you will not leave me alone? They are all gone—Mamma, +and Estelle, and <i>la bonne</i>, and Laurent, and my uncle, and +all, and you will not go.’</p> +<p>‘Not now, not to-night, my dear little mannie,’ +said Arthur, tears in his eyes for the first time throughout +these misfortunes.</p> +<p>‘Not now! No, never!’ said the boy hugging +him almost to choking. ‘That naughty Ben Kader said +they had sold you for a slave, and you were going away; but I +knew I should find you—you are not a slave!—you are +not black—’</p> +<p>‘Ah! Ulysse, it is too true; I +am—’</p> +<p>‘No! no! no!’ the child stamped, and hung on him +in a passion of tears. ‘You shall not be a +slave. My papa shall come with his soldiers and set you +free.’</p> +<p>Altogether the boy’s vehemence, agitation, and terror +were such that Arthur found it impossible to do anything but +soothe and hush him, as best might be, till his sobs subsided +gradually, still heaving his little chest even after he fell +asleep in the arms of his unaccustomed nurse, who found himself +thus baffled in using this last and only opportunity of trying to +strengthen the child’s faith, and was also hindered from +pursuing Yusuf, who had left the tent. And if it were +separation that caused all this distress, what likelihood that +Yusuf would encumber himself with a child who had shown such +powers of wailing and screaming?</p> +<p>He durst not stir nor speak for fear of wakening the boy, even +when Yusuf returned and stretched himself on his mat, drawing a +thick woollen cloth over him, for the nights were chill. +Long did Arthur lie awake under the strange sense of slavery and +helplessness, and utter uncertainty as to his fate, expecting, in +fact, that Yusuf meant to keep him as a sort of tame animal to +talk Scotch; but hoping to work on him in time to favour an +escape, and at any rate to despatch a letter to Algiers, as a +forlorn hope for the ultimate redemption of the poor little +unconscious child who lay warm and heavy across his breast. +Certainly, Arthur had never so prayed for aid, light, and +deliverance as now!</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII—THE SEARCH</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘The lights begin to twinkle from the +rocks,<br /> +The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs. The deep<br /> +Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">Tennyson</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Arthur fell asleep at last, and did not waken till after +sunrise, nor did Ulysse, who must have been exhausted with crying +and struggling. When they did awaken, Arthur thinking with +heavy heart that the moment of parting was come, he saw indeed +the other three slaves busied in making bales of the merchandise; +but the master, as well as the Abyssinian, Fareek, and the little +negro were all missing. Bekir, who was a kind of foreman, +and looked on the new white slave with some jealousy, roughly +pointed to some coarse food, and in reply to the question whether +the merchant was taking leave of the sheyk, intimated that it was +no business of theirs, and assumed authority to make his new +fellow-slave assist in the hardest of the packing.</p> +<p>Arthur had no heart to resist, much as it galled him to be +ordered about by this rude fellow. It was only a taste, as +he well knew, of what he had embraced, and he was touched by poor +little Ulysse’s persistency in keeping as close as +possible, though his playfellows came down and tried first to +lure, then to drag him away, and finally remained to watch the +process of packing up. Though Bekir was too disdainful to +reply to his fellow-slave’s questions, Arthur picked up +from answers to the Moors who came down that Yusuf had +recollected that he had not finished his transactions with a +little village of Cabyle coral and sponge-fishers on the coast, +and had gone down thither, taking the little negro, to whom the +headman seemed to have taken a fancy, so as to become a possible +purchaser, and with the Abyssinian to attend to the mules.</p> +<p>A little before sundown Yusuf returned. Fareek lifted +down a pannier covered by a crimson and yellow kerchief, and +Yusuf declared, with much apparent annoyance, that the child was +sick, and that this had frustrated the sale. He was asleep, +must be carried into the tent, and not disturbed: for though the +Cabyles had not purchased him, there was no affording to loose +anything of so much value. Moreover, observing Ulysse still +hovering round the Scot, he said, ‘You may bide here the +night, laddie, I ha tell’t the sheyk;’ and he +repeated the same to the slaves in Arabic, dismissing them to +hold a parting feast on a lamb stuffed with pistachio nuts, +together with their village friends.</p> +<p>Then drawing near to Arthur, he said, ‘Can ye gar yon +wean keep a quiet sough, if we make him pass for the little +black?’</p> +<p>Arthur started with joy, and stammered some words of intense +relief and gratitude.</p> +<p>‘The deed’s no dune yet,’ said Yusuf, +‘and it is ower like to end in our leaving a’ our +banes on the sands! But a wilfu’ man maun have his +way,’ he repeated; ‘so, sir, if it be your wull, +ye’d better speak to the bairn, for we must make a +blackamoor of him while there is licht to do it, or Bekir, whom I +dinna lippen to, comes back frae the feast.’</p> +<p>Ulysse, being used to Irish-English, had little understanding +of Yusuf’s broad Scotch; but he was looking anxiously from +one to the other of the speakers, and when Arthur explained to +him that the disguise, together with perfect silence, was the +only hope of not being left behind among the Moors, and the best +chance of getting back to his home and dear ones again, he +perfectly understood. As to the blackening, for which Yusuf +had prepared a mixture to be laid on with a feather, it was +perfectly enchanting to <i>faire la comedie</i>. He laughed +so much that he had to be peremptorily hushed, and they were +sensible of the danger that in case of a search he might betray +himself to his Moorish friends; and Arthur tried to make him +comprehend the extreme danger, making him cry so that his cheeks +had to be touched up. His eyes and hair were dark, and the +latter was cut to its shortest by Yusuf, who further managed to +fasten some tufts of wool dipped in the black unguent to the +kerchief that bound his head. The childish features had +something of the Irish cast, which lent itself to the +transformation, and in the scanty garments of the little negro +Arthur owned that he should never have known the small French +gentleman. Arthur was full of joy—Yusuf gruff, brief, +anxious, like one acting under some compulsion most unwillingly, +and even despondently, but apparently constrained by a certain +instinctive feudal feeling, which made him follow the desires of +the young Border laird’s son.</p> +<p>All had been packed beforehand, and there was nothing to be +done but to strike the tents, saddle the mules, and start. +Ulysse, still very sleepy, was lifted into the pannier, almost at +the first streak of dawn, while the slaves were grumbling at +being so early called up; and to a Moor who wakened up and +offered to take charge of the little Bey, Yusuf replied that the +child had been left in the sheyk’s house.</p> +<p>So they were safely out at the outer gate, and proceeding +along a beautiful path leading above the cliffs. The mules +kept in one long string, Bekir with the foremost, which was thus +at some distance from the hindmost, which carried Ulysse and was +attended by Arthur, while the master rode his own animals and +gave directions. The fiction of illness was kept up, and +when the bright eyes looked up in too lively a manner, Yusuf +produced some of the sweets, which were always part of his stock +in trade, as a bribe to quietness.</p> +<p>At sunrise, the halt for prayer was a trial to Arthur’s +intense anxiety, and far more so was the noontide one for +sleep. He even ventured a remonstrance, but was answered, +‘Mair haste, worse speed. Our lives are no worth a +boddle till the search is over.’</p> +<p>They were on the shady side of a great rock overhung by a +beautiful creeping plant, and with a spring near at hand, and +Yusuf, in leisurely fashion, squatted down, caused Arthur to lift +out the child, who was fast asleep again, and the mules to be +allowed to feed, and distributed some dried goat’s flesh +and dates; but Ulysse, somewhat to Arthur’s alarm, did not +wake sufficiently to partake.</p> +<p>Looking up in alarm, he met a sign from Yusuf and presently a +whisper, ‘No hurt done—’tis safer +thus—’</p> +<p>And by this time there were alarming sounds on the air. +The sheyk and two of the chief men of El Arnieh were on horseback +and armed with matchlocks; and the whole ‘<i>posse</i> of +the village were following on foot, with yells and vituperations +of the entire ancestry of the merchant, and far more complicated +and furious threats than Arthur could follow; but he saw Yusuf go +forward to meet them with the utmost cool courtesy.</p> +<p>They seemed somewhat discomposed: Yusuf appeared to condole +with them on the loss, and, waving his hands, put all his baggage +at their service for a search, letting them run spears through +the bales, and overturn the baskets of sponges, and search behind +every rock. When they approached the sleeping boy, Arthur, +with throbbing heart, dimly comprehended that Yusuf was repeating +the story of the disappointment of a purchase caused by his +illness, and lifting for a moment the covering laid over him to +show the bare black legs and arms. There might also have +been some hint of infection which, in spite of all Moslem belief +in fate, deterred Abou Ben Zegri from an over-close +inspection. Yusuf further invented a story of having put +the little Frank in charge of a Moorish woman in the adowara; but +added he was so much attached to the Son of the Sea, that most +likely he had wandered out in search of him, and the only wise +course would be to seek him before he was devoured by any of the +wild beasts near home.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, there was a courteous and leisurely smoking of +pipes and drinking of coffee before the sheyk and his followers +turned homewards. To Arthur’s alarm and surprise, +however, Yusuf did not resume the journey, but told Bekir that +there would hardly be a better halting-place within their powers, +as the sun was already some way on his downward course; and +besides, it would take some time to repack the goods which had +been cast about in every direction during the search. The +days were at their shortest, though that was not very short, +closing in at about five o’clock, so that there was not +much time to spare. Arthur began to feel some alarm at the +continued drowsiness of the little boy, who only once muttered +something, turned round, and slept again.</p> +<p>‘What have you done to him?’ asked Arthur +anxiously.</p> +<p>‘The poppy,’ responded Yusuf. ‘Never +fash yoursel’. The bairn willna be a hair the waur, +and ’tis better so than that he shuld rax a’ our +craigs.’</p> +<p>Yusuf’s peril was so much the greater, that it was +impossible to object to any of his precautions, especially as he +might take offence and throw the whole matter over; but it was +impossible not to chafe secretly at the delay, which seemed +incomprehensible. Indeed, the merchant was avoiding private +communication with Arthur, only assuming the master, and ordering +about in a peremptory fashion which it was very hard to +digest.</p> +<p>After the sunset orisons had been performed, Yusuf regaled his +slaves with a donation of coffee and tobacco, but with a warning +to Arthur not to partake, and to keep to windward of them. +So too did the Abyssinian, and the cause of the warning was soon +evident, as Bekir and his companion nodded, and then sank into a +slumber as sound as that of the little Frenchman. Indeed, +Arthur himself was weary enough to fall asleep soon after +sundown, in spite of his anxiety, and the stars were shining like +great lamps when Yusuf awoke him. One mule stood equipped +beside him, and held by the Abyssinian. Yusuf pointed to +the child, and said, ‘Lift him upon it.’</p> +<p>Arthur obeyed, finding a pannier empty on one side to receive +the child, who only muttered and writhed instead of +awaking. The other side seemed laden. Yusuf led the +animal, retracing their way, while fire-flies flitted around with +their green lights, and the distant laughter of hyenas gave +Arthur a thrill of loathing horror. Huge bats fluttered +round, and once or twice grim shapes crossed their path.</p> +<p>‘Uncanny beasties,’ quoth Yusuf; ‘but they +will soon be behind us.’</p> +<p>He turned into a rapidly-sloping path. Arthur felt a +fresh salt breeze in his face, and his heart leapt up with +hope.</p> +<p>In about an hour and a half they had reached a cove, shut in +by dark rocks which in the night looked immeasurable, but on the +white beach a few little huts were dimly discernible, one with a +light in it. The sluggish dash of waves could be heard on +the shore; there was a sense of infinite space and breadth before +them; and Jupiter sitting in the north-west was like an enormous +lamp, casting a pathway of light shimmering on the waters to lead +the exiles home.</p> +<p>Three or four boats were drawn up on the beach; a man rose up +from within one, and words in a low voice were exchanged between +him and Yusuf; while Fareek, grinning so that his white teeth +could be seen in the starlight, unloaded the mule, placing its +packs, a long Turkish blunderbuss, and two skins of water, in the +boat, and arranging a mat on which Arthur could lay the sleeping +child.</p> +<p>Well might the youth’s heart bound with gratitude, as, +unmindful of all the further risks and uncertainties to be +encountered, he almost saw his way back to Burnside!</p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX—ESCAPE</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘Beside the helm he sat, steering expert,<br +/> +Nor sleep fell ever on his eyes that watch’d<br /> +Intent the Pleiads, tardy in decline,<br /> +Bootes and the Bear, call’d else the Wain,<br /> +Which in his polar prison circling, looks<br /> +Direct towards Orion, and alone<br /> +Of these sinks never to the briny deep.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Odyssey</i> (<span +class="smcap">Cowper</span>).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The boat was pushed off, the Abyssinian leapt into it; Arthur +paused to pour out his thankfulness to Yusuf, but was met with +the reply, ‘Hout awa’! Time enugh for +that—in wi’ ye.’ And fancying there was +some alarm, he sprang in, and to his amazement found Yusuf +instantly at his side, taking the rudder, and giving some order +to Fareek, who had taken possession of a pair of oars; while the +waters seemed to flash and glitter a welcome at every dip.</p> +<p>‘You are coming! you are coming!’ exclaimed +Arthur, clasping the merchant’s hand, almost beside himself +with joy.</p> +<p>‘Sma’ hope wad there be of a callant like +yersel’ and the wean there winning awa’ by yer +lane,’ growled Yusuf.</p> +<p>‘You have given up all for us.’</p> +<p>‘There wasna muckle to gie,’ returned the sponge +merchant. ‘Sin’ the gudewife and her bit +bairnies at Bona were gane, I hadna the heart to gang +thereawa’, nor quit the sound o’ the bonny Scots +tongue. I wad as soon gang to the bottom as to the toom +house. For dinna ye trow yersells ower sicker e’en +the noo.’</p> +<p>‘Is there fear of pursuit?’</p> +<p>‘No mickle o’ that. The folk here are what +they ca’ Cabyles, a douce set, not forgathering with Arabs +nor wi’ Moors. I wad na gang among them till the +search was over to-day; but yesterday I saw yon carle, and coft +the boatie frae him for the wee blackamoor and the mule. +The Moors at El Aziz are not seafaring; and gin the morn they +jalouse what we have done, we have the start of them. Na, +I’m not feared for them; but forbye that, this is no the +season for an open boatie wi’ a crew of three and a +wean. Gin we met an Algerian or Tunisian cruiser, as we are +maist like to do, a bullet or drooning wad be ower gude in their +e’en for us—for me, that is to say. They wad +spare the bairn, and may think you too likely a lad to hang on +the walls like a split corbie on the woodsman’s +lodge.’</p> +<p>‘Well, Yusuf, my name is Hope, you know,’ said +Arthur. ‘God has brought us so far, and will scarce +leave us now. I feel three times the man that I was when I +lay down this evening. Do we keep to the north, where we +are sure to come to a Christian land in time?’</p> +<p>‘Easier said than done. Ye little ken what the +currents are in this same sea, or deed ye’ll soon ken when +we get into them.’</p> +<p>Arthur satisfied himself that they were making for the north +by looking at the Pole Star, so much lower than he was used to +see it in Scotland that he hardly recognised his old friend; but, +as he watched the studded belt of the Hunter and the glittering +Pleiades, the Horatian dread of <i>Nimbosus Orion</i> occurred to +him as a thought to be put away.</p> +<p>Meantime there was a breeze from the land, and the sail was +hoisted. Yusuf bade both Arthur and Fareek lie down to +sleep, for their exertions would be wanted by and by, since it +would not be safe to use the sail by daylight. It was very +cold—wild blasts coming down from the mountains; but Arthur +crept under the woollen mantle that had been laid over Ulysse, +and was weary enough to sleep soundly. Both were awakened +by the hauling down of the mast; and the little boy, who had +quite slept off the drug, scrambling out from under the covering, +was astonished beyond measure at finding himself between the +glittering, sparkling expanse of sea and the sky, where the sun +had just leapt up in a blaze of gold.</p> +<p>The white summits of Atlas were tipped with rosy light, +beautiful to behold, though the voyagers had much rather have +been out of sight of them.</p> +<p>‘How much have we made, Yusuf?’ began Arthur.</p> +<p>‘Tam Armstrong, so please you, sir! Yusuf’s +dead and buried the noo; and if I were farther beyant the grip of +them that kenned him, my thrapple would feel all the +sounder!’</p> +<p>This day was, he further explained, the most perilous one, +since they were by no means beyond the track of vessels plying on +the coast; and as a very jagged and broken cluster of rocks lay +near, he decided on availing themselves of the shelter they +afforded. The boat was steered into a narrow channel +between two which stood up like the fangs of a great tooth, and +afforded a pleasant shade; but there was such a screaming and +calling of gulls, terns, cormorants, and all manner of other +birds, as they entered the little strait, and such a cloud of +them hovered and whirled overhead, that Tam uttered imprecations +on their skirling, and bade his companions lie close and keep +quiet till they had settled again, lest the commotion should +betray that the rocks were the lair of fugitives.</p> +<p>It was not easy to keep Ulysse quiet, for he was in raptures +at the rush of winged creatures, and no less so at the wonderful +sea-anemones and starfish in the pools, where long streamers of +weed of beautiful colours floated on the limpid water.</p> +<p>Nothing reduced him to stillness but the sight of the dried +goat’s flesh and dates that Tam Armstrong produced, and for +which all had appetites, which had to be checked, since no one +could tell how long it would be before any kind of haven could be +reached.</p> +<p>Arthur bathed himself and his charge in a pool, after Tam had +ascertained that no many-armed squid or cuttlefish lurked within +it. And while Ulysse disported himself like a little fish, +Arthur did his best to restore him to his natural complexion, and +tried to cleanse the little garments, which showed only too +plainly the lack of any change, and which were the only Frank or +Christian clothes among them, since young Hope himself had been +almost stripped when he came ashore, and wore the usual garb of +Yusuf’s slaves.</p> +<p>Presently Fareek made an imperative sign to hush the +child’s merry tongue; and peering forth in intense anxiety, +the others perceived a lateen sail passing perilously near, but +happily keeping aloof from the sharp reef of rocks around their +shelter. Arthur had forgotten the child’s prayers and +his own, but Ulysse connected them with dressing, and the alarm +of the passing ship had recalled them to the young man’s +mind, though he felt shy as he found that Tam Armstrong was not +asleep, but was listening and watching with his keen gray eyes +under their grizzled brows. Presently, when Ulysse was +dropping to sleep again, the ex-merchant began to ask questions +with the intelligence of his shrewd Scottish brains.</p> +<p>The stern Calvinism of the North was wont to consign to utter +neglect the outcast border of civilisation, where there were no +decent parents to pledge themselves; and Partan Jeannie’s +son had grown up well-nigh in heathen ignorance among fisher lads +and merchant sailors, till it had been left for him to learn +among the Mohammedans both temperance and devotional +habits. His whole faith and understanding would have been +satisfied for ever; but there had been strange yearnings within +him ever since he had lost his wife and children, and these had +not passed away when Arthur Hope came in his path. Like +many another renegade, he could not withstand the attraction of +his native tongue; and in this case it was doubled by the feudal +attachment of the district to the family of Burnside, and a +grateful remembrance of the lady who had been one of the very few +persons who had ever done a kindly deed by the little +outcast. He had broken with all his Moslem ties for Arthur +Hope’s sake; and these being left behind, he began to make +some inquiries about that Christian faith to which he must needs +return—if return be the right word in the case of one who +knew it so little when he had abjured it.</p> +<p>And Arthur had not been bred to the grim reading of the +doctrine of predestination which had condemned poor Tam, even +before he had embraced the faith of the Prophet. Boyish, +and not over thoughtful, the youth, when brought face to face +with apostacy, had been ready to give life or liberty rather than +deny his Lord; and deepened by that great decision, he could hold +up that Lord and Redeemer in colours that made Tam see that his +clinging to his faith was not out of mere honour and constancy, +but that Mohammed had been a poor and wretched substitute for Him +whom the poor fellow had denied, not knowing what he did.</p> +<p>‘Weel!’ he said, ‘gin the Deacon and the +auld aunties had tellt me as mickle about Him, thae Moors might +ha’ preached their thrapples sair for Tam. +Mashallah! Maister Arthur, do ye think, noo, He can forgie +a puir carle for turning frae Him an’ disowning +Him?’</p> +<p>‘I am sure of it, Tam. He forgives all who come to +Him—and you—you did it in ignorance.’</p> +<p>‘And you trow na that I am a vessel of wrath, as they +aye said?’</p> +<p>‘No, no, no, Tam. How could that be with one who +has done what you have for us? There is good in +you—noble goodness, Tam; and who could have put it there +but God, the Holy Spirit? I believe myself He was leading +you all the time, though you did not know it; making you a better +man first, and now, through this brave kindness to us, bringing +you back to be a real true Christian and know Him.’</p> +<p>Arthur felt as if something put the words into his mouth, but +he felt them with all his heart, and the tears were in his +eyes.</p> +<p>At sundown Tam grew restless. Force of habit impelled +him to turn to Mecca and make his devotions as usual, and after +nearly kneeling down on the flat stone, he turned to Arthur and +said, ‘I canna wed do without the bit prayer, sir.</p> +<p>‘No, indeed, Tam. Only let it be in the right +Name.’</p> +<p>And Arthur knelt down beside him and said the Lord’s +Prayer—then, under a spell of bashfulness, muttered special +entreaty for protection and safety.</p> +<p>They were to embark again now that darkness would veil their +movements, but the wind blew so much from the north that they +could not raise the sail. The oars were taken by Tam and +Fareek at first, but when they came into difficult currents +Arthur changed places with the former.</p> +<p>And thus the hours passed. The Mediterranean may be in +our eyes a European lake, but it was quite large enough to be a +desert of sea and sky to the little crew of an open boat, even +though they were favoured by the weather. Otherwise, +indeed, they must have perished in the first storm. They +durst not sail except by night, and then only with northerly +winds, nor could there be much rest, since they could not lay to, +and drift with the currents, lest they should be carried back to +the African coast. Only one of the three men could sleep at +a time, and that by one of the others taking both oars, and in +time this could not but become very exhausting. It was true +that all the coasts to the north were of Christian lands; but in +their Moorish garments and in perfect ignorance of Italian, +strangers might fare no better in Sardinia or Sicily than in +Africa, and Spain might be no better; but Tam endeavoured to keep +a north-westerly course, thinking from what Arthur had said that +in this direction there was more chance of being picked up by a +French vessel. Would their strength and provisions hold +out? Of this there was serious doubt. Late in the +year as it was, the heat and glare were as distressing by day as +was the cold by night, and the continued exertion of rowing +produced thirst, which made it very difficult to husband the +water in the skins. Tam and Fareek were both tough, and +inured to heat and privation; but Arthur, scarce yet come to his +full height, and far from having attained proportionate +robustness and muscular strength, could not help flagging, +though, whenever steering was of minor importance, Tam gave him +the rudder, moved by his wan looks, for he never complained, even +when fragments of dry goat’s flesh almost choked his +parched mouth. The boy was never allowed to want for +anything save water; but it was very hard to hear him fretting +for it. Tam took the goatskin into his own keeping, and +more than once uttered a rough reproof, and yet Arthur saw him +give the child half his own precious ration when it must have +involved grievous suffering. The promise about giving the +cup of cold water to a little one could not but rise to his +lips.</p> +<p>‘Cauld! and I wish it were cauld!’ was all the +response Tam made; but his face showed some gratification.</p> +<p>This was no season for traffic, and they had barely seen a +sail or two in the distance, and these only such as the +experienced eyes of the ex-sponge merchant held to be +dangerous. Deadly lassitude began to seize the young Scot; +he began scarcely to heed what was to become of them, and had not +energy to try to console Ulysse, who, having in an unwatched +moment managed to swallow some sea water, was crying and wailing +under the additional misery he had inflicted on himself. +The sun beat down with noontide force, when on that fourth day, +turning from its scorching, his languid eye espied a sail on the +northern horizon.</p> +<p>‘See,’ he cried; ‘that is not the way of the +Moors.’</p> +<p>‘Bismillah! I beg your pardon, sir,’ cried +Tam, but said no more, only looked intently.</p> +<p>Gradually, gradually the spectacle rose on their view fuller +and fuller, not the ruddy wings of the Algerine or Italian, but +the square white castle-like tiers of sails rising one above +another, bearing along in a south-easterly direction.</p> +<p>‘English or French,’ said Tam, with a long breath, +for her colours and build were not yet discernible. +‘Mashallah! I beg pardon. I mean, God grant she +pass us not by!’</p> +<p>The mast was hastily raised, with Tam’s turban unrolled, +floating at the top of it; and while he and Fareek plied their +oars with might and main, he bade Arthur fire off at intervals +the blunderbuss, which had hitherto lain idle at the bottom of +the boat.</p> +<p>How long the intense suspense lasted they knew not ere Arthur +cried, ‘They are slackening sail! Thank God. +Tam, you have saved us! English!’</p> +<p>‘Not so fast!’ Tam uttered an Arabic and then a +Scottish interjection.</p> +<p>Their signal had been seen by other eyes. An +unmistakable Algerine, with the crescent flag, was bearing down +on them from the opposite direction.</p> +<p>‘Rascals. Do they not dread the British +flag?’ cried Arthur. ‘Surely that will protect +us?’</p> +<p>‘They are smaller and lighter, and with their galley +slaves can defy the wind, and loup off like a flea in a +blanket,’ returned Tam, grimly. ‘Mair by token, +they guess what we are, and will hold on to hae my life’s +bluid if naething mair! Here! Gie us a soup of the +water, and the last bite of flesh. ’Twill serve us +the noo, find we shall need it nae mair any way.’</p> +<p>Arthur fed him, for he durst not slacken rowing for a +moment. Then seeing Fareek, who had borne the brunt of the +fatigue, looking spent, the youth, after swallowing a few morsels +and a little foul-smelling drink, took the second oar, while +double force seemed given to the long arms lately so weary, and +both pulled on in silent, grim desperation. Ulysse had +given one scream at seeing the last of the water swallowed, but +he too, understood the situation, and obeyed Arthur’s brief +words, ‘Kneel down and pray for us, my boy.’</p> +<p>The Abyssinian was evidently doing the same, after having +loaded the blunderbuss; but it was no longer necessary to use +this as a signal, since the frigate had lowered her boat, which +was rapidly coming towards them.</p> +<p>But, alas! still more swiftly, as it seemed to those terrified +eyes, came the Moorish boat—longer, narrower, more favoured +by currents and winds, flying like a falcon towards its +prey. It was a fearful race. Arthur’s head +began to swim, his breath to labour, his arms to move stiffly as +a thresher’s flail; but, just as power was failing him, an +English cheer came over the waters, and restored strength for a +few more resolute strokes.</p> +<p>Then came some puffs of smoke from the pirate’s boat, a +report, a jerk to their own, a fresh dash forward, even as Fareek +fired, giving a moment’s check to the enemy. There +was a louder cheer, several shots from the English boat, a cloud +from the ship’s side. Then Arthur was sensible of a +relaxation of effort, and that the chase was over, then that the +British boat was alongside, friendly voices ringing in his ears, +‘How now, mates? Runaways, eh? Where d’ye +hail from?’</p> +<p>‘Scottish! British!’ panted out Arthur, +unable to utter more, faint, giddy, and astounded by the cheers +around him, and the hands stretched out in welcome. He +scarcely saw or understood.</p> +<p>‘Queer customers here! What! a child! Who +are you, my little man? And what’s this? A +Moor! He’s hit—pretty hard too.’</p> +<p>This brought back Arthur’s reeling senses in one flash +of horror, at the sight of Tam, bleeding fast in the bottom of +the boat.</p> +<p>‘O Tam! Tam! He saved me! He is +Scottish too,’ cried Arthur. ‘Sir, is he +alive?’</p> +<p>‘I think so,’ said the officer, who had bent over +Tam. ‘We’ll have him aboard in a minute, and +see what the doctor can do with him. You seem to have had a +narrow escape.’</p> +<p>Arthur was too busy endeavouring to staunch the blood which +flowed fast from poor Tam’s side to make much reply, but +Ulysse, perched on the officer’s knee, was answering for +him in mixed English and French. ‘Moi, je suis le +Chevalier de Bourke! My papa is ambassador to Sweden. +This gentleman is his secretary. We were +shipwrecked—and M. Arture and I swam away together. +The Moors were good to us, and wanted to make us Moors; but M. +Arture said it would be wicked. And Yusuf bought him for a +slave; but that was only from <i>faire la +comédie</i>. He is <i>bon Chrétien</i> after +all, and so is poor Fareek, only he is dumb. +Yusuf—that is, Tam—made me all black, and changed me +for his little negro boy; and we got into the boat, and it was +very hot, and oh! I am so thirsty. And now M. Arture +will take me to Monsieur mon Père, and get me some nice +clothes again,’ concluded the young gentleman, who, in this +moment of return to civilised society, had become perfectly aware +of his own rank and importance.</p> +<p>Arthur only looked up to verify the child’s statements, +which had much struck the lieutenant. Their boat had by +this time been towed alongside of the frigate, and poor Tam was +hoisted on board, and the surgeon was instantly at hand; but he +said at once that the poor fellow was fast dying, and that it +would be useless torture to carry him below for examination.</p> +<p>A few words passed with the captain, and then the little +Chevalier was led away to tell his own tale, which he was doing +with a full sense of his own importance; but presently the +captain returned, and beckoned to Arthur, who had been kneeling +beside poor Tam, moistening his lips, and bathing his face, as he +lay gasping and apparently unconscious, except that he had +gripped hold of his broad sash or girdle when it was taken +off.</p> +<p>‘The child tells me he is Comte de Bourke’s +son,’ said the captain, in a tentative manner, as if +doubtful whether he should be understood, and certainly Arthur +looked more Moorish than European.</p> +<p>‘Yes, sir! He was on his way with his mother to +join his father when we were taken by a Moorish +corsair.’</p> +<p>‘But you are not French?’ said the captain, +recognising the tones.</p> +<p>‘No, sir; Scottish—Arthur Maxwell Hope. I +was to have gone as the Count’s secretary.’</p> +<p>‘You have escaped from the Moors? I could not +understand what the boy said. Where are the lady and the +rest?’</p> +<p>Arthur as briefly as he could, for he was very anxious to +return to poor Tam, explained the wreck and the subsequent +adventures, saying that he feared the poor Countess was lost, but +that he had seen her daughter and some of her suite on a +rock. Captain Beresford was horrified at the idea of a +Christian child among the wild Arabs. His station was +Minorca, but he had just been at the Bay of Rosas, where poor +Comte de Bourke’s anxiety and distress about his wife and +children were known, and he had received a request amounting to +orders to try to obtain intelligence about them, so that he held +it to be within his duty to make at once for Djigheli Bay.</p> +<p>For further conversation was cut short by sounds of articulate +speech from poor Tam. Arthur turned hastily, and the +captain proceeded to give his orders.</p> +<p>‘Is Maister Hope here?’</p> +<p>‘Here! Yes. O Tam, dear Tam, if I could do +anything!’ cried Arthur.</p> +<p>‘I canna see that well,’ said Tam, with a sound of +anxiety. ‘Where’s my sash?’</p> +<p>‘This is it, in your own hand,’ said Arthur, +thinking he was wandering, but the other hand sought one of the +ample folds, which was sewn over, and weighty.</p> +<p>‘Tak’ it; tak’ tent of it; ye’ll need +the siller. Four hunder piastres of Tunis, not +countin’ zeechins, and other sma’ coin.’</p> +<p>‘Shall I send them to any one at Eyemouth?’</p> +<p>Tam almost laughed. ‘Na, na; keep them and use +them yersell, sir. There’s nane at hame that wad own +puir Tam. The leddy, your mither, an’ you hae been +mair to me than a’ beside that’s above ground, and +what wad ye do wi’out the siller?’</p> +<p>‘O Tam! I owe all and everything to you. And +now—’</p> +<p>Tam looked up, as Arthur’s utterance was choked, and a +great tear fell on his face. ‘Wha wad hae +said,’ murmured he, ‘that a son of Burnside wad be +greetin’ for Partan Jeannie’s son?’</p> +<p>‘For my best friend. What have you not saved me +from! and I can do nothing!’</p> +<p>‘Nay, sir. Say but thae words again.’</p> +<p>‘Oh for a clergyman! Or if I had a Bible to read +you the promises.’</p> +<p>‘You shall have one,’ said the captain, who had +returned to his side. The surgeon muttered that the lad +seemed as good as a parson; but Arthur heard him not, and was +saying what prayers came to his mind in this stress, when, even +as the captain returned, the last struggle came on. Once +more Tam looked up, saying, ‘Ye’ll be good to puir +Fareek;’ and with a word more, ‘Oh, Christ: will He +save such as I?’ all was over.</p> +<p>‘Come away, you can do nothing more,’ said the +doctor. ‘You want looking to yourself.’</p> +<p>For Arthur tottered as he tried to rise, and needed the +captain’s kind hand as he gained his feet. +‘Sir,’ he said, as the tears gushed to his eyes, +‘he <i>does</i> deserve all honour—my only friend and +deliverer.’</p> +<p>‘I see,’ said Captain Beresford, much moved; +‘whatever he has been, he died a Christian. He shall +have Christian burial. And this fellow?’ pointing to +poor Fareek, whose grief was taking vent in moans and sobs.</p> +<p>‘Christian—Abyssinian, but dumb,’ Arthur +explained; and having his promise that all respect should be paid +to poor Tam’s corpse, he let the doctor lead him away, for +he had now time to feel how sun-scorched and exhausted he was, +with giddy, aching head, and legs cramped and stiff, arms +strained and shoulders painful after his three days and nights of +the boat. His thirst, too, seemed unquenchable, in spite of +drinks almost unconsciously taken, and though hungry he had +little will to eat.</p> +<p>The surgeon made him take a warm bath, and then fed him with +soup, after which, on a promise of being called in due time, he +consented to deposit himself in a hammock, and presently fell +asleep.</p> +<p>When he awoke he found that clothes had been provided for +him—naval uniforms; but that could not be helped, and the +comfort was great. He was refreshed, but still very +stiff. However, he dressed and was just ready, when the +surgeon came to see whether he were in condition to be summoned, +for it was near sundown, and all hands were piped up to attend +poor Tam’s funeral rites. His generous and faithful +deed had eclipsed the memory that he was a renegade, and, indeed, +it had been in such ignorance that he had had little to deny.</p> +<p>All the sailors stood as respectfully as if he had been one of +themselves while the captain read a portion of the Burial +Office. Such honours would never have been his in his +native land, where at that time even Episcopalians themselves +could not have ventured on any out-door rites; and Arthur was +thus doubly struck and impressed, when, as the corpse, sewn in +sail-cloth and heavily weighted, was launched into the blue +waves, he heard the words committing the body to the deep, till +the sea should give up her dead. He longed to be able to +translate them to poor Fareek, who was weeping and howling so +inconsolably as to attest how good a master he had lost.</p> +<p>Perhaps Tam’s newly-found or recovered Christianity +might have been put to hard shocks as to the virtues he had +learnt among the Moslems. At any rate Arthur often had +reason to declare in after life that the poor renegade might have +put many a better-trained Christian to shame.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER X—ON BOARD THE ‘CALYPSO’</h2> +<blockquote><p> ‘From when this youth?<br +/> +His country, name, and birth declare!’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">Scott</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>‘You had forgotten this legacy, Mr. Hope,’ said +Captain Beresford, taking Arthur into his cabin, ‘and, +judging by its weight, it is hardly to be neglected. I put +it into my locker for security.’</p> +<p>‘Thank you, sir,’ said Arthur. ‘The +question is whether I ought to take it. I wished for your +advice.’</p> +<p>‘I heard what passed,’ said the captain. +‘I should call your right as complete as if you had a will +made by a half a dozen lawyers. When we get into port, a +few crowns to the ship’s company to drink your health, and +all will be right. Will you count it?’</p> +<p>The folds were undone, and little piles made of the gold, but +neither the captain nor Arthur were much the wiser. The +purser might have computed it, but Captain Beresford did not +propose this, thinking perhaps that it was safer that no report +of a treasure should get abroad in the ship.</p> +<p>He made a good many inquiries, which he had deferred till +Arthur should be in a fitter condition for answering, first about +the capture and wreck, and what the young man had been able to +gather about the Cabeleyzes. Then, as the replies showed +that he had a gentleman before him, Captain Beresford added that +he could not help asking, ‘<i>Que diable allait il faire +dans cette galère</i>?’</p> +<p>‘Sir,’ said Arthur, ‘I do not know whether +you will think it your duty to make me a prisoner, but I had +better tell you the whole truth.’</p> +<p>‘Oho!’ said the captain; ‘but you are too +young! You could never have been out +with—with—we’ll call him the +Chevalier.’</p> +<p>‘I ran away from school,’ replied Arthur, +colouring. ‘I was a mere boy, and I never was +attainted,’ explained Arthur, blushing. ‘I have +been with my Lord Nithsdale, and my mother thought I could safely +come home, and that if I came from Sweden my brother could not +think I compromised him.’</p> +<p>‘Your brother?’</p> +<p>‘Lord Burnside. He is at Court, in favour, they +say, with King George. He is my half-brother; my mother is +a Maxwell.’</p> +<p>‘There is a Hope in garrison at Port Mahon—a +captain,’ said the captain. ‘Perhaps he will +advise you what to do if you are sick of Jacobite intrigue and +mystery, and ready to serve King George.’</p> +<p>Arthur’s face lighted up. ‘Will it be James +Hope of Ryelands, or Dickie Hope of the Lynn, +or—?’</p> +<p>Captain Beresford held up his hands.</p> +<p>‘Time must show that, my young friend,’ he said, +smiling. ‘And now I think the officers expect you to +join their mess in the gunroom.’</p> +<p>There Arthur found the little Chevalier strutting about in an +adaptation of the smallest midshipman’s uniform, and the +centre of an admiring party, who were equally diverted by his +consequential airs and by his accounts of his sports among the +Moors. Happy fellow, he could adapt himself to any society, +and was ready to be the pet and plaything of the ship’s +company, believing himself, when he thought of anything beyond +the present, to be full on the road to his friends again.</p> +<p>Fareek was a much more difficult charge, for Arthur had hardly +a word that he could understand. He found the poor fellow +coiled up in a corner, just where he had seen his former +master’s remains disappear, still moaning and weeping +bitterly. As Arthur called to him he looked up for a +moment, then crawled forward, striking his forehead at intervals +against the deck. He was about to kiss the feet of his +former fellow-slave, the glittering gold, blue, and white of +whose borrowed dress no doubt impressed him. Arthur hastily +started back, to the amazement of the spectators, and called out +a negative—one of the words sure to be first learnt. +He tried to take Fareek’s hand and raise him from his +abject attitude; but the poor fellow continued kneeling, and not +only were no words available to tell him that he was free, but it +was extremely doubtful whether freedom was any boon to him. +One thing, however, he did evidently understand—he pointed +to the St. George’s pennant with the red cross, made the +sign, looked an interrogation, and on Arthur’s reply, +‘Christians,’ and reiteration of the word +‘Salem,’ <i>peace</i>, he folded his arms and looked +reassured.</p> +<p>‘Ay, ay, my hearty,’ said the big boatswain, +‘ye’ve got under the old flag, and we’ll soon +make you see the difference. Cut out your poor tongue, have +they, the rascals, and made a dummy of you? I wish my cat +was about their ears! Come along with you, and you shall +find what British grog is made of.’</p> +<p>And a remarkable friendship arose between the two, the +boatswain patronising Fareek on every occasion, and roaring at +him as if he were deaf as well as dumb, and Fareek appearing +quite confident under his protection, and establishing a system +of signs, which were fortunately a universal language. The +Abyssinian evidently viewed himself as young Hope’s servant +or slave, probably thinking himself part of his late +master’s bequest, and there was no common language between +them in which to explain the difference or ascertain the poor +fellow’s wishes. He was a slightly-made, dexterous +man, probably about five and twenty years of age, and he caught +up very quickly, by imitation, the care he could take of +Arthur’s clothes, and the habit of waiting on him at +meals.</p> +<p>Meantime the <i>Calypso</i> held her course to the south-east, +till the chart declared the coast to be that of Djigheli Bay, and +Arthur recognised the headlands whither the unfortunate tartane +had drifted to her destruction. Anchoring outside the hay, +Captain Beresford sent the first lieutenant, Mr. Bullock, in the +long-boat, with Arthur and a well-armed force, with instructions +to offer no violence, but to reconnoitre; and if they found +Mademoiselle de Bourke, or any others of the party, to do their +best for their release by promises of ransom or representations +of the consequences of detaining them. Arthur was prepared +to offer his own piastres at once in case of need of immediate +payment. He was by this time tolerably versed in the +vernacular of the Mediterranean, and a cook’s boy, shipped +at Gibraltar, was also supposed to be capable of +interpreting.</p> +<p>The beautiful bay, almost realising the description of +Æneas’ landing-place, lay before them, the still +green waters within reflecting the fantastic rocks and the +wreaths of verdure which crowned them, while the white +mountain-tops rose like clouds in the far distance against the +azure sky. Arthur could only, however, think of all this +fair scene as a cruel prison, and those sharp rocks as the jaws +of a trap, when he saw the ribs of the tartane still jammed into +the rock where she had struck, and where he had saved the two +children as they were washed up the hatchway. He saw the +rock where the other three had clung, and where he had left the +little girl. He remembered the crowd of howling, yelling +savages, leaping and gesticulating on the beach, and his heart +trembled as he wondered how it had ended.</p> +<p>Where were the Cabeleyzes who had thus greeted them? The +bay seemed perfectly lonely. Not a sound was to be heard +but the regular dip of the oars, the cry of a startled bird, and +the splash of a flock of seals, which had been sunning themselves +on the shore, and which floundered into the sea like +Proteus’ flock of yore before Ulysses. Would that +Proteus himself had still been there to be captured and +interrogated! For the place was so entirely deserted that, +saving for the remains of the wreck, he must have believed +himself mistaken in the locality, and the lieutenant began to +question him whether it had been daylight when he came +ashore.</p> +<p>Could the natives have hidden themselves at sight of an armed +vessel? Mr. Bullock resolved on landing, very cautiously, +and with a sufficient guard. On the shore some fragments of +broken boxes and packing cases appeared; and a sailor pointed out +the European lettering painted on one—sse de B---. It +plainly was part of the address to the Comtesse de Bourke. +This encouraged the party in their search. They ascended +the path which poor Hébert and Lanty Callaghan had so +often painfully climbed, and found themselves before the square +of reed hovels, also deserted, but with black marks where fires +had been lighted, and with traces of recent habitation.</p> +<p>Arthur picked up a rag of the Bourke livery, and another of a +brocade which he had seen the poor Countess wearing. Was +this all the relic that he should ever be able to take to her +husband?</p> +<p>He peered about anxiously in hopes of discovering further +tokens, and Mr. Bullock was becoming impatient of his lingering, +when suddenly his eye was struck by a score on the bark of a +chestnut tree like a cross, cut with a feeble hand. +Beneath, close to the trunk, was a stone, beyond the corner of +which appeared a bit of paper. He pounced upon it. It +was the title-page of Estelle’s precious +Télémaque, and on the back was written in French, +If any good Christian ever finds this, I pray him to carry it to +M. the French Consul at Algiers. We are five poor +prisoners, the Abbé de St. Eudoce, Estelle, daughter of +the Comte de Bourke, and our servants, Jacques Hébert, +Laurent Callaghan, Victorine Renouf. The Cabeleyzes are +taking us away to their mountains. We are in slavery, in +hunger, filth, and deprivation of all things. We pray day +and night that the good God will send some one to rescue us, for +we are in great misery, and they persecute us to make us deny our +faith. O, whoever you may be, come and deliver us while we +are yet alive.’</p> +<p>Arthur was almost choked with tears as he translated this +piteous letter to the lieutenant, and recollected the engaging, +enthusiastic little maiden, as he had seen her on the Rhone, but +now brought to such a state. He implored Mr. Bullock to +pursue the track up the mountain, and was grieved at this being +treated as absurdly impossible, but then recollecting himself, +‘You could not, sir, but I might follow her and make them +understand that she must be saved—’</p> +<p>‘And give them another captive,’ said Bullock; +‘I thought you had had enough of that. You will do +more good to this flame of yours—’</p> +<p>‘No flame, sir. She is a mere child, little older +than her brother. But she must not remain among these +lawless savages.’</p> +<p>‘No! But we don’t throw the helve after the +hatchet, my lad! All you can do is to take this epistle to +the French Consul, who might find it hard to understand without +your explanations. At any rate, my orders are to bring you +safe on board again.’</p> +<p>Arthur had no choice but to submit, and Captain Beresford, who +had a wife and children at home, was greatly touched by the sight +of the childish writing of the poor little motherless girl; above +all when Arthur explained that the high-sounding title of +Abbé de St. Eudoce only meant one who was more likely to +be a charge than a help to her.</p> +<p>France was for the nonce allied with England, and the dread of +passing to Sweden through British seas had apparently been quite +futile, since, if Captain Beresford recollected the Irish blood +of the Count, it was only as an additional cause for taking +interest in him. Towards the Moorish pirates the interest +of the two nations united them. It was intolerable to think +of the condition of the captives; and the captain, anxious to +lose no time, rejoiced that his orders were such as to justify +him in sailing at once for Algiers to take effectual measures +with the consul before letting the family know the situation of +the poor Demoiselle de Bourke.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI—THE PIRATE CITY</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘With dazed vision unawares<br /> +From the long alley’s latticed shade<br /> +Emerged, I came upon the great<br /> +Pavilion of the Caliphat.<br /> +Right to the carven cedarn doors,<br /> +Flung inward over spangled floors,<br /> +Broad-based flights of marble stairs<br /> +Ran up with golden balustrade,<br /> + After the fashion of the time,<br /> + And humour of the golden prime<br /> + Of good Haroun +Alraschid.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span +class="smcap">Tennyson</span>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Civilised and innocuous existence has no doubt been a blessing +to Algiers as well as to the entire Mediterranean, but it has not +improved the picturesqueness of its aspect any more than the wild +and splendid ‘tiger, tiger burning bright,’ would be +more ornamental with his claws pared, the fiery gleam of his +yellow eyes quenched, and his spirit tamed, so as to render him +only an exaggerated domestic cat. The steamer, whether of +peace or war, is a melancholy substitute for the splendid though +sinister galley, with her ranks of oars and towers of canvas, or +for the dainty lateen-sailed vessels, skimming the waters like +flying fish, and the Frank garb ill replaces the graceful Arab +dress. The Paris-like block of houses ill replaces the +graceful Moorish architecture, undisturbed when the +<i>Calypso</i> sailed into the harbour, and the amphitheatre-like +city rose before her, in successive terraces of dazzling white, +interspersed with palms and other trees here and there, with +mosques and minarets rising above them, and with a crown of +strong fortifications. The harbour itself was protected by +a strongly-fortified mole, and some parley passed with the +governor of the strong and grim-looking castle adjacent—a +huge round tower erected by the Spaniards, and showing three +ranks of brazen teeth in the shape of guns.</p> +<p>Finally, the Algerines having been recently brought to their +bearings, as Captain Beresford said, entrance was permitted, and +the <i>Calypso</i> enjoyed the shelter of the mole; while he, in +full-dress uniform, took boat and went ashore, and with him the +two escaped prisoners. Fareek remained on board till the +English Consul could be consulted on his fate.</p> +<p>England and France were on curious terms with Algiers. +The French had bombarded the city in 1686, and had obtained a +treaty by which a consul constantly resided in the city, and the +persons and property of French subjects were secured from piracy, +or if captured were always released. The English had made +use of the possession of Gibraltar and Minorca to enforce a like +treaty. There was a little colony of European +merchants—English, French, and Dutch—in the lower +town, near the harbour, above which the Arab town rose, as it +still rises, in a steep stair. Ships of all these nations +traded at the port, and quite recently the English Consul, Thomas +Thompson by name, had vindicated the honour of his flag by citing +before the Dey a man who had insulted him on the narrow causeway +of the mole. The Moor was sentenced to receive 2200 strokes +of bastinado on the feet, 1000 the first day, 1200 on the second, +and he died in consequence, so that Englishmen safely walked the +narrow streets. The Dey who had inflicted this punishment +was, however, lately dead. Mehemed had been elected and +installed by the chief Janissaries, and it remained to be proved +whether he would show himself equally anxious to be on good terms +with the Christian Powers.</p> +<p>Arthur’s heart had learnt to beat at sight of the +British ensign with emotions very unlike those with which he had +seen it wave at Sheriffmuir; but it looked strange above the low +walls of a Moorish house, plain outside, but with a richly cusped +and painted horse-shoe arch at the entrance to a lovely +cloistered court, with a sparkling fountain surrounded by orange +trees with fruit of all shades from green to gold. Servants +in white garments and scarlet fezzes, black, brown, or white (by +courtesy), seemed to swarm in all directions; and one of them +called a youth in European garb, but equally dark-faced with the +rest, and not too good an English scholar. However, he +conducted them through a still more beautiful court, lined with +brilliant mosaics in the spandrels of the exquisite arches +supported on slender shining marble columns.</p> +<p>Mr. Thompson’s English coat and hearty English face +looked incongruous, as at sight of the blue and white uniform he +came forward with all the hospitable courtesy due to a +post-captain. There was shaking of hands, and doffing of +cocked hats, and calling for wine, and pipes, and coffee, in the +Alhambra-like hall, where a table covered with papers tied with +red tape, in front of a homely leathern chair, looked more +homelike than suitable. Other chairs there were for Frank +guests, who preferred them to the divan and piles of cushions on +which the Moors transacted business.</p> +<p>‘What can I do for you, sir?’ he asked of the +captain, ‘or for this little master,’ he added, +looking at Ulysse, who was standing by Arthur. ‘He is +serving the King early.’</p> +<p>‘I don’t belong to your King George,’ broke +out the young gentleman. ‘He is an +<i>usurpateur</i>. I have only this uniform on till I can +get my proper clothes. I am the son of the Comte de Bourke, +Ambassador to Spain and Sweden. I serve no one but King +Louis!’</p> +<p>‘That is plain to be seen!’ said Mr. +Thompson. ‘The Gallic cock crows early. But is +he indeed the son of Count Bourke, about whom the French Consul +has been in such trouble?’</p> +<p>‘Even so, sir,’ replied the captain. +‘I am come to ask you to present him, with this gentleman, +Mr. Hope, to your French colleague. Mr. Hope, to whom the +child’s life and liberty are alike owing, has information +to give which may lead to the rescue of the boy’s sister +and uncle with their servants.’</p> +<p>Mr. Thompson had heard of a Moorish galley coming in with an +account of having lost a Genoese prize, with ladies on board, in +the late storm. He was sure that the tidings Mr. Hope +brought would be most welcome, but he knew that the French Consul +was gone up with a distinguished visitor, M. Dessault, for an +audience of the Dey; and, in the meantime, his guests must dine +with him. And Arthur narrated his adventures.</p> +<p>The Consul shook his head when he heard of Djigheli Bay.</p> +<p>‘Those fellows, the Cabeleyzes, hate the French, and +make little enough of the Dey, though they do send home Moors who +fall into their hands. Did you see a ruined fort on a +promontory? That was the Bastion de France. The old +King Louis put it up and garrisoned it, but these rogues +contrived a surprise, and made four hundred prisoners, and ever +since they have been neither to have nor to hold. Well for +you, young gentleman, that you did not fall into their hands, but +those of the country Moors—very decent +folk—descended, they say, from the Spanish Moors. A +renegade got you off, did he? Yes, they will sometimes do +that, though at an awful risk. If they are caught, they are +hung up alive on hooks to the walls. You had an escape, I +can tell you, and so had he, poor fellow, of being taken +alive.’</p> +<p>‘He knew the risk!’ said Arthur, in a low voice; +‘but my mother had once been good to him, and he dared +everything for me.’</p> +<p>The Consul readily estimated Arthur’s legacy as +amounting to little less than £200, and was also ready to +give him bills of exchange for it. The next question was as +to Fareek. To return him to his own country was impossible; +and though the Consul offered to buy him of Arthur, not only did +the young Scot revolt at the idea of making traffic of the +faithful fellow, but Mr. Thompson owned that there might be some +risk in Algiers of his being recognised as a runaway; and though +this was very slight, it was better not to give any cause of +offence. Captain Beresford thought the poor man might be +disposed of at Port Mahon, and Arthur kept to himself that +Tam’s bequest was sacred to him. His next wish was +for clothes to which he might have a better right than to the +uniform of the senior midshipman of H.M.S. <i>Calypso</i>—a +garb in which he did not like to appear before the French +Consul. Mr. Thompson consulted his Greek clerk, and a chest +belonging to a captured merchantman, which had been claimed as +British property, but had not found an owner, was opened, and +proved to contain a wardrobe sufficient to equip Arthur like +other gentlemen of the day, in a dark crimson coat, with a little +gold lace about it, and the rest of the dress white, a wide +beaver hat, looped up with a rosette, and everything, indeed, +except shoes, and he was obliged to retain those of the senior +midshipman. With his dark hair tied back, and a suspicion +of powder, he found himself more like the youth whom Lady +Nithsdale had introduced in Madame de Varennes’ +<i>salon</i> than he had felt for the last month; and, moreover, +his shyness and awkwardness had in great measure disappeared +during his vicissitudes, and he had made many steps towards +manhood.</p> +<p>Ulysse had in the meantime been consigned to a kind, motherly, +portly Mrs. Thompson, who, accustomed as she was to hearing of +strange adventures, was aghast at what the child had undergone, +and was enchanted with the little French gentleman who spoke +English so well, and to whom his Grand Seigneur airs returned by +instinct in contact with a European lady; but his eye instantly +sought Arthur, nor would he be content without a seat next to his +protector at the dinner, early as were all dinners then, and a +compound of Eastern and Western dishes, the latter very welcome +to the travellers, and affording the Consul’s wife themes +of discourse on her difficulties in compounding them.</p> +<p>Pipes, siesta, and coffee followed, Mr. Thompson assuring them +that his French colleague would not be ready to receive them till +after the like repose had been undergone, and that he had already +sent a billet to announce their coming.</p> +<p>The French Consulate was not distant. The +<i>fleur-de-lis</i> waved over a house similar to Mr. +Thompson’s, but they were admitted with greater ceremony, +when Mr. Thompson at length conducted them. Servants and +slaves, brown and black, clad in white with blue sashes, and +white officials in blue liveries, were drawn up in the first +court in two lines to receive them; and the Chevalier, taking it +all to himself, paraded in front with the utmost grandeur, until, +at the next archway, two gentlemen, resplendent in gold lace, +came forward with low bows. At sight of the little fellow +there were cries of joy. M. Dessault spread out his arms, +clasped the child to his breast, and shed tears over him, so that +the less emotional Englishmen thought at first that they must be +kinsmen. However, Arthur came in for a like embrace as the +boy’s preserver; and if Captain Beresford had not stepped +back and looked uncomprehending and rigid he might have come in +for the same.</p> +<p>Seated in the verandah, Arthur told his tale and presented the +letter, over which there were more tears, as, indeed, well there +might be over the condition of the little girl and her simple +mode of describing it. It was nearly a month since the +corsair had arrived, and the story of the Genoese tartane being +captured and lost with French ladies on board had leaked +out. The French Consul had himself seen and interrogated +the Dutch renegade captain, had become convinced of the identity +of the unfortunate passengers, and had given up all hopes of +them, so that he greeted the boy as one risen from the dead.</p> +<p>To know that the boy’s sister and uncle were still in +the hands of the Cabeleyzes was almost worse news than the death +of his mother, for this wild Arab tribe had a terrible reputation +even among the Moors and Turks.</p> +<p>The only thing that could be devised after consultation +between the two consuls, the French envoy, and the English +captain, was that an audience should be demanded of the Dey, and +Estelle’s letter presented the next morning. +Meanwhile Arthur and Ulysse were to remain as guests at the +English Consulate. The French one would have made them +welcome, but there was no lady in his house; and Mrs. Thompson +had given Arthur a hint that his little charge would be the +better for womanly care.</p> +<p>There was further consultation whether young Hope, as a +runaway slave—who had, however, carried off a relapsed +renegade with him—would be safe on shore beyond the +precincts of the Consulate; but as no one had any claim on him, +and it might be desirable to have his evidence at hand, it was +thought safe that he should remain, and Captain Beresford +promised to come ashore in the morning to join the petitioners to +the Dey.</p> +<p>Perhaps he was not sorry, any more than was Arthur, for the +opportunity of beholding the wonderful city and palace, which +were like a dream of beauty. He came ashore early, with two +or three officers, all in full uniform; and the audience having +been granted, the whole party—consuls, M. Dessault, and +their attendants—mounted the steep, narrow stone steps +leading up the hill between the walls of houses with +fantastically carved doorways or lattices; while bare-legged +Arabs niched themselves into every coigne of vantage with baskets +of fruit or eggs, or else embroidering pillows and slippers with +exquisite taste.</p> +<p>The beauty of the buildings was unspeakable, and they +projected enough to make a cool shade—only a narrow +fragment of deep blue sky being visible above them. The +party did not, however, ascend the whole 497 steps, as the abode +of the Dey was then not the citadel, but the palace of Djenina in +the heart of the city. Turning aside, they made their way +thither over terraces partly in the rock, partly on the roofs of +houses.</p> +<p>Fierce-looking Janissaries, splendidly equipped, guarded the +entrance, with an air so proud and consequential as to remind +Arthur of poor Yusuf’s assurances of the magnificence that +might await little Ulysse as an Aga of that corps. Even as +they admitted the infidels they looked defiance at them from +under the manifold snowy folds of their mighty turbans.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/p0b.jpg"> +<img alt="The pirate city" src="images/p0s.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<p>If the beauty of the consuls’ houses had struck and +startled Arthur, far more did the region into which he was now +admitted seem like a dream of fairyland as he passed through +ranks of orange trees round sparkling fountains—worthy of +Versailles itself—courts surrounded with cloisters, +sparkling with priceless mosaics, in those brilliant colours +which Eastern taste alone can combine so as to avoid gaudiness, +arches and columns of ineffable grace and richness, halls with +domes emulating the sky, or else ceiled with white marble +lacework, whose tracery seemed delicate and varied as the richest +Venice point! But the wonderful beauty seemed to him to +have in it something terrible and weird, like that fairyland of +his native country, whose glory and charm is overshadowed by the +knowledge of the teinds to be paid to hell. It was an +unnatural, incomprehensible world; and from longing to admire and +examine, he only wished to be out of it, felt it a relief to fix +his eyes upon the uniforms of the captain and the consuls, and +did not wonder that Ulysse, instead of proudly heading the +procession, shrank up to him and clasped his hand as his +protector.</p> +<p>The human figures were as strange as the architecture; the +glittering of Janissaries in the outer court, which seemed a sort +of guardroom, the lines of those on duty in the next, and in the +third court the black slaves in white garments, enhancing the +blackness of their limbs, each with a formidable curved +scimitar. At the golden cusped archway beyond, all had to +remove their shoes as though entering a mosque. The Consuls +bade the new-comers submit to this, adding that it was only since +the recent victory that it had not been needful to lay aside the +sword on entering the Dey’s august presence. The +chamber seemed to the eyes of the strangers one web of magic +splendour—gold-crusted lacework above, arches on one side +open to a beauteous garden, and opposite semicircles of +richly-robed Janissary officers, all culminating in a dazzling +throne, where sat a white-turbaned figure, before whom the +visitors all had to bow lower than European independence could +well brook.</p> +<p>The Dey’s features were not very distinctly seen at the +distance where etiquette required them to stand; but Arthur +thought him hardly worthy to be master of such fine-looking +beings as Abou Ben Zegri and many others of the Moors, being in +fact a little sturdy Turk, with Tartar features, not nearly so +graceful as the Moors and Arabs, nor so handsome and imposing as +the Janissaries of Circassian blood. Turkish was the court +language; and even if he understood any other, an interpreter was +a necessary part of the etiquette. M. Dessault instructed +the interpreter, who understood with a readiness which betrayed +that he was one of the many renegades in the Algerine +service.</p> +<p>The Dey was too dignified to betray much emotion; but he spoke +a few words, and these were understood to profess his willingness +to assist in the matter. A richly-clad official, who was, +Mr. Thompson whispered, a Secretary of State, came to attend the +party in a smaller but equally beautiful room, where pipes and +coffee were served, and a consultation took place with the two +Consuls, which was, of course, incomprehensible to the anxious +listeners. M. Dessault’s interest was deeply +concerned in the matter, since he was a connection of the +Varennes family, to which poor Madame de Bourke belonged.</p> +<p>Commands from the Dey, it was presently explained, would be +utterly disregarded by these wild mountaineers—nay, would +probably lead to the murder of the captives in defiance. +But it was known that if these wild beings paid deference to any +one, it was to the Grand Marabout at Bugia; and the Secretary +promised to send a letter in the Dey’s name, which, with a +considerable present, might induce him to undertake the +negotiation. Therewith the audience terminated, after M. +Dessault had laid a splendid diamond snuff-box at the feet of the +Secretary.</p> +<p>The Consuls were somewhat disgusted at the notion of having +recourse to the Marabouts, whom the French Consul called +<i>vilains charlatan</i>, and the English one filthy scoundrels +and impostors. Like the Indian Fakirs, opined Captain +Beresford; like the begging friars, said M. Dessault, and to this +the Consuls assented. Just, however, as the Dominicans, +besides the low class of barefooted friars, had a learned and +cultivated set of brethren in high repute at the Universities, +and a general at Rome, so it appeared that the Marabouts, besides +their wild crew of masterful beggars, living at free quarters, +partly through pretended sanctity, partly through the awe +inspired by cabalistic arts, had a higher class who dwelt in +cities, and were highly esteemed, for the sake of either ten +years’ abstinence from food or the attainment of fifty +sciences, by one or other of which means an angelic nature was +held to be attained.</p> +<p>Fifty sciences! This greatly astonished the strangers, +but they were told by the residents that all the knowledge of the +highly cultivated Arabs of Bagdad and the Moors of Spain had been +handed on to the select few of their African descendants, and +that really beautiful poetry was still produced by the +Marabouts. Certainly no one present could doubt of the +architectural skill and taste of the Algerines, and Mr. Thompson +declared that not a tithe of the wonders of their mechanical art +had been seen, describing the wonderful silver tree of Tlemcen, +covered with birds, who, by the action of wind, were made to +produce the songs of each different species which they +represented, till a falcon on the topmost branch uttered a harsh +cry, and all became silent. General education had, however, +fallen to a low ebb among the population, and the wisdom of the +ancients was chiefly concentrated among the higher class of +Marabouts, whose headquarters were at Bugia, and their present +chief, Hadji Eseb Ben Hassan, had the reputation of a saint, +which the Consuls believed to be well founded.</p> +<p>The Cabeleyzes, though most irregular Moslems, were extremely +superstitious as regarded the supernatural arts supposed to be +possessed by the Marabouts, and if these could be induced to take +up the cause of the prisoners, there would be at least some +chance of their success.</p> +<p>And not long after the party had arrived at the French +Consulate, where they were to dine, a messenger arrived with a +parcel rolled up in silk, embroidered with gold, and containing a +strip of paper beautifully emblazoned, and in Turkish +characters. The Consul read it, and found it to be a really +strong recommendation to the Marabout to do his utmost for the +servants of the Dey’s brother, the King of France, now in +the hands of the children of Shaitan.</p> +<p>‘Well purchased,’ said M. Dessault; ‘though +that snuff-box came from the hands of the Elector of +Bavaria!’</p> +<p>As soon as the meal was over, the French Consul, instead of +taking his siesta as usual, began to take measures for chartering +a French tartane to go to Bugia immediately. He found there +was great interest excited, not only among the Christian +merchants, but among Turks, Moors, and Jews, so horrible was the +idea of captivity among the Cabeleyzes. The Dey set the +example of sending down five purses of sequins towards the young +lady’s ransom, and many more contributions came in +unasked. It was true that the bearers expected no small +consideration in return, but this was willingly given, and the +feeling manifested was a perfect astonishment to all the friends +at the Consulate.</p> +<p>The French national interpreter, Ibrahim Aga, was charged with +the negotiations with the Marabout. Arthur entreated to go +with him, and with some hesitation this was agreed to, since the +sight of an old friend might be needed to reassure any survivors +of the poor captives—for it was hardly thought possible +that all could still survive the hardships of the mountains in +the depth of winter, even if they were spared by the ferocity of +their captors.</p> +<p>Ulysse, the little son and heir, was not to be exposed to the +perils of the seas till his sister’s fate was decided, and +accordingly he was to remain under the care of Mrs. Thompson; +while Captain Beresford meant to cruise about in the +neighbourhood, having a great desire to know the result of the +enterprise, and hoping also that if Mademoiselle de Bourke still +lived he might be permitted to restore her to her +relations. Letters, clothes, and comforts were provided, +and placed under the charge of the interpreter and of Arthur, +together with a considerable gratuity for the Marabout, and +authority for any ransom that Cabeleyze rapacity might +require,—still, however, with great doubt whether all might +not be too late.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII—ON THE MOUNTAINS</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘We cannot miss him. He doth make our +fire,<br /> +Fetch in our wood, and serve in offices<br /> +That profit us.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Tempest</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Bugia, though midway on the ‘European lake,’ is +almost unknown to modern travellers, though it has become a +French possession.</p> +<p>It looked extremely beautiful when the French tartane entered +it, rising from the sea like a magnificent amphitheatre, at the +foot of the mountains that circled round it, and guarded by stern +battlemented castles, while the arches of one of the great old +Roman aqueducts made a noble cord to the arc described by the +lower part of the town.</p> +<p>The harbour, a finer one naturally than that of Algiers, +contained numerous tartanes and other vessels, for, as Ibrahim +Aga, who could talk French very well, informed Arthur, the +inhabitants were good workers in iron, and drove a trade in +plough-shares and other implements, besides wax and oil. +But it was no resort of Franks, and he insisted that Arthur +should only come on shore in a Moorish dress, which had been +provided at Algiers. Thanks to young Hope’s naturally +dark complexion, and the exposure of the last month, he might +very well pass for a Moor: and he had learnt to wear the white +caftan, wide trousers, broad sash, and scarlet fez, circled with +muslin, so naturally that he was not likely to be noticed as a +European.</p> +<p>The city, in spite of its external beauty, proved to be +ruinous within, and in the midst of the Moorish houses and courts +still were visible remnants of the old Roman town that had in +past ages flourished there. Like Algiers, it had narrow +climbing streets, excluding sunshine, and through these the guide +Ibrahim had secured led the way; while in single file came the +interpreter, Arthur, two black slaves bearing presents for the +Marabout, and four men besides as escort. Once or twice +there was a vista down a broader space, with an awning over it, +where selling and buying were going on, always of some single +species of merchandise.</p> +<p>Thus they arrived at one of those Moorish houses, to whose +beauty Arthur was becoming accustomed. It had, however, a +less luxurious and grave aspect than the palaces of Algiers, and +the green colour sacred to the Prophet prevailed in the inlaid +work, which Ibrahim Aga told him consisted chiefly of maxims from +the Koran.</p> +<p>No soldiers were on guard, but there were a good many young +men wholly clad in white—neophytes endeavouring to study +the fifty sciences, mostly sitting on the ground, writing copies, +either of the sacred books, or of the treatises on science and +medicine which had descended from time almost immemorial; all +rehearsed aloud what they learnt or wrote, so as to produce a +strange hum. A grave official, similarly clad, but with a +green sash, came to meet them, and told them that the chief +Marabout was sick; but on hearing from the interpreter that they +were bearers of a letter from the Dey, he went back with the +intelligence, and presently returned salaaming very low, to +introduce them to another of the large halls with lacework +ceilings, where it was explained that the Grand Marabout was, who +was suffering from ague. The fit was passing off, and he +would be able to attend of the coffee and the pipes which were +presented to his honoured guests so soon as they had partaken +them.</p> +<p>After a delay, very trying to Arthur’s anxiety, though +beguiled by such coffee and tobacco as he was never likely to +encounter again, Hadji Eseb Ben Hassan, a venerable-looking man, +appeared, with a fine white beard and keen eyes, slenderly +formed, and with an air of very considerable ability—much +more so than the Dey, in all his glittering splendour of gold, +jewels, and embroidery, whereas this old man wore the pure white +woollen garments of the Moor, with the green sash, and an emerald +to fasten the folds of his white turban.</p> +<p>Ibrahim Aga prostrated himself as if before the Dey, and laid +before the Marabout, as a first gift, a gold watch; then, after a +blessing had been given in return, he produced with great +ceremony the Dey’s letter, to which every one in the +apartment did obeisance by touching the floor with their +foreheads, and the Grand Marabout further rubbed it on his brow +before proceeding to read it, which he chose to do for himself, +chanting it out in a low, humming voice. It was only a +recommendation, and the other letter was from the French Consul +containing all particulars. The Marabout seemed much +startled, and interrogated the interpreter. Arthur could +follow them in some degree, and presently the keen eye of the old +man seemed to detect his interest, for there was a pointing to +him, an explanation that he had been there, and presently Hadji +Eseb addressed a question to him in the vernacular Arabic. +He understood and answered, but the imperfect language or his +looks betrayed him, for Hadji Eseb demanded, ‘Thou art +Frank, my son?’</p> +<p>Ibrahim Aga, mortally afraid of the consequences of having +brought a disguised Giaour into these sacred precincts, began +what Arthur perceived to be a lying assurance of his having +embraced Islam; and he was on the point of breaking in upon the +speech, when the Marabout observed his gesture, and said gravely, +‘My son, falsehood is not needed to shield a brave +Christian; a faithful worshipper of Issa Ben Mariam receives +honour if he does justice and works righteousness according to +his own creed, even though he be blind to the true faith. +Is it true, good youth, that thou art—not as this man would +have me believe—one of the crew from Algiers, but art come +to strive for the release of thy sister?’</p> +<p>Arthur gave the history as best he could, for his +month’s practice had made him able to speak the vernacular +so as to be fairly comprehensible, and the Marabout, who was +evidently a man of very high abilities, often met him half way, +and suggested the word at which he stumbled. He was greatly +touched by the account, even in the imperfect manner in which the +youth could give it; and there was no doubt that he was a man of +enlarged mind and beneficence, who had not only mastered the +fifty sciences, but had seen something of the world.</p> +<p>He had not only made his pilgrimage to Mecca more than once, +but had been at Constantinople, and likewise at Tunis and +Tripoli; thus, with powers both acute and awake, he understood +more than his countrymen of European Powers and their relation to +one another. As a civilised and cultivated man, he was +horrified at the notion of the tenderly-nurtured child being in +the clutches of savages like the Cabeleyzes; but the first +difficulty was to find out where she was; for, as he said, +pointing towards the mountains, they were a wide space, and it +would be hunting a partridge on the hills.</p> +<p>Looking at his chief councillor, Azim Reverdi, he demanded +whether some of the wanderers of their order, whom he named, +could not be sent through the mountains to discover where any +such prisoners might be; but after going into the court in quest +of these persons, Azim returned with tidings that a Turkish +soldier had returned on the previous day to the town, and had +mentioned that on Mount Couco, Sheyk Abderrahman was almost at +war with his subordinates, Eyoub and Ben Yakoub, about some +shipwrecked Frank captives, if they had not already settled the +matter by murdering them all, and, as was well known, nothing +would persuade this ignorant, lawless tribe that nothing was more +abhorrent to the Prophet than human sacrifices.</p> +<p>Azim had already sent two disciples to summon the Turk to the +presence of the Grand Marabout, and in due time he +appeared—a rough, heavy, truculent fellow enough, but +making awkward salaams as one in great awe of the presence in +which he stood—unwilling awe perhaps—full of +superstitious fear tempered by pride—for the haughty Turks +revolted against homage to one of the subject race of Moors.</p> +<p>His language was only now and then comprehensible to Arthur, +but Ibrahim kept up a running translation into French for his +benefit.</p> +<p>There were captives—infidels—saved from the wreck, +he knew not how many, but he was sure of one—a little maid +with hair like the unwound cocoon, so that they called her the +Daughter of the Silkworm. It was about her that the chief +struggle was. She had fallen to the lot of Ben Yakoub, who +had been chestnut-gathering by the sea at the time of the wreck; +but when he arrived on Mount Couco the Sheyk Abderrahman had +claimed her and hers as the head of the tribe, and had carried +her off to his own adowara in the valley of Ein Gebel.</p> +<p>The Turk, Murad, had been induced by Yakoub to join him and +sixteen more armed men whom he had got together to demand +her. For it was he who had rescued her from the waves, +carried her up the mountains, fed her all this time, and he would +not have her snatched away from him, though for his part Murad +thought it would have been well to be quit of them, for not only +were they Giaours, but he verily believed them to be of the race +of Jinns. The little fair-haired maid had papers with +strange signs on them. She wrote—actually +wrote—a thing that he believed no Sultana Velidè +even had ever been known to do at Stamboul. Moreover, she +twisted strings about on her hands in a manner that was fearful +to look at. It was said to be only to amuse the children, +but for his part he believed it was for some evil spell. +What was certain was that the other, a woman full grown, could, +whenever any one offended her, raise a Jinn in a cloud of smoke, +which caused such sneezing that she was lost sight of. And +yet these creatures had so bewitched their captors that there +were like to be hard blows before they were disposed of, unless +his advice were taken to make an end of them altogether. +Indeed, two of the men, the mad Santon and the chief slave, had +been taken behind a bush to be sacrificed, when the Daughter of +the Silkworm came between with her incantations, and fear came +upon Sheyk Yakoub. Murad evidently thought it highly +advisable that the chief Marabout should intervene to put a stop +to these doings, and counteract the mysterious influence +exercised by these strange beings.</p> +<p>High time, truly, Arthur and Ibrahim Aga likewise felt it, to +go to the rescue, since terror and jealousy might, it appeared, +at any time impel <i>ces barbares féroces</i>, as Ibrahim +called them, to slaughter their prisoners. To their great +joy, the Marabout proved to be of the same opinion, in spite of +his sickness, which, being an intermitting ague, would leave him +free for a couple of days, and might be driven off by the +mountain air. He promised to set forth early the next day, +and kept the young man and the interpreter as his guests for the +night, Ibrahim going first on board to fetch the parcel of +clothes and provisions which M. Dessault had sent for the +Abbé and Mademoiselle de Bourke, and for an instalment of +the ransom, which the Hadji Eseb assured him might safely be +carried under his own sacred protection.</p> +<p>Arthur did not see much of his host, who seemed to be very +busy consulting with his second in command on the preparations, +for probably the expedition was a delicate undertaking, even for +him, and his companions had to be carefully chosen.</p> +<p>Ibrahim had advised Arthur to stay quietly where he was, and +not venture into the city, and he spent his time as he best might +by the help of a <i>narghilé</i>, which was hospitably +presented to him, though the strictness of Marabout life forbade +the use alike of tobacco and coffee.</p> +<p>Before dawn the courts of the house were astir. Mules, +handsomely trapped, were provided to carry the principal persons +of the party wherever it might be possible, and there were some +spare ones, ridden at first by inferiors, but intended for the +captives, should they be recovered.</p> +<p>It was very cold, being the last week in November, and all +were wrapped in heavy woollen haiks over their white garments, +except one wild-looking fellow, whose legs and arms were bare, +and who only seemed to possess one garment of coarse dark +sackcloth. He skipped and ran by the side of the mules, +chanting and muttering, and Ibrahim observed in French that he +was one of the Sunakites, or fanatic Marabouts, and advised +Arthur to beware of him; but, though dangerous in himself, his +presence would be a sufficient protection from all other thieves +or vagabonds. Indeed, Arthur saw the fellow glaring +unpleasantly at him, when the sun summoned all the rest to their +morning devotions. He was glad that he had made the fact of +his Christianity known, for he could no more act Moslem than +<i>be</i> one, and Hadji Eseb kept the Sunakite in check by a +stern glance, so that no harm ensued.</p> +<p>Afterwards Arthur was bidden to ride near the chief, who +talked a good deal, asking intelligent questions. Gibraltar +had impressed him greatly, and it also appeared that in one of +his pilgrimages the merchant vessel he was in had been rescued +from some Albanian pirates by an English ship, which held the +Turks as allies, and thus saved them from undergoing vengeance +for the sufferings of the Greeks. Thus the good old man +felt that he owed a debt of gratitude which Allah required him to +pay, even to the infidel.</p> +<p>Up steep roads the mules climbed. The first night the +halt was at a Cabyle village, where hospitality was eagerly +offered to persons of such high reputation for sanctity as the +Marabouts; but afterwards habitations grew more scanty as the +ground rose higher, and there was no choice but to encamp in the +tents brought by the attendants, and which seemed to Arthur a +good exchange for the dirty Cabyle huts.</p> +<p>Altogether the journey took six days. The mules climbed +along wild paths on the verge of giddy precipices, where even on +foot Arthur would have hesitated to venture. The scenery +would now be thought magnificent, but it was simply frightful to +the mind of the early eighteenth century, especially when a +constant watch had to be kept to avoid the rush of stones, or +avalanches, on an almost imperceptible, nearly perpendicular +path, where it was needful to trust to the guidance of the +Sunakite, the only one of the cavalcade who had been there +before.</p> +<p>On the last day they found themselves on the borders of a +slope of pines and other mountain-growing trees, bordering a wide +valley or ravine where the Sunakite hinted that Abderrahman might +be found.</p> +<p>The cavalcade pursued a path slightly indicated by the +treading of feet and hoofs, and presently there emerged on them +from a slighter side track between the red stems of the great +pines a figure nearly bent double under the weight of two huge +faggots, with a basket of great solid fir-cones on the top of +them. Very scanty garments seemed to be vouchsafed to him, +and the bare arms and legs were so white, as well as of a length +so unusual among Arabs or Moors, that simultaneously the Marabout +exclaimed, ‘One of the Giaour captives,’ and Arthur +cried out, ‘La Jeunesse! Laurence!’</p> +<p>There was only just time for a start and a response, ‘M. +Arture! And is it yourself?’ before a howl of +vituperation was heard—of abuse of all the ancestry of the +cur of an infidel slave, the father of tardiness—and a +savage-looking man appeared, brandishing a cudgel, with which he +was about to belabour his unfortunate slave, when he was arrested +by astonishment, and perhaps terror, at the goodly company of +Marabouts. Hadji Eseb entered into conversation with him, +and meanwhile Lanty broke forth, ‘O wirrah, wirrah, Master +Arthur! an’ have they made a haythen Moor of ye? By +the powers, but this is worse than all. What will +Mademoiselle say?—she that has held up the faith of every +one of us, like a little saint and martyr as she is! +Though, to be sure, ye are but a Protestant; only these folks +don’t know the differ.’</p> +<p>‘If you would let me speak, Laurence,’ said +Arthur, ‘you would hear that I am no more a Moslem than +yourself, only my Frank dress might lead to trouble. We are +come to deliver you all, with a ransom from the French +Consul. Are you all safe—Mademoiselle and all? and +how many of you?’</p> +<p>‘Mademoiselle and M. l’Abbé were safe and +well three days since,’ said Lanty; ‘but that +spalpeen there is my master and poor Victorine’s, and will +not let us put a foot near them.’</p> +<p>‘Where are they? How many?’ anxiously asked +Arthur.</p> +<p>‘There are five of us altogether,’ said Lanty; +‘praise be to Him who has saved us thus far. We know +the touch of cold steel at our throats, as well as ever I knew +the poor misthress’ handbell; and unless our Lady, and St. +Lawrence, and the rest of them, keep the better watch on us, the +rascals will only ransom us without our heads, so jealous and +bloodthirsty they are. The Bey of Constantina sent for us +once, but all we got by that was worse usage than the very dogs +in Paris, and being dragged up these weary hills, where +Maître Hubert and I carried Mademoiselle every foot of the +way on our backs, and she begging our pardon so +prettily—only she could not walk, the rocks had so bruised +her darlin’ little feet.’</p> +<p>‘This is their chief holy man, Lanty. If any one +can prevail on these savages to release you it is he.’</p> +<p>‘And how come you to be hand and glove with them, +Masther Arthur—you that I thought drownded with poor Madame +and the little Chevalier and the rest?’</p> +<p>‘The Chevalier is not drowned, Laurent. He is safe +in the Consul’s house at Algiers.’</p> +<p>‘Now heaven and all the saints be praised! The +Chevalier safe and well! ’Tis a very miracle!’ +cried Lanty, letting fall his burthen, as he clasped his hands in +ecstasy and performed a caper which, in spite of all his master +Eyoub’s respect for the Marabouts, brought a furious yell +of rage, and a tremendous blow with the cudgel, which Lanty, in +his joy, seemed to receive as if it had been a feather.</p> +<p>Hadji Eseb averted a further blow; and understanding from +Arthur that the poor fellow’s transport was caused by the +tidings of the safety of his master’s son, he seemed +touched, and bade that he and Eyoub should lead the way to the +place of durance of the chief prisoners. On the way Ibrahim +Aga interrogated both Eyoub in vernacular Arabic and Lanty in +French. The former was sullen, only speaking from his +evident awe of the Marabouts, the latter voluble with joy and +hope.</p> +<p>Arthur learnt that the letter he had found under the stone was +the fourth that Estelle and Hébert had written. +There had been a terrible journey up the mountains, when Lanty +had fully thought Victorine must close her sufferings in some +frightful ravine; but, nevertheless, she had recovered health and +strength with every day’s ascent above the close, narrow +valley. They were guarded all the way by Arabs armed to the +teeth to prevent a rescue by the Bey of Constantina.</p> +<p>On their arrival at the valley, which was the headquarters of +the tribe, the sheyk of the entire clan had laid claim to the +principal captives, and had carried off the young lady and her +uncle; and in his dwelling she had a boarded floor to sleep on, +and had been made much more comfortable than in the squalid huts +below. Her original master, Yakoub, had, however, come to +seize her, with the force described by Murad. Then it was +that again there was a threat to kill rather than resign them; +but on this occasion it was averted by Sheyk Abderrahman’s +son, a boy of about fourteen, who threw himself on his knees +before Mademoiselle, and prayed his father earnestly for her +life.</p> +<p>‘They spared her then,’ said Lanty, ‘and, +mayhap, worse still may come of that. Yakoub, the villain, +ended by getting her back till they can have a council of their +tribe, and there she is in his filthy hut; but the gossoon, +Selim, as they call him, prowls about the place as if he were +bewitched. All the children are, for that matter, wherever +she goes. She makes cats’ cradles for them, and sings +to them, and tells them stories in her own sweet way out of the +sacred history—such as may bring her into trouble one of +these days. Maître Hébert heard her one day +telling them the story of Moses, and he warned her that if she +went on in that fashion it might be the death of us all. +“But,” says she, “suppose we made Selim, and +little Zuleika, and all the rest of them, Christians? +Suppose we brought all the tribe to come down and ask baptism, +like as St. Nona did in the <i>Lives of the +Saints</i>?” He told her it was more like that they +would only get her darling little head cut off, if no worse, but +he could not get her to think that mattered at all at all. +She would have a crown and a palm up in heaven, and after her +name in the Calendar on earth, bless her.’</p> +<p>Then he went on to tell that Yakoub was furious at the notion +of resigning his prize, and (Agamemnon-like) declared that if she +were taken from him he should demand Victorine from Eyoub. +Unfortunately she was recovering her good looks in the mountain +air; and, worse still, the spring of her ‘blessed little +Polichinelle’ was broken, though happily no one guessed it, +and hitherto it had been enough to show them the box.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII—CHRYSEIS AND BRISEIS</h2> +<blockquote><p> ‘The +child<br /> +Restore, I pray, her proffered ransom take,<br /> +And in His priest, the Lord of Light revere.<br /> + Then through the ranks assenting murmurs rang,<br /> +The priest to reverence, and the ransom take.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Homer</span> +(<span class="smcap">Derby</span>).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>For one moment, before emerging from the forest, looking +through an opening in the trees, down a steep slope, a group of +children could be seen on the grass in front of the huts +composing the adowara, little brown figures in scanty garments, +lying about evidently listening intently to the figure, the gleam +of whose blonde hair showed her instantly to be Estelle de +Bourke.</p> +<p>However, either the deputation had been descried, or Eyoub may +have made some signal, for when the calvalcade had wound about +through the remaining trees, and arrived among the huts, no one +was to be seen. There was only the irregular square of huts +built of rough stones and thatched with reeds, with big stones to +keep the thatch on in the storm; a few goats were tethered near, +and there was a rush of the great savage dogs, but they +recognised Eyoub and Lanty, and were presently quieted.</p> +<p>‘This is the chief danger,’ whispered Lanty.</p> +<p>‘Pray heaven the rogues do not murder them rather than +give them up!’</p> +<p>The Sunakite, beginning to make strange contortions and +mutterings in a low voice, seemed to terrify Eyoub greatly. +Whether he pointed it out or not, or whether Eyoub was induced by +his gestures to show it, was not clear to Arthur’s mind; +but at the chief abode, an assemblage of two stone hovels and +rudely-built walls, the party halted, and made a loud knocking at +the door, Hadji Eseb’s solemn tones bidding those within to +open in the name of Allah.</p> +<p>It was done, disclosing a vista of men with drawn +scimitars. The Marabout demanded without ceremony where +were the prisoners.</p> +<p>‘At yonder house,’ he was answered by Yakoub +himself, pointing to the farther end of the village.</p> +<p>‘Dog of a liar,’ burst forth the Sunakite. +‘Dost thou think to blind the eyes of the beloved of Allah, +who knoweth the secrets of heaven and earth, and hath the sigil +of Suleiman Ben Daoud, wherewith to penetrate the secret places +of the false?’</p> +<p>The ferocious-looking guardians looked at each other as though +under the influence of supernatural terror, and then Hadji Eseb +spoke: ‘Salaam Aleikum, my children; no man need fear who +listens to the will of Allah, and honours his +messengers.’</p> +<p>All made way for the dignified old man and his suite, and they +advanced into the court, where two men with drawn swords were +keeping guard over the captives, who were on their knees in a +corner of the court.</p> +<p>The sabres were sheathed, and there was a shuffling away at +the advance of the Marabouts, Sheyk Yakoub making some apology +about having delayed to admit such guests, but excusing himself +on the score of supposing they were emissaries sent by those +whose authority he so defied that he had sworn to slaughter his +prisoners rather than surrender them.</p> +<p>Hadji Eseb replied with a quotation from the Koran forbidding +cruelty to the helpless, and sternly denounced wrath on the +transgressors, bidding Yakoub draw off his savage bodyguard.</p> +<p>The man was plainly alarmed, more especially as the Sunakite +broke out into one of his wild wails of denunciation, waving his +hands like a prophet of wrath, and predicting famine, disease, +pestilence, to these slack observers of the law of Mohammed.</p> +<p>This completed the alarm. The bodyguard fled away +pell-mell, Yakoub after them. His women shut themselves +into some innermost recesses, and the field was left to the +Marabouts and the prisoners, who, not understanding what all this +meant, were still kneeling in their corner. Hadji Eseb bade +Arthur and the interpreter go to reassure them.</p> +<p>At their advance a miserable embrowned figure, barefooted and +half clad in a ragged haik, roped round his waist, threw himself +before the fair-haired child, crying out in imperfect Arabic, +‘Spare her, spare her, great Lord! much is to be won by +saving her.’</p> +<p>‘We are come to save her,’ said Arthur in +French. ‘Maître Hébert, do you not know +me?’</p> +<p>Hubert looked up. ‘M. Arture! M. +Arture! Risen from the dead!’ he cried, threw himself +into the young man’s arms, and burst out into a vehement +sob; but in a second he recovered his manners and fell back, +while Estelle looked up.</p> +<p>‘M. Arture,’ she repeated. ‘Ah! is it +you? Then, is my mamma alive and safe?’</p> +<p>‘Alas! no,’ replied Arthur; ‘but your little +brother is safe and well at Algiers, and this good man, the +Marabout, is come to deliver you.’</p> +<p>‘My mamma said you would protect us, and I knew you +would come, like Mentor, to save us,’ said Estelle, +clasping her hands with ineffable joy. ‘Oh, +Monsieur! I thank you next to the good God and the +saints!’ and she began fervently kissing Arthur’s +hand. He turned to salute the Abbé, but was shocked +to see how much more vacant the poor gentleman’s stare had +become, and how little he seemed to comprehend.</p> +<p>‘Ah!’ said Estelle, with her pretty, tender, +motherly air, ‘my poor uncle has never seemed to understand +since that dreadful day when they dragged him and Maître +Hébert out into the wood and were going to kill +them. And he has fever every night. But, oh, M. +Arture, did you say my brother was safe?’ she repeated, as +if not able to dwell enough upon the glad tidings.</p> +<p>‘And I hope you will soon be with him,’ said +Arthur. ‘But, Mademoiselle, let me present you to the +Grand Marabout, a sort of Moslem Abbé, who has come all +this way to obtain your release.’</p> +<p>He led Estelle forward, when she made a courtesy fit for her +grandmother’s <i>salon</i>, and in very fluent Cabeleyze +dialect gave thanks for the kindness of coming to release her, +and begged him to excuse her uncle, who was sick, and, as you say +here, ‘stricken of Allah.’</p> +<p>The little French demoiselle’s grace and politeness were +by no means lost on the Marabout, who replied to her graciously; +and at the sight of her reading M. Dessault’s letter, which +the interpreter presented to her, one of the suite could not help +exclaiming, ‘Ah! if women such as this will be went abroad +in our streets, there would be nothing to hope for in +Paradise.’</p> +<p>Estelle did not seem to have suffered in health; indeed, in +Arthur’s eyes, she seemed in these six weeks to have grown, +and to have more colour, while her expression had become less +childish, deeper, and higher. Her hair did not look +neglected, though her dress—the same dark blue which she +had worn on the voyage—had become very ragged and soiled, +and her shoes were broken, and tied on with strips of rag.</p> +<p>She gave a little scream of joy when the parcel of clothes +sent by the French Consul was given to her, only longing to send +some to Victorine before she retired to enjoy the comfort of +clean and respectable clothes; and in the meantime something was +attempted for the comfort of her companions, though it would not +have been safe to put them into Frankish garments, and none had +been brought. Poor Hébert was the very ghost of the +stout and important <i>maître d’hôtel</i>, and, +indeed, the faithful man had borne the brunt of all the +privations and sufferings, doing his utmost to shield and protect +his little mistress and her helpless uncle.</p> +<p>When Estelle reappeared, dressed once more like a little +French lady (at least in the eyes of those who were not +particular about fit), she found a little feast being prepared +for her out of the provisions sent by the consuls; but she could +not sit down to it till Arthur, escorted by several of the +Marabout’s suite, had carried a share both of the food and +the garments to Lanty and Victorine.</p> +<p>They, however, were not to be found. The whole adowara +seemed to be deserted except by a few frightened women and +children, and Victorine and her Irish swain had no doubt been +driven off into the woods by Eyoub—no Achilles certainly, +but equally unwilling with the great Pelides to resign Briseis as +a substitute for Chryseis.</p> +<p>It was too late to attempt anything more that night; indeed, +at sundown it became very cold. A fire was lighted in the +larger room, in the centre, where there was a hole for the exit +of the smoke.</p> +<p>The Marabouts seemed to be praying or reciting the Koran on +one side of it, for there was a continuous chant or hum going on +there; but they seemed to have no objection to the Christians +sitting together on the other side conversing and exchanging +accounts of their adventures. Maître Hébert +could not sufficiently dilate on the spirit, cheerfulness, and +patience that Mademoiselle had displayed through all. He +only had to lament her imprudence in trying to talk of the +Christian faith to the children, telling them stories of the +saints, and doing what, if all the tribe had not been so +ignorant, would have brought destruction on them all. +‘I would not have Monseigneur there know of it for +worlds,’ said he, glancing at the Grand Marabout.</p> +<p>‘Selim loves to hear such things,’ said Estelle +composedly. ‘I have taught him to say the +Paternoster, and the meaning of it, and Zuleika can nearly say +them.’</p> +<p>‘<i>Miséricorde</i>!’ cried M. +Hubert. ‘What may not the child have brought on +herself!’</p> +<p>‘Selim will be a chief,’ returned Estelle. +‘He will make his people do as he pleases, or he would do +so; but now there will be no one to tell him about the true God +and the blessed Saviour,’ she added sadly.</p> +<p>‘Mademoiselle!’ cried Hébert in indignant +anger—‘Mademoiselle would not be ungrateful for our +safety from these horrors.’</p> +<p>‘Oh no!’ exclaimed the child. ‘I am +very happy to return to my poor papa, and my brothers, and my +grandmamma. But I am sorry for Selim! Perhaps some +good mission fathers would go out to them like those we heard of +in Arcadia; and by and by, when I am grown up, I can come back +with some sisters to teach the women to wash their children and +not scold and fight.’</p> +<p>The <i>maître d’hôtel</i> sighed, and was +relieved when Estelle retired to the deserted women’s +apartments for the night. He seemed to think her dangerous +language might be understood and reported.</p> +<p>The next morning the Marabout sent messengers, who brought +back Yakoub and his people, and before many hours a sort of +council was convened in the court of Yakoub’s house, +consisting of all the neighbouring heads of families, brown men, +whose eyes gleamed fiercely out from under their haiks, and who +were armed to the teeth with sabres, daggers, and, if possible, +pistols and blunderbusses of all the worn-out patterns in +Europe—some no doubt as old as the Thirty Years War; while +those who could not attain to these weapons had the long spears +of their ancestors, and were no bad representatives of the +Amalekites of old.</p> +<p>After all had solemnly taken their seats there was a fresh +arrival of Sheyk Abderrahman and his ferocious-looking +following. He himself was a man of fine bearing, with a +great black beard, and a gold-embroidered sash stuck full of +pistols and knives, and with poor Madame de Bourke’s best +pearl necklace round his neck. His son Selim was with him, +a slim youth, with beautiful soft eyes glancing out from under a +haik, striped with many colours, such as may have been the coat +that marked Joseph as the heir.</p> +<p>There were many salaams and formalities, and then the chief +Marabout made a speech, explaining the purpose of his coming, +diplomatically allowing that the Cabeleyzes were not subject to +the Dey of Algiers, but showing that they enjoyed the advantages +of the treaty with France, and that therefore they were bound to +release the unfortunate shipwrecked captives, whom they had +already plundered of all their property. So far Estelle and +Arthur, who were anxiously watching, crouching behind the wall of +the deserted house court, could follow. Then arose yells +and shouts of denial, and words too rapid to be followed. +In a lull, Hadji Eseb might be heard proffering ransom, while the +cries and shrieks so well known to accompany bargaining broke +out.</p> +<p>Ibrahim Aga, who stood by the wall, here told them that Yakoub +and Eyoub seemed not unwilling to consent to the redemption of +the male captives, but that they claimed both the females. +Hébert clenched his teeth, and bade Ibrahim interfere and +declare that he would never be set free without his little +lady.</p> +<p>Here, however, the tumult lulled a little, and +Abderrahman’s voice was heard declaring that he claimed the +Daughter of the Silkworm as a wife for his son.</p> +<p>Ibrahim then sprang to the Marabout’s side, and was +heard representing that the young lady was of high and noble +blood. To which Abderrahman replied with the dignity of an +old lion, that were she the daughter of the King of the Franks +himself, she would only be a fit mate for the son of the King of +the Mountains. A fresh roar of jangling and disputing +began, during which Estelle whispered, ‘Poor Selim, I know +he would believe—he half does already. It would be +like Clotilda.’</p> +<p>‘And then he would be cruelly murdered, and you +too,’ returned Arthur.</p> +<p>‘We should be martyrs,’ said Estelle, as she had +so often said before; and as Hubert shuddered and cried, +‘Do not speak of such things, Mademoiselle, just as there +is hope,’ she answered, ‘Oh no! do not think I want +to stay in this dreadful place—only if I should have to do +so—I long to go to my brother and my poor papa. Then +I can send some good fathers to convert them.’</p> +<p>‘Ha!’ cried Arthur; ‘what now! They +are at one another’s throats!’</p> +<p>Yakoub and Eyoub with flashing sabres were actually flying at +each other, but Marabouts were seizing them and holding them +back, and the Sunakite’s chant arose above all the +uproar.</p> +<p>Ibrahim was able to explain that Yakoub insisted that if the +mistress were appropriated by Abderrahman, the maid should be his +compensation. Eyoub, who had been the foremost in the +rescue from the wreck, was furious at the demand, and they were +on the point of fighting when thus withheld; while the Sunakite +was denouncing woes on the spoiler and the lover of Christians, +which made the blood of the Cabeleyzes run cold. Their +flocks would be diseased, storms from the mountains would +overwhelm them, their children would die, their name and race be +cut off, if infidel girls were permitted to bewitch them and turn +them from the faith of the Prophet. He pointed to young +Selim, and demanded whether he were not already spellbound by the +silken daughter of the Giaour to join in her idolatry.</p> +<p>There were howls of rage, a leaping up, a drawing of swords, a +demand that the unbelievers should die at once. It was a +cry the captives knew only too well. Arthur grasped a +pistol, and loosened his sword, but young Selim had thrown +himself at the Marabout’s feet, sobbing out entreaties that +the maiden’s life might be saved, and assurances that he +was a staunch believer; while his father, scandalised at such an +exhibition on behalf of any such chattel as a female, roughly +snatched him from the ground, and insisted on his silence.</p> +<p>The Marabouts had, at their chief’s signal, ranged +themselves in front of the inner court, and the authority of the +Hadji had imposed silence even on the fanatic. He spoke +again, making them understand that Frankish vengeance in case of +a massacre could reach them even in their mountains when backed +by the Dey. And to Abderrahman he represented that the only +safety for his son, the only peace for his tribe, was in the +surrender of these two dangerous causes of altercation.</p> +<p>The ‘King of the Mountains’ was convinced by the +scene that had just taken place of the inexpedience of retaining +the prisoners alive. And some pieces of gold thrust into +his hand by Ibrahim may have shown him that much might be lost by +slaughtering them.</p> +<p>The Babel which next arose was of the amicable bargaining +sort. And after another hour of suspense the interpreter +came to announce that the mountaineers, out of their great +respect, not for the Dey, but the Marabout, had agreed to accept +900 piastres as the ransom of all the five captives, and that the +Marabout recommended an immediate start, lest anything should +rouse the ferocity of the tribe again.</p> +<p>Estelle’s warm heart would fain have taken leave of the +few who had been kind to her; but this was impossible, for the +women were in hiding, and she could only leave one or two +kerchiefs sent from Algiers, hoping Zuleika might have one of +them. Ibrahim insisted on her being veiled as closely as a +Mohammedan woman as she passed out. One look between her +and Selim might have been fatal to all; though hers may have been +in all childish innocence, she did not know how the fiery youth +was writhing in his father’s indignant grasp, forcibly +withheld from rushing after one who had been a new life and +revelation to him.</p> +<p>Mayhap the passion was as fleeting as it was violent, but the +Marabout knew it boded danger to the captives to whom he had +pledged his honour. He sent them, mounted on mules, on in +front, while he and his company remained in the rear, watching +till Lanty and Victorine were driven up like cattle by Eyoub, to +whom he paid an earnest of his special share of the ransom. +He permitted no pause, not even for a greeting between Estelle +and poor Victorine, nor to clothe the two unfortunates, more than +by throwing a mantle to poor Victorine, who had nothing but a +short petticoat and a scanty, ragged, filthy bournouse. She +shrouded herself as well as she could when lifted on her mule, +scarce perhaps yet aware what had happened to her, only that +Lanty was near, muttering benedictions and thanksgivings as he +vibrated between her mule and that of the Abbé.</p> +<p>It was only at the evening halt that, in a cave on the +mountain-side, Estelle and Victorine could cling to each other in +a close embrace with sobs of joy; and while Estelle eagerly +produced clothes from her little store of gifts, the poor +<i>femme de chambre</i> wept for joy to feel indeed that she was +free, and shed a fresh shower of tears of joy at the sight of a +brush and comb.</p> +<p>Lanty was purring over his foster-brother, and cosseting him +like a cat over a newly-recovered kitten, resolved not to see how +much shaken the poor Abbé’s intellect had been, and +quite sure that the reverend father would be altogether himself +when he only had his <i>soutane</i> again.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV—WELCOME</h2> +<blockquote><p>‘Well hath the Prophet-chief your bidding +done.’</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Moore</span> +(<i>Lalla Rookh</i>).</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Bugia was thoroughly Moorish, and subject to attacks of +fanaticism. Perhaps the Grand Marabout did not wholly trust +the Sunakite not to stir up the populace, for he would not take +the recovered captives to his palace, avoided the city as much as +possible, and took them down to the harbour, where, beside the +old Roman quay, he caused his trusty attendant, Reverdi, to hire +a boat to take them out to the French tartane—Reverdi +himself going with them to ensure the fidelity of the +boatmen. Estelle would have kissed the good old man’s +hand in fervent thanks, but, child as she was, he shrank from her +touch as an unholy thing; and it was enforced on her and +Victorine that they were by no means to remove their heavy +mufflings till they were safe on board the tartane, and even out +of harbour. The Frenchman in command of the vessel was +evidently of the same mind, and, though enchanted to receive +them, sent them at once below. He said his men had been in +danger of being mobbed in the streets, and that there were +reports abroad that the harem of a great Frank chief, and all his +treasure, were being recovered from the Cabeleyzes, so that he +doubted whether all the influence of the Grand Marabout might +prevent their being pursued by corsairs.</p> +<p>Right glad was he to recognise the pennant of the +<i>Calypso</i> outside the harbour, and he instantly ran up a +signal flag to intimate success. A boat was immediately put +off from the frigate, containing not only Lieutenant Bullock, but +an officer in scarlet, who had no sooner come on deck than he +shook Arthur eagerly by the hand, exclaiming,</p> +<p>‘’Tis you, then! I cannot be mistaken in +poor Davie’s son, though you were a mere bit bairn when I +saw you last!’</p> +<p>‘Archie Hope!’ exclaimed Arthur, joyfully. +‘Can you tell me anything of my mother?’</p> +<p>‘She was well when last I heard of her, only sore vexed +that you should be cut off from her by your own fule deed, my +lad! Ye’ve thought better of it now?’</p> +<p>Major Hope was here interrupted by the lieutenant, who brought +an invitation from Captain Beresford to the whole French party to +bestow themselves on board the <i>Calypso</i>. After +ascertaining that the Marabout had taken up their cause, and that +the journey up Mount Couco and back again could not occupy less +than twelve or fourteen days, he had sailed for Minorca, where he +had obtained sanction to convey any of the captives who might be +rescued to Algiers. He had also seen Major Hope, who, on +hearing of the adventures of his young kinsman, asked leave of +absence to come in search of him, and became the guest of the +officers of the <i>Calypso</i>.</p> +<p>Arthur found himself virtually the head of the party, and, +after consultation with Ibrahim Aga and Maître +Hébert, it was agreed that there would be far more safety, +as well as better accommodation, in the British ship than in the +French tartane, and Arthur went down to communicate the proposal +to Estelle, whom the close, little, evil-smelling cabin was +already making much paler than all her privations had done.</p> +<p>‘An English ship,’ she said. ‘Would my +papa approve?’ and her little prim diplomatic air sat +comically on her.</p> +<p>‘Oh yes,’ said Arthur. ‘He himself +asked the captain to seek for you, Mademoiselle. There is +peace between our countries, you know.’</p> +<p>‘That is good,’ she said, jumping up. +‘For oh! this cabin is worse than it is inside +Yakoub’s hut! Oh take me on deck before I am +ill!’</p> +<p>She was able to be her own little charming French and Irish +self when Arthur led her on deck; and her gracious thanks and +pretty courtesy made them agree that it would have been ten +thousand pities if such a creature could not have been redeemed +from the savage Arabs.</p> +<p>The whole six were speedily on board the <i>Calypso</i>, where +Captain Beresford received the little heroine with politeness +worthy of her own manners. He had given up his own cabin +for her and Victorine, purchased at Port Mahon all he thought she +could need, and had even recollected to procure clerical garments +for the Abbé—a sight which rejoiced Lanty’s +faithful heart, though the poor Abbé was too ill all the +time of the voyage to leave his berth. Arthur’s +arrival was greeted by the Abyssinian with an inarticulate howl +of delight, as the poor fellow crawled to his feet, and began +kissing them before he could prevent it. Fareek had been +the pet of the sailors, and well taken care of by the +boatswain. He was handy, quick, and useful, and Captain +Bullock thought he might pick up a living as an attendant in the +galley; but he showed that he held himself to belong absolutely +to Arthur, and rendered every service to him that he could, +picking up what was needful in the care of European clothes by +imitation of the captain’s servant, and showing a dexterity +that made it probable that his cleverness had been the cause of +the loss of a tongue that might have betrayed too much. To +young Hope he seemed like a sacred legacy from poor Tam, and a +perplexing one, such as he could hardly leave in his dumbness to +take the chances of life among sailors.</p> +<p>His own plans were likewise to be considered, and Major Hope +concerned himself much about them. He was a second +cousin—a near relation in Scottish estimation—and no +distant neighbour. His family were Tories, though content +to submit to the House of Hanover, and had always been on +friendly terms with Lady Hope.</p> +<p>‘I writ at once, on hearing of you, to let her know you +were in safety,’ said the major. ‘And what do +you intend the noo?’</p> +<p>‘Can I win home?’ anxiously asked Arthur. +‘You know I never was attainted!’</p> +<p>‘And what would ye do if you were at home?’</p> +<p>‘I should see my mother.’</p> +<p>‘Small doubt of the welcome she would have for you, my +poor laddie,’ said the major; ‘but what +next?’ And as Arthur hesitated, ‘I misdoubt +greatly whether Burnside would give you a helping hand if you +came fresh from colloguing with French Jacobites, though my +father and all the rest of us at the Lynn aye told him that he +might thank himself and his dour old dominie for your +prank—you were but a schoolboy then—you are a man +now; and though your poor mother would be blithe to set eyes on +you, she would be sairly perplexed what gate you had best turn +thereafter. Now, see here! There’s talk of our +being sent to dislodge the Spaniards from Sicily. You are a +likely lad, and the colonel would take my word for you if you +came back with me to Port Mahon as a volunteer; and once under +King George’s colours, there would be pressure enough from +all of us Hopes upon Burnside to gar him get you a commission, +unless you win one for yourself. Then you could gang hame +when the time was served, a credit and an honour to +all!’</p> +<p>‘I had rather win my own way than be beholden to +Burnside,’ said Arthur, his face lighting at the +proposal.</p> +<p>‘Hout, man! That will be as the chances of war may +turn out. As to your kit, we’ll see to that! +Never fear. Your mother will make it up.’</p> +<p>‘Thanks, Archie, with all my heart, but I am not so +destitute,’ and he mentioned Yusuf’s legacy, which +the major held that he was perfectly justified in appropriating; +and in answer to his next question, assured him that he would be +able to retain Fareek as his servant.</p> +<p>This was enough for Arthur, who knew that the relief to his +mother’s mind of his safety and acceptance as a subject +would outweigh any disappointment at not seeing his face, when he +would only be an unforgiven exile, liable to be informed against +by any malicious neighbour.</p> +<p>He borrowed materials, and had written a long letter to her +before the <i>Calypso</i> put in at Algiers. The little +swift tartane had forestalled her; and every one was on the +watch, when Estelle, who had been treated like a little princess +on board, was brought in the long-boat with all her party to the +quay. Though it was at daybreak, not only the European +inhabitants, but Turks, Arabs, Moors, and Jews thronged the wharf +in welcome; and there were jubilant cries as all the five +captives could be seen seated in the boat in the light of the +rising sun.</p> +<p>M. Dessault, with Ulysse in his hand, stood foremost on the +quay, and the two children were instantly in each other’s +embrace. Their uncle had to be helped out. He was +more bewildered than gratified by the welcome. He required +to be assured that the multitudes assembled meant him no harm, +and would not move without Lanty; and though he bowed low in +return to M. Dessault’s greeting, it was like an automaton, +and with no recognition.</p> +<p>Estelle, between her brother and her friend, and followed by +all the rest, was conducted by the French Consul to the chapel, +arranged in one of the Moorish rooms. There stood beside +the altar his two chaplains, and at once mass was commenced, +while all threw themselves on their knees in thankfulness; and at +the well-known sound a ray of intelligence and joy began to +brighten even poor Phelim’s features.</p> +<p>Arthur, in overflowing joy, could not but kneel with the +others; and when the service concluded with the Te Deum’s +lofty praise, his tears dropped for joy and gratitude that the +captivity was over, the children safe, and himself no longer an +outcast and exile.</p> +<p>He had, however, to take leave of the children sooner than he +wished, for the <i>Calypso</i> had to sail the next day.</p> +<p>Ulysse wept bitterly, clung to him, and persisted that he +<i>was</i> their secretary, and must go with them. Estelle, +too, had tears in her eyes; but she said, half in earnest, +‘You know, Mentor vanished when Télémaque +came home! Some day, Monsieur, you will come to see us at +Paris, and we shall know how to show our gratitude!’</p> +<p>Both Lanty and Maître Hébert promised to write to +M. Arture; and in due time he received not only their letters but +fervent acknowledgments from the Comte de Bourke, who knew that +to him was owing the life and liberty of the children.</p> +<p>From Lanty Arthur further heard that the poor Abbé had +languished and died soon after reaching home. His faithful +foster-brother was deeply distressed, though the family had +rewarded the fidelity of the servants by promoting Hébert +to be intendant of the Provençal estates, while Lanty was +wedded to Victorine, with a <i>dot</i> that enabled them to start +a flourishing <i>perruquier’s</i> shop, and make a home for +his mother when little Jacques outgrew her care.</p> +<p>Estelle was in due time married to a French nobleman, and in +after years ‘General Sir Arthur Hope’ took his son +and daughter to pay her a long visit in her Provençal +<i>château</i>, and to converse on the strange adventures +that seemed like a dream. He found her a noble lady, well +fulfilling the promise of her heroic girlhood, and still +lamenting the impossibility of sending any mission to open the +eyes of the half-converted Selim.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODERN TELEMACHUS***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 4271-h.htm or 4271-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/7/4271 + + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +</pre></body> +</html> diff --git a/4271-h/images/p0b.jpg b/4271-h/images/p0b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..746d74e --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p0b.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p0s.jpg b/4271-h/images/p0s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc0482c --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p0s.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p1b.jpg b/4271-h/images/p1b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e465b14 --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p1b.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p1s.jpg b/4271-h/images/p1s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..53cbc00 --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p1s.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p40b.jpg b/4271-h/images/p40b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0919200 --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p40b.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p40s.jpg b/4271-h/images/p40s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c06196 --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p40s.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p96b.jpg b/4271-h/images/p96b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e26914d --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p96b.jpg diff --git a/4271-h/images/p96s.jpg b/4271-h/images/p96s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8988cb0 --- /dev/null +++ b/4271-h/images/p96s.jpg diff --git a/4271.txt b/4271.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f7ad8b --- /dev/null +++ b/4271.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6341 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Modern Telemachus, by Charlotte M. Yonge, +Illustrated by W. J. Hennessy + + +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: A Modern Telemachus + + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + + + +Release Date: December 29, 2007 [eBook #4271] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODERN TELEMACHUS*** + + +Transcribed from the 1889 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + +A MODERN TELEMACHUS + + + {'Be still' illustration: p1.jpg} + + 'Be still; I want to hear what they are saying.'--P. 2. + +ILLUSTRATED BY W. J. HENNESSY. + +London +MACMILLAN AND CO. +AND NEW YORK +1889 + +_All rights reserved_ + +_First Edition_ (2 _Vols. Crown_ 8_vo_) 1886 +_Reprinted_ 1887, 1889 + + + + +PREFACE + + +The idea of this tale was taken from _The Mariners' Chronicle_, compiled +by a person named Scott early in the last century--a curious book of +narratives of maritime adventures, with exceedingly quaint illustrations. +Nothing has ever shown me more plainly that truth is stranger than +fiction, for all that is most improbable here is the actual fact. + +The Comte de Bourke was really an Irish Jacobite, naturalised in France, +and married to the daughter of the Marquis de Varennes, as well as in +high favour with the Marshal Duke of Berwick. + +In 1719, just when the ambition of Elizabeth Farnese, the second wife of +Philip V. of Spain, had involved that country in a war with England, +France, and Austria, the Count was transferred from the Spanish Embassy +to that of Sweden, and sent for his wife and two elder children to join +him at a Spanish port. + +This arrangement was so strange that I can only account for it by +supposing that as this was the date of a feeble Spanish attempt on behalf +of the Jacobites in Scotland, Comte de Bourke may not have ventured by +the direct route. Or it may not have been etiquette for him to re-enter +France when appointed ambassador. At any rate, the poor Countess did +take this route to the South, and I am inclined to think the narrative +must be correct, as all the side-lights I have been able to gain +perfectly agree with it, often in an unexpected manner. + +The suite and the baggage were just as related in the story--the only +liberty I have taken being the bestowal of names. 'M. Arture' was really +of the party, but I have made him Scotch instead of Irish, and I have no +knowledge that the lackey was not French. The imbecility of the Abbe is +merely a deduction from his helplessness, but of course this may have +been caused by illness. + +The meeting with M. de Varennes at Avignon, Berwick's offer of an escort, +and the Countess's dread of the Pyrenees, are all facts, as well as her +embarkation in the Genoese tartane bound for Barcelona, and its capture +by the Algerine corsair commanded by a Dutch renegade, who treated her +well, and to whom she gave her watch. + +Algerine history confirms what is said of his treatment. Louis XIV. had +bombarded the pirate city, and compelled the Dey to receive a consul and +to liberate French prisoners and French property; but the lady having +been taken in an Italian ship, the Dutchman was afraid to set her ashore +without first taking her to Algiers, lest he should fall under suspicion. +He would not venture on taking so many women on board his own vessel, +being evidently afraid of his crew of more than two hundred Turks and +Moors, but sent seven men on board the prize and took it in tow. + +Curiously enough, history mentions the very tempest which drove the +tartane apart from her captor, for it also shattered the French +transports and interfered with Berwick's Spanish campaign. + +The circumstances of the wreck have been closely followed. 'M. Arture' +actually saved Mademoiselle de Bourke, and placed her in the arms of the +_maitre d'hotel_, who had reached a rock, together with the Abbe, the +lackey, and one out of the four maids. The other three were all in the +cabin with their mistress and her son, and shared their fate. + +The real 'Arture' tried to swim to the shore, but never was seen again, +so that his adventures with the little boy are wholly imaginary. But the +little girl's conduct is perfectly true. When in the steward's arms she +declared that the savages might take her life, but never should make her +deny her faith. + +The account of these captors was a great difficulty, till in the old +_Universal History_ I found a description of Algeria which tallied +wonderfully with the narrative. It was taken from a survey of the coast +made a few years later by English officials. + +The tribe inhabiting Mounts Araz and Couco, and bordering on Djigheli +Bay, were really wild Arabs, claiming high descent, but very loose +Mohammedans, and savage in their habits. Their name of Cabeleyzes is +said--with what truth I know not--to mean 'revolted,' and they held +themselves independent of the Dey. They were in the habit of murdering +or enslaving all shipwrecked travellers, except subjects of Algiers, whom +they released with nothing but their lives. + +All this perfectly explains the sufferings of Mademoiselle de Bourke. The +history of the plundering, the threats, the savage treatment of the +corpses, the wild dogs, the councils of the tribe, the separation of the +captives, and the child's heroism, is all literally true--the expedient +of Victorine's defence alone being an invention. It is also true that +the little girl and the _maitre d'hotel_ wrote four letters, and sent +them by different chances to Algiers, but only the last ever arrived, and +it created a great sensation. + +M. Dessault is a real personage, and the kindness of the Dey and of the +Moors was exactly as related, also the expedient of sending the Marabout +of Bugia to negotiate. + +Mr. Thomas Thompson was really the English Consul at the time, but his +share in the matter is imaginary, as it depends on Arthur's adventures. + +The account of the Marabout system comes from the _Universal History_; +but the arrival, the negotiations, and the desire of the sheyk to detain +the young French lady for a wife to his son, are from the narrative. He +really did claim to be an equal match for her, were she daughter of the +King of France, since he was King of the Mountains. + +The welcome at Algiers and the _Te Deum_ in the Consul's chapel also are +related in the book that serves me for authority. It adds that +Mademoiselle de Bourke finally married a Marquis de B---, and lived much +respected in Provence, dying shortly before the Revolution. + +I will only mention further that a rescued Abyssinian slave named Fareek +(happily not tongueless) was well known to me many years ago in the +household of the late Warden Barter of Winchester College. + +Since writing the above I have by the kindness of friends been enabled to +discover Mr. Scott's authority, namely, a book entitled _Voyage pour la +Redemption des captifs aux Royaumes d'Alger et de Tunis_, _fait en_ 1720 +_par les P.P. Francois Comelin_, _Philemon de la Motte_, _et Joseph +Bernard_, _de l'Ordre de la Sainte Trinite_, _dit Mathurine_. This Order +was established by Jean Matha for the ransom and rescue of prisoners in +the hands of the Moors. A translation of the adventures of the Comtesse +de Bourke and her daughter was published in the _Catholic World_, New +York, July 1881. It exactly agrees with the narration in _The Mariners' +Chronicle_ except that, in the true spirit of the eighteenth century, Mr. +Scott thought fit to suppress that these ecclesiastics were at Algiers at +the time of the arrival of Mademoiselle de Bourke's letter, that they +interested themselves actively on her behalf, and that they wrote the +narrative from the lips of the _maitre d'hotel_ (who indeed may clearly +be traced throughout). It seems also that the gold cups were chalices, +and that a complete set of altar equipments fell a prey to the +Cabeleyzes, whose name the good fathers endeavour to connect with +_Cabale_--with about as much reason as if we endeavoured to derive that +word from the ministry of Charles II. + +Had I known in time of the assistance of these benevolent brethren I +would certainly have introduced them with all due honour, but, like the +Abbe Vertot, I have to say, _Mon histoire est ecrite_, and what is +worse--printed. Moreover, they do not seem to have gone on the mission +with the Marabout from Bugia, so that their presence really only accounts +for the _Te Deum_ with which the redeemed captives were welcomed. + +It does not seem quite certain whether M. Dessault was Consul or Envoy; I +incline to think the latter. The translation in the _Catholic World_ +speaks of Sir Arthur, but Mr. Scott's 'M. Arture' is much more +_vraisemblable_. He probably had either a surname to be concealed or +else unpronounceable to French lips. Scott must have had some further +information of the after history of Mademoiselle de Bourke since he +mentions her marriage, which could hardly have taken place when Pere +Comelin's book was published in 1720. + +C. M. YONGE. + + + + +CHAPTER I--COMPANIONS OF THE VOYAGE + + + 'Make mention thereto + Touching my much loved father's safe return, + If of his whereabouts I may best hear.' + + _Odyssey_ (MUSGRAVE). + +'Oh! brother, I wish they had named you Telemaque, and then it would have +been all right!' + +'Why so, sister? Why should I be called by so ugly a name? I like +Ulysses much better; and it is also the name of my papa.' + +'That is the very thing. His name is Ulysses, and we are going to seek +for him.' + +'Oh! I hope that cruel old Mentor is not coming to tumble us down over a +great rook, like Telemaque in the picture.' + +'You mean Pere le Brun?' + +'Yes; you know he always says he is our Mentor. And I wish he would +change into a goddess with a helmet and a shield, with an ugly face, and +go off in a cloud. Do you think he will, Estelle?' + +'Do not be so silly, Ulick; there are no goddesses now.' + +'I heard M. de la Mede tell that pretty lady with the diamond butterfly +that she was his goddess; so there are!' + +'You do not understand, brother. That was only flattery and compliment. +Goddesses were only in the Greek mythology, and were all over long ago!' + +'But are we really going to see our papa?' + +'Oh yes, mamma told me so. He is made Ambassador to Sweden, you know.' + +'Is that greater than Envoy to Spain?' + +'Very, very much greater. They call mamma Madame l'Ambassadrice; and she +is having three complete new dresses made. See, there are _la bonne_ and +Laurent talking. It is English, and if we go near with our cups and +balls we shall hear all about it. Laurent always knows, because my uncle +tells him.' + +'You must call him _La Juenesse_ now he is made mamma's lackey. Is he +not beautiful in his new livery?' + +'Be still now, brother; I want to hear what they are saying.' + +This may sound somewhat sly, but French children, before Rousseau had +made them the fashion, were kept in the background, and were reduced to +picking up intelligence as best they could without any sense of its being +dishonourable to do so; and, indeed, it was more neglect than desire of +concealment that left their uninformed. + +This was in 1719, four years after the accession of Louis XV., a puny +infant, to the French throne, and in the midst of the Regency of the Duke +of Orleans. The scene was a broad walk in the Tuileries gardens, beneath +a closely-clipped wall of greenery, along which were disposed alternately +busts upon pedestals, and stone vases of flowers, while beyond lay formal +beds of flowers, the gravel walks between radiating from a fountain, at +present quiescent, for it was only ten o'clock in the forenoon, and the +gardens were chiefly frequented at that hour by children and their +attendants, who, like Estelle and Ulysse de Bourke, were taking an early +walk on their way home from mass. + +They were a miniature lady and gentleman of the period in costume, with +the single exception that, in consideration of their being only nine and +seven years old, their hair was free from powder. Estelle's light, +almost flaxen locks were brushed back from her forehead, and tied behind +with a rose-coloured ribbon, but uncovered, except by a tiny lace cap on +the crown of her head; Ulick's darker hair was carefully arranged in +great curls on his back and shoulders, as like a full-bottomed wig as +nature would permit, and over it he wore a little cocked hat edged with +gold lace. He had a rich laced cravat, a double-breasted waistcoat of +pale blue satin, and breeches to match, a brown velvet coat with blue +embroidery on the pockets, collar, and skirts, silk stockings to match, +as well as the knot of the tiny scabbard of the semblance of a sword at +his side, shoes with silver buckles, and altogether he might have been a +full-grown Comte or Vicomte seen through a diminishing glass. His sister +was in a full-hooped dress, with tight long waist, and sleeves reaching +to her elbows, the under skirt a pale pink, the upper a deeper rose +colour; but stiff as was the attire, she had managed to give it a slight +general air of disarrangement, to get her cap a little on one side, a +stray curl loose on her forehead, to tear a bit of the dangling lace on +her arms, and to splash her robe with a puddle. He was in air, feature, +and complexion a perfect little dark Frenchman. The contour of her face, +still more its rosy glow, were more in accordance with her surname, and +so especially were the large deep blue eyes with the long dark lashes and +pencilled brows. And there was a lively restless air about her full of +intelligence, as she manoeuvred her brother towards a stone seat, guarded +by a couple of cupids reining in sleepy-looking lions in stone, where, +under the shade of a lime-tree, her little petticoated brother of two +years old was asleep, cradled in the lap of a large, portly, handsome +woman, in a dark dress, a white cap and apron, and dark crimson cloak, +loosely put back, as it was an August day. Native costumes were then, as +now, always worn by French nurses; but this was not the garb of any +province of the kingdom, and was as Irish as the brogue in which she was +conversing with the tall fine young man who stood at ease beside her. He +was in a magnificent green and gold livery suit, his hair powdered, and +fastened in a _queue_, the whiteness contrasting with the dark brows, and +the eyes and complexion of that fine Irish type that it is the fashion to +call Milesian. He looked proud of his dress, which was viewed in those +days as eminently becoming, and did in fact display his well-made figure +and limbs to great advantage; but he looked anxiously about, and his +first inquiry on coming on the scene in attendance upon the little boy +had been-- + +'The top of the morning to ye, mother! And where is Victorine?' + +'Arrah, and what would ye want with Victorine?' demanded the _bonne_. 'Is +not the old mother enough for one while, to feast her eyes on her an' +Lanty Callaghan, now he has shed the _marmiton's_ slough, and come out in +old Ireland's colours, like a butterfly from a palmer? La Jeunesse, +instead of Laurent here, and Laurent there.' + +La Pierre and La Jeunesse were the stereotyped names of all pairs of +lackeys in French noble houses, and the title was a mark of promotion; +but Lanty winced and said, 'Have done with that, mother. You know that +never the pot nor the kettle has blacked my fingers since Master Phelim +went to the good fathers' school with me to carry his books and insinse +him with the larning. 'Tis all one, as his own body-servant that I have +been, as was fitting for his own foster-brother, till now, when not one +of the servants, barring myself and Maitre Hebert, the steward, will +follow Madame la Comtesse beyond the four walls of Paris. "Will you +desert us too, Laurent?" says the lady. "And is it me you mane, Madame," +says I, "Sorrah a Callaghan ever deserted a Burke!" "Then," says she, +"if you will go with us to Sweden, you shall have two lackey's suits, and +a couple of _louis d'or_ to cross your pocket with by the year, forbye +the fee and bounty of all the visitors to M. le Comte." "Is it M. l'Abbe +goes with Madame?" says I. "And why not," says she. "Then," says I, +"'tis myself that is mightily obliged to your ladyship, and am ready to +put on her colours and do all in reason in her service, so as I am free +to attend to Master Phelim, that is M. l'Abbe, whenever he needs me, that +am in duty bound as his own foster-brother." "Ah, Laurent," says she, +"'tis you that are the faithful domestic. We shall all stand in need of +such good offices as we can do to one another, for we shall have a long +and troublesome, if not dangerous journey, both before and after we have +met M. le Comte."' + +Estelle here nodded her head with a certain satisfaction, while the nurse +replied-- + +'And what other answer could the son of your father make--Heavens be his +bed--that was shot through the head by the masther's side in the weary +wars in Spain? and whom could ye be bound to serve barring Master Phelim, +that's lain in the same cradle with yees--' + +'Is not Victorine here, mother?' still restlessly demanded Lanty. + +'Never you heed Victorine,' replied she. 'Sure she may have a little +arrand of her own, and ye might have a word for the old mother that never +parted with you before.' + +'You not going, mother!' he exclaimed. + +''Tis my heart that will go with you and Masther Phelim, my jewel; but +Madame la Comtesse will have it that this weeny little darlint'--caressing +the child in her lap--'could never bear the cold of that bare and +dissolute place in the north you are bound for, and old Madame la +Marquise, her mother, would be mad entirely if all the children left her; +but our own lady can't quit the little one without leaving his own nurse +Honor with him!' + +'That's news to me intirely, mother,' said Lanty; 'bad luck to it!' + +Honor laughed that half-proud, half-sad laugh of mothers when their sons +outgrow them. 'Fine talking! Much he cares for the old mother if he can +see the young girl go with him.' + +For Lanty's eyes had brightened at sight of a slight little figure, trim +to the last degree, with a jaunty little cap on her dark hair, gay +trimmings to the black apron, dainty shoes and stockings that came +tripping down the path. His tongue instantly changed to French from what +he called English, as in pathetic insinuating modulations he demanded how +she could be making him weary his very heart out. + +'Who bade you?' she retorted. 'I never asked you to waste your time +here!' + +'And will ye not give me a glance of the eyes that have made a cinder of +my poor heart, when I am going away into the desolate north, among the +bears and the savages and the heretics?' + +'There will be plenty of eyes there to look at your fine green and gold, +for the sake of the Paris cut; though a great lumbering fellow like you +does not know how to show it off!' + +'And if I bring back a heretic _bru_ to break the heart of the mother, +will it not be all the fault of the cruelty of Mademoiselle Victorine?' + +Here Estelle, unable to withstand Lanty's piteous intonations, broke in, +'Never mind, Laurent, Victorine goes with us. She went to be measured +for a new pair of slices on purpose!' + +'Ah! I thought I should disembarrass myself of a great troublesome +Irishman!' + +'No!' retorted the boy, 'you knew Laurent was going, for Maitre Hebert +had just come in to say he must have a lackey's suit!' + +'Yes,' said Estelle, 'that was when you took me in your arms and kissed +me, and said you would follow Madame la Comtesse to the end of the +world.' + +The old nurse laughed heartily, but Victorine cried out, 'Does +Mademoiselle think I am going to follow naughty little girls who invent +follies? It is still free to me to change my mind. Poor Simon Claquette +is gnawing his heart out, and he is to be left _concierge_!' + +The clock at the palace chimed eleven, Estelle took her brother's hand, +Honor rose with little Jacques in her arms, Victorine paced beside her, +and Lanty as La Jeunesse followed, puffing out his breast, and wielding +his cane, as they all went home to _dejeuner_. + +Twenty-nine years before the opening of this narrative, just after the +battle of Boyne Water had ruined the hopes of the Stewarts in Ireland, +Sir Ulick Burke had attended James II. in his flight from Waterford; and +his wife had followed him, attended by her two faithful servants, Patrick +Callaghan, and his wife Honor, carrying her mistress's child on her +bosom, and her own on her back. + +Sir Ulick, or Le Chevalier Bourke, as the French called him, had no +scruple in taking service in the armies of Louis XIV. Callaghan followed +him everywhere, while Honor remained a devoted attendant on her lady, +doubly bound to her by exile and sorrow. + +Little Ulick Burke's foster-sister died, perhaps because she had always +been made second to him through all the hardships and exposure of the +journey. Other babes of both lady and nurse had succumbed to the +mortality which beset the children of that generation, and the only +survivors besides the eldest Burke and one daughter were the two youngest +of each mother, and they had arrived so nearly at the same time that +Honor Callaghan could again be foster-mother to Phelim Burke, a sickly +child, reared with great difficulty. + +The family were becoming almost French. Sir Ulick was an intimate friend +of one of the noblest men of the day, James Fitz-James, Marshal Duke of +Berwick, who united military talent, almost equal to that of his uncle of +Marlborough, to an unswerving honour and integrity very rare in those +evil times. Under him, Sir Ulick fought in the campaigns that finally +established the House of Bourbon upon the throne of Spain, and the +younger Ulick or Ulysse, as his name had been classicalised and +Frenchified, was making his first campaign as a mere boy at the time of +the battle of Almanza, that solitary British defeat, for which our +national consolation is that the French were commanded by an Englishman, +the Duke of Berwick, and the English by a Frenchman, the Huguenot +Rubigne, Earl of Galway. The first English charge was, however, fatal to +the Chevalier Bourke, who fell mortally wounded, and in the endeavour to +carry him off the field the faithful Callaghan likewise fell. Sir Ulick +lived long enough to be visited by the Duke, and to commend his children +to his friend's protection. + +Berwick was held to be dry and stiff, but he was a faithful friend, and +well redeemed his promise. The eldest son, young as he was, obtained as +wife the daughter of the Marquis de Varennes, and soon distinguished +himself both in war and policy, so as to receive the title of Comte de +Bourke. + +The French Church was called on to provide for the other two children. +The daughter, Alice, became a nun in one of the Parisian convents, with +promises of promotion. The younger son, Phelim, was weakly in health, +and of intellect feeble, if not deficient, and was almost dependent on +the devoted care and tenderness of his foster-brother, Laurence +Callaghan. Nobody was startled when Berwick's interest procured for the +dull boy of ten years old the Abbey of St. Eudoce in Champagne. To be +sure the responsibilities were not great, for the Abbey had been burnt +down a century and a half ago by the Huguenots, and there had never been +any monks in it since, so the only effect was that little Phelim Burke +went by the imposing title of Monsieur l'Abbe de St. Eudoce, and his +family enjoyed as much of the revenues of the estates of the Abbey as the +Intendant thought proper to transmit to them. He was, to a certain +degree, ecclesiastically educated, having just memory enough to retain +for recitation the tasks that Lanty helped him to learn, and he could +copy the themes or translations made for him by his faithful companion. +Neither boy had the least notion of unfairness or deception in this +arrangement: it was only the natural service of the one to the other, and +if it were perceived in the Fathers of the Seminary, whither Lanty daily +conducted the young Abbot, they winked at it. Nor, though the +quick-witted Lanty thus acquired a considerable amount of learning, no +idea occurred to him of availing himself of it for his own advantage. It +sat outside him, as it were, for 'Masther Phelim's' use; and he no more +thought of applying it to his own elevation than he did of wearing the +_soutane_ he brushed for his young master. + +The Abbe was now five-and-twenty, had received the tonsure, and had been +admitted to minor Orders, but there was no necessity for him to proceed +any farther unless higher promotion should be accorded to him in +recompense of his brother's services. He was a gentle, amiable being, +not at all fit to take care of himself; and since the death of his +mother, he had been the charge of his brother and sister-in-law, or +perhaps more correctly speaking, of the Dowager Marquise de Varennes, for +all the branches of the family lived together in the Hotel de Varennes at +Paris, or its chateau in the country, and the fine old lady ruled over +all, her son and son-in-law being often absent, as was the case at +present. + +A fresh European war had been provoked by the ambition of the second wife +of Philip V. of Spain, the Prince for whose cause Berwick had fought. +This Queen, Elizabeth Farnese, wanted rank and dominion for her own son; +moreover, Philip looked with longing eyes at his native kingdom of +France, all claim to which he had resigned when Spain was bequeathed to +him; but now that only a sickly child, Louis XV., stood between him and +the succession in right of blood, he felt his rights superior to those of +the Duke of Orleans. Thus Spain was induced to become hostile to France, +and to commence the war known as that of the Quadruple Alliance. + +While there was still hope of accommodation, the Comte de Bourke had been +sent as a special envoy to Madrid, and there continued even after the war +had broken out, and the Duke of Berwick, resigning all the estates he had +received from the gratitude of Philip V., had led an army across the +frontier. + +The Count had, however, just been appointed Ambassador to Sweden, and was +anxious to be joined by his family on the way thither. + +The tidings had created great commotion. Madame de Varennes looked on +Sweden as an Ultima Thule of frost and snow, but knew that a lady's +presence was essential to the display required of an ambassador. She +strove, however, to have the children left with her; but her daughter +declared that she could not part with Estelle, who was already a +companion and friend, and that Ulysse must be with his father, who longed +for his eldest son, so that only little Jacques, a delicate child, was to +be left to console his grandmother. + + + + +CHAPTER II--A JACOBITE WAIF + + + 'Sac now he's o'er the floods sae gray, + And Lord Maxwell has ta'en his good-night.' + + LORD MAXWELL'S _Good-night_. + +Madame La Comtesse de Bourke was by no means a helpless fine lady. She +had several times accompanied her husband on his expeditions, and had +only not gone with him to Madrid because he did not expect to be long +absent, and she sorely rued the separation. + +She was very busy in her own room, superintending the packing, and +assisting in it, when her own clever fingers were more effective than +those of her maids. She was in her _robe de chambre_, a dark blue +wrapper, embroidered with white, and put on more neatly than was always +the case with French ladies in _deshabille_. The hoop, long stiff stays, +rich brocade robe, and fabric of powdered hair were equally unsuitable to +ease or exertion, and consequently were seldom assumed till late in the +day, when the toilette was often made in public. + +So Madame de Bourke's hair was simply rolled out of her way, and she +appeared in her true colours, as a little brisk, bonny woman, with no +actual beauty, but very expressive light gray eyes, furnished with +intensely long black lashes, and a sweet, mobile, lively countenance. + +Estelle was trying to amuse little Jacques, and prevent him from trotting +between the boxes, putting all sorts of undesirable goods into them; and +Ulysse had collected his toys, and was pleading earnestly that a headless +wooden horse and a kite, twice as tall as himself, of Lanty's +manufacture, might go with them. + +He was told that another _cerf-volant_ should be made for him at the +journey's end; but was only partially consoled, and his mother was fain +to compound for a box of woolly lambs. Estelle winked away a tear when +her doll was rejected, a wooden, highly painted lady, bedizened in +brocade, and so dear to her soul that it was hard to be told that she was +too old for such toys, and that the Swedes would be shocked to see the +Ambassador's daughter embracing a doll. She had, however, to preserve +her character of a reasonable child, and tried to derive consolation from +the permission to bestow 'Mademoiselle' upon the _concierge's_ little +sick daughter, who would be sure to cherish her duly. + +'But, oh mamma, I pray you to let me take my book!' + +'Assuredly, my child. Let us see! What? Telemaque? Not "Prince +Percinet and Princess Gracieuse?"' + +'I am tired of them, mamma.' + +'Nor Madame d'Aulnoy's Fairy Tales?' + +'Oh no, thank you, mamma; I love nothing so well as Telemaque.' + +'Thou art a droll child!' said her mother. + +'Ah, but we are going to be like Telemaque.' + +'Heaven forfend!' said the poor lady. + +'Yes, dear mamma, I am glad you are going with us instead of staying at +home to weave and unweave webs. If Penelope had been like you, she would +have gone!' + +'Take care, is not Jacques acting Penelope?' said Madame de Bourke, +unable to help smiling at her little daughter's glib mythology, while +going to the rescue of the embroidery silks, in which her youngest son +was entangling himself. + +At that moment there was a knock at the door, and a message was brought +that the Countess of Nithsdale begged the favour of a few minutes' +conversation in private with Madame. The Scottish title fared better on +the lips of La Jeunesse than it would have done on those of his +predecessor. There was considerable intimacy among all the Jacobite +exiles in and about Paris; and Winifred, Countess of Nithsdale, though +living a very quiet and secluded life, was held in high estimation among +all who recollected the act of wifely heroism by which she had rescued +her husband from the block. + +Madame de Bourke bade the maids carry off the little Jacques, and Ulysse +followed; but Estelle, who had often listened with rapt attention to the +story of the escape, and longed to feast her eyes on the heroine, +remained in her corner, usefully employed in disentangling the +embroilment of silks, and with the illustrations to her beloved Telemaque +as a resource in case the conversation should be tedious. Children who +have hundreds of picture-books to rustle through can little guess how +their predecessors could once dream over one. + +Estelle made her low reverence unnoticed, and watched with eager eyes as +the slight figure entered, clad in the stately costume that was regarded +as proper respect to her hostess; but the long loose sacque of blue silk +was faded, the _feuille-morte_ velvet petticoat frayed, the lace on the +neck and sleeves washed and mended; there were no jewels on the sleeves, +though the long gloves fitted exquisitely, no gems in the buckles of the +high-heeled shoes, and the only ornament in the carefully rolled and +powdered hair, a white rose. Her face was thin and worn, with pleasant +brown eyes. Estelle could not think her as beautiful as Calypso +inconsolable for Ulysses, or Antiope receiving the boar's a head. 'I +know she is better than either,' thought the little maid; 'but I wish she +was more like Minerva.' + +The Countesses met with the lowest of curtseys, and apologies on the one +side for intrusion, on the other for _deshabille_, so they concluded with +an embrace really affectionate, though consideration for powder made it +necessarily somewhat theatrical in appearance. + +These were the stiffest of days, just before formality had become +unbearable, and the reaction of simplicity had set in; and Estelle had +undone two desperate knots in the green and yellow silks before the +preliminary compliments were over, and Lady Nithsdale arrived at the +point. + +'Madame is about to rejoin _Monsieur son Mari_.' + +'I am about to have that happiness.' + +'That is the reason I have been bold enough to derange her.' + +'Do not mention it. It is always a delight to see _Madame la Comtesse_.' + +'Ah! what will Madame say when she hears that it is to ask a great favour +of her.' + +'Madame may reckon on me for whatever she would command.' + +'If you can grant it--oh! Madame,' cried the Scottish Countess, +beginning to drop her formality in her eagerness, 'we shall be for ever +beholden to you, and you will make a wounded heart to sing, besides +perhaps saving a noble young spirit.' + +'Madame makes me impatient to hear what she would have of me,' said the +French Countess, becoming a little on her guard, as the wife of a +diplomatist, recollecting, too, that peace with George I. might mean war +with the Jacobites. + +'I know not whether a young kinsman of my Lord's has ever been presented +to Madame. His name is Arthur Maxwell Hope; but we call him usually by +his Christian name.' + +'A tall, dark, handsome youth, almost like a Spaniard, or a picture by +Vandyke? It seems to me that I have seen him with M. le Comte.' (Madame +de Bourke could not venture on such a word as Nithsdale.) + +'Madame is right. The mother of the boy is a Maxwell, a cousin not far +removed from my Lord, but he could not hinder her from being given in +marriage as second wife to Sir David Hope, already an old man. He was +good to her, but when he died, the sons by the first wife were harsh and +unkind to her and to her son, of whom they had always been jealous. The +eldest was a creature of my Lord Stair, and altogether a Whig; indeed, he +now holds an office at the Court of the Elector of Hanover, and has been +created one of _his_ peers. (The scorn with which the gentle Winifred +uttered those words was worth seeing, and the other noble lady gave a +little derisive laugh.) 'These half-brothers declared that Lady Hope was +nurturing the young Arthur in Toryism and disaffection, and they made it +a plea for separating him from her, and sending him to an old minister, +who kept a school, and who was very severe and even cruel to the poor +boy. But I am wearying Madame.' + +'Oh no, I listen with the deepest interest.' + +'Finally, when the King was expected in Scotland, and men's minds were +full of anger and bitterness, as well as hope and spirit, the boy--he was +then only fourteen years of age--boasted of his grandfather's having +fought at Killiecrankie, and used language which the tutor pronounced +treasonable. He was punished and confined to his room; but in the night +he made his escape and joined the royal army. My husband was grieved to +see him, told him he had no right to political opinions, and tried to +send him home in time to make his peace before all was lost. Alas! no. +The little fellow did, indeed, pass out safely from Preston, but only to +join my Lord Mar. He was among the gentlemen who embarked at Banff; and +when my Lord, by Heaven's mercy, had escaped from the Tower of London, +and we arrived at Paris, almost the first person we saw was little +Arthur, whom we thought to have been safe at home. We have kept him with +us, and I contrived to let his mother know that he is living, for she had +mourned him as among the slain.' + +'Poor mother.' + +'You may well pity her, Madame. She writes to me that if Arthur had +returned at once from Preston, as my Lord advised, all would have been +passed over as a schoolboy frolic; and, indeed, he has never been +attainted; but there is nothing that his eldest brother, Lord Burnside as +they call him, dreads so much as that it should be known that one of his +family was engaged in the campaign, or that he is keeping such ill +company as we are. Therefore, at her request, we have never called him +Hope, but let him go by our name of Maxwell, which is his by baptism; and +now she tells me that if he could make his way to Scotland, not as if +coming from Paris or Bar-le-Duc, but merely as if travelling on the +Continent, his brother would consent to his return.' + +'Would she be willing that he should live under the usurper?' + +'Madame, to tell you the truth,' said Lady Nithsdale, 'the Lady Hope is +not one to heed the question of usurpers, so long as her son is safe and +a good lad. Nay, for my part, we all lived peaceably and happily enough +under Queen Anne; and by all I hear, so they still do at home under the +Elector of Hanover.' + +'The Regent has acknowledged him,' put in the French lady. + +'Well,' said the poor exile, 'I know my Lord felt that it was his duty to +obey the summons of his lawful sovereign, and that, as he said when he +took up arms, one can only do one's duty and take the consequences; but +oh! when I look at the misery and desolation that has come of it, when I +think of the wives not so happy as I am, when I see my dear Lord wearing +out his life in banishment, and think of our dear home and our poor +people, I am tempted to wonder whether it were indeed a duty, or whether +there were any right to call on brave men without a more steadfast +purpose not to abandon them!' + +'It would have been very different if the Duke of Berwick had led the +way,' observed Madame de Bourke. 'Then my husband would have gone, but, +being French subjects, honour stayed both him and the Duke as long as the +Regent made no move.' The good lady, of course, thought that the Marshal +Duke and her own Count must secure victory; but Lady Nithsdale was intent +on her own branch of the subject, and did not pursue 'what might have +been.' + +'After all,' she said, 'poor Arthur, at fourteen, could have no true +political convictions. He merely fled because he was harshly treated, +heard his grandfather branded as a traitor, and had an enthusiasm for my +husband, who had been kind to him. It was a mere boy's escapade, and if +he had returned home when my Lord bade him, it would only have been +remembered as such. He knows it now, and I frankly tell you, Madame, +that what he has seen of our exiled court has not increased his ardour in +the cause.' + +'Alas, no,' said Madame de Bourke. 'If the Chevalier de St. George were +other than he is, it would be easier to act in his behalf.' + +'And you agree with me, Madame,' continued the visitor, 'that nothing can +be worse or more hopeless for a youth than the life to which we are +constrained here, with our whole shadow of hope in intrigue; and for our +men, no occupation worthy of their sex. We women are not so ill off, +with our children and domestic affairs; but it breaks my heart to see +brave gentlemen's lives thus wasted. We have done our best for Arthur. +He has studied with one of our good clergy, and my Lord himself has +taught him to fence; but we cannot treat him any longer as a boy, and I +know not what is to be his future, unless we can return him to his own +country.' + +'Our army,' suggested Madame de Bourke. + +'Ah! but he is Protestant.' + +'A heretic!' exclaimed the lady, drawing herself up. 'But--' + +'Oh, do not refuse me on that account. He is a good lad, and has lived +enough among Catholics to keep his opinions in the background. But you +understand that it is another reason for wishing to convey him, if not to +Scotland, to some land like Sweden or Prussia, where his faith would not +be a bar to his promotion.' + +'What is it you would have me do?' said Madame de Bourke, more coldly. + +'If Madame would permit him to be included in her passport, as about to +join the Ambassador's suite, and thus conduct him to Sweden; Lady Hope +would find means to communicate with him from thence, the poor young man +would be saved from a ruined career, and the heart of the widow and +mother would bless you for ever. + +Madame de Bourke was touched, but she was a prudent woman, and paused to +ask whether the youth had shown any tendency to run into temptation, from +which Lady Nithsdale wished to remove him. + +'Oh no,' she answered; 'he was a perfectly good docile lad, though high- +spirited, submissive to the Earl, and a kind playfellow to her little +girls; it was his very excellence that made it so unfortunate that he +should thus be stranded in early youth in consequence of one boyish +folly.' + +The Countess began to yield. She thought he might go as secretary to her +Lord, and she owned that if he was a brave young man, he would be an +addition to her little escort, which only numbered two men besides her +brother-in-law, the Abbe, who was of almost as little account as his +young nephew. 'But I should warn you, Madame,' added Madame de Bourke, +'that it may be a very dangerous journey. I own to you, though I would +not tell my poor mother, that my heart fails me when I think of it, and +were it not for the express commands of their father, I would not risk my +poor children on it.' + +'I do not think you will find Sweden otherwise than a cheerful and +pleasant abode,' said Lady Nithsdale. + +'Ah! if we were only in Sweden, or with my husband, all would be well!' +replied the other lady; 'but we have to pass through the mountains, and +the Catalans are always ill-affected to us French.' + +'Nay; but you are a party of women, and belong to an ambassador!' was the +answer. + +'What do those robbers care for that? We are all the better prey for +them! I have heard histories of Spanish cruelty and lawlessness that +would make you shudder! You cannot guess at the dreadful presentiments +that have haunted me ever since I had my husband's letter.' + +'There is danger everywhere, dear friend,' said Lady Nithsdale kindly; +'but God finds a way for us through all.' + +'Ah! you have experienced it,' said Madame de Bourke. 'Let us proceed to +the affairs. I only thought I should tell you the truth.' + +Lady Nithsdale answered for the courage of her _protege_, and it was +further determined that he should be presented to her that evening by the +Earl, at the farewell reception which Madame de Varennes was to hold on +her daughter's behalf, when it could be determined in what capacity he +should be named in the passport. + +Estelle, who had been listening with all her ears, and trying to find a +character in Fenelon's romance to be represented by Arthur Hope, now +further heard it explained that the party were to go southward to meet +her father at one of the Mediterranean ports, as the English Government +were so suspicious of Jacobites that he did not venture on taking the +direct route by sea, but meant to travel through Germany. Madame de +Bourke expected to meet her brother at Avignon, and to obtain his advice +as to her further route. + +Estelle heard this with great satisfaction. 'We shall go to the +Mediterranean Sea and be in danger,' she said to herself, unfolding the +map at the beginning of her Telemaque; 'that is quite right! Perhaps we +shall see Calypso's island.' + +She begged hard to be allowed to sit up that evening to see the hero of +the escape from the Tower of London, as well as the travelling companion +destined for her, and she prevailed, for mamma pronounced that she had +been very sage and reasonable all day, and the grandmamma, who was so +soon to part with her, could refuse her nothing. So she was full +dressed, with hair curled, and permitted to stand by the tall high-backed +chair where the old lady sat to receive her visitors. + +The Marquise de Varennes was a small withered woman, with keen eyes, and +a sort of sparkle of manner, and power of setting people at ease, that +made her the more charming the older she grew. An experienced eye could +detect that she retained the costume of the prime of Louis XIV., when +headdresses were less high than that which her daughter was obliged to +wear. For the two last mortal hours of that busy day had poor Madame de +Bourke been compelled to sit under the hands of the hairdresser, who was +building up, with paste and powder and the like, an original conception +of his, namely, a northern landscape, with snow-laden trees, drifts of +snow, diamond icicles, and even a cottage beside an ice-bound stream. She +could ill spare the time, and longed to be excused; but the artist had +begged so hard to be allowed to carry out his brilliant and unique idea, +this last time of attending on Madame l'Ambassadrice, that there was no +resisting him, and perhaps her strange forebodings made her less willing +to inflict a disappointment on the poor man. It would have been strange +to contrast the fabric of vanity building up outside her head, with the +melancholy bodings within it, as she sat motionless under the +hairdresser's fingers; but at the end she roused herself to smile +gratefully, and give the admiration that was felt to be due to the +monstrosity that crowned her. Forbearance and Christian patience may be +exercised even on a toilette a la Louis XV. Long practice enabled her to +walk about, seat herself, rise and curtsey without detriment to the +edifice, or bestowing the powder either on her neighbours or on the +richly-flowered white brocade she wore; while she received the +compliments, one after another, of ladies in even more gorgeous array, +and gentlemen in velvet coats, adorned with gold lace, cravats of +exquisite fabric, and diamond shoe buckles. + +Phelim Burke, otherwise l'Abbe de St. Eudoce, stood near her. He was a +thin, yellow, and freckled youth, with sandy hair and typical Irish +features, but without their drollery, and his face was what might have +been expected in a half-starved, half-clad gossoon in a cabin, rather +than surmounting a silken _soutane_ in a Parisian salon; but he had a +pleasant smile when kindly addressed by his friends. + +Presently Lady Nithsdale drew near, accompanied by a tall, grave +gentleman, and bringing with them a still taller youth, with the stiffest +of backs and the longest of legs, who, when presented, made a bow +apparently from the end of his spine, like Estelle's lamented +Dutch-jointed doll when made to sit down. Moreover, he was more shabbily +dressed than any other gentleman present, with a general outgrown look +about his coat, and darns in his silk stockings; and though they were +made by the hand of a Countess, that did not add to their elegance. And +as he stood as stiff as a ramrod or as a sentinel, Estelle's good +breeding was all called into play, and her mother's heart quailed as she +said to herself, 'A great raw Scot! What can be done with him? + +Lord Nithsdale spoke for him, thinking he had better go as secretary, and +showing some handwriting of good quality. 'Did he know any languages?' +'French, English, Latin, and some Greek.' 'And, Madame,' added Lord +Nithsdale, 'not only is his French much better than mine, as you would +hear if the boy durst open his mouth, but our broad Scotch is so like +Swedish that he will almost be an interpreter there.' + +However hopeless Madame de Bourke felt, she smiled and professed herself +rejoiced to hear it, and it was further decided that Arthur Maxwell Hope, +aged eighteen, Scot by birth, should be mentioned among those of the +Ambassador's household for whom she demanded passports. Her position +rendered this no matter of difficulty, and it was wiser to give the full +truth to the home authorities; but as it was desirable that it should not +be reported to the English Government that Lord Burnside's brother was in +the suite of the Jacobite Comte de Bourke, he was only to be known to the +public by his first name, which was not much harder to French lips than +Maxwell or Hope. + +'Tall and black and awkward,' said Estelle, describing him to her +brother. 'I shall not like him--I shall call him Phalante instead of +Arthur.' + +'Arthur,' said Ulysse; 'King Arthur was turned into a crow!' + +'Well, this Arthur is like a crow--a great black skinny crow with torn +feathers.' + + + + +CHAPTER III--ON THE RHONE + + + 'Fairer scenes the opening eye + Of the day can scarce descry, + Fairer sight he looks not on + Than the pleasant banks of Rhone.' + + ARCHBISHOP TRENCH. + +Long legs may be in the abstract an advantage, but scarcely so in what +was called in France _une grande Berline_. This was the favourite +travelling carriage of the eighteenth century, and consisted of a close +carriage or coach proper, with arrangements on the top for luggage, and +behind it another seat open, but provided with a large leathern hood, and +in front another place for the coachman and his companions. Each seat +was wide enough to hold three persons, and thus within sat Madame de +Bourke, her brother-in-law, the two children, Arthur Hope, and +Mademoiselle Julienne, an elderly woman of the artisan class, _femme de +chambre_ to the Countess. Victorine, who was attendant on the children, +would travel under the hood with two more maids; and the front seat would +be occupied by the coachman, Laurence Callaghan--otherwise La Jeunesse, +and Maitre Hebert, the _maitre d'hotel_. Fain would Arthur have shared +their elevation, so far as ease and comfort of mind and body went, and +the Countess's wishes may have gone the same way; but besides that it +would have been an insult to class him with the servants, the horses of +the home establishment, driven by their own coachman, took the party the +first stage out of Paris; and though afterwards the post-horses or mules, +six in number, would be ridden by their own postilions, there was such an +amount of luggage as to leave little or no space for a third person +outside. + +It had been a perfect sight to see the carriage packed; when Arthur, +convoyed by Lord Nithsdale, arrived in the courtyard of the Hotel de +Varennes. Madame de Bourke was taking with her all the paraphernalia of +an ambassador--a service of plate, in a huge chest stowed under the seat, +a portrait of Philip V., in a gold frame set with diamonds, being +included among her jewellery--and Lord Nithsdale, standing by, could not +but drily remark, 'Yonder is more than we brought with us, Arthur.' + +The two walked up and down the court together, unwilling to intrude on +the parting which, as they well knew, would be made in floods of tears. +Sad enough indeed it was, for Madame de Varennes was advanced in years, +and her daughter had not only to part with her, but with the baby +Jacques, for an unknown space of time; but the self-command and restraint +of grief for the sake of each other was absolutely unknown. It was a +point of honour and sentiment to weep as much as possible, and it would +have been regarded as frigid and unnatural not to go on crying too much +to eat or speak for a whole day beforehand, and at least two afterwards. + +So when the travellers descended the steps to take their seats, each face +was enveloped in a handkerchief, and there were passionate embraces, +literal pressings to the breast, and violent sobs, as each victim, one +after the other, ascended the carriage steps and fell back on the seat; +while in the background, Honor Callaghan was uttering Irish wails over +the Abbe and Laurence, and the lamentable sound set the little lap-dog +and the big watch-dog howling in chorus. Arthur Hope, probably as +miserable as any of them in parting with his friend and hero, was only +standing like a stake, and an embarrassed stake (if that be possible), +and Lord Nithsdale, though anxious for him, heartily pitying all, was +nevertheless haunted by a queer recollection of Lance and his dog, and +thinking that French dogs were not devoid of sympathy, and that the part +of Crab was left for Arthur. + +However, the last embrace was given, and the ladies were all packed in, +while the Abbe with his breast heaving with sobs, his big hat in one +hand, and a huge silk pocket-handkerchief in the other, did not forget +his manners, but waved to Arthur to ascend the steps first. 'Secretary, +not guest. You must remember that another time,' said Lord Nithsdale. +'God bless you, my dear lad, and bring you safe back to bonny Scotland, a +true and leal heart.' + +Arthur wrung his friend's hand once more, and disappeared into the +vehicle; Nurse Honor made one more rush, and uttered another 'Ohone' over +Abbe Phelim, who followed into the carriage; the door was shut; there was +a last wail over 'Lanty, the sunbeam of me heart,' as he climbed to the +box seat; the harness jingled; coachman and postilions cracked their +whips, the impatient horses dashed out at the _porte cochere_; and +Arthur, after endeavouring to dispose of his legs, looked about him, and +saw, opposite to him, Madame de Bourke lying back in the corner in a +transport of grief, one arm round her daughter, and her little son lying +across her lap, both sobbing and crying; and on one side of him the Abbe, +sunk in his corner, his yellow silk handkerchief over his face; on the +other, Mademoiselle Julienne, who was crying too, but with more +moderation, perhaps more out of propriety or from infection than from +actual grief: at any rate she had more of her senses about her than any +one else, and managed to dispose of the various loose articles that had +been thrown after the travellers, in pockets and under cushions. Arthur +would have assisted, but only succeeded in treading on various toes and +eliciting some small shrieks, which disconcerted him all the more, and +made Mademoiselle Julienne look daggers at him, as she relieved her lady +of little Ulysse, lifting him to her own knee, where, as he was +absolutely exhausted with crying, he fell asleep. + +Arthur hoped the others would do the same, and perhaps there was more +dozing than they would have confessed; but whenever there was a movement, +and some familiar object in the streets of Paris struck the eye of +Madame, the Abbe, or Estelle, there was a little cry, and they went off +on a fresh score. + +'Poor wretched weak creatures!' he said to himself, as he thought the +traditions of Scottish heroic women in whose heroism he had gloated. And +yet he was wrong: Madame de Bourke was capable of as much resolute self- +devotion as any of the ladies on the other side of the Channel, but tears +were a tribute required by the times. So she gave way to them--just as +no doubt the women of former days saw nothing absurd in bottling them. + +Arthur's position among all these weeping figures was extremely awkward, +all the more so that he carried his sword upright between his legs, not +daring to disturb the lachrymose company enough to dispose of it in the +sword case appropriated to weapons. He longed to take out the little +pocket Virgil, which Lord Nithsdale had given him, so as to have some +occupation for his eyes, but he durst not, lest he should be thought +rude, till, at a halt at a cabaret to water the horses, the striking of a +clock reminded the Abbe that it was the time for reading the Hours, and +when the breviary was taken out, Arthur thought his book might follow it. + +By and by there was a halt at Corbeil, where was the nunnery of Alice +Bourke, of whom her brother and sister-in-law were to take leave. They, +with the children, were set down there, while Arthur went on with the +carriage and servants to the inn to dine. + +It was the first visit of Ulysse to the convent, and he was much amazed +at peeping at his aunt's hooded face through a grating. However, the +family were admitted to dine in the refectory; but poor Madame de Bourke +was fit for nothing but to lie on a bed, attended affectionately by her +sister-in-law, Soeur Ste. Madeleine. + +'O sister, sister,' was her cry, 'I must say it to you--I would not to my +poor mother--that I have the most horrible presentiments I shall never +see her again, nor my poor child. No, nor my husband; I knew it when he +took leave of me for that terrible Spain.' + +'Yet you see he is safe, and you will be with him, sister,' returned the +nun. + +'Ah! that I knew I should! But think of those fearful Pyrenees, and the +bandits that infest them--and all the valuables we carry with us!' + +'Surely I heard that Marshal Berwick had offered you an escort.' + +'That will only attract the attention of the brigands and bring them in +greater force. O sister, sister, my heart sinks at the thought of my +poor children in the hands of those savages! I dream of them every +night.' + +'The suite of an ambassador is sacred.' + +'Ah! but what do they care for that, the robbers? I know destruction +lies that way!' + +'Nay, sister, this is not like you. You always were brave, and trusted +heaven, when you had to follow Ulick.' + +'Alas! never had I this sinking of heart, which tells me I shall be torn +from my poor children and never rejoin him.' + +Sister Ste. Madeleine caressed and prayed with the poor lady, and did her +utmost to reassure and comfort her, promising a _neuvaine_ for her safe +journey and meeting with her husband. + +'For the children,' said the poor Countess. 'I know I never shall see +him more.' + +However, the cheerfulness of the bright Irish-woman had done her some +good, and she was better by the time she rose to pursue her journey. +Estelle and Ulysse had been much petted by the nuns, and when all met +again, to the great relief of Arthur, he found continuous weeping was not +_de rigueur_. When they got in again, he was able to get rid of his +sword, and only trod on two pair of toes, and got his legs twice tumbled +over. + +Moreover, Madame de Bourke had recovered the faculty of making pretty +speeches, and when the weapon was put into the sword case, she observed +with a sad little smile, 'Ah, Monsieur! we look to you as our defender!' + +'And me too!' cried little Ulysse, making a violent demonstration with +his tiny blade, and so nearly poking out his uncle's eye that the article +was relegated to the same hiding-place as 'Monsieur Arture's,' and the +boy was assured that this was a proof of his manliness. + +He had quite recovered his spirits, and as his mother and sister were +still exhausted with weeping, he was not easy to manage, till Arthur took +heart of grace, and offering him a perch on his knee, let him look out at +the window, explaining the objects on the way, which were all quite new +to the little Parisian boy. Fortunately he spoke French well, with +scarcely any foreign accent, and his answers to the little fellow's eager +questions interspersed with observations on 'What they do in my country,' +not only kept Ulysse occupied, but gained Estelle's attention, though she +was too weary and languid, and perhaps, child as she was, too much bound +by the requirements of sympathy to manifest her interest, otherwise than +by moving near enough to listen. + +That evening the party reached the banks of one of the canals which +connected the rivers of France, and which was to convey them to the Loire +and thence to the Rhone, in a huge flat-bottomed barge, called a _coche +d'eau_, a sort of ark, with cabins, where travellers could be fairly +comfortable, space where the berlin could be stowed away in the rear, and +a deck with an awning where the passengers could disport themselves. From +the days of Sully to those of the Revolution, this was by far the most +convenient and secure mode of transport, especially in the south of +France. It was very convenient to the Bourke party; who were soon +established on the deck. The lady's dress was better adapted to +travelling than the full costume of Paris. It was what she called _en +Amazone_--namely, a clothe riding-habit faced with blue, with a short +skirt, with open coat and waistcoat, like a man's, hair unpowdered and +tied behind, and a large shady feathered hat. Estelle wore a miniature +of the same, and rejoiced in her freedom from the whalebone stiffness of +her Paris life, skipping about the deck with her brother, like fairies, +Lanty said, or, as she preferred to make it, 'like a nymph.' + +{The cohe d'eau: p40.jpg} + +The water coach moved only by day, and was already arrived before the +land one brought the weary party to the meeting-place--a picturesque +water-side inn with a high roof, and a trellised passage down to the +landing-place, covered by a vine, hung with clusters of ripe grapes. + +Here the travellers supped on omelettes and _vin ordinaire_, and went off +to bed--Madame and her child in one bed, with the maids on the floor, and +in another room the Abbe and secretary, each in a _grabat_, the two men- +servants in like manner, on the floor. Such was the privacy of the +eighteenth century, and Arthur, used to waiting on himself, looked on +with wonder to see the Abbe like a baby in the hands of his faithful +foster-brother, who talked away in a queer mixture of Irish-English and +French all the time until they knelt down and said their prayers together +in Latin, to which Arthur diligently closed his Protestant ears. + +Early the next morning the family embarked, the carriage having been +already put on board; and the journey became very agreeable as they +glided slowly, almost dreamily along, borne chiefly by the current, +although a couple of horses towed the barge by a rope on the bank, in +case of need, in places where the water was more sluggish, but nothing +more was wanting in the descent towards the Mediterranean. + +The accommodation was not of a high order, but whenever there was a halt +near a good inn, Madame de Bourke and the children landed for the night. +And in the fine days of early autumn the deck was delightful, and to dine +there on the provisions brought on board was a perpetual feast to Estelle +and Ulysse. + +The weather was beautiful, and there was a constant panorama of fair +sights and scenes. Harvest first, a perfectly new spectacle to the +children and then, as they went farther south, the vintage. The beauty +was great as they glided along the pleasant banks of Rhone. + +Tiers of vines on the hillsides were mostly cut and trimmed like currant +bushes, and disappointed Arthur, who had expected festoons on trellises. +But this was the special time for beauty. The whole population, in +picturesque costumes, were filling huge baskets with the clusters, and +snatches of their merry songs came pealing down to the _coche d'eau_, as +it quietly crept along. Towards evening groups were seen with piled +baskets on their heads, or borne between them, youths and maidens crowned +with vines, half-naked children dancing like little Bacchanalians, which +awoke classical recollections in Arthur and delighted the children. + +Poor Madame de Bourke was still much depressed, and would sit dreaming +half the day, except when roused by some need of her children, some +question, or some appeal for her admiration. Otherwise, the lovely +heights, surmounted with tall towers, extinguisher-capped, of castle, +convent, or church, the clear reaches of river, the beautiful turns, the +little villages and towns gleaming white among the trees, seemed to pass +unseen before her eyes, and she might be seen to shudder when the +children pressed her to say how many days it would be before they saw +their father. + +An observer with a mind at ease might have been much entertained with the +airs and graces that the two maids, Rosette and Babette, lavished upon +Laurence, their only squire; for Maitre Hebert was far too distant and +elderly a person for their little coquetries. Rosette dealt in little +terrors, and, if he was at hand, durst not step across a plank without +his hand, was sure she heard wolves howling in the woods, and that every +peasant was '_ce barbare_;' while Babette, who in conjunction with Maitre +Hebert acted cook in case of need, plied him with dainty morsels, which +he was only too apt to bestow on the beggars, or the lean and hungry lad +who attended on the horses. Victorine, on the other hand, by far the +prettiest and most sprightly of the three, affected the most supreme +indifference to him and his attentions, and hardly deigned to give him a +civil word, or to accept the cornflowers and late roses he brought her +from time to time. 'Mere weeds,' she said. And the grapes and Queen +Claude plums he brought her were always sour. Yet a something deep blue +might often be seen peeping above her trim little apron. + +Not that Lanty had much time to disport himself in this fashion, for the +Abbe was his care, and was perfectly happy with a rod of his arranging, +with which to fish over the side. Little Ulysse was of course fired with +the same emulation, and dangled his line for an hour together. Estelle +would have liked to do the same, but her mother and Mademoiselle Julienne +considered the sport not _convenable_ for a _demoiselle_. Arthur was +once or twice induced to try the Abbe's rod, but he found it as mere a +toy as that of the boy; and the mere action of throwing it made his heart +so sick with the contrast with the 'paidling in the burns' of his +childhood, that he had no inclination to continue the attempt, either in +the slow canal or the broadening river. + +He was still very shy with the Countess, who was not in spirits to set +him at ease; and the Abbe puzzled him, as is often the case when +inexperienced strangers encounter unacknowledged deficiency. The +perpetual coaxing chatter, and undisguised familiarity of La Jeunesse +with the young ecclesiastic did not seem to the somewhat haughty cast of +his young Scotch mind quite becoming, and he held aloof; but with the two +children he was quite at ease, and was in truth their great resource. + +He made Ulysse's fishing-rod, baited it, and held the boy when he used +it--nay, he once even captured a tiny fish with it, to the ecstatic pity +of both children. He played quiet games with them, and told them +stories--conversed on Telemaque with Estelle, or read to her from his one +book, which was Robinson Crusoe--a little black copy in pale print, with +the margins almost thumbed away, which he had carried in his pocket when +he ran away from school, and nearly knew by heart. + +Estelle was deeply interested in it, and varied in opinion whether she +should prefer Calypso's island or Crusoe's, which she took for as much +matter of fact as did, a century later, Madame Talleyrand, when, out of +civility to Mr. Robinson, she inquired after '_ce bon Vendredi_.' + +She inclined to think she should prefer Friday to the nymphs. + +'A whole quantity of troublesome womenfolk to fash one,' said Arthur, who +had not arrived at the age of gallantry. + +'You would never stay there!' said Estelle; 'you would push us over the +rock like Mentor. I think you are our Mentor, for I am sure you tell us +a great deal, and you don't scold.' + +'Mentor was a cross old man,' said Ulysse. + +To which Estelle replied that he was a goddess; and Arthur very decidedly +disclaimed either character, especially the pushing over rocks. And thus +they glided on, spending a night in the great, busy, bewildering city of +Lyon, already the centre of silk industry; but more interesting to the +travellers as the shrine of the martyrdoms. All went to pray at the +Cathedral except Arthur. The time was not come for heeding church +architecture or primitive history; and he only wandered about the narrow +crooked streets, gazing at the toy piles of market produce, and looking +at the stalls of merchandise, but as one unable to purchase. His mother +had indeed contrived to send him twenty guineas, but he knew that he must +husband them well in case of emergencies, and Lady Nithsdale had sewn +them all up, except one, in a belt which he wore under his clothes. + +He had arrived at the front of the Cathedral when the party came out. +Madame de Bourke had been weeping, but looked more peaceful than he had +yet seen her, and Estelle was much excited. She had bought a little +book, which she insisted on her Mentor's reading with her, though his +Protestant feelings recoiled. + +'Ah!' said Estelle, 'but you are not Christian.' + +'Yes, truly, Mademoiselle.' + +'And these died for the Christian faith. Do you know mamma said it +comforted her to pray there; for she was sure that whatever happened, the +good God can make us strong, as He made the young girl who sat in the red- +hot chair. We saw her picture, and it was dreadful. Do read about her, +Monsieur Arture.' + +They read, and Arthur had candour enough to perceive that this was the +simple primitive narrative of the death of martyrs struggling for +Christian truth, long ere the days of superstition and division. +Estelle's face lighted with enthusiasm. + +'Is it not noble to be a martyr?' she asked. + +'Oh!' cried Ulysse; 'to sit in a red-hot chair! It would be worse than +to be thrown off a rock! But there are no martyrs in these days, +sister?' he added, pressing up to Arthur as if for protection. + +'There are those who die for the right,' said Arthur, thinking of Lord +Derwentwater, who in Jacobite eyes was a martyr. + +'And the good God makes them strong,' said Estelle, in a low voice. +'Mamma told me no one could tell how soon we might be tried, and that I +was to pray that He would make us as brave as St. Blandina! What do you +think could harm us, Monsieur, when we are going to my dear papa?' + +It was Lanty who answered, from behind the Abbe, on whose angling +endeavours he was attending. 'Arrah then, nothing at all, Mademoiselle. +Nothing in the four corners of the world shall hurt one curl of your +blessed little head, while Lanty Callaghan is to the fore.' + +'Ah! but you are not God, Lanty,' said Estelle gravely; 'you cannot keep +things from happening.' + +'The Powers forbid that I should spake such blasphemy!' said Lanty, +taking off his hat. ''Twas not that I meant, but only that poor Lanty +would die ten thousand deaths--worse than them as was thrown to the +beasts--before one of them should harm the tip of that little finger of +yours!' + +Perhaps the same vow was in Arthur's heart, though not spoken in such +strong terms. + +Thus they drifted on till the old city of Avignon rose on the eyes of the +travellers, a dark pile of buildings where the massive houses, built +round courts, with few external windows, recalled that these had once +been the palaces of cardinals accustomed to the Italian city feuds, which +made every house become a fortress. + +On the wharf stood a gentleman in a resplendent uniform of blue and gold, +whom the children hailed with cries of joy and outstretched arms, as +their uncle. The Marquis de Varennes was soon on board, embracing his +sister and her children, and conducting them to one of the great palaces, +where he had rooms, being then in garrison. Arthur followed, at a sign +from the lady, who presented him to her brother as 'Monsieur Arture'--a +young Scottish gentleman who will do my husband the favour of acting as +his secretary. + +She used the word _gentilhomme_, which conveyed the sense of nobility of +blood, and the Marquis acknowledged the introduction with one of those +graceful bows that Arthur hated, because they made him doubly feel the +stiffness of his own limitation. He was glad to linger with Lanty, who +was looking in wonder at the grim buildings. + +'And did the holy Father live here?' said he. 'Faith, and 'twas a quare +taste he must have had; I wonder now if there would be vartue in a bit of +a stone from his palace. It would mightily please my old mother if there +were.' + +'I thought it was the wrong popes that lived here,' suggested Arthur. + +Lanty looked at him a moment as if in doubt whether to accept a heretic +suggestion, but the education received through the Abbe came to mind, and +he exclaimed-- + +'May be you are in the right of it, sir; and I'd best let the stones +alone till I can tell which is the true and which is the false. By the +same token, little is the difference it would make to her, unless she +knew it; and if she did, she'd as soon I brought her a hair of the old +dragon's bristles.' + +Lanty found another day or two's journey bring him very nearly in contact +with the old dragon, for at Tarascon was the cave in which St. Martha was +said to have demolished the great dragon of Provence with the sign of the +cross. Madame de Bourke and her children made a devout pilgrimage +thereto; but when Arthur found that it was the actual Martha of Bethany +to whom the legend was appended, he grew indignant, and would not +accompany the party. 'It was a very different thing from the martyrs of +Lyon and Vienne! Their history was credible, but this--' + +'Speak not so loud, my friend,' said M. de Varennes. 'Their shrines are +equally good to console women and children.' + +Arthur did not quite understand the tone, nor know whether to be +gratified at being treated as a man, or to be shocked at the Marquis's +defection from his own faith. + +The Marquis, who was able to accompany his sister as far as Montpelier, +was amused at her two followers, Scotch and Irish, both fine young +men--almost too fine, he averred. + +'You will have to keep a careful watch on them when you enter Germany, +sister,' he said, 'or the King of Prussia will certainly kidnap them for +his tall regiment of grenadiers.' + +'O brother, do not speak of any more dangers: I see quite enough before +me ere I can even rejoin my dear husband.' + +A very serious council was held between the brother and sister. The +French army under Marshal Berwick had marched across on the south side on +the Pyrenees, and was probably by this time in the county of Rousillon, +intending to besiege Rosas. Once with them all would be well, but +between lay the mountain roads, and the very quarter of Spain that had +been most unwilling to accept French rule. + +The Marquis had been authorised to place an escort at his sister's +service, but though the numbers might guard her against mere mountain +banditti, they would not be sufficient to protect her from hostile +troops, such as might only too possibly be on the way to encounter +Berwick. The expense and difficulty of the journey on the mountain roads +would likewise be great, and it seemed advisable to avoid these dangers +by going by sea. Madame de Bourke eagerly acceded to this plan, her +terror of the wild Pyrenean passes and wilder inhabitants had always been +such that she was glad to catch at any means of avoiding them, and she +had made more than one voyage before. + +Estelle was gratified to find they were to go by sea, since Telemachus +did so in a Phoenician ship, and, in that odd dreamy way in which +children blend fiction and reality, wondered if they should come on +Calypso's island; and Arthur, who had read the Odyssey, delighted her and +terrified Ulysse with the cave of Polyphemus. M. de Varennes could only +go with his sister as far as Montpelier. Then he took leave of her, and +the party proceeded along the shores of the lagoons, in the carriage to +the seaport of Cette, one of the old Greek towns of the Gulf of Lyon, and +with a fine harbour full of ships. Maitre Hebert was sent to take a +passage on board of one, while his lady and her party repaired to an inn, +and waited all the afternoon before he returned with tidings that he +could find no French vessel about to sail for Spain, but that there was a +Genoese tartane, bound for Barcelona, on which Madame la Comtesse could +secure a passage for herself and her suite, and which would take her +thither in twenty-four hours. + +The town was full of troops, waiting a summons to join Marshal Berwick's +army. Several resplendent officers had already paid their respects to +Madame l'Ambassadrice, and they concurred in the advice, unless she would +prefer waiting for the arrival of one of the French transports which were +to take men and provisions to the army in Spain. + +This, however, she declined, and only accepted the services of the +gentlemen so far as to have her passports renewed, as was needful, since +they were to be conveyed by the vessel of an independent power, though +always an ally of France. + +The tartane was a beautiful object, a one-decked, single-masted vessel, +with a long bowsprit, and a huge lateen sail like a wing, and the +children fell in love with her at first sight. Estelle was quite sure +that she was just such a ship as Mentor borrowed for Telemachus; but the +poor maids were horribly frightened, and Babette might be heard declaring +she had never engaged herself to be at the mercy of the waves, like a bit +of lemon peel in a glass of _eau sucree_. + +'You may return,' said Madame de Bourke. 'I compel no one to share our +dangers and hardships.' + +But Babette threw herself on her knees, and declared that nothing should +ever separate her from Madame! She was a good creature, but she could +not deny herself the luxury of the sobs and tears that showed to all +beholders the extent of her sacrifice. + +Madame de Bourke knew that there would be considerable discomfort in a +vessel so little adapted for passengers, and with only one small cabin, +which the captain, who spoke French, resigned to her use. It would only, +however, be for a short time, and though it was near the end of October, +the blue expanse of sea was calm as only the Mediterranean can be, so +that she trusted that no harm would result to those who would have to +spend the night on dock. + +It was a beautiful evening which the little Genoese vessel left the +harbour and Cette receded in the distance, looking fairer the farther it +was left behind. The children were put to bed as soon as they could be +persuaded to cease from watching the lights in the harbour and the +phosphorescent wake of the vessel in the water. + +That night and the next day were pleasant and peaceful; there was no +rough weather, and little sickness among the travellers. Madame de +Bourke congratulated herself on having escaped the horrors of the +Pyrenean journey, and the Genoese captain assured her that unless the +weather should change rapidly, they would wake in sight of the Spanish +coast the next morning. If the sea were not almost too calm, they would +be there already. The evening was again so delightful that the children +were glad to hear that they would have again to return by sea, and +Arthur, who somewhat shrank from his presentation to the Count, regretted +that the end of the voyage was so near, though Ulysse assured him that +'_Mon papa_ would love him, because he could tell such charming stories,' +and Lanty testified that 'M. le Comte was a mighty friendly gentleman.' + +Arthur was lying asleep on deck, wrapped in his cloak, when he was +awakened by a commotion among the sailors. He started up and found that +it was early morning, the sun rising above the sea, and the sailors all +gazing eagerly in that direction. He eagerly made his way to ask if they +were in sight of land, recollecting, however, as he made the first step, +that Spain lay to the west of them--not to the east. + +He distinguished the cry from the Genoese sailors, '_Ii Moro--Il Moro_,' +in tones of horror and consternation, and almost at the same moment +received a shock from Maitre Hebert, who came stumbling against him. + +'Pardon, pardon, Monsieur; I go to prepare Madame! It's the accursed +Moors. Let me pass--_misericorde_, what will become of us?' + +Arthur struggled on in search of such of the crew as could speak French, +but all were in too much consternation to attend to him, and he could +only watch that to which their eyes were directed, a white sail, bright +in the morning light, coming up with a rapidity strange and fearful in +its precision, like a hawk pouncing on its prey, for it did not depend on +its sails alone, but was propelled by oars. + +The next moment Madame de Bourke was on deck, holding by the Abbe's arm, +and Estelle, her hair on her shoulders, clinging to her. She looked very +pale, but her calmness was in contrast to the Italian sailors, who were +throwing themselves with gestures of despair, screaming out vows to the +Madonna and saints, and shouting imprecations. The skipper came to speak +to her. 'Madame,' he said, 'I implore you to remain in your cabin. After +the first, you and all yours will be safe. They cannot harm a French +subject; alas! alas would it were so with us.' + +'How then will it be with you?' she asked. + +He made a gesture of deprecation. + +'For me it will be ruin; for my poor fellows slavery; that is, if we +survive the onset. Madame, I entreat of you, take shelter in the cabin, +yourself and all yours. None can answer for what the first rush of these +fiends may be! _Diavoli_! _veri diavola_! Ah! for which of my sins is +it that after fifty voyages I should be condemned to lose my all?' + +A fresh outburst of screams from the crew summoned the captain. 'They +are putting out the long-boat,' was the cry; 'they will board us!' + +'Madame! I entreat of you, shut yourself into the cabin.' + +And the four maids in various stages of _deshabille_, adding their cries +to those of the sailors, tried to drag her in, but she looked about for +Arthur. 'Come with us, Monsieur,' she said quietly, for after all her +previous depressions and alarms, her spirit rose to endurance in the +actual stress of danger. 'Come with us, I entreat of you,' she said. +'You are named in our passports, and the treaties are such that neither +French nor English subjects can be maltreated nor enslaved by these +wretches. As the captain says, the danger is only in the first attack.' + +'I will protect you, Madame, with my life,' declared Arthur, drawing his +sword, as his cheeks and eyes lighted. + +'Ah, put that away. What could you do but lose your own?' cried the +lady. 'Remember, you have a mother--' + +The Genoese captain here turned to insist that Madame and all the women +should shut themselves instantly into the cabin. Estelle dragged hard at +Arthur's hand, with entreaties that he would come, but he lifted her down +the ladder, and then closed the door on her, Lanty and he being both left +outside. + +'To be shut into a hole like a rat in a trap when there's blows to the +fore, is more than flesh could stand,' said Lanty, who had seized on a +hand-spike and was waving it about his head, true shillelagh fashion, by +hereditary instinct in one who had never behold a faction fight, in what +ought to have been his native land. + +The Genoese captain looked at him as a madman, and shouted in a confused +mixture of French and Italian to lay down his weapon. + +'_Quei cattivi--ces scelerats_ were armed to the teeth--would fire. All +lie flat on the deck.' + +The gesture spoke for itself. With a fearful howl all the Italians +dropped flat; but neither Scotch nor Irish blood brooked to follow their +example, or perhaps fully perceived the urgency of the need, till a +volley of bullets were whistling about their ears, though happily without +injury, the mast and the rigging having protected them, for the sail was +riddled with holes, and the smoke dimmed their vision as the report +sounded in their ears. In another second the turbaned, scimitared +figures were leaping on board. The Genoese still lay flat offering no +resistance, but Lanty and Arthur stood on either side of the ladder, and +hurled back the two who first approached; but four or five more rushed +upon them, and they would have been instantly cut down, had it not been +for a shout from the Genoese, '_Franchi_! _Franchi_!' At that magic +word, which was evidently understood, the pirates only held the two +youths tightly, vituperating them no doubt in bad Arabic,--Lanty grinding +his teeth with rage, though scarcely feeling the pain of the two sabre +cuts he had received, and pouring forth a volley of exclamations, +chiefly, however, directed against the white-livered spalpeens of +sailors, who had not lifted so much as a hand to help him. Fortunately +no one understood a word he said but Arthur, who had military experience +enough to know there was nothing for it but to stand still in the grasp +of his captor, a wiry-looking Moor, with a fez and a striped sash round +his waist. + +The leader, a sturdy Turk in a dirty white turban, with a huge sabre in +his hand, was listening to the eager words, poured out with many +gesticulations by the Genoese captain, in a language utterly +incomprehensible to the Scot, but which was the _lingua Franca_ of the +Mediterranean ports. + +It resulted in four men being placed on guard at the hatchway leading to +the cabin, while all the rest, including Arthur, Hebert, Laurence, were +driven toward the prow, and made to understand by signs that they must +not move on peril of their lives. A Tuck was placed at the helm, and the +tartane's head turned towards the pirate captor; and all the others, who +were not employed otherwise, began to ransack the vessel and feast on the +provisions. Some hams were thrown overboard, with shouts of evident +scorn as belonging to the unclean beast, but the wine was eagerly drank, +and Maitre Hebert uttered a wail of dismay as he saw five Moors gorging +large pieces of his finest _pate_. + + + + +CHAPTER IV--WRECKED + + + 'They had na sailed upon the sea + A day but barely three, + When the lift grew dark and the wind blew cauld + And gurly grew the sea. + + 'Oh where will I find a little wee boy + Will tak my helm in hand, + Till I gae up to my top mast + And see for some dry land.' + + SIR PATRICK SPENS. + +It was bad enough on the deck of the unfortunate Genoese tartane, but far +worse below, where eight persons were shut into the stifling atmosphere +of the cabin, deprived of the knowledge of what was going on above, +except from the terrific sounds they heard. Estelle, on being shut into +the cabin, announced that the Phoenician ship was taken by the vessels of +Sesostris, but this did not afford any one else the same satisfaction as +she appeared to derive from it. Babette and Rosette were echoing every +scream of the crew, and quite certain that all would be massacred, and +little Ulysse, wakened by the hubbub, rolled round in his berth and began +to cry. + +Madame de Bourke, very white, but quite calm, insisted on silence and +then said, 'I do not think the danger is very great to ourselves if you +will keep silence and not attract attention. But our hope is in Heaven. +My brother, will you lead our prayers? Recite our office.' Obediently +the Abbe fell on his knees, and his example was followed by the others. +His voice went monotonously on throughout with the Latin. The lady, no +doubt, followed in her heart, and she made the responses as did the +others, fitfully; but her hands and eyes were busy, looking to the +priming of two small pistols, which she took out of her jewel case, and +the sight of which provoked fresh shrieks from the maids. Mademoiselle +Julienne meantime was dressing Ulysse, and standing guard over him, +Estelle watching all with eager bright eyes, scarcely frightened, but +burning to ask questions, from which her uncle's prayers debarred her. + +At the volley of shot, Rosette was reduced to quiet by a swoon, but +Victorine, screaming that the wretches would have killed Laurent, would +have rushed on deck, had not her mistress forcibly withheld her. There +ensued a prodigious yelling and howling, trampling and scuffling, then +the sounds of strange languages in vituperation or command, steps coming +down the ladder, sounds of altercation, retreat, splashes in the sea, the +feeling that the ship was put about--and ever the trampling, the wild +cries of exultation, which over and over again made the prisoners feel +choked with the horror of some frightful crisis close at hand. And all +the time they were in ignorance, their little window in the stern showed +them nothing but sea; and even if Madame de Bourke's determination had +not hindered Victorine from peeping out of the cabin, whether prison or +fortress, the Moorish sentries outside kept the door closed. + +How long this continued was scarcely to be guessed. It was hours by +their own feelings; Ulysse began to cry from hunger, and his mother gave +him and Estelle some cakes that were within reach. Mademoiselle Julienne +begged her lady to share the repast, reminding her that she would need +all her strength. The Abbe, too, was hungry enough, and some wine and +preserved fruits coming to light all the prisoners made a meal which +heartened most of them considerably; although the heat was becoming +terrible, as the sun rose higher in the sky, and very little air could be +obtained through the window, so that poor Julienne could not eat, and +Rosette fell into a heavy sleep in the midst of her sighs. Even Estelle, +who had got out her Telemaque, like a sort of oracle in the course of +being verified, was asleep over it, when fresh noises and grating sounds +were board, new steps on deck, and there were steps and voices. The +Genoese captain was heard exclaiming, 'Open, Madame! you can do so +safely. This is the Algerine captain, who is bound to protect you.' + +The maids huddled together behind their lady, who stood forward as the +door opened to admit a stout, squarely-built man in the typical dress of +a Turk,--white turban, purple coat, broad sash crammed with weapons, and +ample trousers,--a truculent-looking figure which made the maids shudder +and embrace one another with suppressed shrieks, but which somehow, even +in the midst of his Eastern salaam, gave the Countess a sense that he was +acting a comedy, and carried her involuntarily back to the Moors whom she +had seen in the _Cid_ on the stage. And looking again, she perceived +that though brown and weather-beaten, there was a certain Northern +ruddiness inherent in his complexion; that his eyes were gray, so far as +they were visible between the surrounding puckers; and his eyebrows, +moustache, and beard not nearly so dark as the hair of the Genoese who +stood cringing beside him as interpreter. She formed her own conclusions +and adhered to them, though he spoke in bad Arabic to the skipper, who +proceeded to explain that El Reis Hamed would offer no injury to Madame +la Comtesse, her suite or property, being bound by treaty between the Dey +and the King of France, but that he required to see her passport. There +was a little blundering in the Italian's French rendering, and Madame de +Bourke was quick to detect the perception of it in the countenance of the +Reis, stolid though it was. She felt no doubt that he was a renegade of +European birth, and watched, with much anxiety as well as curiosity, his +manner of dealing with her passports, which she would not let out of her +own hand. She saw in a moment that though he let the Genoese begin to +interpret them, his eyes were following intelligently; and she hazarded +the observation, 'You understand, sir. You are Frank.' + +He turned one startled glance towards the door to see if there were any +listeners, and answered, 'Hollander, Madame.' + +The Countess had travelled with diplomatists all her life, and knew a +little of the vernacular of most languages, and it was in Dutch--broken +indeed, but still Dutch--that she declared that she was sure that she +might rely on his protection--a security which in truth she was far from +feeling; for while some of these unfortunate men, renegades only from +weakness, yearned after their compatriots and their lost home and faith, +others out-heroded the Moors themselves in ferocity, especially towards +the Christian captives; nor was a Dutchman likely to have any special +tenderness in his composition, above all towards the French. However, +there was a certain smile on the lips of Reis Hamed, and he answered with +a very hearty, 'Ja! ja! Madame. Upon my soul I will let no harm come to +you or the pretty little ones, nor the young vrouwkins either, if they +will keep close. You are safe by treaty. A Reis would have to pay a +heavy reckoning with Mehemed Dey if a French ambassador had to complain +of him, and you will bear me witness, Madame, that I have not touched a +hair of any of your heads!' + +'I am sure you wish me well, sir,' said Madame de Bourke in a dignified +way, 'but I require to be certified of the safety of the rest of my +suite, my steward, my lackey, and my husband's secretary, a young +gentleman of noble birth.' + +'They are safe, Madame. This Italian slave can bear me witness that no +creature has been harmed since my crew boarded this vessel.' + +'I desire then that they may be released, as being named in my passport.' + +To this the Dutchman consented. + +Whereupon the skipper began to wring his hands, and piteously to beseech +Madame to intercede for him, but the Dutchman cut him short before she +could speak. 'Dog of an Italian, the lady knows better! You and your +fellows are our prize--poor enough after all the trouble you have given +us in chasing you.' + +Madame de Bourke spoke kindly to the poor man, telling him that though +she could do nothing for him now, it was possible that she might when she +should have rejoined her husband, and she then requested the Reis to land +her and her suite in his long-boat on the Spanish coast, which could be +seen in the distance, promising him ample reward if he could do so. + +To this he replied: 'Madame, you ask what would be death to me.' + +He went on to explain that if he landed her on Christian ground, without +first presenting her and her passport to the Dey and the French Consul, +his men might represent him as acting in the interests of the Christians, +and as a traitor to the Algerine power, by taking a bribe from a person +belonging to a hostile state, in which case the bowstring would be the +utmost mercy he could expect; and the reigning Dey, Mehemed, having been +only recently chosen, it was impossible to guess how he might deal with +such cases. Once at Algiers, he assured Madame de Bourke that she would +have nothing to fear, as she would be under the protection of the French +Consul; and she had no choice but to submit, though much concerned for +the continued anxiety to her husband, as well as the long delay and +uncertainty of finding him. + +Still, when she perceived that it was inevitable, she complained no more, +and the Dutchman went on with a certain bluff kindness--as one touched by +her courtesy--to offer her the choice of remaining in the tartane or +coming on board his larger vessel. The latter he did not recommend, as +he had a crew of full two hundred Turks and Moors, and it would be +necessary to keep herself and all her women as closely as possible +secluded in the cabins; and even then, he added, that if once seen he +could hardly answer for some of those corsairs not endeavouring to secure +a fair young Frank girl for his harem; and as his eye fell on Rosette, +she bridled and hid herself behind Mademoiselle Julienne. + +He must, he said, remove all the Genoese, but he would send on board the +tartane only seven men on whom he could perfectly depend for respectful +behaviour, so that the captives would be able to take the air on deck as +freely as before. There was no doubt that he was in earnest, and the +lady accepted his offer with thanks, all the stronger since she and all +around her were panting and sick for want of fresh air. + +It was a great relief when he took her on deck with him that she might +identify the three men whom she claimed as belonging to her suite. +Arthur, Lanty, and Hebert, who, in their vague knowledge of the +circumstances, had been dreading the oar for the rest of their lives, +could hardly believe their good fortune when she called them up to her, +and the Abbe gripped Lanty's arm as if he would never let him go again. +The poor Italians seemed to feel their fate all the harder for the +deliverance of those three, and sobbed, howled, and wept so piteously +that Arthur wondered how strong men could so give way, while Lanty's +tears sprang forth in sympathy, and he uttered assurances and made signs +that he would never cease to pray for their rescue. + +'Though,' as he observed, 'they were poor creatures that hadn't the heart +of a midge, when there was such a chance of a fight while the haythen +spalpeens were coming on board.' + +Here Lanty was called on to assist Hebert in identifying his lady's bales +of goods, when all those of the unfortunate Genoese were put on board the +corsair's vessel. A sail-cloth partition was extended across the deck by +the care of the Dutchman, 'who'--as Lanty said--'for a haythen apostate +was a very dacent man.' He evidently had a strong compassion and fellow- +feeling for the Christian lady, and assured her that she might safely +take the air and sit on deck as much as she pleased behind its shelter; +and he likewise carefully selected the seven of his crew whom he sent on +board to work the ship, the chief being a heavy-looking old Turk, with a +chocolate-coloured visage between a huge white beard and eyebrows, and +the others mere lads, except one, who, from an indefinable European air +about him, was evidently a renegade, and could speak a sort of French, so +as to hold communication with the captives, especially Lanty, who was +much quicker than any of the rest in picking up languages, perhaps from +having from his infancy talked French and English (or rather Irish), and +likewise learnt Latin with his foster-brother. This man was the only one +permitted to go astern of the partition, in case of need, to attend to +the helm; but the vessel was taken in tow by the corsair, and needed +little management. The old Turk seemed to regard the Frankish women like +so many basilisks, and avoided turning a glance in their direction, +roaring at his crew if he only saw them approaching the sail-cloth, and +keeping a close watch upon the lithe black-eyed youths, whose brown limbs +carried them up the mast with the agility of monkeys. There was one in +especial--a slight, well-made fellow about twenty, with a white turban +cleaner than the rest--who contrived to cast wonderful glances from the +masthead over the barrier at Rosette, who actually smiled in return at +_ce pauvre garcon_, and smiled the more for Mademoiselle Julienne's +indignation. Suddenly, however, a shrill shout made him descend hastily, +and the old Turk's voice might be heard in its highest key, no doubt +shrieking out maledictions on all the ancestry of the son of a dog who +durst defile his eyes with gazing at the shameless daughters of the +Frank. Little Ulysse was, however, allowed to disport himself wherever +he pleased; and after once, under Arthur's protection, going forward, he +found himself made very welcome, and offered various curiosities, such as +shells, corals, and a curious dried little hippocampus or seahorse. + +This he brought back in triumph, to the extreme delight of his sister's +classical mind. 'Oh mamma, mamma,' she cried, 'Ulysse really has got the +skeleton of a Triton. It is exactly like the stone creatures in the +Champs Elysees.' + +There was no denying the resemblance, and it so increased the confusion +in Estelle's mind between the actual and the mythological, that Arthur +told her that she was looking out for the car of Amphitrite to arise from +the waters. Anxiety and trouble had made him much better acquainted with +Madame de Bourke, who was grateful to him for his kindness to her +children, and not without concern as to whether she should be able to +procure his release as well as her own at Algiers. For Laurence +Callaghan she had no fears, since he was born at Paris, and a naturalised +French subject like her husband and his brother; but Arthur was +undoubtedly a Briton, and unless she could pass him off as one of her +suite, it would depend on the temper of the English Consul whether he +should be viewed as a subject or as a rebel, or simply left to captivity +until his Scottish relations should have the choice of ransoming him. + +She took a good deal of pains to explain the circumstances to him as well +as to all who could understand them; for though she hoped to keep all +together, and to be able to act for them herself, no one could guess how +they might be separated, and she could not shake off that foreboding of +misfortune which had haunted her from the first. + +The kingdom of Algiers was, she told them, tributary to the Turkish +Sultan, who kept a guard of Janissaries there, from among whom they +themselves elected the Dey. He was supposed to govern by the consent of +a divan, but was practically as despotic as any Eastern sovereign; and +the Aga of the Janissaries was next in authority to him. Piracy on the +Mediterranean was, as all knew, the chief occupation of the Turks and +Moors of any spirit or enterprise, a Turk being in authority in each +vessel to secure that the Sultan had his share, and that the capture was +so conducted as not to involve Turkey in dangerous wars with European +powers. Capture by the Moors had for several centuries been one of the +ordinary contingencies of a voyage, and the misfortune that had happened +to the party was not at all an unusual one. + +In 1687, however, the nuisance had grown to such a height that Admiral Du +Quesne bombarded the town of Algiers, and destroyed all the +fortifications, peace being only granted on condition that a French +Consul should reside at Algiers, and that French ships and subjects +should be exempt from this violence of the corsairs. + +The like treaties existed with the English, but had been very little +heeded by the Algerines till recently, when the possession of Gibraltar +and Minorca had provided harbours for British ships, which exercised a +salutary supervision over these Southern sea-kings. The last Dey, Baba +Hali, had been a wise and prudent man, anxious to repress outrage, and to +be on good terms with the two great European powers; but he had died in +the spring of the current year, 1718, and the temper of his successor, +Mehemed, had not yet been proved. + +Madame de Bourke had some trust in the Dutch Reis, renegade though he +was. She had given him her beautiful watch, set with brilliants, and he +had taken it with a certain gruff reluctance, declaring that he did not +want it,--he was ready enough to serve her without such a toy. + +Nevertheless the lady thought it well to impress on each and all, in case +of any separation or further disaster, that their appeal must be to the +French Consul, explaining minutely the forms in which it should be made. + +'I cannot tell you,' she said to Arthur, 'how great a comfort it is to me +to have with me a gentleman, one of intelligence and education to whom I +can confide my poor children. I know you will do your utmost to protect +them and restore them to their father.' + +'With my very heart's blood, Madame.' + +'I hope that may not be asked of you, Monsieur,' she returned with a +faint smile,--'though I fear there may be much of perplexity and +difficulty in the way before again rejoining him. You see where I have +placed our passports? My daughter knows it likewise; but in case of +their being taken from you, or any other accident happening to you, I +have written these two letters, which you had better bear about your +person. One is, as you see, to our Consul at Algiers, and may serve as +credentials; the other is to my husband, to whom I have already written +respecting you.' + +'A thousand thanks, Madame,' returned Arthur. 'But I hope and trust we +may all reach M. le Comte in safety together. You yourself said that you +expected only a brief detention before he could be communicated with, and +this captain, renegade though he be, evidently has a respect for you.' + +'That is quite true,' she returned, 'and it may only be my foolish heart +that forebodes evil; nevertheless, I cannot but recollect that _c'est +l'imprevu qui arrive_.' + +'Then, Madame, that is the very reason there should be no misfortune,' +returned Arthur. + +It was on the second day after the capture of the tartane that the sun +set in a purple angry-looking bank of cloud, and the sea began to heave +in a manner which renewed the earlier distresses of the voyage to such as +were bad sailors. The sails both of the corsair and of the tartane were +taken in, and it was plain that a rough night was to be expected. The +children were lashed into their berths, and all prepared themselves to +endure. The last time Arthur saw Madame de Bourke's face, by the light +of the lamp swinging furiously from the cabin roof, as he assisted in +putting in the dead lights, it bore the same fixed expression of +fortitude and resignation as when she was preparing to be boarded by the +pirates. + +He remained on deck, but it was very perilous, for the vessel was so low +in the water that the waves dashed over it so wildly that he could hardly +help being swept away. It was pitch dark, too, and the lantern of the +other vessel could only just be seen, now high above their heads, now +sinking in the trouble of the sea, while the little tartane was lifted up +as though on a mountain; and in a kind of giddy dream, he thought of +falling headlong upon her deck. Finally he found himself falling. Was +he washed overboard? No; a sharp blow showed him that he had only fallen +down the hatchway, and after lying still a moment, he heard the voices of +Lanty and Hebert, and presently they were all tossed together by another +lurch of the ship. + +It was a night of miseries that seemed endless, and when a certain amount +of light appeared, and Arthur and Lanty crawled upon deck, the tempest +was unabated. They found themselves still dashed, as if their vessel +were a mere cork, on the huge waves; rushes of water coming over them, +whether from sea or sky there was no knowing, for all seemed blended +together in one mass of dark lurid gray; and where was the Algerine +ship--so lately their great enemy, now watched for as their guide and +guardian? + +It was no place nor time for questions, even could they have been heard +or understood. It was scarcely possible even to be heard by one another, +and it was some time before they convinced themselves that the large +vessel had disappeared. The cable must have parted in the night, and +they were running with bare poles before the gale; the seamanship of the +man at the helm being confined to avoiding the more direct blows of the +waves, on the huge crests of which the little tartane rode--gallantly +perhaps in mariners' eyes, but very wretchedly to the feelings of the +unhappy landsmen within her. + +Arthur thought of St. Paul, and remembered with dismay that it was many +days before sun or moon appeared. He managed to communicate his +recollection to Lanty, who exclaimed, 'And he was a holy man, and he was +a prisoner too. He will feel for us if any man can in this sore strait! +_Sancte Paule_, _ora pro nobis_. An' haven't I got the blessed scapulary +about me neck that will bring me through worse than this?' + +The three managed to get down to tell the unfortunate inmates of the +cabin what was the state of things, and to carry them some food, though +at the expense of many falls and severe blows; and almost all of them +were too faint or nauseated to be able to swallow such food as could +survive the transport under such circumstances. Yet high-spirited little +Estelle entreated to be carried on deck, to see what a storm was like. +She had read of them so often, and wanted to see as well as to feel. She +was almost ready to cry when Arthur assured her it was quite impossible, +and her mother added a grave order not to trouble him. + +Madame de Bourke looked so exhausted by the continual buffeting and the +closeness of the cabin, and her voice was so weak, that Arthur grieved +over the impossibility of giving her any air. Julienne tried to make her +swallow some _eau de vie_; but the effort of steadying her hand seemed +too much for her, and after a terrible lurch of the ship, which lodged +the poor _bonne_ in the opposite corner of the cabin, the lady shook her +head and gave up the attempt. Indeed, she seemed so worn out that +Arthur--little used to the sight of fainting--began to fear that her +forebodings of dying before she could rejoin her husband were on the +point of being realised. + +However, the gale abated towards evening, and the youth himself was so +much worn out that the first respite was spent in sleep. When he awoke, +the sea was much calmer, and the eastern sun was rising in glory over it; +the Turks, with their prayer carpets in a line, were simultaneously +kneeling and bowing in prayer, with their faces turned towards it. Lanty +uttered an only too emphatic curse upon the misbelievers, and Arthur +vainly tried to make him believe that their 'Allah il Allah' was neither +addressed to Mohammed nor the sun. + +'Sure and if not, why did they make their obeisance to it all one as the +Persians in the big history-book Master Phelim had at school?' + +'It's to the east they turn Lanty, not to the sun.' + +'And what right have the haythen spalpeens to turn to the east like good +Christians?' + +''Tis to their Prophet's tomb they look, at Mecca.' + +'There, an' I tould you they were no better than haythens,' returned +Lanty, 'to be praying and knocking their heads on the bare boards--that +have as much sense as they have--to a dead man's tomb.' + +Arthur's Scotch mind thought the Moors might have had the best of it in +argument when he recollected Lanty's trust in his scapulary. + +They tried to hold a conversation with the Reis, between _lingua Franca_ +and the Provencal of the renegade; and they came to the conclusion that +no one had the least idea where they were, or where they were going; the +ship's compass had been broken in the boarding, and there was no chart +more available than the little map in the beginning of Estelle's precious +copy of Telemaque. The Turkish Reis did not trouble himself about it, +but squatted himself down with his chibouque, abandoning all guidance of +the ship, and letting her drift at the will of wind and wave, or, as he +said, the will of Allah. When asked where he thought she was going, he +replied with solemn indifference, 'Kismet;' and all the survivors of the +crew--for one had been washed overboard--seemed to share his resignation. + +The only thing he did seem to care for was that if the infidel woman +chose to persist in coming on deck, the canvas screen--which had been +washed overboard--should be restored. This was done, and Madame de +Bourke was assisted to a couch that had been prepared for her with +cloaks, where the air revived her a little; but she listened with a faint +smile to the assurances of Arthur, backed by Hebert, that this +abandonment to fate gave the best chance. They might either be picked up +by a Christian vessel or go ashore on a Christian coast; but Madame de +Bourke did not build much on these hopes. She knew too well what were +the habits of wreckers of all nations, to think that it would make much +difference whether they were driven on the coast of Sicily or of +Africa--'barring,' as Lanty said, 'that they should get Christian burial +in the former case.' + +'We are in the hands of a good God. That at least we know,' said the +Countess. 'And He can hear us through, whether for life in Paradise, or +trial a little longer here below.' + +'Like Blandina,' observed Estelle. + +'Ah! my child, who knows whether trials like even that blessed saint's +may not be in reserve even for your tender age. When I think of these +miserable men, who have renounced their faith, I see what fearful ordeals +there may be for those who fall into the hands of those unbelievers. +Strong men have yielded. How may it not be with my poor children?' + +'God made Blandina brave, mamma. I will pray that He may make me so.' + +Land was in sight at last. Purple mountains rose to the south in wild +forms, looking strangely thunderous and red in the light of the sinking +sun. A bay, with rocks jutting out far into the sea, seemed to embrace +them with its arms. Soundings were made, and presently the Reis decided +on anchoring. It was a rocky coast, with cliffs descending into the sea, +covered with verdure, and the water beneath was clear as glass. + +'Have we escaped the Syrtes to fall upon AEneas' cave?' murmured Arthur +to himself. + +'And if we could meet Queen Dido, or maybe Venus herself, 'twould be no +bad thing!' observed Lanty, who remembered his Virgil on occasion. 'For +there's not a drop of wather left barring _eau de vie_, and if these +Moors get at that, 'tis raving madmen they would be.' + +'Do they know where we are?' asked Arthur. + +'Sorrah a bit!' returned Lanty, 'tho' 'tis a pretty place enough. If my +old mother was here, 'tis her heart would warm to the mountains.' + +'Is it Calypso's Island?' whispered Ulysse to his sister. + +'See, what are they doing?' cried Estelle. 'There are people--don't you +see, white specks crowding down to the water.' + +There was just then a splash, and two bronzed figures were seen setting +forth from the tartane to swim to shore. The Turkish Reis had despatched +them, to ascertain whether the vessel had drifted, and who the +inhabitants might be. + +A good while elapsed before one of these scouts returned. There was a +great deal of talk and gesticulating round him, and Lanty, mingling with +it, brought back word that the place was the Bay of Golo, not far from +Djigheli, and just beyond the Algerine frontier. The people were +Cabeleyzes, a wild race of savage dogs, which means dogs according the +Moors, living in the mountains, and independent of the Dey. A +considerable number rushed to the coast, armed, and in great numbers, +perceiving the tartane to be an Italian vessel, and expecting a raid by +Sicilian robbers on their cattle; but the Moors had informed them that it +was no such thing, but a prize taken in the name of the Dey of Algiers, +in which an illustrious French Bey's harem was being conveyed to Algiers. +From that city the tartane was now about a day's sail, having been driven +to the eastward of it during the storm. 'The Turkish commander evidently +does not like the neighbourhood,' said Arthur, 'judging by his gestures.' + +'Dogs and sons of dogs are the best names he has for them,' rejoined +Lanty. + +'See! They have cut the cable! Are we not to wait for the other man who +swam ashore?' + +So it was. A favourable wind was blowing, and the Reis, being by no +means certain of the disposition of the Cabeleyzes, chose to leave them +behind him as soon as possible, and make his way to Algiers, which began +to appear to his unfortunate passengers like a haven of safety. + +They were not, however, out of the bay when the wind suddenly veered, and +before the great lateen sail could be reefed, it had almost caused the +vessel to be blown over. There was a pitching and tossing almost as +violent as in the storm, and then wind and current began carrying the +tartane towards the rocky shore. The Reis called the men to the oars, +but their numbers were too few to be availing, and in a very few minutes +more the vessel was driven hopelessly towards a mass of rocks. + +Arthur, the Abbe, Hebert, and Lanty were all standing together at the +head of the vessel. The poor Abbe seemed dazed, and kept dreamily +fingering his rosary, and murmuring to himself. The other three +consulted in a low voice. + +'Were it not better to have the women here on deck?' asked Arthur. + +'_Eh_, _non_!' sobbed Master Hebert. 'Let not my poor mistress see what +is coming on her and her little ones!' + +'Ah! and 'tis better if the innocent creatures must be drowned, that it +should be without being insensed of it till they wake in our Lady's +blessed arms,' added Lanty. 'Hark! and they are at their prayers.' + +But just then Victorine rushed up from below, and throwing her arms round +Lanty, cried, 'Oh! Laurent, Laurent. It is not true that it is all over +with us, is it? Oh! save me! save me!' + +'And if I cannot save you, mine own heart's core, we'll die together,' +returned the poor fellow, holding her fast. 'It won't last long, +Victorine, and the saints have a hold of my scapulary.' + +He had scarcely spoken when, lifted upon a wave, the tartane dashed upon +the rocks, and there was at once a horrible shivering and crashing +throughout her--a frightful mingling of shrieks and yells of despair with +the wild roar of the waves that poured over her. The party at the head +of the vessel were conscious of clinging to something, and when the first +burly-burly ceased a little they found themselves all together against +the bulwark, the vessel almost on her beam ends, wedged into the rocks, +their portion high and dry, but the stern, where the cabin was, entirely +under water. + +Victorine screamed aloud, 'My lady! my poor lady.' + +'I see--I see something,' cried Arthur, who had already thrown off his +coat, and in another moment he had brought up Estelle in his arms, alive, +sobbing and panting. Giving her over to the steward, he made another +dive, but then was lost sight of, and returned no more, nor was anything +to be seen of the rest. Shut up in the cabin, Madame de Bourke, Ulysse, +and the three maids must have been instantly drowned, and none of the +crew were to be seen. Maitre Hebert hold the little girl in his arms, +glad that, though living, she was only half-conscious. Victorine, +sobbing, hung heavily on Lanty, and before he could free his hands he +perceived to his dismay that the Abbe, unassisted, was climbing down from +the wreck upon the rock, scarcely perhaps aware of his danger. + +Lanty tried to put Victorine aside, and called out, 'Your reverence, +wait--Masther Phelim, wait till I come and help you.' But the girl, +frantic with terror, grappled him fast, screaming to him not to let her +go--and at the same moment a wave broke over the Abbe. Lanty, almost +wild, was ready to leap into it after him, thinking he must be sucked +back with it, but behold! he still remained clinging to the rock. +Instinct seemed to serve him, for he had stuck his knife into the rock +and was holding on by it. There seemed no foothold, and while Lanty was +deliberating how to go to his assistance, another wave washed him off and +bore him to the next rock, which was only separated from the mainland by +a channel of smoother water. He tried to catch at a floating plank, but +in vain; however, an oar next drifted towards him, and by it he gained +the land, but only to be instantly surrounded by a mob of Cabeleyzes, who +seemed to be stripping off his garments. By this time many were swimming +towards the wreck; and Estelle, who had recovered breath and senses, +looked over Hebert's shoulder at them. 'The savages! the infidels!' she +said. 'Will they kill me? or will they try to make me renounce my faith? +They shall kill me rather than make me yield.' + +'Ah! yes, my dear _demoiselle_, that is right. That is the only way. It +is my resolution likewise,' returned Hebert. 'God give us grace to +persist.' + +'My mamma said so,' repeated the child. 'Is she drowned, Maitre Hebert?' + +'She is happier than we are, my dear young lady.' + +'And my little brother too! Ah! then I shall remember that they are only +sending me to them in Paradise.' + +By this time the natives were near the wreck, and Estelle, shuddering, +clung closer to Hebert; but he had made up his mind what to do. 'I must +commit you to these men, Mademoiselle,' he said; 'the water is rising--we +shall perish if we remain here.' + +'Ah! but it would not hurt so much to be drowned,' said Estelle, who had +made up her mind to Blandina's chair. + +'I must endeavour to save you for your father, Mademoiselle, and your +poor grandmother! There! be a good child! Do not struggle.' + +He had attracted the attention of some of the swimmers, and he now flung +her to them. One caught her by an arm, another by a leg, and she was +safely taken to the shore, where at once a shoe and a stocking were taken +from her, in token of her becoming a captive; but otherwise her garments +were not meddled with; in which she was happier than her uncle, whom she +found crouched up on a rock, stripped almost to the skin, so that he +shrank from her, when she sprang to his side amid the Babel of wild men +and women, who were shouting in exultation and wonder over his big +flapped hat, his _soutane_ and bands, pointing at his white limbs and +yellow hair--or, what amazed them even more, Estelle's light, flaxen +locks, which hung soaked around her. She felt a hand pulling them to see +whether anything so strange actually grew on her head, and she turned +round to confront them with a little gesture of defiant dignity that +evidently awed them, for they kept their hands off her, and did not +interfere as she stood sentry over her poor shivering uncle. + +Lanty was by this time trying to drag Victorine over the rocks and +through the water. The poor Parisienne was very helpless, falling, +hurting herself, and screaming continually; and trebly, when a couple of +natives seized upon her, and dragged her ashore, where they immediately +snatched away her mantle and cap, pulled off her gold chain and cross, +and tore out her earrings with howls of delight. + +Lanty, struggling on, was likewise pounced upon, and bereft of his fine +green and gold livery coat and waistcoat, which, though by no means his +best, and stained with the sea water, were grasped with ecstasy, +quarrelled over, and displayed in triumph. The steward had secured a +rope by which he likewise reached the shore, only to become the prey of +the savages, who instantly made prize of his watch and purse, as well as +of almost all his garments. The five unfortunate survivors would fain +have remained huddled together, but the natives pointing to some huts on +the hillside, urged them thither by the language of shouts and blows. + +'Faith and I'm not an ox,' exclaimed Lanty, as if the fellow could have +understood him, 'and is it to the shambles you're driving me?' + +'Best not resist! There's nothing for it but to obey them,' said the +steward, 'and at least there will be shelter for the child.' + +No objection was made to his lifting her in his arms, and he carried her, +as the party, half-drowned, nearly starved and exhausted, stumbled on +along the rocky paths which cut their feet cruelly, since their shoes had +all been taken from them. Lanty gave what help he could to the Abbe and +Victorine, who were both in a miserable plight, but ere long he was +obliged to take his turn in carrying Estelle, whose weight had become too +much for the worn out Hebert. He was alarmed to find, on transferring +her, that her head sank on his shoulder as if in a sleep of exhaustion, +which, however, shielded her from much terror. For, as they arrived at a +cluster of five or six tents, built of clay and the branches of trees, +out rushed a host of women, children, and large fierce dogs, all making +as much noise as they were capable of. The dogs flew at the strange +white forms, no doubt utterly new to them. Victorine was severely +bitten, and Lanty, trying to rescue her, had his leg torn. + +These two were driven into one hut; Estelle, who was evidently considered +as the greatest prize, was taken into another and rather better one, +together with the steward and the Abbe. The Moors, who had swum ashore, +had probably told them that she was the Frankish Bey's daughter; for +this, miserable place though it was, appeared to be the best hut in the +hamlet, nor was she deprived of her clothes. A sort of bournouse or +haik, of coarse texture and very dirty, was given to each of the others, +and some rye cakes baked in the ashes. Poor little Estelle turned away +her head at first, but Hebert, alarmed at her shivering in her wet +clothes, contrived to make her swallow a little, and then took off the +soaked dress, and wrapped her in the bournouse. She was by this time +almost unconscious from weariness, and made no resistance to the +unaccustomed hands, or the disgusting coarseness and uncleanness of her +wrapper, but dropped asleep the moment he laid her down, and he applied +himself to trying to dry her clothes at a little fire of sticks that had +been lighted outside the open space, round which the huts stood. + +The Abbe too had fallen asleep, as Hebert managed to assure poor Lanty, +who rushed out of the other tent, nearly naked, and bloodstained in many +places, but more concerned at his separation from his foster-brother than +at anything else that had befallen him. Men, women, children, and dogs +were all after him, supposing him to be trying to escape, and he was +seized upon and dragged back by main force, but not before the steward +had called out-- + +'M. l'Abbe sleeps--sleeps sound--he is not hurt! For Heaven's sake, +Laurent, be quiet--do not enrage them! It is the only hope for him, as +for Mademoiselle and the rest of us.' + +Lanty, on hearing of the Abbe's safety, allowed himself to be taken back, +making himself, however, a passive dead weight on his captor's hands. + +'Arrah,' he muttered to himself, 'if ye will have me, ye shall have the +trouble of me, bad luck to you. 'Tis little like ye are to the barbarous +people St. Paul was thrown with; but then what right have I to expect the +treatment of a holy man, the like of him? If so be, I can save that poor +orphan that's left, and bring off Master Phelim safe, and save poor +Victorine from being taken for some dirty spalpeen's wife, when he has +half a dozen more to the fore--'tis little it matters what becomes of +Lanty Callaghan; they might give him to their big brutes of dogs, and +mighty lean meat they would find him!' + +So came down the first night upon the captives. + + + + +CHAPTER V--CAPTIVITY + + + 'Hold fast thy hope and Heaven will not + Forsake thee in thine hour. + Good angels will be near thee, + And evil ones will fear thee, + And Faith will give thee power.' + + SOUTHEY. + +The whole northern coast of Africa is inhabited by a medley of tribes, +all owning a kind of subjection to the Sultan, but more in the sense of +Pope than of King. The part of the coast where the tartane had been +driven on the rocks was beneath Mount Araz, a spur of the Atlas, and was +in the possession of the Arab tribe called Cabeleyze, which is said to +mean 'the revolted.' The revolt had been from the Algerine power, which +had never been able to pursue them into the fastnesses of the mountains, +and they remained a wild independent race, following all those Ishmaelite +traditions and customs that are innate in the blood of the Arab. + +When Estelle awoke from her long sleep of exhaustion, she was conscious +of a stifling atmosphere, and moreover of the crow of a cock in her +immediate vicinity, then of a dog growling, and a lamb beginning to +bleat. She raised herself a little, and beheld, lying on the ground +around her, dark heaps with human feet protruding from them. These were +interspersed with sheep, goats, dogs, and fowls, all seen by the yellow +light of the rising sun which made its way in not only through the +doorless aperture, but through the reeds and branches which formed the +walls. + +Close as the air was, she felt the chill of the morning and shivered. At +the same moment she perceived poor Maitre Hebert covering himself as best +he could with a dirty brown garment, and bending over her with much +solicitude, but making signs to make as little noise as possible, while +he whispered, 'How goes it with Mademoiselle?' + +'Ah,' said Estelle, recollecting herself, 'we are shipwrecked. We shall +have to confess our faith! Where are the rest?' + +'There is M. l'Abbe,' said Hebert, pointing to a white pair of the bare +feet. 'Poor Laurent and Victorine have been carried elsewhere.' + +'And mamma? And my brother?' + +'Ah! Mademoiselle, give the good God thanks that he has spared them our +trial.' + +'Mamma! Ah, she was in the cabin when the water came in? But my +brother! I had hold of his hand, he came out with me. I saw M. Arture +swim away with him. Yes, Maitre Hebert, indeed I did.' + +Hebert had not the least hope that they could be saved, but he would not +grieve the child by saying so, and his present object was to get her +dressed before any one was awake to watch, and perhaps appropriate her +upper garments. He was a fatherly old man, and she let him help her with +her fastenings, and comb out her hair with the tiny comb in her _etui_. +Indeed, _friseurs_ were the rule in France, and she was not unused to +male attendants at the toilette, so that she was not shocked at being +left to his care. + +For the rest, the child had always dwelt in an imaginary world, a curious +compound of the Lives of the Saints and of Telemaque. Martyrs and heroes +alike had been shipwrecked, taken captive, and tormented; and there was a +certain sense of realised day-dream about her, as if she had become one +of the number and must act up to her part. She asked Hebert if there +were a Sainte Estelle, what was the day of the month, and if she should +be placed in the Calendar if she never complained, do what these +barbarians might to her. She hoped she should hold out, for she would +like to be able to help all whom she loved, poor papa and all. But it +was hard that mamma, who was so good, could not be a martyr too; but she +was a saint in Paradise all the same, and thus Estelle made her little +prayer in hope. There was no conceit or over confidence in the tone, +though of course the poor child little knew what she was ready to accept; +but it was a spark of the martyr's trust that gleamed in her eye, and +gave her a sense of exaltation that took off the sharpest edge of grief +and fear. + +By this time, however, the animals were stirring, and with them the human +beings who had lain down in their clothes. Peace was over; the Abbe +awoke, and began to call for Laurent and his clothes and his beads; but +this aroused the master of the house, who started up, and threatening +with a huge stick, roared at him what must have been orders to be quiet. + +Estelle indignantly flew between and cried, 'You shall not hurt my +uncle.' + +The commanding gesture spoke for itself; and, besides, poor Phelim +cowered behind her with an air that caused a word and sign to pass round, +which the captives found was equivalent to innocent or imbecile; and the +Mohammedan respect and tenderness for the demented spared him all further +violence or molestation, except that he was lost and miserable without +the attentions of his foster-brother; and indeed the shocks he had +undergone seemed to have mobbed him of much of the small degree of sense +he had once possessed. + +Coming into the space before the doorway, Estelle found herself the +object of universal gaze and astonishment, as her long fair hair gleamed +in the sunshine, every one coming to touch it, and even pull it to see if +it was real. She was a good deal frightened, but too high-spirited to +show it more than she could help, as the dark-skinned, bearded men +crowded round with cries of wonder. The other two prisoners likewise +appeared: Victorine looking wretchedly ill, and hardly able to hold up +her head; Lanty creeping towards the Abbe, and trying to arrange his +remnant of clothing. There was a short respite, while the Arabs, all +turning eastwards, chanted their morning devotions with a solemnity that +struck their captives. The scene was a fine one, if there had been any +heart to admire. The huts were placed on the verge of a fine forest of +chestnut and cork trees--and beyond towered up mountain peaks in every +variety of dazzling colour--red and purple beneath, glowing red and gold +where the snowy peaks caught the morning sun, lately broken from behind +them. The slopes around were covered with rich grass, flourishing after +the summer heats, and to which the herds were now betaking themselves, +excepting such as were detained to be milked by the women, who came +pouring out of some of the other huts in dark blue garments; and in +front, still shadowed by the mountain, lay the bay, deep, beautiful, +pellucid green near the land, and shut in by fantastic and picturesque +rocks--some bare, some clothed with splendid foliage, winter though it +was--while beyond lay the exquisite blue stretching to the horizon. +Little recked the poor prisoners of the scene so fair; they only saw the +remnant of the wreck below, the sea that parted them from hope, the +savage rocks behind, the barbarous people around, the squalor and dirt of +the adowara, as the hamlet was called. + +{Estelle: p96.jpg} + +Comparatively, the Moor who had swum ashore to reconnoitre seemed like a +friend when he came forward and saluted Estelle and the Abbe +respectfully. Moreover the _lingua Franca_ Lanty had picked up +established a very imperfect double system of interpretation by the help +of many gestures. This was Lanty's explanation to the rest: in French, +of course, but, like all his speech, Irish-English in construction. + +'This Moor, Hassan, wants to stand our friend in his own fashion, but he +says they care not the value of an empty mussel-shell for the French, and +no more for the Dey of Algiers than I do for the Elector of Hanover. He +has told them that M. l'Abbe and Mademoiselle are brother and daughter to +a great Bey--but it is little they care for that. Holy Virgin, they took +Mademoiselle for a boy! That is why they are gazing at her so +impudently. Would that I could give them a taste of my cane! Do you see +those broken walls, and a bit of a castle on yonder headland jutting out +into the sea? They are bidding Hassan say that the French built that, +and garrisoned it with the help of the Dey; but there fell out a war, and +these fellows, or their fathers, surprised it, sacked it, and carried off +four hundred prisoners into slavery. Holy Mother defend us! Here are +all the rogues coming to see what they will do with us!' + +For the open space in front of the huts, whence all the animals had now +been driven, was becoming thronged with figures with the haik laid over +their heads, spear or blunderbuss in hand, fine bearing, and sometimes +truculent, though handsome, browse countenances. They gazed at the +captives, and uttered what sounded like loud hurrahs or shouts; but after +listening to Hassan, Lanty turned round trembling. 'The miserables! Some +are for sacrificing us outright on the spot, but this decent man declares +that he will make them sensible that their prophet was not out-and-out as +bad as that. Never you fear, Mademoiselle.' + +'I am not afraid,' said Estelle, drawing up her head. 'We shall be +martyrs.' + +Lanty was engaged in listening to a moan from his foster-brother for +food, and Hebert joined in observing that they might as well be +sacrificed as starved to death; whereupon the Irishman's words and +gesticulations induced the Moor to make representations which resulted in +some dry pieces of _samh_ cake, a few dates, and a gourd of water being +brought by one of the women; a scanty amount for the number, even though +poor Victorine was too ill to touch anything but the water; while the +Abbe seemed unable to understand that the servants durst not demand +anything better, and devoured her share and a quarter of Lanty's as well +as his own. Meantime the Cabeleyzes had all ranged themselves in rows, +cross-legged on the ground, opposite to the five unfortunate captives, to +sit in judgment on them. As they kept together in one group, happily in +the shade of a hut, Victorine, too faint and sick fully to know what was +going on, lay with her head on the lap of her young mistress, who sat +with her bright and strangely fearless eyes confronting the wild figures +opposite. + +Her uncle, frightened, though not comprehending the extent of his danger, +crouched behind Lanty, who with Hebert stood somewhat in advance, the +would-be guardians of the more helpless ones. + +There was an immense amount of deafening shrieking and gesticulating +among the Arabs. Hassan was responding, and finally turned to Lanty, +when the anxious watchers could perceive signs as if of paying down coin +made interrogatively. 'Promise them anything, everything,' cried Hebert; +'M. le Comte would give his last sou--so would Madame la Marquise--to +save Mademoiselle.' + +'I have told him so,' said Laurence presently; 'I bade him let them know +it is little they can make of us, specially now they have stripped us as +bare as themselves, the rascals! but that their fortunes would be +made--and little they would know what to do with them--if they would only +send M. l'Abbe and Mademoiselle to Algiers safe and sound. There! he is +trying to incense them. Never fear, Master Phelim, dear, there never was +a rogue yet, black or white, or the colour of poor Madame's frothed +chocolate, who did not love gold better than blood, unless indeed 'twas +for the sweet morsel of revenge; and these, for all their rolling eyes +and screeching tongues, have not the ghost of a quarrel with us.' + +'My beads, my breviary,' sighed the Abbe. 'Get them for me, Lanty.' + +'I wish they would end it quickly,' said Estelle. 'My head aches so, and +I want to be with mamma. Poor Victorine! yours is worse,' she added, and +soaked her handkerchief in the few drops of water left in the gourd to +lay it on the maid's forehead. + +The howling and shrieking betokened consultation, but was suddenly +interrupted by some half-grown lads, who came running in with their hands +full of what Lanty recognised to his horror as garments worn by his +mistress and fellow-servants, also a big kettle and a handspike. They +pointed down to the sea, and with yells of haste and exultation all the +wild conclave started up to snatch, handle, and examine, then began +rushing headlong to the beach. Hassan's explanations were scarcely +needed to show that they were about to ransack the ship, and he evidently +took credit to himself for having induced them to spare the prisoners in +case their assistance should be requisite to gain full possession of the +plunder. + +Estelle and Victorine were committed to the charge of a +forbidding-looking old hag, the mother of the sheyk of the party; the +Abbe was allowed to stray about as he pleased, but the two men were +driven to the shore by the eloquence of the club. Victorine revived +enough for a burst of tears and a sobbing cry, 'Oh, they will be killed! +We shall never see them again!' + +'No,' said Estelle, with her quiet yet childlike resolution, 'they are +not going to kill any of us yet. They said so. You are so tired, poor +Victorine! Now all the hubbub is over, suppose you lie still and sleep. +My uncle,' as he roamed round her, mourning for his rosary, 'I am afraid +your beads are lost; but see here, these little round seeds, I can pierce +them if you will gather some more for me, and make you another set. See, +these will be the Aves, and here are shells in the grass for the Paters.' + +The long fibre of grass served for the string, and the sight of the +Giaour girl's employment brought round her all the female population who +had not repaired to the coast. Her first rosary was torn from her to +adorn an almost naked baby; but the Abbe began to whimper, and to her +surprise the mother restored it to him. She then made signs that she +would construct another necklace for the child, and she was rewarded by a +gourd being brought to her full of milk, which she was able to share with +her two companions, and which did something to revive poor Victorine. +Estelle was kept threading these necklaces and bracelets all the wakeful +hours of the day--for every one fell asleep about noon--though still so +jealous a watch was kept on her that she was hardly allowed to shift her +position so as to get out of the sun, which even at that season was +distressingly scorching in the middle of the day. + +Parties were continually coming up from the beach laden with spoils of +all kinds from the wreck, Lanty, Hebert, and a couple of negroes being +driven up repeatedly, so heavily burthened as to be almost bent double. +All was thrown down in a heap at the other end of the adowara, and the +old sheyk kept guard over it, allowing no one to touch it. This went on +till darkness was coming on, when, while the cattle were being collected +for the night, the prisoners were allowed an interval, in which Hebert +and Lanty told how the natives, swimming like ducks, had torn everything +out of the wreck: all the bales and boxes that poor Maitre Hebert had +secured with so much care, and many of which he was now forced himself to +open for the pleasure of these barbarians. + +That, however, was not the worst. Hebert concealed from his little lady +what Lanty did not spare Victorine. 'And there--enough to melt the heart +of a stone--there lay on the beach poor Madame la Comtesse, and all the +three. Good was it for you, Victorine, my jewel, that you were not in +the cabin with them.' + +'I know not,' said the dejected Victorine; 'they are better off than we?' + +'You would not say so, if you had seen what I have,' said Lanty, +shuddering. 'The dogs!--they cut off Madame's poor white fingers to get +at her rings, and not with knives either, lest her blessed flesh should +defile them, they said, and her poor face was an angel's all the time. +Nay, nor that was not the worst. The villainous boys, what must they do +but pelt the poor swollen bodies with stones! Ay, well you may scream, +Victorine. We went down on our knees, Maitre Hebert and I, to pray they +might let us give them burial, but they mocked us, and bade Hassan say +they never bury dogs. I went round the steeper path, for all the load at +my back, or I should have been flying at the throats of the cowardly +vultures, and then what would have become of M. l'Abbe?' + +Victorine trembled and wept bitterly for her companions, and then asked +if Lanty had seen the corpse of the little Chevalier. + +'Not a sight of him or M. Arthur either,' returned Lanty; 'only the ugly +face of the old Turk captain and another of his crew, and them they +buried decently, being Moslem hounds like themselves; while my poor lady +that is a saint in heaven--' and he, too, shed tears of hot grief and +indignation, recovering enough to warn Victorine by no means to let the +poor young girl know of this additional horror. + +There was little opportunity, for they had been appropriated by different +masters: Estelle, the Abbe, and Hebert to the sheyk, or headman of the +clan; and Lanty and Victorine to a big, strong, fierce-looking fellow, of +inferior degree but greater might. + +This time Estelle was to be kept for the night among the sheyk's women, +who, though too unsophisticated to veil their faces, had a part of the +hut closed off with a screen of reeds, but quite as bare as the outside. +Hebert, who could not endure to think of her sleeping on the ground, and +saw a large heap of grass or straw provided for a little brown cow, +endeavoured to take an armful for her. Unluckily it belonged to Lanty's +master, Eyoub, who instantly flew at him in a fury, dragged him to a log +of wood, caught up an axe, and had not Estelle's screams brought up the +sheyk, with Hassan and one or two other men, the poor Maitre d'Hotel's +head would have been off. There was a sharp altercation between the +sheyk and Eyoub, while Estelle held the faithful servant's hand, saying, +'You did it for me! Oh, Hebert, do not make them angry again. It would +be beautiful to die for one's faith, but not for a handful of hay.' + +'Ah! my dear _demoiselle_, what would my poor ladies say to see you +sleeping on the bare ground in a filthy hut?' + +'I slept well last night,' returned Estelle; 'indeed, I do not mind! It +is only the more like the dungeon at Lyon, you know! And I pray you, +Hebert, do not get yourself killed for nothing too soon, or else we shall +not all stand out and confess together, like St. Blandina and St. +Ponticus and St Epagathius.' + +'Alas, the dear child! The long names run off her tongue as glibly as +ever,' sighed Hebert, who, though determined not to forsake his faith, by +no means partook her enthusiasm for martyrdom. Hassan, however, having +explained what the purpose had been, Hebert was pardoned, though the +sheyk scornfully observed that what was good enough for the daughters of +a Hadji was good enough for the unclean child of the Frankish infidels. + +The hay might perhaps have spared a little stiffness, but it would not +have ameliorated the chief annoyances--the closeness, the dirt, and the +vermin. It was well that it was winter, or the first of these would have +been far worse, and, fortunately for Estelle, she was one of those whom +suffocating air rather lulls than rouses. + +Eyoub's hovel did not rejoice in the refinement of a partition, but his +family, together with their animals, lay on the rocky floor as best they +might; and Victorine's fever came on again, so that she lay in great +misery, greeted by a growl from a great white dog whenever she tried to +relieve her restless aching limbs by the slightest movement, or to reach +one of the gourds of water laid near the sleepers, like Saul's cruse at +his pillow. + +Towards morning, however, Lanty, who had been sitting with his back +against the wall, awoke from the sleep well earned by acting as a beast +of burthen. The dog growled a little, but Lanty--though his leg still +showed its teeth-marks--had made friends with it, and his hand on its +head quieted it directly, so that he was able cautiously to hand a gourd +to Victorine. The Arabs were heavy sleepers, and the two were able to +talk under their breath; as, in reply to a kind word from Lanty, poor +Victorine moaned her envy of the fate of Rosette and Babette; and he, +with something of their little mistress's spirit, declared that he had no +doubt but that 'one way or the other they should be out of it: either get +safe home, or be blessed martyrs, without even a taste of purgatory.' + +'Ah! but there's worse for me,' sighed Victorine. 'This demon brought +another to stare in my face--I know he wants to make me his wife! Kill +me first, Laurent.' + +'It is I that would rather espouse you, my jewel,' returned a tender +whisper. + +'How can you talk of such things at such a moment?' + +''Tis a pity M. l'Abbe is not a priest,' sighed Lanty. 'But, you know, +Victorine, who is the boy you always meant to take.' + +'You need not be so sure of that,' she said, the coy coquetry not quite +extinct. + +'Come, as you said, it is no time for fooling. Give me your word and +troth to be my wife so soon as we have the good luck to come by a +Christian priest by our Lady's help, and I'll outface them all--were it +Mohammed the Prophet himself, that you are my espoused and betrothed, and +woe to him that puts a finger on you.' + +'You would only get yourself killed.' + +'And would not I be proud to be killed for your sake? Besides, I'll show +them cause not to kill me if I have the chance. Trust me, Victorine, my +darling--it is but a chance among these murdering villains, but it is the +only one; and, sure, if you pretended to turn the back of your hand to me +when there were plenty of Christian men to compliment you, yet you would +rather have poor Lanty than a thundering rogue of a pagan Mohammedan.' + +'I hope I shall die,' sighed poor Victorine faintly. 'It will only be +your death!' + +'That is my affair,' responded Lanty. 'Come, here's daylight coming in; +reach me your hand before this _canaille_ wakes, and here's this good +beast of a dog, and yonder grave old goat with a face like Pere Michel's +for our witnesses--and by good luck, here's a bit of gilt wire off my +shoulder-knot that I've made into a couple of rings while I've been +speaking.' + +The strange betrothal had barely taken place before there was a stir, and +what was no doubt a yelling imprecation on the 'dog Giaours' for the +noise they made. + +The morning began as before, with the exception that Estelle had +established a certain understanding with a little chocolate-coloured +cupid of a boy of the size of her brother, and his lesser sister, by +letting them stroke her hair, and showing them the mysteries of cat's +cradle. They shared their gourd of goat's-milk with her, but would not +let her give any to her companions. However, the Abbe had only to hold +out his hand to be fed, and the others were far too anxious to care much +about their food. + +A much larger number of Cabeleyzes came streaming into the forum of the +adowara, and the prisoners were all again placed in a row, while the new- +comers passed before them, staring hard, and manifestly making personal +remarks which perhaps it was well that they did not understand. The +sheyk and Eyoub evidently regarded them as private property, stood in +front, and permitted nobody to handle them, which was so far a comfort. + +Then followed a sort of council, with much gesticulation, in which Hassan +took his share. Then, followed by the sheyk, Eyoub, and some other +headmen, he advanced, and demanded that the captives should become true +believers. This was eked out with gestures betokening that thus they +would be free, in that case; while, if they refused, the sword and the +smouldering flame were pointed to, while the whole host loudly shouted +'Islam!' + +Victorine trembled, sobbed, tried to hide herself; but Estelle stood up, +her young face lighted up, her dark eyes gleaming, as if she were +realising a daydream, as she shook her head, cried out to Lanty, 'Tell +him, No--never!' and held to her breast a little cross of sticks that she +had been forming to complete her uncle's rosary. Her gesture was +understood. A man better clad than the rest, with a turban and a broad +crimson sash, rushed up to her, seized her by the hair, and waved his +scimitar over her head. The child felt herself close to her mother. She +looked up in his face with radiant eyes and a smile on her lips. It +absolutely daunted the fellow: his arm dropped, and he gazed at her like +some supernatural creature; and the sheyk, enraged at the interference +with his property, darted forth to defend it, and there was a general +wrangling. + +Seconded by their interpreter, Hassan, who knew that the Koran did not +prescribe the destruction of Christians, Hebert and Lanty endeavoured to +show that their conversion was out of the question, and that their +slaughter would only be the loss of an exceedingly valuable ransom, which +would be paid if they were handed over safe and sound and in good +condition. + +There was no knowing what was the effect of this, for the council again +ended in a rush to secure the remaining pillage of the wreck. Hebert and +Lanty dreaded what they might see, but to their great relief those poor +remains had disappeared. They shuddered as they remembered the hyenas' +laughs and the jackals' howls they had heard at nightfall; but though +they hoped that the sea had been merciful, they could even have been +grateful to the animals that had spared them the sight of conscious +insults. + +The wreck was finally cleared, and among the fragments were found several +portions of books. These the Arabs disregarded, being too ignorant even +to read their own Koran, and yet aware of the Mohammedan scruple which +forbids the destruction of any scrap of paper lest it should bear the +name of Allah. Lanty secured the greater part of the Abbe's breviary, +and a good many pages of Estelle's beloved Telemaque; while the steward +gained possession of his writing case, and was permitted to retain it +when the Cabeleyzes, glutted with plunder, had ascertained that it +contained nothing of value to them. + +After everything had been dragged up to the adowara, there ensued a sort +of auction or division of the plunder. Poor Maitre Hebert was doomed to +see the boxes and bales he had so diligently watched broken open by these +barbarians,--nay, he had to assist in their own dissection when the +secrets were too much for the Arabs. There was the King of Spain's +portrait rent from its costly setting and stamped upon as an idolatrous +image. The miniature of the Count, worn by the poor lady, had previously +shared the same fate, but that happily was out of sight and knowledge. +Here was the splendid plate, presented by crowned heads, howled over by +savages ignorant of its use. The silver they seemed to value; but there +were three precious gold cups which the salt water had discoloured, so +that they were taken for copper and sold for a very small price to a Jew, +who somehow was attracted to the scene, 'like a raven to the slaughter,' +said Lanty. + +This man likewise secured some of the poor lady's store of rich dresses, +but a good many more were appropriated to make sashes for the men, and +the smaller articles, including stockings, were wound turban fashion +round the children's heads. + +Lanty could not help observing, 'And if the saints are merciful to us, +and get us out of this, we shall have stories to tell that will last our +lives!' as he watched the solemn old chief smelling to the perfumes, +swallowing the rouge as splendid medicine, and finally fingering a snuff- +box, while half a dozen more crowded round to assist in the opening, and +in another moment sneezing, weeping, tingling, dancing frantically about, +vituperating the Christian's magic. + +This gave Lanty an idea. A little round box lay near, which, as he +remembered, contained a Jack-in-the-box, or Polichinelle, which the poor +little Chevalier had bought at the fair at Tarascon. This he contrived +to secrete and hand to Victorine. 'Keep the secret,' he said, 'and you +will find your best guardian in that bit of a box.' And when that very +evening an Arab showed some intentions of adding her to his harem, +Victorine bethought herself of the box, and unhooked in desperation. Up +sprang Punch, long-nosed and fur-capped, right in the bearded face. + +Back the man almost fell; 'Shaitan, Shaitan!' was the cry, as the +inhabitants tumbled pell-mell out of the hovel, and Victorine and Punch +remained masters of the situation. + +She heard Lanty haranguing in broken Arabic and _lingua Franca_, and +presently he came in, shaking with suppressed laughter. 'If ever we get +home,' said he, 'we'll make a pilgrimage to Tarascon! Blessings on good +St. Martha that put that sweet little imp in my way! The rogues think he +is the very genie that the fisherman let out of the bottle in +Mademoiselle's book of the Thousand and One Nights, and thought to see +him towering over the whole place. And a fine figure he would be with +his hook nose and long beard. They sent me to beg you fairly to put up +your little Shaitan again. I told them that Shaitan, as they call him, +is always in it when there's meddling between an espoused pair--which is +as true as though the Holy Father at Rome had said it--and as long as +they were civil, Shaitan would rest; but if they durst molest you, there +was no saying where he would be, if once you had to let him out! To +think of the virtue of that ugly face and bit of a coil of wire!' + +Meantime Hebert, having ascertained that both the Jew and Hassan were +going away, the one to Constantina, the other to Algiers, wrote, and so +did Estelle, to the Consul at Algiers, explaining their position and +entreating to be ransomed. Though only nine years old, Estelle could +write a very fair letter, and the amazement of the Arabs was unbounded +that any female creature should wield a pen. Marabouts and merchants +were known to read the Koran, but if one of the goats had begun to write, +their wonder could hardly have been greater; and such crowds came to +witness the extraordinary operation that she could scarcely breathe or +see. + +It seemed to establish her in their estimation as a sort of supernatural +being, for she was always treated with more consideration than the rest +of the captives, never deprived of the clothes she wore, and allowed to +appropriate a few of the toilette necessaries that were quite +incomprehensible to those around her. + +She learnt the names for bread, chestnuts, dates, milk, and water, and +these were never denied to her; and her little ingenuities in nursery +games won the goodwill of the women and children around her, though +others used to come and make ugly faces at her, and cry out at her as an +unclean thing. The Abbe was allowed to wander about at will, and keep +his Hours, with Estelle to make the responses, and sometimes Hebert. He +was the only one that might visit the other two captives; Lanty was kept +hard at work over the crop of chestnuts that the clan had come down from +their mountains to gather in; and poor Victorine, who was consumed by a +low fever, and almost too weak to move, lay all day in the dreary and +dirty hut, expecting, but dreading death. + +Some days later there was great excitement, shouting, and rage. It +proved that the Bey of Constantina had sent to demand the party, +threatening to send an armed force to compel their surrender; but, alas! +the hope of a return to comparative civilisation was instantly quashed, +for the sheyk showed himself furious. He and Eyoub stood brandishing +their scimitars, and with eyes flashing like a panther's in the dark, +declaring that they were free, no subjects of the Dey nor the Bey either; +and that they would shed the blood of every one of the captives rather +than yield them to the dogs and sons of dogs at Constantina. + +This embassy only increased the jealousy with which the prisoners were +guarded. None of them were allowed to stir without a man with a halbert, +and they had the greatest difficulty in entrusting a third letter to the +Moor in command of the party. Indeed, it was only managed by Estelle's +coaxing of the little Abou Daoud, who was growing devoted to her, and +would do anything for the reward of hearing her sing life _Malbrook s'en +va-t'-n guerre_. + +It might have been in consequence of this threat of the Bey, much as they +affected to despise it, that the Cabeleyzes prepared to return to the +heights of Mount Araz, whence they had only descended during the autumn +to find fresh pasture for their cattle, and to collect dates and +chestnuts from the forest. + +'Alas!' said Hubert, 'this is worse than ever. As long as we were near +the sea, I had hope, but now all trace of us will be lost, even if the +Consul should send after us.' + +'Never fear, Maitre Hubert,' said Estelle; 'you know Telemaque was a +prisoner and tamed the wild peasants in Egypt.' + +'Ah! the poor demoiselle, she always seems as if she were acting a +comedy.' + +This was happily true. Estelle seemed to be in a curious manner borne +through the dangers and discomforts of her surroundings by a strange +dreamy sense of living up to her part, sometimes as a possible martyr, +sometimes as a figure in the mythological or Arcadian romance that had +filtered into her nursery. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--A MOORISH VILLAGE + + + 'Our laws and our worship on thee thou shalt take, + And this shalt thou first do for Zulema's sake.' + + SCOTT. + +When Arthur Hope dashed back from the party on the prow of the wrecked +tartane in search of little Ulysse, he succeeded in grasping the child, +but at the same moment a huge breaker washed him off the +slipperily-sloping deck, and after a scarce conscious struggle he found +himself, still retaining his clutch of the boy, in the trough between it +and another. He was happily an expert swimmer, and holding the little +fellow's clothes in his teeth, he was able to avoid the dash, and to rise +on another wave. Then he perceived that he was no longer near the +vessel, but had been carried out to some little distance, and his efforts +only succeeded in keeping afloat, not in approaching the shore. Happily +a plank drifted so near him that he was able to seize it and throw +himself across it, thus obtaining some support, and being able to raise +the child farther above the water. + +At the same time he became convinced that a strong current, probably from +a river or stream, was carrying him out to sea, away from the bay. He +saw the black heads of two or three of the Moorish crew likewise floating +on spars, and yielding themselves to the stream, and this made him better +satisfied to follow their example. It was a sort of rest, and gave him +time to recover from the first exhaustion to convince himself that the +little boy was not dead, and to lash him to the plank with a +handkerchief. + +By and by--he knew not how soon--calls and shouts passed between the +Moors; only two seemed to survive, and they no longer obeyed the +direction of the current, but turned resolutely towards the land, where +Arthur dimly saw a green valley opening towards the sea. This was a much +severer effort, but by this time immediate self-preservation had become +the only thought, and happily both wind and the very slight tide were +favourable, so that, just as the sun sank beneath the western waves, +Arthur felt foothold on a sloping beach of white sand, even as his powers +became exhausted. He struggled up out of reach of the sea, and then sank +down, exhausted and unconscious. + +His first impression was of cries and shrieks round him, as he gasped and +panted, then saw as in a dream forms flitting round him, and then--feeling +for the child and missing him--he raised himself in consternation, and +the movement was greeted by fresh unintelligible exclamations, while a +not unkindly hand lifted him up. It belonged to a man in a sort of loose +white garment and drawers, with a thin dark-bearded face; and Arthur, +recollecting that the Spanish word _nino_ passed current for child in +_lingua Franca_, uttered it with an accent of despairing anxiety. He was +answered with a volley of words that he only understood to be in a +consoling tone, and the speaker pointed inland. Various persons, among +whom Arthur saw his recent shipmates, seemed to be going in that +direction, and he obeyed his guide, though scarcely able to move from +exhaustion and cold, the garments he had retained clinging about him. +Some one, however, ran down towards him with a vessel containing a +draught of sour milk. This revived him enough to see clearly and follow +his guides. After walking a distance, which appeared to him most +laborious, he found himself entering a sort of village, and was ushered +through a courtyard into a kind of room. In the centre a fire was +burning; several figures were busy round it, and in another moment he +perceived that they were rubbing, chafing, and otherwise restoring his +little companion. + +Indeed Ulysse had just recovered enough to be terribly frightened, and as +his friend's voice answered his screams, he sprang from the kind brown +hands, and, darting on Arthur, clung to him with face hidden on his +shoulder. The women who had been attending to him fell back as the white +stranger entered, and almost instantly dry clothes were brought, and +while Arthur was warming himself and putting them on, a little table +about a foot high was set, the contents of a cauldron of a kind of soup +which had been suspended over the fire were poured into a large round +green crock, and in which all were expected to dip their spoons and +fingers. Little Ulysse was exceedingly amazed, and observed that _ces +gens_ were not _bien eleves_ to eat out of the dish; but he was too +hungry to make any objection to being fed with the wooden spoon that had +been handed to Arthur; and when the warm soup, and the meat floating in +it, had refreshed them, signs were made to them to lie down on a mat +within an open door, and both were worn out enough to sleep soundly. + +It was daylight when Arthur was awakened by poor little Ulysse sitting up +and crying out for his _bonne_, his mother, and sister, 'Oh! take me to +them,' he cried; 'I do not like this dark place.' + +For dark the room was, being windowless, though the golden sunlight could +be seen beyond the open doorway, which was under a sort of cloister or +verandah overhung by some climbing plant. Arthur, collecting himself, +reminded the child how the waves had borne them away from the rest, with +earnest soothing promises of care, and endeavouring to get back to the +rest. 'Say your prayers that God will take care of you and bring you +back to your sister,' Arthur added, for he did not think it possible that +the child's mother should have been saved from the waves; and his heart +throbbed at thoughts of his promise to the poor lady. + +'But I want my _bonne_,' sighed Ulysse; 'I want my clothes. This is an +ugly _robe de nuit_, and there is no bed.' + +'Perhaps we can find your clothes,' said Arthur. 'They were too wet to +be kept on last night.' + +So they emerged into the court, which had a kind of farmyard appearance; +women with rows of coins hanging over their brows were milking cows and +goats, and there was a continuous confusion of sound of their voices, and +the lowing and bleating of cattle. At the appearance of Arthur and the +boy, there was a general shout, and people seemed to throng in to gaze at +them, the men handsome, stately, and bearded, with white full drawers, +and a bournouse laid so as first to form a flat hood over the head, and +then belted in at the waist, with a more or less handsome sash, into +which were stuck a spoon and knife, and in some cases one or two pistols. +They did not seem ill-disposed, though their language was perfectly +incomprehensible. Ulysse's clothes were lying dried by the hearth and no +objection was made to his resuming them. Arthur made gestures of washing +or bathing, and was conducted outside the court, to a little stream of +pure water descending rapidly to the sea. It was so cold that Ulysse +screamed at the touch, as Arthur, with more spectators than he could have +desired, did his best to perform their toilettes. He had divested +himself of most of his own garments for the convenience of swimming, but +his pockets were left and a comb in them; and though poor Mademoiselle +Julienne would have been shocked at the result of his efforts, and the +little silken laced suit was sadly tarnished with sea water, Ulysse +became such an astonishing sight that the children danced round him, the +women screamed with wonder, and the men said 'Mashallah!' The young +Scotsman's height was perhaps equally amazing, for he saw them pointing +up to his head as if measuring his stature. + +He saw that he was in a village of low houses, with walls of unhewn +stone, enclosing yards, and set in the midst of fruit-trees and gardens. +Though so far on in the autumn there was a rich luxuriant appearance; +roots and fruits, corn and flax, were laid out to dry, and girls and boys +were driving the cattle out to pasture. He could not doubt that he had +landed among a settled and not utterly uncivilised people, but he was too +spent and weary to exert himself, or even to care for much beyond present +safety; and had no sooner returned to his former quarters, and shared +with Ulysse a bowl of curds, than they both feel asleep again in the +shade of the gourd plant trained on a trellised roof over the wall. + +When he next awoke, Ulysse was very happily at play with some little +brown children, as if the sports of childhood defied the curse of Babel, +and a sailor from the tartane was being greeted by the master of the +house. Arthur hoped that some communication would now be possible, but, +unfortunately, the man knew very little of the _lingua Franca_ of the +Mediterranean, and Arthur knew still less. However, he made out that he +was the only one of the shipwrecked crew who had managed to reach the +land, and that this was a village of Moors--settled agricultural Moors, +not Arabs, good Moslems--who would do him no harm. This, and he pointed +to a fine-looking elderly man, was the sheyk of the village, Abou Ben +Zegri, and if the young Giaours would conform to the true faith all would +be _salem_ with them. Arthur shook his head, and tried by word and sign +to indicate his anxiety for the rest of his companions. The sailor threw +up his hands, and pointed towards the sea, to show that he believed them +to be all lost; but Arthur insisted that five--marking them off on his +fingers--were on _gebal_, a rock, and emphatically indicated his desire +of reaching them. The Moor returned the word 'Cabeleyzes,' with gestures +signifying throat-cutting and slavery, also that these present hosts +regarded them as banditti. How far off they were it was not possible to +make out, for of course Arthur's own sensations were no guide; but he +knew that the wreck had taken place early in the afternoon, and that he +had come on shore in the dusk, which was then at about five o'clock. +There was certainly a promontory, made by the ridge of a hill, and also a +river between him and any survivors there might be. + +This was all that he could gather, and he was not sure of even thus much, +but he was still too much wearied and battered for any exertion of +thought or even anxiety. Three days' tempest in a cockle-shell of a +ship, and then three hours' tossing on a plank, had left him little but +the desire of repose, and the Moors were merciful and let him alone. It +was a beautiful place--that he already knew. A Scot, and used to the sea- +coast, his eye felt at home as it ranged to the grand heights in the dim +distance, with winter caps of snow, and shaded in the most gorgeous tints +of colouring forests beneath, slopes covered with the exquisite green of +young wheat. Autumn though it was, the orange-trees, laden with fruit, +the cork-trees, ilexes, and fan-palms, gave plenty of greenery, shading +the gardens with prickly pear hedges; and though many of the fruit-trees +had lost their leaves, fig, peach, and olive, and mulberry, caper plants, +vines with foliage of every tint of red and purple, which were trained +over the trellised courts of the houses, made everything have a look of +rural plenty and peace, most unlike all that Arthur had ever heard or +imagined of the Moors, who, as he owned to himself, were certainly not +all savage pirates and slave-drivers. The whole within was surrounded by +a stone wall, with a deep horse-shoe-arched gateway, the fields and +pastures lying beyond with some more slightly-walled enclosures meant for +the protection of the flocks and herds at night. + +He saw various arts going on. One man was working in iron over a little +charcoal fire, with a boy to blow up his bellows, and several more were +busied over some pottery, while the women alternated their grinding +between two mill stones, and other domestic cares, with spinning, +weaving, and beautiful embroidery. To Arthur, who looked on, with no one +to speak to except little Ulysse, it was strangely like seeing the life +of the Israelites in the Old Testament when they dwelt under their own +vines and fig-trees--like reading a chapter in the Bible, as he said to +himself, as again and again he saw some allusion to Eastern customs +illustrated. He was still more struck--when, after the various herds of +kine, sheep, and goats, with one camel, several asses, and a few slender- +limbed Barbary horses had been driven in for the night--by the sight of +the population, as the sun sank behind the mountains, all suspending +whatever they were about, spreading their prayer carpets, turning +eastwards, performing their ablutions, and uttering their brief prayer +with one voice so devoutly that he was almost struck with awe. + +'Are they saying their prayers?' whispered Ulysse, startled by the +instant change in his play-fellows, and as Arthur acquiesced, 'Then they +are good.' + +'If it were the true faith,' said Arthur, thinking of the wide difference +between this little fellow and Estelle; but though not two years younger, +Ulysse was far more childish than his sister, and when she was no longer +present to lead him with her enthusiasm, sank at once to his own level. +He opened wide his eyes at Arthur's reply, and said, 'I do not see their +idols.' + +'They have none,' said Arthur, who could not help thinking that Ulysse +might look nearer home for idols--but chiefly concerned at the moment to +keep the child quiet, lest he should bring danger on them by +interruption. + +They were sitting in the embowered porch of the sheyk's court when, a few +seconds after the villagers had risen up from their prayer, they saw a +figure enter at the village gateway, and the sheyk rise and go forward. +There were low bending in salutation, hands placed on the breast, then +kisses exchanged, after which the Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri went out with the +stranger, and great excitement and pleasure seemed to prevail among the +villagers, especially the women. Arthur heard the word 'Yusuf' often +repeated, and by the time darkness had fallen on the village, the sheyk +ushered the guest into his court, bringing with him a donkey with some +especially precious load--which was removed; after which the supper was +served as before in the large low apartment, with a handsomely tiled +floor, and an opening in the roof for the issue of the smoke from the +fire, which became agreeable in the evening at this season. Before +supper, however, the stranger's feet and hands were washed by a black +slave in Eastern fashion; and then all, as before, sat on mats or +cushions round the central bowl, each being furnished with a spoon and +thin flat soft piece of bread to dip into the mess of stewed kid, flakes +of which might be extracted with the fingers. + +The women, who had fastened a piece of linen across their faces, ran +about and waited on the guests, who included three or four of the +principal men of the village, as well as the stranger, who, as Arthur +observed, was not of the uniform brown of the rest, but had some colour +in his cheeks, light eyes, and a ruddy beard, and also was of a larger +frame than these Moors, who, though graceful, lithe, and exceedingly +stately and dignified, hardly reached above young Hope's own shoulder. +Conversation was going on all the time, and Arthur soon perceived that he +was the subject of it. As soon as the meal was over, the new-comer +addressed him, to his great joy, in French. It was the worst French +imaginable--perhaps more correctly _lingua Franca_, with a French instead +of an Arabic foundation, but it was more comprehensible than that of the +Moorish sailor, and bore some relation to a civilised language; besides +which there was something indescribably familiar in the tone of voice, +although Arthur's good French often missed of being comprehended. + +'Son of a great man? Ambassador, French!' The greatness seemed +impressed, but whether ambassador was understood was another thing, +though it was accepted as relating to the boy. + +'Secretary to the Ambassador' seemed to be an equal problem. The man +shook his head, but he took in better the story of the wreck, though, +like the sailor, he shook his head over the chance of there being any +survivors, and utterly negatived the idea of joining them. The great +point that Arthur tried to convey was that there would be a very +considerable ransom if the child could be conveyed to Algiers, and he +endeavoured to persuade the stranger, who was evidently a sort of +travelling merchant, and, as he began to suspect, a renegade, to convey +them thither; but he only got shakes of the head as answers, and +something to the effect that they were a good deal out of the Dey's reach +in those parts, together with what he feared was an intimation that they +were altogether in the power of Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri. + +They were interrupted by a servant of the merchant, who came to bring him +some message as well as a pipe and tobacco. The pipe was carried by a +negro boy, at sight of whom Ulysse gave a cry of ecstasy, 'Juba! Juba! +Grandmother's Juba! Why do not you speak to me?' as the little black, no +bigger than Ulysse himself, grinned with all his white teeth, quite +uncomprehending. + +'Ah! my poor laddie,' exclaimed Arthur in his native tongue, which he +often used with the boy, 'it is only another negro. You are far enough +from home.' + +The words had an astonishing effect on the merchant. He turned round +with the exclamation, 'Ye'll be frae Scotland!' + +'And so are you!' cried Arthur, holding out his hand. + +'Tak tent, tak tent,' said the merchant hastily, yet with a certain +hesitation, as though speaking a long unfamiliar tongue. 'The loons +might jalouse our being overfriendly thegither.' + +Then he returned to the sheyk, to whom he seemed to be making +explanations, and presenting some of his tobacco, which probably was of a +superior quality in preparation to what was grown in the village. They +solemnly smoked together and conversed, while Arthur watched them +anxiously, relieved that he had found an interpreter, but very doubtful +whether a renegade could be a friend, even though he were indeed a fellow- +countryman. + +It was not till several pipes had been consumed, and the village worthies +had, with considerable ceremony, taken leave, that the merchant again +spoke to Arthur. 'I'll see ye the morn; I hae tell'd the sheyk we are +frae the same parts. Maybe I can serve you, if ye ken what's for your +guid, but I canna say mair the noo.' + +The sheyk escorted him out of the court, for he slept in one of the two +striped horse-hair tents, which had been spread within the enclosures +belonging to the village, around which were tethered the mules and asses +that carried his wares. Arthur meanwhile arranged his little charge for +the night. + +He felt that among these enemies to their faith he must do what was in +his power to keep up that of the child, and not allow his prayers to be +neglected; but not being able to repeat the Latin forms, and thinking +them unprofitable to the boy himself, he prompted the saying of the Creed +and Lord's Prayer in English, and caused them to be repeated after him, +though very sleepily and imperfectly. + +All the men of the establishment seemed to take their night's rest on a +mat, wrapped in a bournouse, wherever they chanced to find themselves, +provided it was under shelter; the women in some _penetralia_ beyond a +doorway, though they were not otherwise secluded, and only partially +veiled their faces at sight of a stranger. Arthur had by this time made +out that the sheyk, who was a very handsome man over middle-age, seemed +to have two wives; one probably of his own age, and though withered up +into a brown old mummy, evidently the ruler at home, wearing the most +ornaments, and issuing her orders in a shrill, cracked tone. There was a +much younger and handsome one, the mother apparently of two or three +little girls from ten or twelve years old to five, and there was a mere +girl, with beautiful melancholy gazelle-like eyes, and a baby in her +arms. She wore no ornaments, but did not seem to be classed with the +slaves who ran about at the commands of the elder dame. + +However, his own position was a matter of much more anxious care, +although he had more hope of discovering what it really was. + +He had, however, to be patient. The sunrise orisons were no sooner paid +than there was a continual resort to the tent of the merchant, who was +found sitting there calmly smoking his long pipe, and ready to offer the +like, also a cup of coffee, to all who came to traffic with him. He +seemed to have a miscellaneous stock of coffee, tobacco, pipes, +preparations of sugar, ornaments in gold and silver, jewellery, charms, +pistols, and a host of other articles in stock, and to be ready to +purchase or barter these for the wax, embroidered handkerchiefs, yarn, +and other productions and manufactures of the place. Not a single +purchase could be made on either side without a tremendous haggling, +shouting, and gesticulating, as if the parties were on the verge of +coming to blows; whereas all was in good fellowship, and a pleasing +excitement and diversion where time was of no value to anybody. Arthur +began to despair of ever gaining attention. He was allowed to wander +about as he pleased within the village gates, and Ulysse was apparently +quite happy with the little children, who were beautiful and active, +although kept dirty and ragged as a protection from the evil eye. + +Somehow the engrossing occupation of every one, especially of the only +two creatures with whom he could converse, made Arthur more desolate than +ever. He lay down under an ilex, and his heart ached with a sick longing +he had not experienced since he had been with the Nithsdales, for his +mother and his home--the tall narrow-gabled house that had sprung up +close to the grim old peel tower, the smell of the sea, the tinkling of +the burn. He fell asleep in the heat of the day, and it was to him as if +he were once more sitting by the old shepherd on the braeside, hearing +him tell the old tales of Johnnie Armstrong or Willie o' the wudspurs. + +Actually a Scottish voice was in his ears, as he looked up and saw the +turbaned head of Yusuf the merchant bending over him, and saying--'Wake +up, my bonny laddie; we can hae our crack in peace while these folks are +taking their noonday sleep. Awed, and where are ye frae, and how do you +ca' yersel'?' + +'I am from Berwickshire,' responded the youth, and as the man started--'My +name is Arthur Maxwell Hope of Burnside.' + +'Eh! No a son of auld Sir Davie?' + +'His youngest son.' + +The man clasped his hands, and uttered a strange sound as if in the +extremity of amazement, and there was a curious unconscious change of +tone, as he said--'Sir Davie's son! Ye'll never have heard tell of +Partan Jeannie?' he added. + +'A very old fishwife,' said Arthur, 'who used to come her rounds to our +door? Was she of kin to you?' + +'My mither, sir. Mony's the time I hae peepit out on the cuddie's back +between the creels at the door of the braw house of Burnside, and mony's +the bannock and cookie the gude lady gied me. My minnie'll no be living +thae noo,' he added, not very tenderly. + +'I should fear not,' said Arthur. 'I had not seen or heard of her for +some time before I left home, and that is now three years since. She +looked very old then, and I remember my mother saying she was not fit to +come her rounds.' + +'She wasna that auld,' returned the merchant gravely; 'but she had led +sic a life as falls to the lot of nae wife in this country.' + +Arthur had almost said, 'Whose fault was that?' but he durst not offend a +possible protector, and softened his words into, 'It is strange to find +you here, and a Mohammedan too.' + +'Hoots, Maister Arthur, let that flea stick by the wa'. We maun do at +Rome as Rome does, as ye'll soon find'--and disregarding Arthur's +exclamation--'and the bit bairn, I thocht ye said he was no Scot, when I +was daundering awa' at the French yestreen.' + +'No, he is half-Irish, half-French, eldest son of Count Burke, a good +Jacobite, who got into trouble with the Prince of Orange, and is high in +the French service.' + +'And what gars your father's son to be _secretaire_, as ye ca'd it, to +Frenchman or Irishman either?' + +'Well, it was my own fault. I was foolish enough to run away from school +to join the rising for our own King's--' + +'Eh, sirs! And has there been a rising on the Border side against the +English pock puddings? Oh, gin I had kenned it!' + +Yusuf's knowledge of English politics had been dim at the best, and he +had apparently left Scotland before even Queen Anne was on the throne. +When he understood Arthur's story, he communicated his own. He had been +engaged in a serious brawl with some English fishers, and in fear of the +consequences had fled from Eyemouth, and after casting about as a common +sailor in various merchant ships, had been captured by a Moorish vessel, +and had found it expedient to purchase his freedom by conversion to +Islam, after which his Scottish shrewdness and thrift had resulted in his +becoming a prosperous itinerant merchant, with his headquarters at Bona. +He expressed himself willing and anxious to do all he could for his young +countryman; but it would be almost impossible to do so unless Arthur +would accept the religion of his captors; and he explained that the two +boys were the absolute property of the tribe, who had discovered and +rescued them when going to the seashore to gather kelp for the glass work +practised by the Moors in their little furnaces. + +'Forsake my religion? Never!' cried Arthur indignantly. + +'Saftly, saftly,' said Yusuf; 'nae doot ye trow as I did that they are a' +mere pagans and savage heathens, worshipping Baal and Ashtaroth, but I +fand myself quite mista'en. They hae no idols, and girn at the blinded +Papists as muckle as auld Deacon Shortcoats himsel'.' + +'I know that,' threw in Arthur. + +'Ay, and they are a hantle mair pious and devout than ever a body I hae +seen in Eyemouth, or a' the country side to boot; forbye, my minnie's +auld auntie, that sat graning by the ingle, and ay banned us when we came +ben. The meneester himsel' dinna gae about blessing and praying over +ilka sma' matter like the meenest of us here, and for a' the din they +make at hame about the honorable Sabbath, wha thinks of praying five +times the day? While as for being the waur for liquor, these folks kenna +the very taste of it. Put yon sheyk down on the wharf at Eyemouth, and +what wad he say to the Christian folk there?' + +A shock of conviction passed over Arthur, though he tried to lose it in +indignant defence; but Yusuf did not venture to stay any longer with him, +and bidding him think over what had been said, since slavery or Islam +were the only alternatives, returned to the tents of merchandise. + +First thoughts with the youth had of course been of horror at the bare +idea of apostacy, and yet as he watched his Moorish hosts, he could not +but own to himself that he never had dreamt that to be among them would +be so like dwelling under the oak of Mamre, in the tents of Abraham. From +what he remembered of Partan Jeannie's reputation as a being only +tolerated and assisted by his mother, on account of her extreme misery +and destitution, he could believe that the ne'er-do-weel son, who must +have forsaken her before he himself was born, might have really been +raised in morality by association with the grave, faithful, and temperate +followers of Mohammed, rather than the scum of the port of Eyemouth. + +For himself and the boy, what did slavery mean? He hoped to understand +better from Yusuf, and at any rate to persuade the man to become the +medium of communication with the outside world, beyond that 'dissociable +ocean,' over which his wistful gaze wandered. Then the ransom of the +little Chevalier de Bourke would be certain, and, if there were any +gratitude in the world, his own. But how long would this take, and what +might befall them in the meantime? + +Ulysse all this time seemed perfectly happy with the small Moors, who all +romped together without distinction of rank, of master, slave or colour, +for Yusuf's little negro was freely received among them. At night, +however, Ulysse's old home self seemed to revive; he crept back to +Arthur, tired and weary, fretting for mother, sister, and home; and even +after he had fallen asleep, waking again to cry for Julienne. Poor +Arthur, he was a rough nurse, but pity kept him patient, and he was even +glad to see that the child had not forgotten his home. + +Meantime, ever since the sunset prayer, there had been smoking of pipes +and drinking of coffee, and earnest discussion between the sheyk and the +merchant, and by and by Yusuf came and sat himself down by Arthur, +smiling a little at the young man's difficulty in disposing of those long +legs upon the ground. + +'Ye'll have to learn this and other things, sir,' said he, as he crossed +his own under him, Eastern fashion; but his demeanour was on the whole +that of the fisher to the laird's son, and he evidently thought that he +had a grand proposal to make, for which Master Arthur ought to be +infinitely obliged. + +He explained to Arthur that Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri had never had more than +two sons, and that both had been killed the year before in trying to +recover their cattle from the Cabeleyzes, 'a sort of Hieland caterans.' + +The girl whom Arthur had noticed was the widow of the elder of the two, +and the child was only a daughter. The sheyk had been much impressed by +Arthur's exploit in swimming or floating round the headland and saving +the child, and regarded his height as something gigantic. Moreover, +Yusuf had asserted that he was son to a great Bey in his own country, and +in consequence Abou Ben Zegri was willing to adopt him as his son, +provided he would embrace the true faith, and marry Ayesha, the widow. + +'And,' said Yusuf, 'these women are no that ill for wives, as I ken owre +weel'--and he sighed. 'I had as gude and douce a wee wifie at Bona as +heart culd wish, and twa bonny bairnies; but when I cam' back frae my +rounds, the plague had been there before me. They were a' gone, even +Ali, that had just began to ca' me Ab, Ab, and I hae never had heart to +gang back to the town house. She was a gude wife--nae flying, nae +rampauging. She wad hae died wi' shame to be likened to thae randy wives +at hame. Ye might do waur than tak' such a fair offer, Maister Arthur.' + +'You mean it all kindly,' said Arthur, touched; 'but for nothing--no, for +nothing, can a Christian deny his Lord, or yield up his hopes for +hereafter.' + +'As for that,' returned Yusuf, 'the meneester and Beacon Shortcoats, and +my auld auntie, and the lave of them, aye ca'ed me a vessel of +destruction. That was the best name they had for puir Tam. So what odds +culd it mak, if I took up with the Prophet, and I was ower lang leggit to +row in a galley? Forbye, here they say that a man who prays and gies +awmous, and keeps frae wine, is sicker to win to Paradise and a' the +houris. I had rather it war my puir Zorah than any strange houri of them +a'; but any way, I hae been a better man sin' I took up wi' them than +ever I was as a cursing, swearing, drunken, fechting sailor lad wha +feared neither God nor devil.' + +'That was scarce the fault of the Christian faith,' said Arthur. + +'Aweel, the first answer in the Shorter Carritch was a' they ever garred +me learn, and that is what we here say of Allah. I see no muckle to +choose, and I _ken_ ane thing,--it is a hell on earth at ance gin ye gang +not alang wi' them. And that's sicker, as ye'll find to your cost, sir, +gin ye be na the better guided.' + +'With hope, infinite hope beyond,' said Arthur, trying to fortify +himself. 'No, I cannot, cannot deny my Lord--my Lord that bought me!' + +'We own Issa Ben Mariam for a Prophet,' said Yusuf. + +'But He is my only Master, my Redeemer, and God. No, come what may, I +can never renounce Him,' said Arthur with vehemence. + +'Wed, awed,' said Yusuf, 'maybe ye'll see in time what's for your gude. +I'll tell the sheyk it would misbecome your father's son to do sic a deed +owre lichtly, and strive to gar him wait while I am in these parts to get +your word, and nae doot it will be wiselike at the last.' + + + + +CHAPTER VII--MASTER AND SLAVE + + + 'I only heard the reckless waters roar, + Those waves that would not hear me from the shore; + I only marked the glorious sun and sky + Too bright, too blue for my captivity, + And felt that all which Freedom's bosom cheers, + Must break my chain before it dried my tears.' + + BYRON (_The Corsair_). + +At the rate at which the traffic in Yusuf's tent proceeded, Arthur Hope +was likely to have some little time for deliberation on the question +presented to him whether to be a free Moslem sheyk or a Christian slave. + +Not only had almost every household in El Arnieh to chaffer with the +merchant for his wares and to dispose of home-made commodities, but from +other adowaras and from hill-farms Moors and Cabyles came in with their +produce of wax, wool or silk, to barter--if not with Yusuf, with the +inhabitants of El Arnieh, who could weave and embroider, forge cutlery, +and make glass from the raw material these supplied. Other Cabyles, +divers from the coast, came up, with coral and sponges, the latter of +which was the article in which Yusuf preferred to deal, though nothing +came amiss to him that he could carry, or that could carry itself--such +as a young foal; even the little black boy had been taken on +speculation--and so indeed had the big Abyssinian, who, though dumb, was +the most useful, ready, and alert of his five slaves. Every bargain +seemed to occupy at least an hour, and perhaps Yusuf lingered the longer +in order to give Arthur more time for consideration; or it might be that +his native tongue, once heard, exercised an irresistible fascination over +him. He never failed to have what he called a 'crack' with his young +countryman at the hour of the siesta, or at night, perhaps persuading the +sheyk that it was controversial, though it was more apt to be on +circumstances of the day's trade or the news of the Border-side. +Controversy indeed there could be little with one so ignorant as kirk +treatment in that century was apt to leave the outcasts of society, nor +had conversion to Islam given him much instruction in its tenets; so that +the conversation generally was on earthly topics, though it always ended +in assurances that Master Arthur would suffer for it if he did not +perceive what was for his good. To which Arthur replied to the effect +that he must suffer rather than deny his faith; and Yusuf, declaring that +a wilful man maun have his way, and that he would rue it too late, went +off affronted, but always returned to the charge at the next opportunity. + +Meantime Arthur was free to wander about unmolested and pick up the +language, in which, however, Ulysse made far more rapid progress, and +could be heard chattering away as fast, if not as correctly, as if it +were French or English. The delicious climate and the open-air life were +filling the little fellow with a strength and vigour unknown to him in a +Parisian salon, and he was in the highest spirits among his brown +playfellows, ceasing to pine for his mother and sister; and though he +still came to Arthur for the night, or in any trouble, it was more and +more difficult to get him to submit to be washed and dressed in his tight +European clothes, or to say his prayers. He was always sleepy at night +and volatile in the morning, and could not be got to listen to the little +instructions with which Arthur tried to arm him against Mohammedanism +into which the poor little fellow was likely to drift as ignorantly and +unconsciously as Yusuf himself. + +And what was the alternative? Arthur himself never wavered, nor indeed +actually felt that he had a choice; but the prospect before him was +gloomy, and Yusuf did not soften it. The sheyk would sell him, and he +would either be made to work in some mountain-farm, or put on board a +galley; and Yusuf had sufficient experience of the horrors of the latter +to assure him emphatically that the gude leddy of Burnside would break +her heart to think of her bonny laddie there. + +'It would more surely break her heart to think of her son giving up his +faith,' returned Arthur. + +As to the child, the opinion of the tribe seemed to be that he was just +fit to be sent to the Sultan to be bred as a Janissary. 'He will come +that gate to be as great a man as in his ain countree,' said Yusuf; 'wi' +horse to ride, and sword to bear, and braws to wear, like King Solomon in +all his glory.' + +'While his father and mother would far rather he were lying dead with her +under the waves in that cruel bay,' returned Arthur. + +'Hout, mon, ye dinna ken what's for his gude, nor for your ain neither,' +retorted Yusuf. + +'Good here is not good hereafter.' + +'The life of a dog and waur here,' muttered Yusuf; 'ye'll mind me when it +is too late.' + +'Nay, Yusuf, if you will only take word of our condition to Algiers, we +shall--at least the boy--be assuredly redeemed, and you would win a high +reward.' + +'I am no free to gang to Algiers,' said Yusuf. 'I fell out with a loon +there, one of those Janissaries that gang hectoring aboot as though the +world were not gude enough for them, and if I hadna made the best of my +way out of the toon, my pow wad be a worricow on the wa's of the tower.' + +'There are French at Bona, you say. Remember, I ask you to put yourself +in no danger, only to bear the tidings to any European,' entreated +Arthur. + +'And how are they to find ye?' demanded Yusuf. 'Abou Ben Zegri will +never keep you here after having evened his gude-daughter to ye. He'll +sell you to some corsair captain, and then the best that could betide ye +wad be that a shot frae the Knights of Malta should make quick work wi' +ye. Or look at the dumbie there, Fareek. A Christian, he ca's himsel', +too, though 'tis of a by ordinar' fashion, such as Deacon Shortcoats +would scarce own. I coft him dog cheap at Tunis, when his master, the +Vizier, had had his tongue cut out--for but knowing o' some deed that +suld ne'er have been done--and his puir feet bastinadoed to a jelly. Gin +a' the siller in the Dey's treasury ransomed ye, what gude would it do ye +after that?' + +'I cannot help that--I cannot forsake my God. I must trust Him not to +forsake me.' + +And, as usual, Yusuf went off angrily muttering, 'He that will to Cupar +maun to Cupar.' + +Perhaps Arthur's resistance had begun more for the sake of honour, and +instinctive clinging to hereditary faith, without the sense of heroism or +enthusiasm for martyrdom which sustained Estelle, and rather with the +feeling that inconstancy to his faith and his Lord would be base and +disloyal. But, as the long days rolled on, if the future of toil and +dreary misery developed itself before him, the sense of personal love and +aid towards the Lord and Master whom he served grew upon him. Neither +the gazelle-eyed Ayesha nor the prosperous village life presented any +great temptation. He would have given them all for one bleak day of mist +on a Border moss; it was the appalling contrast with the hold of a +Moorish galley that at times startled him, together with the only too +great probability that he should be utterly incapable of saving poor +little Ulysse from unconscious apostacy. + +Once Yusuf observed, that if he would only make outward submission to +Moslem law, he might retain his own belief and trust in the Lord he +seemed so much to love, and of whom he said more good than any Moslem did +of the Prophet. + +'If I deny Him, He will deny me,' said Arthur. + +'And will na He forgive ane as is hard pressed?' asked Yusuf. + +'It is a very different thing to go against the light, as I should be +doing,' said Arthur, 'and what it might be for that poor bairn, whom Cod +preserve.' + +'And wow! sir. 'Tis far different wi' you that had the best of gude +learning frae the gude leddy,' muttered Yusuf. 'My minnie aye needit me +to sort the fish and gang her errands, and wad scarce hae sent me to +scule, gin I wad hae gane where they girned at me for Partan Jeannie's +wean, and gied me mair o' the tawse than of the hornbook. Gin the Lord, +as ye ca' Him, had ever seemed to me what ye say He is to you, Maister +Arthur, I micht hae thocht twice o'er the matter. But there's nae +ganging back the noo. A Christian's life they harm na, though they mak' +it a mere weariness to him; but for him that quits the Prophet, tearing +the flesh wi' iron cleeks is the best they hae for him.' + +This time Yusuf retreated, not as usual in anger, but as if the bare idea +he had broached was too terrible to be dwelt upon. He had by the end of +a fortnight completed all his business at El Arnieh, and Arthur, having +by this time picked up enough of the language to make himself +comprehensible, and to know fully what was set before him, was called +upon to make his decision, so that either he might be admitted by regular +ritual into the Moslem faith, and adopted by the sheyk, or else be +advertised by Yusuf at the next town as a strong young slave. + +Sitting in the gate among the village magnates, like an elder of old, +Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri, with considerable grace and dignity, set the choice +before the Son of the Sea in most affectionate terms, asking of him to +become the child of his old age, and to heal the breach left by the +swords of the robbers of the mountains. + +The old man's fine dark eyes filled with tears, and there was a pathos in +his noble manner that made Arthur greatly grieved to disappoint him, and +sorry not to have sufficient knowledge of the language to qualify more +graciously the resolute reply he had so often rehearsed to himself, +expressing his hearty thanks, but declaring that nothing could induce him +to forsake the religion of his fathers. + +'Wilt thou remain a dog of an unbeliever, and receive the treatment of +dogs?' + +'I must,' said Arthur. + +'The youth is a goodly youth,' said the sheyk; 'it is ill that his heart +is blind. Once again, young man, Issa Ben Mariam and slavery, or +Mohammed and freedom?' + +'I cannot deny my Lord Christ.' + +There was a pause. Arthur stood upright, with lips compressed, hands +clasped together, while the sheyk and his companions seemed struck by his +courage and high spirit. Then one of them--a small, ugly fellow, who had +some pretensions to be considered the sheyk's next heir--cried, 'Out on +the infidel dog!' and set the example of throwing a handful of dust at +him. The crowd who watched around were not slow to follow the example, +and Arthur thought he was actually being stoned; but the missiles were +for the most part not harmful, only disgusting, blinding, and confusing. +There was a tremendous hubbub of vituperation, and he was at last +actually stunned by a blow, waking to find himself alone, and with hands +and feet bound, in a dirty little shed appropriated to camels. Should he +ever be allowed to see poor little Ulysse again, or to speak to Yusuf, in +whom lay their only faint hope of redemption? He was helpless, and the +boy was at the mercy of the Moors. Was he utterly forsaken? + +It was growing late in the day, and he had had no food for many hours. +Was he to be neglected and starved? At last he heard steps approaching, +and the door was opened by the man who had led the assault on him, who +addressed him as 'Son of an old ass--dog of a slave,' bade him stand up +and show his height, at the same time cutting the cords that bound him. +It was an additional pang that it was to Yusuf that he was thus to +exhibit himself, no doubt in order that the merchant should carry a +description of him to some likely purchaser. He could not comprehend the +words that passed, but it was very bitter to be handled like a horse at a +fair--doubly so that he, a Hope of Burnside, should thus be treated by +Partan Jeannie's son. + +There ensued outside the shrieking and roaring which always accompanied a +bargain, and which lasted two full hours. Finally Yusuf looked into the +hut, and roughly said in Arabic, 'Come over to me, dog; thou art mine. +Kiss the shoe of thy master'--adding in his native tongue, 'For ance, +sir. It maun be done before these loons.' + +Certainly the ceremony would have been felt as less humiliating towards +almost anybody else, but Arthur endured it; and then was led away to the +tents beyond the gate. + +'There, sir,' said Yusuf, 'it ill sorts your father's son to be in sic a +case, but it canna be helpit. I culd na leave behind the bonny Scots +tongue, let alane the gude Leddy Hope's son.' + +'You have been very good to me, Yusuf,' said Arthur, his pride much +softened by the merchant's evident sense of the situation. 'I know you +mean me well, but the boy--' + +'Hoots! the bairn is happy eno'. He will come to higher preferment than +even you or I. Why, mon, an Aga of the Janissaries is as good as the +Deuk himsel'.' + +'Yusuf, I am very grateful--I believe you must have paid heavily to spare +me from ill usage.' + +'Ye may say that, sir. Forty piastres of Tunis, and eight mules, and twa +pair of silver-mounted pistols. The extortionate rogue wad hae had the +little dagger, but I stood out against that.' + +'I see, I am deeply beholden,' said Arthur; 'but it would be tenfold +better if you would take him instead of me!' + +'What for suld I do that? He is nae countryman of mine--one side French +and the other Irish. He is naught to me.' + +'He is heir to a noble house,' waged Arthur. 'They will reward you amply +for saving him.' + +'Mair like to girn at me for a Moor. Na, na! Hae na I dune enough for +ye, Maister Arthur--giving half my beasties, and more than half my +silver? Canna ye be content without that whining bairn?' + +'I should be a forsworn man to be content to leave the child, whose dead +mother prayed me to protect him, and those who will turn him from her +faith. See, now, I am a man, and can guard myself, by the grace of God; +but to leave the poor child here would be letting these men work their +will on him ere any ransom could come. His mother would deem it giving +him up to perdition. Let me remain here, and take the helpless child. +You know how to bargain. His price might be my ransom.' + +'Ay, when the jackals and hyenas have picked your banes, or you have died +under the lash, chained to the oar, as I hae seen, Maister Arthur.' + +'Better so than betray the dead woman's trust. How no--' + +For there was a pattering of feet, a cry of 'Arthur, Arthur!' and +sobbing, screaming, and crying, Ulysse threw himself on his friend's +breast. He was pursued by one or two of the hangers-on of the sheyk's +household, and the first comer seized him by the arm; but he clung to +Arthur, screamed and kicked, and the old nurse who had come hobbling +after coaxed in vain. He cried out in a mixture of Arabic and French +that he _would_ sleep with Arthur--Arthur must put him to bed; no one +should take him away. + +'Let him stay,' responded Yusuf; 'his time will come soon enough.' + +Indulgence to children was the rule, and there was an easy good-nature +about the race, which made them ready to defer the storm, and acquiesce +in the poor little fellow remaining for another evening with that last +remnant of his home to whom he always reverted at nightfall. + +He held trembling by Arthur till all were gone, then looked about in +terror, and required to be assured that no one was coming to take him +away. + +'They shall not,' he cried. 'Arthur, you will not leave me alone? They +are all gone--Mamma, and Estelle, and _la bonne_, and Laurent, and my +uncle, and all, and you will not go.' + +'Not now, not to-night, my dear little mannie,' said Arthur, tears in his +eyes for the first time throughout these misfortunes. + +'Not now! No, never!' said the boy hugging him almost to choking. 'That +naughty Ben Kader said they had sold you for a slave, and you were going +away; but I knew I should find you--you are not a slave!--you are not +black--' + +'Ah! Ulysse, it is too true; I am--' + +'No! no! no!' the child stamped, and hung on him in a passion of tears. +'You shall not be a slave. My papa shall come with his soldiers and set +you free.' + +Altogether the boy's vehemence, agitation, and terror were such that +Arthur found it impossible to do anything but soothe and hush him, as +best might be, till his sobs subsided gradually, still heaving his little +chest even after he fell asleep in the arms of his unaccustomed nurse, +who found himself thus baffled in using this last and only opportunity of +trying to strengthen the child's faith, and was also hindered from +pursuing Yusuf, who had left the tent. And if it were separation that +caused all this distress, what likelihood that Yusuf would encumber +himself with a child who had shown such powers of wailing and screaming? + +He durst not stir nor speak for fear of wakening the boy, even when Yusuf +returned and stretched himself on his mat, drawing a thick woollen cloth +over him, for the nights were chill. Long did Arthur lie awake under the +strange sense of slavery and helplessness, and utter uncertainty as to +his fate, expecting, in fact, that Yusuf meant to keep him as a sort of +tame animal to talk Scotch; but hoping to work on him in time to favour +an escape, and at any rate to despatch a letter to Algiers, as a forlorn +hope for the ultimate redemption of the poor little unconscious child who +lay warm and heavy across his breast. Certainly, Arthur had never so +prayed for aid, light, and deliverance as now! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE SEARCH + + + 'The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks, + The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs. The deep + Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.' + + TENNYSON. + +Arthur fell asleep at last, and did not waken till after sunrise, nor did +Ulysse, who must have been exhausted with crying and struggling. When +they did awaken, Arthur thinking with heavy heart that the moment of +parting was come, he saw indeed the other three slaves busied in making +bales of the merchandise; but the master, as well as the Abyssinian, +Fareek, and the little negro were all missing. Bekir, who was a kind of +foreman, and looked on the new white slave with some jealousy, roughly +pointed to some coarse food, and in reply to the question whether the +merchant was taking leave of the sheyk, intimated that it was no business +of theirs, and assumed authority to make his new fellow-slave assist in +the hardest of the packing. + +Arthur had no heart to resist, much as it galled him to be ordered about +by this rude fellow. It was only a taste, as he well knew, of what he +had embraced, and he was touched by poor little Ulysse's persistency in +keeping as close as possible, though his playfellows came down and tried +first to lure, then to drag him away, and finally remained to watch the +process of packing up. Though Bekir was too disdainful to reply to his +fellow-slave's questions, Arthur picked up from answers to the Moors who +came down that Yusuf had recollected that he had not finished his +transactions with a little village of Cabyle coral and sponge-fishers on +the coast, and had gone down thither, taking the little negro, to whom +the headman seemed to have taken a fancy, so as to become a possible +purchaser, and with the Abyssinian to attend to the mules. + +A little before sundown Yusuf returned. Fareek lifted down a pannier +covered by a crimson and yellow kerchief, and Yusuf declared, with much +apparent annoyance, that the child was sick, and that this had frustrated +the sale. He was asleep, must be carried into the tent, and not +disturbed: for though the Cabyles had not purchased him, there was no +affording to loose anything of so much value. Moreover, observing Ulysse +still hovering round the Scot, he said, 'You may bide here the night, +laddie, I ha tell't the sheyk;' and he repeated the same to the slaves in +Arabic, dismissing them to hold a parting feast on a lamb stuffed with +pistachio nuts, together with their village friends. + +Then drawing near to Arthur, he said, 'Can ye gar yon wean keep a quiet +sough, if we make him pass for the little black?' + +Arthur started with joy, and stammered some words of intense relief and +gratitude. + +'The deed's no dune yet,' said Yusuf, 'and it is ower like to end in our +leaving a' our banes on the sands! But a wilfu' man maun have his way,' +he repeated; 'so, sir, if it be your wull, ye'd better speak to the +bairn, for we must make a blackamoor of him while there is licht to do +it, or Bekir, whom I dinna lippen to, comes back frae the feast.' + +Ulysse, being used to Irish-English, had little understanding of Yusuf's +broad Scotch; but he was looking anxiously from one to the other of the +speakers, and when Arthur explained to him that the disguise, together +with perfect silence, was the only hope of not being left behind among +the Moors, and the best chance of getting back to his home and dear ones +again, he perfectly understood. As to the blackening, for which Yusuf +had prepared a mixture to be laid on with a feather, it was perfectly +enchanting to _faire la comedie_. He laughed so much that he had to be +peremptorily hushed, and they were sensible of the danger that in case of +a search he might betray himself to his Moorish friends; and Arthur tried +to make him comprehend the extreme danger, making him cry so that his +cheeks had to be touched up. His eyes and hair were dark, and the latter +was cut to its shortest by Yusuf, who further managed to fasten some +tufts of wool dipped in the black unguent to the kerchief that bound his +head. The childish features had something of the Irish cast, which lent +itself to the transformation, and in the scanty garments of the little +negro Arthur owned that he should never have known the small French +gentleman. Arthur was full of joy--Yusuf gruff, brief, anxious, like one +acting under some compulsion most unwillingly, and even despondently, but +apparently constrained by a certain instinctive feudal feeling, which +made him follow the desires of the young Border laird's son. + +All had been packed beforehand, and there was nothing to be done but to +strike the tents, saddle the mules, and start. Ulysse, still very +sleepy, was lifted into the pannier, almost at the first streak of dawn, +while the slaves were grumbling at being so early called up; and to a +Moor who wakened up and offered to take charge of the little Bey, Yusuf +replied that the child had been left in the sheyk's house. + +So they were safely out at the outer gate, and proceeding along a +beautiful path leading above the cliffs. The mules kept in one long +string, Bekir with the foremost, which was thus at some distance from the +hindmost, which carried Ulysse and was attended by Arthur, while the +master rode his own animals and gave directions. The fiction of illness +was kept up, and when the bright eyes looked up in too lively a manner, +Yusuf produced some of the sweets, which were always part of his stock in +trade, as a bribe to quietness. + +At sunrise, the halt for prayer was a trial to Arthur's intense anxiety, +and far more so was the noontide one for sleep. He even ventured a +remonstrance, but was answered, 'Mair haste, worse speed. Our lives are +no worth a boddle till the search is over.' + +They were on the shady side of a great rock overhung by a beautiful +creeping plant, and with a spring near at hand, and Yusuf, in leisurely +fashion, squatted down, caused Arthur to lift out the child, who was fast +asleep again, and the mules to be allowed to feed, and distributed some +dried goat's flesh and dates; but Ulysse, somewhat to Arthur's alarm, did +not wake sufficiently to partake. + +Looking up in alarm, he met a sign from Yusuf and presently a whisper, +'No hurt done--'tis safer thus--' + +And by this time there were alarming sounds on the air. The sheyk and +two of the chief men of El Arnieh were on horseback and armed with +matchlocks; and the whole '_posse_ of the village were following on foot, +with yells and vituperations of the entire ancestry of the merchant, and +far more complicated and furious threats than Arthur could follow; but he +saw Yusuf go forward to meet them with the utmost cool courtesy. + +They seemed somewhat discomposed: Yusuf appeared to condole with them on +the loss, and, waving his hands, put all his baggage at their service for +a search, letting them run spears through the bales, and overturn the +baskets of sponges, and search behind every rock. When they approached +the sleeping boy, Arthur, with throbbing heart, dimly comprehended that +Yusuf was repeating the story of the disappointment of a purchase caused +by his illness, and lifting for a moment the covering laid over him to +show the bare black legs and arms. There might also have been some hint +of infection which, in spite of all Moslem belief in fate, deterred Abou +Ben Zegri from an over-close inspection. Yusuf further invented a story +of having put the little Frank in charge of a Moorish woman in the +adowara; but added he was so much attached to the Son of the Sea, that +most likely he had wandered out in search of him, and the only wise +course would be to seek him before he was devoured by any of the wild +beasts near home. + +Nevertheless, there was a courteous and leisurely smoking of pipes and +drinking of coffee before the sheyk and his followers turned homewards. +To Arthur's alarm and surprise, however, Yusuf did not resume the +journey, but told Bekir that there would hardly be a better halting-place +within their powers, as the sun was already some way on his downward +course; and besides, it would take some time to repack the goods which +had been cast about in every direction during the search. The days were +at their shortest, though that was not very short, closing in at about +five o'clock, so that there was not much time to spare. Arthur began to +feel some alarm at the continued drowsiness of the little boy, who only +once muttered something, turned round, and slept again. + +'What have you done to him?' asked Arthur anxiously. + +'The poppy,' responded Yusuf. 'Never fash yoursel'. The bairn willna be +a hair the waur, and 'tis better so than that he shuld rax a' our +craigs.' + +Yusuf's peril was so much the greater, that it was impossible to object +to any of his precautions, especially as he might take offence and throw +the whole matter over; but it was impossible not to chafe secretly at the +delay, which seemed incomprehensible. Indeed, the merchant was avoiding +private communication with Arthur, only assuming the master, and ordering +about in a peremptory fashion which it was very hard to digest. + +After the sunset orisons had been performed, Yusuf regaled his slaves +with a donation of coffee and tobacco, but with a warning to Arthur not +to partake, and to keep to windward of them. So too did the Abyssinian, +and the cause of the warning was soon evident, as Bekir and his companion +nodded, and then sank into a slumber as sound as that of the little +Frenchman. Indeed, Arthur himself was weary enough to fall asleep soon +after sundown, in spite of his anxiety, and the stars were shining like +great lamps when Yusuf awoke him. One mule stood equipped beside him, +and held by the Abyssinian. Yusuf pointed to the child, and said, 'Lift +him upon it.' + +Arthur obeyed, finding a pannier empty on one side to receive the child, +who only muttered and writhed instead of awaking. The other side seemed +laden. Yusuf led the animal, retracing their way, while fire-flies +flitted around with their green lights, and the distant laughter of +hyenas gave Arthur a thrill of loathing horror. Huge bats fluttered +round, and once or twice grim shapes crossed their path. + +'Uncanny beasties,' quoth Yusuf; 'but they will soon be behind us.' + +He turned into a rapidly-sloping path. Arthur felt a fresh salt breeze +in his face, and his heart leapt up with hope. + +In about an hour and a half they had reached a cove, shut in by dark +rocks which in the night looked immeasurable, but on the white beach a +few little huts were dimly discernible, one with a light in it. The +sluggish dash of waves could be heard on the shore; there was a sense of +infinite space and breadth before them; and Jupiter sitting in the north- +west was like an enormous lamp, casting a pathway of light shimmering on +the waters to lead the exiles home. + +Three or four boats were drawn up on the beach; a man rose up from within +one, and words in a low voice were exchanged between him and Yusuf; while +Fareek, grinning so that his white teeth could be seen in the starlight, +unloaded the mule, placing its packs, a long Turkish blunderbuss, and two +skins of water, in the boat, and arranging a mat on which Arthur could +lay the sleeping child. + +Well might the youth's heart bound with gratitude, as, unmindful of all +the further risks and uncertainties to be encountered, he almost saw his +way back to Burnside! + + + + +CHAPTER IX--ESCAPE + + + 'Beside the helm he sat, steering expert, + Nor sleep fell ever on his eyes that watch'd + Intent the Pleiads, tardy in decline, + Bootes and the Bear, call'd else the Wain, + Which in his polar prison circling, looks + Direct towards Orion, and alone + Of these sinks never to the briny deep.' + + _Odyssey_ (COWPER). + +The boat was pushed off, the Abyssinian leapt into it; Arthur paused to +pour out his thankfulness to Yusuf, but was met with the reply, 'Hout +awa'! Time enugh for that--in wi' ye.' And fancying there was some +alarm, he sprang in, and to his amazement found Yusuf instantly at his +side, taking the rudder, and giving some order to Fareek, who had taken +possession of a pair of oars; while the waters seemed to flash and +glitter a welcome at every dip. + +'You are coming! you are coming!' exclaimed Arthur, clasping the +merchant's hand, almost beside himself with joy. + +'Sma' hope wad there be of a callant like yersel' and the wean there +winning awa' by yer lane,' growled Yusuf. + +'You have given up all for us.' + +'There wasna muckle to gie,' returned the sponge merchant. 'Sin' the +gudewife and her bit bairnies at Bona were gane, I hadna the heart to +gang thereawa', nor quit the sound o' the bonny Scots tongue. I wad as +soon gang to the bottom as to the toom house. For dinna ye trow yersells +ower sicker e'en the noo.' + +'Is there fear of pursuit?' + +'No mickle o' that. The folk here are what they ca' Cabyles, a douce +set, not forgathering with Arabs nor wi' Moors. I wad na gang among them +till the search was over to-day; but yesterday I saw yon carle, and coft +the boatie frae him for the wee blackamoor and the mule. The Moors at El +Aziz are not seafaring; and gin the morn they jalouse what we have done, +we have the start of them. Na, I'm not feared for them; but forbye that, +this is no the season for an open boatie wi' a crew of three and a wean. +Gin we met an Algerian or Tunisian cruiser, as we are maist like to do, a +bullet or drooning wad be ower gude in their e'en for us--for me, that is +to say. They wad spare the bairn, and may think you too likely a lad to +hang on the walls like a split corbie on the woodsman's lodge.' + +'Well, Yusuf, my name is Hope, you know,' said Arthur. 'God has brought +us so far, and will scarce leave us now. I feel three times the man that +I was when I lay down this evening. Do we keep to the north, where we +are sure to come to a Christian land in time?' + +'Easier said than done. Ye little ken what the currents are in this same +sea, or deed ye'll soon ken when we get into them.' + +Arthur satisfied himself that they were making for the north by looking +at the Pole Star, so much lower than he was used to see it in Scotland +that he hardly recognised his old friend; but, as he watched the studded +belt of the Hunter and the glittering Pleiades, the Horatian dread of +_Nimbosus Orion_ occurred to him as a thought to be put away. + +Meantime there was a breeze from the land, and the sail was hoisted. +Yusuf bade both Arthur and Fareek lie down to sleep, for their exertions +would be wanted by and by, since it would not be safe to use the sail by +daylight. It was very cold--wild blasts coming down from the mountains; +but Arthur crept under the woollen mantle that had been laid over Ulysse, +and was weary enough to sleep soundly. Both were awakened by the hauling +down of the mast; and the little boy, who had quite slept off the drug, +scrambling out from under the covering, was astonished beyond measure at +finding himself between the glittering, sparkling expanse of sea and the +sky, where the sun had just leapt up in a blaze of gold. + +The white summits of Atlas were tipped with rosy light, beautiful to +behold, though the voyagers had much rather have been out of sight of +them. + +'How much have we made, Yusuf?' began Arthur. + +'Tam Armstrong, so please you, sir! Yusuf's dead and buried the noo; and +if I were farther beyant the grip of them that kenned him, my thrapple +would feel all the sounder!' + +This day was, he further explained, the most perilous one, since they +were by no means beyond the track of vessels plying on the coast; and as +a very jagged and broken cluster of rocks lay near, he decided on +availing themselves of the shelter they afforded. The boat was steered +into a narrow channel between two which stood up like the fangs of a +great tooth, and afforded a pleasant shade; but there was such a +screaming and calling of gulls, terns, cormorants, and all manner of +other birds, as they entered the little strait, and such a cloud of them +hovered and whirled overhead, that Tam uttered imprecations on their +skirling, and bade his companions lie close and keep quiet till they had +settled again, lest the commotion should betray that the rocks were the +lair of fugitives. + +It was not easy to keep Ulysse quiet, for he was in raptures at the rush +of winged creatures, and no less so at the wonderful sea-anemones and +starfish in the pools, where long streamers of weed of beautiful colours +floated on the limpid water. + +Nothing reduced him to stillness but the sight of the dried goat's flesh +and dates that Tam Armstrong produced, and for which all had appetites, +which had to be checked, since no one could tell how long it would be +before any kind of haven could be reached. + +Arthur bathed himself and his charge in a pool, after Tam had ascertained +that no many-armed squid or cuttlefish lurked within it. And while +Ulysse disported himself like a little fish, Arthur did his best to +restore him to his natural complexion, and tried to cleanse the little +garments, which showed only too plainly the lack of any change, and which +were the only Frank or Christian clothes among them, since young Hope +himself had been almost stripped when he came ashore, and wore the usual +garb of Yusuf's slaves. + +Presently Fareek made an imperative sign to hush the child's merry +tongue; and peering forth in intense anxiety, the others perceived a +lateen sail passing perilously near, but happily keeping aloof from the +sharp reef of rocks around their shelter. Arthur had forgotten the +child's prayers and his own, but Ulysse connected them with dressing, and +the alarm of the passing ship had recalled them to the young man's mind, +though he felt shy as he found that Tam Armstrong was not asleep, but was +listening and watching with his keen gray eyes under their grizzled +brows. Presently, when Ulysse was dropping to sleep again, the +ex-merchant began to ask questions with the intelligence of his shrewd +Scottish brains. + +The stern Calvinism of the North was wont to consign to utter neglect the +outcast border of civilisation, where there were no decent parents to +pledge themselves; and Partan Jeannie's son had grown up well-nigh in +heathen ignorance among fisher lads and merchant sailors, till it had +been left for him to learn among the Mohammedans both temperance and +devotional habits. His whole faith and understanding would have been +satisfied for ever; but there had been strange yearnings within him ever +since he had lost his wife and children, and these had not passed away +when Arthur Hope came in his path. Like many another renegade, he could +not withstand the attraction of his native tongue; and in this case it +was doubled by the feudal attachment of the district to the family of +Burnside, and a grateful remembrance of the lady who had been one of the +very few persons who had ever done a kindly deed by the little outcast. +He had broken with all his Moslem ties for Arthur Hope's sake; and these +being left behind, he began to make some inquiries about that Christian +faith to which he must needs return--if return be the right word in the +case of one who knew it so little when he had abjured it. + +And Arthur had not been bred to the grim reading of the doctrine of +predestination which had condemned poor Tam, even before he had embraced +the faith of the Prophet. Boyish, and not over thoughtful, the youth, +when brought face to face with apostacy, had been ready to give life or +liberty rather than deny his Lord; and deepened by that great decision, +he could hold up that Lord and Redeemer in colours that made Tam see that +his clinging to his faith was not out of mere honour and constancy, but +that Mohammed had been a poor and wretched substitute for Him whom the +poor fellow had denied, not knowing what he did. + +'Weel!' he said, 'gin the Deacon and the auld aunties had tellt me as +mickle about Him, thae Moors might ha' preached their thrapples sair for +Tam. Mashallah! Maister Arthur, do ye think, noo, He can forgie a puir +carle for turning frae Him an' disowning Him?' + +'I am sure of it, Tam. He forgives all who come to Him--and you--you did +it in ignorance.' + +'And you trow na that I am a vessel of wrath, as they aye said?' + +'No, no, no, Tam. How could that be with one who has done what you have +for us? There is good in you--noble goodness, Tam; and who could have +put it there but God, the Holy Spirit? I believe myself He was leading +you all the time, though you did not know it; making you a better man +first, and now, through this brave kindness to us, bringing you back to +be a real true Christian and know Him.' + +Arthur felt as if something put the words into his mouth, but he felt +them with all his heart, and the tears were in his eyes. + +At sundown Tam grew restless. Force of habit impelled him to turn to +Mecca and make his devotions as usual, and after nearly kneeling down on +the flat stone, he turned to Arthur and said, 'I canna wed do without the +bit prayer, sir. + +'No, indeed, Tam. Only let it be in the right Name.' + +And Arthur knelt down beside him and said the Lord's Prayer--then, under +a spell of bashfulness, muttered special entreaty for protection and +safety. + +They were to embark again now that darkness would veil their movements, +but the wind blew so much from the north that they could not raise the +sail. The oars were taken by Tam and Fareek at first, but when they came +into difficult currents Arthur changed places with the former. + +And thus the hours passed. The Mediterranean may be in our eyes a +European lake, but it was quite large enough to be a desert of sea and +sky to the little crew of an open boat, even though they were favoured by +the weather. Otherwise, indeed, they must have perished in the first +storm. They durst not sail except by night, and then only with northerly +winds, nor could there be much rest, since they could not lay to, and +drift with the currents, lest they should be carried back to the African +coast. Only one of the three men could sleep at a time, and that by one +of the others taking both oars, and in time this could not but become +very exhausting. It was true that all the coasts to the north were of +Christian lands; but in their Moorish garments and in perfect ignorance +of Italian, strangers might fare no better in Sardinia or Sicily than in +Africa, and Spain might be no better; but Tam endeavoured to keep a north- +westerly course, thinking from what Arthur had said that in this +direction there was more chance of being picked up by a French vessel. +Would their strength and provisions hold out? Of this there was serious +doubt. Late in the year as it was, the heat and glare were as +distressing by day as was the cold by night, and the continued exertion +of rowing produced thirst, which made it very difficult to husband the +water in the skins. Tam and Fareek were both tough, and inured to heat +and privation; but Arthur, scarce yet come to his full height, and far +from having attained proportionate robustness and muscular strength, +could not help flagging, though, whenever steering was of minor +importance, Tam gave him the rudder, moved by his wan looks, for he never +complained, even when fragments of dry goat's flesh almost choked his +parched mouth. The boy was never allowed to want for anything save +water; but it was very hard to hear him fretting for it. Tam took the +goatskin into his own keeping, and more than once uttered a rough +reproof, and yet Arthur saw him give the child half his own precious +ration when it must have involved grievous suffering. The promise about +giving the cup of cold water to a little one could not but rise to his +lips. + +'Cauld! and I wish it were cauld!' was all the response Tam made; but his +face showed some gratification. + +This was no season for traffic, and they had barely seen a sail or two in +the distance, and these only such as the experienced eyes of the +ex-sponge merchant held to be dangerous. Deadly lassitude began to seize +the young Scot; he began scarcely to heed what was to become of them, and +had not energy to try to console Ulysse, who, having in an unwatched +moment managed to swallow some sea water, was crying and wailing under +the additional misery he had inflicted on himself. The sun beat down +with noontide force, when on that fourth day, turning from its scorching, +his languid eye espied a sail on the northern horizon. + +'See,' he cried; 'that is not the way of the Moors.' + +'Bismillah! I beg your pardon, sir,' cried Tam, but said no more, only +looked intently. + +Gradually, gradually the spectacle rose on their view fuller and fuller, +not the ruddy wings of the Algerine or Italian, but the square white +castle-like tiers of sails rising one above another, bearing along in a +south-easterly direction. + +'English or French,' said Tam, with a long breath, for her colours and +build were not yet discernible. 'Mashallah! I beg pardon. I mean, God +grant she pass us not by!' + +The mast was hastily raised, with Tam's turban unrolled, floating at the +top of it; and while he and Fareek plied their oars with might and main, +he bade Arthur fire off at intervals the blunderbuss, which had hitherto +lain idle at the bottom of the boat. + +How long the intense suspense lasted they knew not ere Arthur cried, +'They are slackening sail! Thank God. Tam, you have saved us! English!' + +'Not so fast!' Tam uttered an Arabic and then a Scottish interjection. + +Their signal had been seen by other eyes. An unmistakable Algerine, with +the crescent flag, was bearing down on them from the opposite direction. + +'Rascals. Do they not dread the British flag?' cried Arthur. 'Surely +that will protect us?' + +'They are smaller and lighter, and with their galley slaves can defy the +wind, and loup off like a flea in a blanket,' returned Tam, grimly. 'Mair +by token, they guess what we are, and will hold on to hae my life's bluid +if naething mair! Here! Gie us a soup of the water, and the last bite +of flesh. 'Twill serve us the noo, find we shall need it nae mair any +way.' + +Arthur fed him, for he durst not slacken rowing for a moment. Then +seeing Fareek, who had borne the brunt of the fatigue, looking spent, the +youth, after swallowing a few morsels and a little foul-smelling drink, +took the second oar, while double force seemed given to the long arms +lately so weary, and both pulled on in silent, grim desperation. Ulysse +had given one scream at seeing the last of the water swallowed, but he +too, understood the situation, and obeyed Arthur's brief words, 'Kneel +down and pray for us, my boy.' + +The Abyssinian was evidently doing the same, after having loaded the +blunderbuss; but it was no longer necessary to use this as a signal, +since the frigate had lowered her boat, which was rapidly coming towards +them. + +But, alas! still more swiftly, as it seemed to those terrified eyes, came +the Moorish boat--longer, narrower, more favoured by currents and winds, +flying like a falcon towards its prey. It was a fearful race. Arthur's +head began to swim, his breath to labour, his arms to move stiffly as a +thresher's flail; but, just as power was failing him, an English cheer +came over the waters, and restored strength for a few more resolute +strokes. + +Then came some puffs of smoke from the pirate's boat, a report, a jerk to +their own, a fresh dash forward, even as Fareek fired, giving a moment's +check to the enemy. There was a louder cheer, several shots from the +English boat, a cloud from the ship's side. Then Arthur was sensible of +a relaxation of effort, and that the chase was over, then that the +British boat was alongside, friendly voices ringing in his ears, 'How +now, mates? Runaways, eh? Where d'ye hail from?' + +'Scottish! British!' panted out Arthur, unable to utter more, faint, +giddy, and astounded by the cheers around him, and the hands stretched +out in welcome. He scarcely saw or understood. + +'Queer customers here! What! a child! Who are you, my little man? And +what's this? A Moor! He's hit--pretty hard too.' + +This brought back Arthur's reeling senses in one flash of horror, at the +sight of Tam, bleeding fast in the bottom of the boat. + +'O Tam! Tam! He saved me! He is Scottish too,' cried Arthur. 'Sir, is +he alive?' + +'I think so,' said the officer, who had bent over Tam. 'We'll have him +aboard in a minute, and see what the doctor can do with him. You seem to +have had a narrow escape.' + +Arthur was too busy endeavouring to staunch the blood which flowed fast +from poor Tam's side to make much reply, but Ulysse, perched on the +officer's knee, was answering for him in mixed English and French. 'Moi, +je suis le Chevalier de Bourke! My papa is ambassador to Sweden. This +gentleman is his secretary. We were shipwrecked--and M. Arture and I +swam away together. The Moors were good to us, and wanted to make us +Moors; but M. Arture said it would be wicked. And Yusuf bought him for a +slave; but that was only from _faire la comedie_. He is _bon Chretien_ +after all, and so is poor Fareek, only he is dumb. Yusuf--that is, +Tam--made me all black, and changed me for his little negro boy; and we +got into the boat, and it was very hot, and oh! I am so thirsty. And +now M. Arture will take me to Monsieur mon Pere, and get me some nice +clothes again,' concluded the young gentleman, who, in this moment of +return to civilised society, had become perfectly aware of his own rank +and importance. + +Arthur only looked up to verify the child's statements, which had much +struck the lieutenant. Their boat had by this time been towed alongside +of the frigate, and poor Tam was hoisted on board, and the surgeon was +instantly at hand; but he said at once that the poor fellow was fast +dying, and that it would be useless torture to carry him below for +examination. + +A few words passed with the captain, and then the little Chevalier was +led away to tell his own tale, which he was doing with a full sense of +his own importance; but presently the captain returned, and beckoned to +Arthur, who had been kneeling beside poor Tam, moistening his lips, and +bathing his face, as he lay gasping and apparently unconscious, except +that he had gripped hold of his broad sash or girdle when it was taken +off. + +'The child tells me he is Comte de Bourke's son,' said the captain, in a +tentative manner, as if doubtful whether he should be understood, and +certainly Arthur looked more Moorish than European. + +'Yes, sir! He was on his way with his mother to join his father when we +were taken by a Moorish corsair.' + +'But you are not French?' said the captain, recognising the tones. + +'No, sir; Scottish--Arthur Maxwell Hope. I was to have gone as the +Count's secretary.' + +'You have escaped from the Moors? I could not understand what the boy +said. Where are the lady and the rest?' + +Arthur as briefly as he could, for he was very anxious to return to poor +Tam, explained the wreck and the subsequent adventures, saying that he +feared the poor Countess was lost, but that he had seen her daughter and +some of her suite on a rock. Captain Beresford was horrified at the idea +of a Christian child among the wild Arabs. His station was Minorca, but +he had just been at the Bay of Rosas, where poor Comte de Bourke's +anxiety and distress about his wife and children were known, and he had +received a request amounting to orders to try to obtain intelligence +about them, so that he held it to be within his duty to make at once for +Djigheli Bay. + +For further conversation was cut short by sounds of articulate speech +from poor Tam. Arthur turned hastily, and the captain proceeded to give +his orders. + +'Is Maister Hope here?' + +'Here! Yes. O Tam, dear Tam, if I could do anything!' cried Arthur. + +'I canna see that well,' said Tam, with a sound of anxiety. 'Where's my +sash?' + +'This is it, in your own hand,' said Arthur, thinking he was wandering, +but the other hand sought one of the ample folds, which was sewn over, +and weighty. + +'Tak' it; tak' tent of it; ye'll need the siller. Four hunder piastres +of Tunis, not countin' zeechins, and other sma' coin.' + +'Shall I send them to any one at Eyemouth?' + +Tam almost laughed. 'Na, na; keep them and use them yersell, sir. +There's nane at hame that wad own puir Tam. The leddy, your mither, an' +you hae been mair to me than a' beside that's above ground, and what wad +ye do wi'out the siller?' + +'O Tam! I owe all and everything to you. And now--' + +Tam looked up, as Arthur's utterance was choked, and a great tear fell on +his face. 'Wha wad hae said,' murmured he, 'that a son of Burnside wad +be greetin' for Partan Jeannie's son?' + +'For my best friend. What have you not saved me from! and I can do +nothing!' + +'Nay, sir. Say but thae words again.' + +'Oh for a clergyman! Or if I had a Bible to read you the promises.' + +'You shall have one,' said the captain, who had returned to his side. The +surgeon muttered that the lad seemed as good as a parson; but Arthur +heard him not, and was saying what prayers came to his mind in this +stress, when, even as the captain returned, the last struggle came on. +Once more Tam looked up, saying, 'Ye'll be good to puir Fareek;' and with +a word more, 'Oh, Christ: will He save such as I?' all was over. + +'Come away, you can do nothing more,' said the doctor. 'You want looking +to yourself.' + +For Arthur tottered as he tried to rise, and needed the captain's kind +hand as he gained his feet. 'Sir,' he said, as the tears gushed to his +eyes, 'he _does_ deserve all honour--my only friend and deliverer.' + +'I see,' said Captain Beresford, much moved; 'whatever he has been, he +died a Christian. He shall have Christian burial. And this fellow?' +pointing to poor Fareek, whose grief was taking vent in moans and sobs. + +'Christian--Abyssinian, but dumb,' Arthur explained; and having his +promise that all respect should be paid to poor Tam's corpse, he let the +doctor lead him away, for he had now time to feel how sun-scorched and +exhausted he was, with giddy, aching head, and legs cramped and stiff, +arms strained and shoulders painful after his three days and nights of +the boat. His thirst, too, seemed unquenchable, in spite of drinks +almost unconsciously taken, and though hungry he had little will to eat. + +The surgeon made him take a warm bath, and then fed him with soup, after +which, on a promise of being called in due time, he consented to deposit +himself in a hammock, and presently fell asleep. + +When he awoke he found that clothes had been provided for him--naval +uniforms; but that could not be helped, and the comfort was great. He +was refreshed, but still very stiff. However, he dressed and was just +ready, when the surgeon came to see whether he were in condition to be +summoned, for it was near sundown, and all hands were piped up to attend +poor Tam's funeral rites. His generous and faithful deed had eclipsed +the memory that he was a renegade, and, indeed, it had been in such +ignorance that he had had little to deny. + +All the sailors stood as respectfully as if he had been one of themselves +while the captain read a portion of the Burial Office. Such honours +would never have been his in his native land, where at that time even +Episcopalians themselves could not have ventured on any out-door rites; +and Arthur was thus doubly struck and impressed, when, as the corpse, +sewn in sail-cloth and heavily weighted, was launched into the blue +waves, he heard the words committing the body to the deep, till the sea +should give up her dead. He longed to be able to translate them to poor +Fareek, who was weeping and howling so inconsolably as to attest how good +a master he had lost. + +Perhaps Tam's newly-found or recovered Christianity might have been put +to hard shocks as to the virtues he had learnt among the Moslems. At any +rate Arthur often had reason to declare in after life that the poor +renegade might have put many a better-trained Christian to shame. + + + + +CHAPTER X--ON BOARD THE 'CALYPSO' + + + 'From when this youth? + His country, name, and birth declare!' + + SCOTT. + +'You had forgotten this legacy, Mr. Hope,' said Captain Beresford, taking +Arthur into his cabin, 'and, judging by its weight, it is hardly to be +neglected. I put it into my locker for security.' + +'Thank you, sir,' said Arthur. 'The question is whether I ought to take +it. I wished for your advice.' + +'I heard what passed,' said the captain. 'I should call your right as +complete as if you had a will made by a half a dozen lawyers. When we +get into port, a few crowns to the ship's company to drink your health, +and all will be right. Will you count it?' + +The folds were undone, and little piles made of the gold, but neither the +captain nor Arthur were much the wiser. The purser might have computed +it, but Captain Beresford did not propose this, thinking perhaps that it +was safer that no report of a treasure should get abroad in the ship. + +He made a good many inquiries, which he had deferred till Arthur should +be in a fitter condition for answering, first about the capture and +wreck, and what the young man had been able to gather about the +Cabeleyzes. Then, as the replies showed that he had a gentleman before +him, Captain Beresford added that he could not help asking, '_Que diable +allait il faire dans cette galere_?' + +'Sir,' said Arthur, 'I do not know whether you will think it your duty to +make me a prisoner, but I had better tell you the whole truth.' + +'Oho!' said the captain; 'but you are too young! You could never have +been out with--with--we'll call him the Chevalier.' + +'I ran away from school,' replied Arthur, colouring. 'I was a mere boy, +and I never was attainted,' explained Arthur, blushing. 'I have been +with my Lord Nithsdale, and my mother thought I could safely come home, +and that if I came from Sweden my brother could not think I compromised +him.' + +'Your brother?' + +'Lord Burnside. He is at Court, in favour, they say, with King George. +He is my half-brother; my mother is a Maxwell.' + +'There is a Hope in garrison at Port Mahon--a captain,' said the captain. +'Perhaps he will advise you what to do if you are sick of Jacobite +intrigue and mystery, and ready to serve King George.' + +Arthur's face lighted up. 'Will it be James Hope of Ryelands, or Dickie +Hope of the Lynn, or--?' + +Captain Beresford held up his hands. + +'Time must show that, my young friend,' he said, smiling. 'And now I +think the officers expect you to join their mess in the gunroom.' + +There Arthur found the little Chevalier strutting about in an adaptation +of the smallest midshipman's uniform, and the centre of an admiring +party, who were equally diverted by his consequential airs and by his +accounts of his sports among the Moors. Happy fellow, he could adapt +himself to any society, and was ready to be the pet and plaything of the +ship's company, believing himself, when he thought of anything beyond the +present, to be full on the road to his friends again. + +Fareek was a much more difficult charge, for Arthur had hardly a word +that he could understand. He found the poor fellow coiled up in a +corner, just where he had seen his former master's remains disappear, +still moaning and weeping bitterly. As Arthur called to him he looked up +for a moment, then crawled forward, striking his forehead at intervals +against the deck. He was about to kiss the feet of his former fellow- +slave, the glittering gold, blue, and white of whose borrowed dress no +doubt impressed him. Arthur hastily started back, to the amazement of +the spectators, and called out a negative--one of the words sure to be +first learnt. He tried to take Fareek's hand and raise him from his +abject attitude; but the poor fellow continued kneeling, and not only +were no words available to tell him that he was free, but it was +extremely doubtful whether freedom was any boon to him. One thing, +however, he did evidently understand--he pointed to the St. George's +pennant with the red cross, made the sign, looked an interrogation, and +on Arthur's reply, 'Christians,' and reiteration of the word 'Salem,' +_peace_, he folded his arms and looked reassured. + +'Ay, ay, my hearty,' said the big boatswain, 'ye've got under the old +flag, and we'll soon make you see the difference. Cut out your poor +tongue, have they, the rascals, and made a dummy of you? I wish my cat +was about their ears! Come along with you, and you shall find what +British grog is made of.' + +And a remarkable friendship arose between the two, the boatswain +patronising Fareek on every occasion, and roaring at him as if he were +deaf as well as dumb, and Fareek appearing quite confident under his +protection, and establishing a system of signs, which were fortunately a +universal language. The Abyssinian evidently viewed himself as young +Hope's servant or slave, probably thinking himself part of his late +master's bequest, and there was no common language between them in which +to explain the difference or ascertain the poor fellow's wishes. He was +a slightly-made, dexterous man, probably about five and twenty years of +age, and he caught up very quickly, by imitation, the care he could take +of Arthur's clothes, and the habit of waiting on him at meals. + +Meantime the _Calypso_ held her course to the south-east, till the chart +declared the coast to be that of Djigheli Bay, and Arthur recognised the +headlands whither the unfortunate tartane had drifted to her destruction. +Anchoring outside the hay, Captain Beresford sent the first lieutenant, +Mr. Bullock, in the long-boat, with Arthur and a well-armed force, with +instructions to offer no violence, but to reconnoitre; and if they found +Mademoiselle de Bourke, or any others of the party, to do their best for +their release by promises of ransom or representations of the +consequences of detaining them. Arthur was prepared to offer his own +piastres at once in case of need of immediate payment. He was by this +time tolerably versed in the vernacular of the Mediterranean, and a +cook's boy, shipped at Gibraltar, was also supposed to be capable of +interpreting. + +The beautiful bay, almost realising the description of AEneas' landing- +place, lay before them, the still green waters within reflecting the +fantastic rocks and the wreaths of verdure which crowned them, while the +white mountain-tops rose like clouds in the far distance against the +azure sky. Arthur could only, however, think of all this fair scene as a +cruel prison, and those sharp rocks as the jaws of a trap, when he saw +the ribs of the tartane still jammed into the rock where she had struck, +and where he had saved the two children as they were washed up the +hatchway. He saw the rock where the other three had clung, and where he +had left the little girl. He remembered the crowd of howling, yelling +savages, leaping and gesticulating on the beach, and his heart trembled +as he wondered how it had ended. + +Where were the Cabeleyzes who had thus greeted them? The bay seemed +perfectly lonely. Not a sound was to be heard but the regular dip of the +oars, the cry of a startled bird, and the splash of a flock of seals, +which had been sunning themselves on the shore, and which floundered into +the sea like Proteus' flock of yore before Ulysses. Would that Proteus +himself had still been there to be captured and interrogated! For the +place was so entirely deserted that, saving for the remains of the wreck, +he must have believed himself mistaken in the locality, and the +lieutenant began to question him whether it had been daylight when he +came ashore. + +Could the natives have hidden themselves at sight of an armed vessel? Mr. +Bullock resolved on landing, very cautiously, and with a sufficient +guard. On the shore some fragments of broken boxes and packing cases +appeared; and a sailor pointed out the European lettering painted on +one--sse de B---. It plainly was part of the address to the Comtesse de +Bourke. This encouraged the party in their search. They ascended the +path which poor Hebert and Lanty Callaghan had so often painfully +climbed, and found themselves before the square of reed hovels, also +deserted, but with black marks where fires had been lighted, and with +traces of recent habitation. + +Arthur picked up a rag of the Bourke livery, and another of a brocade +which he had seen the poor Countess wearing. Was this all the relic that +he should ever be able to take to her husband? + +He peered about anxiously in hopes of discovering further tokens, and Mr. +Bullock was becoming impatient of his lingering, when suddenly his eye +was struck by a score on the bark of a chestnut tree like a cross, cut +with a feeble hand. Beneath, close to the trunk, was a stone, beyond the +corner of which appeared a bit of paper. He pounced upon it. It was the +title-page of Estelle's precious Telemaque, and on the back was written +in French, If any good Christian ever finds this, I pray him to carry it +to M. the French Consul at Algiers. We are five poor prisoners, the Abbe +de St. Eudoce, Estelle, daughter of the Comte de Bourke, and our +servants, Jacques Hebert, Laurent Callaghan, Victorine Renouf. The +Cabeleyzes are taking us away to their mountains. We are in slavery, in +hunger, filth, and deprivation of all things. We pray day and night that +the good God will send some one to rescue us, for we are in great misery, +and they persecute us to make us deny our faith. O, whoever you may be, +come and deliver us while we are yet alive.' + +Arthur was almost choked with tears as he translated this piteous letter +to the lieutenant, and recollected the engaging, enthusiastic little +maiden, as he had seen her on the Rhone, but now brought to such a state. +He implored Mr. Bullock to pursue the track up the mountain, and was +grieved at this being treated as absurdly impossible, but then +recollecting himself, 'You could not, sir, but I might follow her and +make them understand that she must be saved--' + +'And give them another captive,' said Bullock; 'I thought you had had +enough of that. You will do more good to this flame of yours--' + +'No flame, sir. She is a mere child, little older than her brother. But +she must not remain among these lawless savages.' + +'No! But we don't throw the helve after the hatchet, my lad! All you +can do is to take this epistle to the French Consul, who might find it +hard to understand without your explanations. At any rate, my orders are +to bring you safe on board again.' + +Arthur had no choice but to submit, and Captain Beresford, who had a wife +and children at home, was greatly touched by the sight of the childish +writing of the poor little motherless girl; above all when Arthur +explained that the high-sounding title of Abbe de St. Eudoce only meant +one who was more likely to be a charge than a help to her. + +France was for the nonce allied with England, and the dread of passing to +Sweden through British seas had apparently been quite futile, since, if +Captain Beresford recollected the Irish blood of the Count, it was only +as an additional cause for taking interest in him. Towards the Moorish +pirates the interest of the two nations united them. It was intolerable +to think of the condition of the captives; and the captain, anxious to +lose no time, rejoiced that his orders were such as to justify him in +sailing at once for Algiers to take effectual measures with the consul +before letting the family know the situation of the poor Demoiselle de +Bourke. + + + + +CHAPTER XI--THE PIRATE CITY + + + 'With dazed vision unawares + From the long alley's latticed shade + Emerged, I came upon the great + Pavilion of the Caliphat. + Right to the carven cedarn doors, + Flung inward over spangled floors, + Broad-based flights of marble stairs + Ran up with golden balustrade, + After the fashion of the time, + And humour of the golden prime + Of good Haroun Alraschid.' + + TENNYSON. + +Civilised and innocuous existence has no doubt been a blessing to Algiers +as well as to the entire Mediterranean, but it has not improved the +picturesqueness of its aspect any more than the wild and splendid 'tiger, +tiger burning bright,' would be more ornamental with his claws pared, the +fiery gleam of his yellow eyes quenched, and his spirit tamed, so as to +render him only an exaggerated domestic cat. The steamer, whether of +peace or war, is a melancholy substitute for the splendid though sinister +galley, with her ranks of oars and towers of canvas, or for the dainty +lateen-sailed vessels, skimming the waters like flying fish, and the +Frank garb ill replaces the graceful Arab dress. The Paris-like block of +houses ill replaces the graceful Moorish architecture, undisturbed when +the _Calypso_ sailed into the harbour, and the amphitheatre-like city +rose before her, in successive terraces of dazzling white, interspersed +with palms and other trees here and there, with mosques and minarets +rising above them, and with a crown of strong fortifications. The +harbour itself was protected by a strongly-fortified mole, and some +parley passed with the governor of the strong and grim-looking castle +adjacent--a huge round tower erected by the Spaniards, and showing three +ranks of brazen teeth in the shape of guns. + +Finally, the Algerines having been recently brought to their bearings, as +Captain Beresford said, entrance was permitted, and the _Calypso_ enjoyed +the shelter of the mole; while he, in full-dress uniform, took boat and +went ashore, and with him the two escaped prisoners. Fareek remained on +board till the English Consul could be consulted on his fate. + +England and France were on curious terms with Algiers. The French had +bombarded the city in 1686, and had obtained a treaty by which a consul +constantly resided in the city, and the persons and property of French +subjects were secured from piracy, or if captured were always released. +The English had made use of the possession of Gibraltar and Minorca to +enforce a like treaty. There was a little colony of European +merchants--English, French, and Dutch--in the lower town, near the +harbour, above which the Arab town rose, as it still rises, in a steep +stair. Ships of all these nations traded at the port, and quite recently +the English Consul, Thomas Thompson by name, had vindicated the honour of +his flag by citing before the Dey a man who had insulted him on the +narrow causeway of the mole. The Moor was sentenced to receive 2200 +strokes of bastinado on the feet, 1000 the first day, 1200 on the second, +and he died in consequence, so that Englishmen safely walked the narrow +streets. The Dey who had inflicted this punishment was, however, lately +dead. Mehemed had been elected and installed by the chief Janissaries, +and it remained to be proved whether he would show himself equally +anxious to be on good terms with the Christian Powers. + +Arthur's heart had learnt to beat at sight of the British ensign with +emotions very unlike those with which he had seen it wave at Sheriffmuir; +but it looked strange above the low walls of a Moorish house, plain +outside, but with a richly cusped and painted horse-shoe arch at the +entrance to a lovely cloistered court, with a sparkling fountain +surrounded by orange trees with fruit of all shades from green to gold. +Servants in white garments and scarlet fezzes, black, brown, or white (by +courtesy), seemed to swarm in all directions; and one of them called a +youth in European garb, but equally dark-faced with the rest, and not too +good an English scholar. However, he conducted them through a still more +beautiful court, lined with brilliant mosaics in the spandrels of the +exquisite arches supported on slender shining marble columns. + +Mr. Thompson's English coat and hearty English face looked incongruous, +as at sight of the blue and white uniform he came forward with all the +hospitable courtesy due to a post-captain. There was shaking of hands, +and doffing of cocked hats, and calling for wine, and pipes, and coffee, +in the Alhambra-like hall, where a table covered with papers tied with +red tape, in front of a homely leathern chair, looked more homelike than +suitable. Other chairs there were for Frank guests, who preferred them +to the divan and piles of cushions on which the Moors transacted +business. + +'What can I do for you, sir?' he asked of the captain, 'or for this +little master,' he added, looking at Ulysse, who was standing by Arthur. +'He is serving the King early.' + +'I don't belong to your King George,' broke out the young gentleman. 'He +is an _usurpateur_. I have only this uniform on till I can get my proper +clothes. I am the son of the Comte de Bourke, Ambassador to Spain and +Sweden. I serve no one but King Louis!' + +'That is plain to be seen!' said Mr. Thompson. 'The Gallic cock crows +early. But is he indeed the son of Count Bourke, about whom the French +Consul has been in such trouble?' + +'Even so, sir,' replied the captain. 'I am come to ask you to present +him, with this gentleman, Mr. Hope, to your French colleague. Mr. Hope, +to whom the child's life and liberty are alike owing, has information to +give which may lead to the rescue of the boy's sister and uncle with +their servants.' + +Mr. Thompson had heard of a Moorish galley coming in with an account of +having lost a Genoese prize, with ladies on board, in the late storm. He +was sure that the tidings Mr. Hope brought would be most welcome, but he +knew that the French Consul was gone up with a distinguished visitor, M. +Dessault, for an audience of the Dey; and, in the meantime, his guests +must dine with him. And Arthur narrated his adventures. + +The Consul shook his head when he heard of Djigheli Bay. + +'Those fellows, the Cabeleyzes, hate the French, and make little enough +of the Dey, though they do send home Moors who fall into their hands. Did +you see a ruined fort on a promontory? That was the Bastion de France. +The old King Louis put it up and garrisoned it, but these rogues +contrived a surprise, and made four hundred prisoners, and ever since +they have been neither to have nor to hold. Well for you, young +gentleman, that you did not fall into their hands, but those of the +country Moors--very decent folk--descended, they say, from the Spanish +Moors. A renegade got you off, did he? Yes, they will sometimes do +that, though at an awful risk. If they are caught, they are hung up +alive on hooks to the walls. You had an escape, I can tell you, and so +had he, poor fellow, of being taken alive.' + +'He knew the risk!' said Arthur, in a low voice; 'but my mother had once +been good to him, and he dared everything for me.' + +The Consul readily estimated Arthur's legacy as amounting to little less +than 200 pounds, and was also ready to give him bills of exchange for it. +The next question was as to Fareek. To return him to his own country was +impossible; and though the Consul offered to buy him of Arthur, not only +did the young Scot revolt at the idea of making traffic of the faithful +fellow, but Mr. Thompson owned that there might be some risk in Algiers +of his being recognised as a runaway; and though this was very slight, it +was better not to give any cause of offence. Captain Beresford thought +the poor man might be disposed of at Port Mahon, and Arthur kept to +himself that Tam's bequest was sacred to him. His next wish was for +clothes to which he might have a better right than to the uniform of the +senior midshipman of H.M.S. _Calypso_--a garb in which he did not like to +appear before the French Consul. Mr. Thompson consulted his Greek clerk, +and a chest belonging to a captured merchantman, which had been claimed +as British property, but had not found an owner, was opened, and proved +to contain a wardrobe sufficient to equip Arthur like other gentlemen of +the day, in a dark crimson coat, with a little gold lace about it, and +the rest of the dress white, a wide beaver hat, looped up with a rosette, +and everything, indeed, except shoes, and he was obliged to retain those +of the senior midshipman. With his dark hair tied back, and a suspicion +of powder, he found himself more like the youth whom Lady Nithsdale had +introduced in Madame de Varennes' _salon_ than he had felt for the last +month; and, moreover, his shyness and awkwardness had in great measure +disappeared during his vicissitudes, and he had made many steps towards +manhood. + +Ulysse had in the meantime been consigned to a kind, motherly, portly +Mrs. Thompson, who, accustomed as she was to hearing of strange +adventures, was aghast at what the child had undergone, and was enchanted +with the little French gentleman who spoke English so well, and to whom +his Grand Seigneur airs returned by instinct in contact with a European +lady; but his eye instantly sought Arthur, nor would he be content +without a seat next to his protector at the dinner, early as were all +dinners then, and a compound of Eastern and Western dishes, the latter +very welcome to the travellers, and affording the Consul's wife themes of +discourse on her difficulties in compounding them. + +Pipes, siesta, and coffee followed, Mr. Thompson assuring them that his +French colleague would not be ready to receive them till after the like +repose had been undergone, and that he had already sent a billet to +announce their coming. + +The French Consulate was not distant. The _fleur-de-lis_ waved over a +house similar to Mr. Thompson's, but they were admitted with greater +ceremony, when Mr. Thompson at length conducted them. Servants and +slaves, brown and black, clad in white with blue sashes, and white +officials in blue liveries, were drawn up in the first court in two lines +to receive them; and the Chevalier, taking it all to himself, paraded in +front with the utmost grandeur, until, at the next archway, two +gentlemen, resplendent in gold lace, came forward with low bows. At +sight of the little fellow there were cries of joy. M. Dessault spread +out his arms, clasped the child to his breast, and shed tears over him, +so that the less emotional Englishmen thought at first that they must be +kinsmen. However, Arthur came in for a like embrace as the boy's +preserver; and if Captain Beresford had not stepped back and looked +uncomprehending and rigid he might have come in for the same. + +Seated in the verandah, Arthur told his tale and presented the letter, +over which there were more tears, as, indeed, well there might be over +the condition of the little girl and her simple mode of describing it. It +was nearly a month since the corsair had arrived, and the story of the +Genoese tartane being captured and lost with French ladies on board had +leaked out. The French Consul had himself seen and interrogated the +Dutch renegade captain, had become convinced of the identity of the +unfortunate passengers, and had given up all hopes of them, so that he +greeted the boy as one risen from the dead. + +To know that the boy's sister and uncle were still in the hands of the +Cabeleyzes was almost worse news than the death of his mother, for this +wild Arab tribe had a terrible reputation even among the Moors and Turks. + +The only thing that could be devised after consultation between the two +consuls, the French envoy, and the English captain, was that an audience +should be demanded of the Dey, and Estelle's letter presented the next +morning. Meanwhile Arthur and Ulysse were to remain as guests at the +English Consulate. The French one would have made them welcome, but +there was no lady in his house; and Mrs. Thompson had given Arthur a hint +that his little charge would be the better for womanly care. + +There was further consultation whether young Hope, as a runaway slave--who +had, however, carried off a relapsed renegade with him--would be safe on +shore beyond the precincts of the Consulate; but as no one had any claim +on him, and it might be desirable to have his evidence at hand, it was +thought safe that he should remain, and Captain Beresford promised to +come ashore in the morning to join the petitioners to the Dey. + +Perhaps he was not sorry, any more than was Arthur, for the opportunity +of beholding the wonderful city and palace, which were like a dream of +beauty. He came ashore early, with two or three officers, all in full +uniform; and the audience having been granted, the whole party--consuls, +M. Dessault, and their attendants--mounted the steep, narrow stone steps +leading up the hill between the walls of houses with fantastically carved +doorways or lattices; while bare-legged Arabs niched themselves into +every coigne of vantage with baskets of fruit or eggs, or else +embroidering pillows and slippers with exquisite taste. + +The beauty of the buildings was unspeakable, and they projected enough to +make a cool shade--only a narrow fragment of deep blue sky being visible +above them. The party did not, however, ascend the whole 497 steps, as +the abode of the Dey was then not the citadel, but the palace of Djenina +in the heart of the city. Turning aside, they made their way thither +over terraces partly in the rock, partly on the roofs of houses. + +Fierce-looking Janissaries, splendidly equipped, guarded the entrance, +with an air so proud and consequential as to remind Arthur of poor +Yusuf's assurances of the magnificence that might await little Ulysse as +an Aga of that corps. Even as they admitted the infidels they looked +defiance at them from under the manifold snowy folds of their mighty +turbans. + +{The pirate city: p0.jpg} + +If the beauty of the consuls' houses had struck and startled Arthur, far +more did the region into which he was now admitted seem like a dream of +fairyland as he passed through ranks of orange trees round sparkling +fountains--worthy of Versailles itself--courts surrounded with cloisters, +sparkling with priceless mosaics, in those brilliant colours which +Eastern taste alone can combine so as to avoid gaudiness, arches and +columns of ineffable grace and richness, halls with domes emulating the +sky, or else ceiled with white marble lacework, whose tracery seemed +delicate and varied as the richest Venice point! But the wonderful +beauty seemed to him to have in it something terrible and weird, like +that fairyland of his native country, whose glory and charm is +overshadowed by the knowledge of the teinds to be paid to hell. It was +an unnatural, incomprehensible world; and from longing to admire and +examine, he only wished to be out of it, felt it a relief to fix his eyes +upon the uniforms of the captain and the consuls, and did not wonder that +Ulysse, instead of proudly heading the procession, shrank up to him and +clasped his hand as his protector. + +The human figures were as strange as the architecture; the glittering of +Janissaries in the outer court, which seemed a sort of guardroom, the +lines of those on duty in the next, and in the third court the black +slaves in white garments, enhancing the blackness of their limbs, each +with a formidable curved scimitar. At the golden cusped archway beyond, +all had to remove their shoes as though entering a mosque. The Consuls +bade the new-comers submit to this, adding that it was only since the +recent victory that it had not been needful to lay aside the sword on +entering the Dey's august presence. The chamber seemed to the eyes of +the strangers one web of magic splendour--gold-crusted lacework above, +arches on one side open to a beauteous garden, and opposite semicircles +of richly-robed Janissary officers, all culminating in a dazzling throne, +where sat a white-turbaned figure, before whom the visitors all had to +bow lower than European independence could well brook. + +The Dey's features were not very distinctly seen at the distance where +etiquette required them to stand; but Arthur thought him hardly worthy to +be master of such fine-looking beings as Abou Ben Zegri and many others +of the Moors, being in fact a little sturdy Turk, with Tartar features, +not nearly so graceful as the Moors and Arabs, nor so handsome and +imposing as the Janissaries of Circassian blood. Turkish was the court +language; and even if he understood any other, an interpreter was a +necessary part of the etiquette. M. Dessault instructed the interpreter, +who understood with a readiness which betrayed that he was one of the +many renegades in the Algerine service. + +The Dey was too dignified to betray much emotion; but he spoke a few +words, and these were understood to profess his willingness to assist in +the matter. A richly-clad official, who was, Mr. Thompson whispered, a +Secretary of State, came to attend the party in a smaller but equally +beautiful room, where pipes and coffee were served, and a consultation +took place with the two Consuls, which was, of course, incomprehensible +to the anxious listeners. M. Dessault's interest was deeply concerned in +the matter, since he was a connection of the Varennes family, to which +poor Madame de Bourke belonged. + +Commands from the Dey, it was presently explained, would be utterly +disregarded by these wild mountaineers--nay, would probably lead to the +murder of the captives in defiance. But it was known that if these wild +beings paid deference to any one, it was to the Grand Marabout at Bugia; +and the Secretary promised to send a letter in the Dey's name, which, +with a considerable present, might induce him to undertake the +negotiation. Therewith the audience terminated, after M. Dessault had +laid a splendid diamond snuff-box at the feet of the Secretary. + +The Consuls were somewhat disgusted at the notion of having recourse to +the Marabouts, whom the French Consul called _vilains charlatan_, and the +English one filthy scoundrels and impostors. Like the Indian Fakirs, +opined Captain Beresford; like the begging friars, said M. Dessault, and +to this the Consuls assented. Just, however, as the Dominicans, besides +the low class of barefooted friars, had a learned and cultivated set of +brethren in high repute at the Universities, and a general at Rome, so it +appeared that the Marabouts, besides their wild crew of masterful +beggars, living at free quarters, partly through pretended sanctity, +partly through the awe inspired by cabalistic arts, had a higher class +who dwelt in cities, and were highly esteemed, for the sake of either ten +years' abstinence from food or the attainment of fifty sciences, by one +or other of which means an angelic nature was held to be attained. + +Fifty sciences! This greatly astonished the strangers, but they were +told by the residents that all the knowledge of the highly cultivated +Arabs of Bagdad and the Moors of Spain had been handed on to the select +few of their African descendants, and that really beautiful poetry was +still produced by the Marabouts. Certainly no one present could doubt of +the architectural skill and taste of the Algerines, and Mr. Thompson +declared that not a tithe of the wonders of their mechanical art had been +seen, describing the wonderful silver tree of Tlemcen, covered with +birds, who, by the action of wind, were made to produce the songs of each +different species which they represented, till a falcon on the topmost +branch uttered a harsh cry, and all became silent. General education +had, however, fallen to a low ebb among the population, and the wisdom of +the ancients was chiefly concentrated among the higher class of +Marabouts, whose headquarters were at Bugia, and their present chief, +Hadji Eseb Ben Hassan, had the reputation of a saint, which the Consuls +believed to be well founded. + +The Cabeleyzes, though most irregular Moslems, were extremely +superstitious as regarded the supernatural arts supposed to be possessed +by the Marabouts, and if these could be induced to take up the cause of +the prisoners, there would be at least some chance of their success. + +And not long after the party had arrived at the French Consulate, where +they were to dine, a messenger arrived with a parcel rolled up in silk, +embroidered with gold, and containing a strip of paper beautifully +emblazoned, and in Turkish characters. The Consul read it, and found it +to be a really strong recommendation to the Marabout to do his utmost for +the servants of the Dey's brother, the King of France, now in the hands +of the children of Shaitan. + +'Well purchased,' said M. Dessault; 'though that snuff-box came from the +hands of the Elector of Bavaria!' + +As soon as the meal was over, the French Consul, instead of taking his +siesta as usual, began to take measures for chartering a French tartane +to go to Bugia immediately. He found there was great interest excited, +not only among the Christian merchants, but among Turks, Moors, and Jews, +so horrible was the idea of captivity among the Cabeleyzes. The Dey set +the example of sending down five purses of sequins towards the young +lady's ransom, and many more contributions came in unasked. It was true +that the bearers expected no small consideration in return, but this was +willingly given, and the feeling manifested was a perfect astonishment to +all the friends at the Consulate. + +The French national interpreter, Ibrahim Aga, was charged with the +negotiations with the Marabout. Arthur entreated to go with him, and +with some hesitation this was agreed to, since the sight of an old friend +might be needed to reassure any survivors of the poor captives--for it +was hardly thought possible that all could still survive the hardships of +the mountains in the depth of winter, even if they were spared by the +ferocity of their captors. + +Ulysse, the little son and heir, was not to be exposed to the perils of +the seas till his sister's fate was decided, and accordingly he was to +remain under the care of Mrs. Thompson; while Captain Beresford meant to +cruise about in the neighbourhood, having a great desire to know the +result of the enterprise, and hoping also that if Mademoiselle de Bourke +still lived he might be permitted to restore her to her relations. +Letters, clothes, and comforts were provided, and placed under the charge +of the interpreter and of Arthur, together with a considerable gratuity +for the Marabout, and authority for any ransom that Cabeleyze rapacity +might require,--still, however, with great doubt whether all might not be +too late. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--ON THE MOUNTAINS + + + 'We cannot miss him. He doth make our fire, + Fetch in our wood, and serve in offices + That profit us.' + + _Tempest_. + +Bugia, though midway on the 'European lake,' is almost unknown to modern +travellers, though it has become a French possession. + +It looked extremely beautiful when the French tartane entered it, rising +from the sea like a magnificent amphitheatre, at the foot of the +mountains that circled round it, and guarded by stern battlemented +castles, while the arches of one of the great old Roman aqueducts made a +noble cord to the arc described by the lower part of the town. + +The harbour, a finer one naturally than that of Algiers, contained +numerous tartanes and other vessels, for, as Ibrahim Aga, who could talk +French very well, informed Arthur, the inhabitants were good workers in +iron, and drove a trade in plough-shares and other implements, besides +wax and oil. But it was no resort of Franks, and he insisted that Arthur +should only come on shore in a Moorish dress, which had been provided at +Algiers. Thanks to young Hope's naturally dark complexion, and the +exposure of the last month, he might very well pass for a Moor: and he +had learnt to wear the white caftan, wide trousers, broad sash, and +scarlet fez, circled with muslin, so naturally that he was not likely to +be noticed as a European. + +The city, in spite of its external beauty, proved to be ruinous within, +and in the midst of the Moorish houses and courts still were visible +remnants of the old Roman town that had in past ages flourished there. +Like Algiers, it had narrow climbing streets, excluding sunshine, and +through these the guide Ibrahim had secured led the way; while in single +file came the interpreter, Arthur, two black slaves bearing presents for +the Marabout, and four men besides as escort. Once or twice there was a +vista down a broader space, with an awning over it, where selling and +buying were going on, always of some single species of merchandise. + +Thus they arrived at one of those Moorish houses, to whose beauty Arthur +was becoming accustomed. It had, however, a less luxurious and grave +aspect than the palaces of Algiers, and the green colour sacred to the +Prophet prevailed in the inlaid work, which Ibrahim Aga told him +consisted chiefly of maxims from the Koran. + +No soldiers were on guard, but there were a good many young men wholly +clad in white--neophytes endeavouring to study the fifty sciences, mostly +sitting on the ground, writing copies, either of the sacred books, or of +the treatises on science and medicine which had descended from time +almost immemorial; all rehearsed aloud what they learnt or wrote, so as +to produce a strange hum. A grave official, similarly clad, but with a +green sash, came to meet them, and told them that the chief Marabout was +sick; but on hearing from the interpreter that they were bearers of a +letter from the Dey, he went back with the intelligence, and presently +returned salaaming very low, to introduce them to another of the large +halls with lacework ceilings, where it was explained that the Grand +Marabout was, who was suffering from ague. The fit was passing off, and +he would be able to attend of the coffee and the pipes which were +presented to his honoured guests so soon as they had partaken them. + +After a delay, very trying to Arthur's anxiety, though beguiled by such +coffee and tobacco as he was never likely to encounter again, Hadji Eseb +Ben Hassan, a venerable-looking man, appeared, with a fine white beard +and keen eyes, slenderly formed, and with an air of very considerable +ability--much more so than the Dey, in all his glittering splendour of +gold, jewels, and embroidery, whereas this old man wore the pure white +woollen garments of the Moor, with the green sash, and an emerald to +fasten the folds of his white turban. + +Ibrahim Aga prostrated himself as if before the Dey, and laid before the +Marabout, as a first gift, a gold watch; then, after a blessing had been +given in return, he produced with great ceremony the Dey's letter, to +which every one in the apartment did obeisance by touching the floor with +their foreheads, and the Grand Marabout further rubbed it on his brow +before proceeding to read it, which he chose to do for himself, chanting +it out in a low, humming voice. It was only a recommendation, and the +other letter was from the French Consul containing all particulars. The +Marabout seemed much startled, and interrogated the interpreter. Arthur +could follow them in some degree, and presently the keen eye of the old +man seemed to detect his interest, for there was a pointing to him, an +explanation that he had been there, and presently Hadji Eseb addressed a +question to him in the vernacular Arabic. He understood and answered, +but the imperfect language or his looks betrayed him, for Hadji Eseb +demanded, 'Thou art Frank, my son?' + +Ibrahim Aga, mortally afraid of the consequences of having brought a +disguised Giaour into these sacred precincts, began what Arthur perceived +to be a lying assurance of his having embraced Islam; and he was on the +point of breaking in upon the speech, when the Marabout observed his +gesture, and said gravely, 'My son, falsehood is not needed to shield a +brave Christian; a faithful worshipper of Issa Ben Mariam receives honour +if he does justice and works righteousness according to his own creed, +even though he be blind to the true faith. Is it true, good youth, that +thou art--not as this man would have me believe--one of the crew from +Algiers, but art come to strive for the release of thy sister?' + +Arthur gave the history as best he could, for his month's practice had +made him able to speak the vernacular so as to be fairly comprehensible, +and the Marabout, who was evidently a man of very high abilities, often +met him half way, and suggested the word at which he stumbled. He was +greatly touched by the account, even in the imperfect manner in which the +youth could give it; and there was no doubt that he was a man of enlarged +mind and beneficence, who had not only mastered the fifty sciences, but +had seen something of the world. + +He had not only made his pilgrimage to Mecca more than once, but had been +at Constantinople, and likewise at Tunis and Tripoli; thus, with powers +both acute and awake, he understood more than his countrymen of European +Powers and their relation to one another. As a civilised and cultivated +man, he was horrified at the notion of the tenderly-nurtured child being +in the clutches of savages like the Cabeleyzes; but the first difficulty +was to find out where she was; for, as he said, pointing towards the +mountains, they were a wide space, and it would be hunting a partridge on +the hills. + +Looking at his chief councillor, Azim Reverdi, he demanded whether some +of the wanderers of their order, whom he named, could not be sent through +the mountains to discover where any such prisoners might be; but after +going into the court in quest of these persons, Azim returned with +tidings that a Turkish soldier had returned on the previous day to the +town, and had mentioned that on Mount Couco, Sheyk Abderrahman was almost +at war with his subordinates, Eyoub and Ben Yakoub, about some +shipwrecked Frank captives, if they had not already settled the matter by +murdering them all, and, as was well known, nothing would persuade this +ignorant, lawless tribe that nothing was more abhorrent to the Prophet +than human sacrifices. + +Azim had already sent two disciples to summon the Turk to the presence of +the Grand Marabout, and in due time he appeared--a rough, heavy, +truculent fellow enough, but making awkward salaams as one in great awe +of the presence in which he stood--unwilling awe perhaps--full of +superstitious fear tempered by pride--for the haughty Turks revolted +against homage to one of the subject race of Moors. + +His language was only now and then comprehensible to Arthur, but Ibrahim +kept up a running translation into French for his benefit. + +There were captives--infidels--saved from the wreck, he knew not how +many, but he was sure of one--a little maid with hair like the unwound +cocoon, so that they called her the Daughter of the Silkworm. It was +about her that the chief struggle was. She had fallen to the lot of Ben +Yakoub, who had been chestnut-gathering by the sea at the time of the +wreck; but when he arrived on Mount Couco the Sheyk Abderrahman had +claimed her and hers as the head of the tribe, and had carried her off to +his own adowara in the valley of Ein Gebel. + +The Turk, Murad, had been induced by Yakoub to join him and sixteen more +armed men whom he had got together to demand her. For it was he who had +rescued her from the waves, carried her up the mountains, fed her all +this time, and he would not have her snatched away from him, though for +his part Murad thought it would have been well to be quit of them, for +not only were they Giaours, but he verily believed them to be of the race +of Jinns. The little fair-haired maid had papers with strange signs on +them. She wrote--actually wrote--a thing that he believed no Sultana +Velide even had ever been known to do at Stamboul. Moreover, she twisted +strings about on her hands in a manner that was fearful to look at. It +was said to be only to amuse the children, but for his part he believed +it was for some evil spell. What was certain was that the other, a woman +full grown, could, whenever any one offended her, raise a Jinn in a cloud +of smoke, which caused such sneezing that she was lost sight of. And yet +these creatures had so bewitched their captors that there were like to be +hard blows before they were disposed of, unless his advice were taken to +make an end of them altogether. Indeed, two of the men, the mad Santon +and the chief slave, had been taken behind a bush to be sacrificed, when +the Daughter of the Silkworm came between with her incantations, and fear +came upon Sheyk Yakoub. Murad evidently thought it highly advisable that +the chief Marabout should intervene to put a stop to these doings, and +counteract the mysterious influence exercised by these strange beings. + +High time, truly, Arthur and Ibrahim Aga likewise felt it, to go to the +rescue, since terror and jealousy might, it appeared, at any time impel +_ces barbares feroces_, as Ibrahim called them, to slaughter their +prisoners. To their great joy, the Marabout proved to be of the same +opinion, in spite of his sickness, which, being an intermitting ague, +would leave him free for a couple of days, and might be driven off by the +mountain air. He promised to set forth early the next day, and kept the +young man and the interpreter as his guests for the night, Ibrahim going +first on board to fetch the parcel of clothes and provisions which M. +Dessault had sent for the Abbe and Mademoiselle de Bourke, and for an +instalment of the ransom, which the Hadji Eseb assured him might safely +be carried under his own sacred protection. + +Arthur did not see much of his host, who seemed to be very busy +consulting with his second in command on the preparations, for probably +the expedition was a delicate undertaking, even for him, and his +companions had to be carefully chosen. + +Ibrahim had advised Arthur to stay quietly where he was, and not venture +into the city, and he spent his time as he best might by the help of a +_narghile_, which was hospitably presented to him, though the strictness +of Marabout life forbade the use alike of tobacco and coffee. + +Before dawn the courts of the house were astir. Mules, handsomely +trapped, were provided to carry the principal persons of the party +wherever it might be possible, and there were some spare ones, ridden at +first by inferiors, but intended for the captives, should they be +recovered. + +It was very cold, being the last week in November, and all were wrapped +in heavy woollen haiks over their white garments, except one wild-looking +fellow, whose legs and arms were bare, and who only seemed to possess one +garment of coarse dark sackcloth. He skipped and ran by the side of the +mules, chanting and muttering, and Ibrahim observed in French that he was +one of the Sunakites, or fanatic Marabouts, and advised Arthur to beware +of him; but, though dangerous in himself, his presence would be a +sufficient protection from all other thieves or vagabonds. Indeed, +Arthur saw the fellow glaring unpleasantly at him, when the sun summoned +all the rest to their morning devotions. He was glad that he had made +the fact of his Christianity known, for he could no more act Moslem than +_be_ one, and Hadji Eseb kept the Sunakite in check by a stern glance, so +that no harm ensued. + +Afterwards Arthur was bidden to ride near the chief, who talked a good +deal, asking intelligent questions. Gibraltar had impressed him greatly, +and it also appeared that in one of his pilgrimages the merchant vessel +he was in had been rescued from some Albanian pirates by an English ship, +which held the Turks as allies, and thus saved them from undergoing +vengeance for the sufferings of the Greeks. Thus the good old man felt +that he owed a debt of gratitude which Allah required him to pay, even to +the infidel. + +Up steep roads the mules climbed. The first night the halt was at a +Cabyle village, where hospitality was eagerly offered to persons of such +high reputation for sanctity as the Marabouts; but afterwards habitations +grew more scanty as the ground rose higher, and there was no choice but +to encamp in the tents brought by the attendants, and which seemed to +Arthur a good exchange for the dirty Cabyle huts. + +Altogether the journey took six days. The mules climbed along wild paths +on the verge of giddy precipices, where even on foot Arthur would have +hesitated to venture. The scenery would now be thought magnificent, but +it was simply frightful to the mind of the early eighteenth century, +especially when a constant watch had to be kept to avoid the rush of +stones, or avalanches, on an almost imperceptible, nearly perpendicular +path, where it was needful to trust to the guidance of the Sunakite, the +only one of the cavalcade who had been there before. + +On the last day they found themselves on the borders of a slope of pines +and other mountain-growing trees, bordering a wide valley or ravine where +the Sunakite hinted that Abderrahman might be found. + +The cavalcade pursued a path slightly indicated by the treading of feet +and hoofs, and presently there emerged on them from a slighter side track +between the red stems of the great pines a figure nearly bent double +under the weight of two huge faggots, with a basket of great solid fir- +cones on the top of them. Very scanty garments seemed to be vouchsafed +to him, and the bare arms and legs were so white, as well as of a length +so unusual among Arabs or Moors, that simultaneously the Marabout +exclaimed, 'One of the Giaour captives,' and Arthur cried out, 'La +Jeunesse! Laurence!' + +There was only just time for a start and a response, 'M. Arture! And is +it yourself?' before a howl of vituperation was heard--of abuse of all +the ancestry of the cur of an infidel slave, the father of tardiness--and +a savage-looking man appeared, brandishing a cudgel, with which he was +about to belabour his unfortunate slave, when he was arrested by +astonishment, and perhaps terror, at the goodly company of Marabouts. +Hadji Eseb entered into conversation with him, and meanwhile Lanty broke +forth, 'O wirrah, wirrah, Master Arthur! an' have they made a haythen +Moor of ye? By the powers, but this is worse than all. What will +Mademoiselle say?--she that has held up the faith of every one of us, +like a little saint and martyr as she is! Though, to be sure, ye are but +a Protestant; only these folks don't know the differ.' + +'If you would let me speak, Laurence,' said Arthur, 'you would hear that +I am no more a Moslem than yourself, only my Frank dress might lead to +trouble. We are come to deliver you all, with a ransom from the French +Consul. Are you all safe--Mademoiselle and all? and how many of you?' + +'Mademoiselle and M. l'Abbe were safe and well three days since,' said +Lanty; 'but that spalpeen there is my master and poor Victorine's, and +will not let us put a foot near them.' + +'Where are they? How many?' anxiously asked Arthur. + +'There are five of us altogether,' said Lanty; 'praise be to Him who has +saved us thus far. We know the touch of cold steel at our throats, as +well as ever I knew the poor misthress' handbell; and unless our Lady, +and St. Lawrence, and the rest of them, keep the better watch on us, the +rascals will only ransom us without our heads, so jealous and +bloodthirsty they are. The Bey of Constantina sent for us once, but all +we got by that was worse usage than the very dogs in Paris, and being +dragged up these weary hills, where Maitre Hubert and I carried +Mademoiselle every foot of the way on our backs, and she begging our +pardon so prettily--only she could not walk, the rocks had so bruised her +darlin' little feet.' + +'This is their chief holy man, Lanty. If any one can prevail on these +savages to release you it is he.' + +'And how come you to be hand and glove with them, Masther Arthur--you +that I thought drownded with poor Madame and the little Chevalier and the +rest?' + +'The Chevalier is not drowned, Laurent. He is safe in the Consul's house +at Algiers.' + +'Now heaven and all the saints be praised! The Chevalier safe and well! +'Tis a very miracle!' cried Lanty, letting fall his burthen, as he +clasped his hands in ecstasy and performed a caper which, in spite of all +his master Eyoub's respect for the Marabouts, brought a furious yell of +rage, and a tremendous blow with the cudgel, which Lanty, in his joy, +seemed to receive as if it had been a feather. + +Hadji Eseb averted a further blow; and understanding from Arthur that the +poor fellow's transport was caused by the tidings of the safety of his +master's son, he seemed touched, and bade that he and Eyoub should lead +the way to the place of durance of the chief prisoners. On the way +Ibrahim Aga interrogated both Eyoub in vernacular Arabic and Lanty in +French. The former was sullen, only speaking from his evident awe of the +Marabouts, the latter voluble with joy and hope. + +Arthur learnt that the letter he had found under the stone was the fourth +that Estelle and Hebert had written. There had been a terrible journey +up the mountains, when Lanty had fully thought Victorine must close her +sufferings in some frightful ravine; but, nevertheless, she had recovered +health and strength with every day's ascent above the close, narrow +valley. They were guarded all the way by Arabs armed to the teeth to +prevent a rescue by the Bey of Constantina. + +On their arrival at the valley, which was the headquarters of the tribe, +the sheyk of the entire clan had laid claim to the principal captives, +and had carried off the young lady and her uncle; and in his dwelling she +had a boarded floor to sleep on, and had been made much more comfortable +than in the squalid huts below. Her original master, Yakoub, had, +however, come to seize her, with the force described by Murad. Then it +was that again there was a threat to kill rather than resign them; but on +this occasion it was averted by Sheyk Abderrahman's son, a boy of about +fourteen, who threw himself on his knees before Mademoiselle, and prayed +his father earnestly for her life. + +'They spared her then,' said Lanty, 'and, mayhap, worse still may come of +that. Yakoub, the villain, ended by getting her back till they can have +a council of their tribe, and there she is in his filthy hut; but the +gossoon, Selim, as they call him, prowls about the place as if he were +bewitched. All the children are, for that matter, wherever she goes. She +makes cats' cradles for them, and sings to them, and tells them stories +in her own sweet way out of the sacred history--such as may bring her +into trouble one of these days. Maitre Hebert heard her one day telling +them the story of Moses, and he warned her that if she went on in that +fashion it might be the death of us all. "But," says she, "suppose we +made Selim, and little Zuleika, and all the rest of them, Christians? +Suppose we brought all the tribe to come down and ask baptism, like as +St. Nona did in the _Lives of the Saints_?" He told her it was more like +that they would only get her darling little head cut off, if no worse, +but he could not get her to think that mattered at all at all. She would +have a crown and a palm up in heaven, and after her name in the Calendar +on earth, bless her.' + +Then he went on to tell that Yakoub was furious at the notion of +resigning his prize, and (Agamemnon-like) declared that if she were taken +from him he should demand Victorine from Eyoub. Unfortunately she was +recovering her good looks in the mountain air; and, worse still, the +spring of her 'blessed little Polichinelle' was broken, though happily no +one guessed it, and hitherto it had been enough to show them the box. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--CHRYSEIS AND BRISEIS + + + 'The child + Restore, I pray, her proffered ransom take, + And in His priest, the Lord of Light revere. + Then through the ranks assenting murmurs rang, + The priest to reverence, and the ransom take.' + + HOMER (DERBY). + +For one moment, before emerging from the forest, looking through an +opening in the trees, down a steep slope, a group of children could be +seen on the grass in front of the huts composing the adowara, little +brown figures in scanty garments, lying about evidently listening +intently to the figure, the gleam of whose blonde hair showed her +instantly to be Estelle de Bourke. + +However, either the deputation had been descried, or Eyoub may have made +some signal, for when the calvalcade had wound about through the +remaining trees, and arrived among the huts, no one was to be seen. There +was only the irregular square of huts built of rough stones and thatched +with reeds, with big stones to keep the thatch on in the storm; a few +goats were tethered near, and there was a rush of the great savage dogs, +but they recognised Eyoub and Lanty, and were presently quieted. + +'This is the chief danger,' whispered Lanty. + +'Pray heaven the rogues do not murder them rather than give them up!' + +The Sunakite, beginning to make strange contortions and mutterings in a +low voice, seemed to terrify Eyoub greatly. Whether he pointed it out or +not, or whether Eyoub was induced by his gestures to show it, was not +clear to Arthur's mind; but at the chief abode, an assemblage of two +stone hovels and rudely-built walls, the party halted, and made a loud +knocking at the door, Hadji Eseb's solemn tones bidding those within to +open in the name of Allah. + +It was done, disclosing a vista of men with drawn scimitars. The +Marabout demanded without ceremony where were the prisoners. + +'At yonder house,' he was answered by Yakoub himself, pointing to the +farther end of the village. + +'Dog of a liar,' burst forth the Sunakite. 'Dost thou think to blind the +eyes of the beloved of Allah, who knoweth the secrets of heaven and +earth, and hath the sigil of Suleiman Ben Daoud, wherewith to penetrate +the secret places of the false?' + +The ferocious-looking guardians looked at each other as though under the +influence of supernatural terror, and then Hadji Eseb spoke: 'Salaam +Aleikum, my children; no man need fear who listens to the will of Allah, +and honours his messengers.' + +All made way for the dignified old man and his suite, and they advanced +into the court, where two men with drawn swords were keeping guard over +the captives, who were on their knees in a corner of the court. + +The sabres were sheathed, and there was a shuffling away at the advance +of the Marabouts, Sheyk Yakoub making some apology about having delayed +to admit such guests, but excusing himself on the score of supposing they +were emissaries sent by those whose authority he so defied that he had +sworn to slaughter his prisoners rather than surrender them. + +Hadji Eseb replied with a quotation from the Koran forbidding cruelty to +the helpless, and sternly denounced wrath on the transgressors, bidding +Yakoub draw off his savage bodyguard. + +The man was plainly alarmed, more especially as the Sunakite broke out +into one of his wild wails of denunciation, waving his hands like a +prophet of wrath, and predicting famine, disease, pestilence, to these +slack observers of the law of Mohammed. + +This completed the alarm. The bodyguard fled away pell-mell, Yakoub +after them. His women shut themselves into some innermost recesses, and +the field was left to the Marabouts and the prisoners, who, not +understanding what all this meant, were still kneeling in their corner. +Hadji Eseb bade Arthur and the interpreter go to reassure them. + +At their advance a miserable embrowned figure, barefooted and half clad +in a ragged haik, roped round his waist, threw himself before the fair- +haired child, crying out in imperfect Arabic, 'Spare her, spare her, +great Lord! much is to be won by saving her.' + +'We are come to save her,' said Arthur in French. 'Maitre Hebert, do you +not know me?' + +Hubert looked up. 'M. Arture! M. Arture! Risen from the dead!' he +cried, threw himself into the young man's arms, and burst out into a +vehement sob; but in a second he recovered his manners and fell back, +while Estelle looked up. + +'M. Arture,' she repeated. 'Ah! is it you? Then, is my mamma alive and +safe?' + +'Alas! no,' replied Arthur; 'but your little brother is safe and well at +Algiers, and this good man, the Marabout, is come to deliver you.' + +'My mamma said you would protect us, and I knew you would come, like +Mentor, to save us,' said Estelle, clasping her hands with ineffable joy. +'Oh, Monsieur! I thank you next to the good God and the saints!' and she +began fervently kissing Arthur's hand. He turned to salute the Abbe, but +was shocked to see how much more vacant the poor gentleman's stare had +become, and how little he seemed to comprehend. + +'Ah!' said Estelle, with her pretty, tender, motherly air, 'my poor uncle +has never seemed to understand since that dreadful day when they dragged +him and Maitre Hebert out into the wood and were going to kill them. And +he has fever every night. But, oh, M. Arture, did you say my brother was +safe?' she repeated, as if not able to dwell enough upon the glad +tidings. + +'And I hope you will soon be with him,' said Arthur. 'But, Mademoiselle, +let me present you to the Grand Marabout, a sort of Moslem Abbe, who has +come all this way to obtain your release.' + +He led Estelle forward, when she made a courtesy fit for her +grandmother's _salon_, and in very fluent Cabeleyze dialect gave thanks +for the kindness of coming to release her, and begged him to excuse her +uncle, who was sick, and, as you say here, 'stricken of Allah.' + +The little French demoiselle's grace and politeness were by no means lost +on the Marabout, who replied to her graciously; and at the sight of her +reading M. Dessault's letter, which the interpreter presented to her, one +of the suite could not help exclaiming, 'Ah! if women such as this will +be went abroad in our streets, there would be nothing to hope for in +Paradise.' + +Estelle did not seem to have suffered in health; indeed, in Arthur's +eyes, she seemed in these six weeks to have grown, and to have more +colour, while her expression had become less childish, deeper, and +higher. Her hair did not look neglected, though her dress--the same dark +blue which she had worn on the voyage--had become very ragged and soiled, +and her shoes were broken, and tied on with strips of rag. + +She gave a little scream of joy when the parcel of clothes sent by the +French Consul was given to her, only longing to send some to Victorine +before she retired to enjoy the comfort of clean and respectable clothes; +and in the meantime something was attempted for the comfort of her +companions, though it would not have been safe to put them into Frankish +garments, and none had been brought. Poor Hebert was the very ghost of +the stout and important _maitre d'hotel_, and, indeed, the faithful man +had borne the brunt of all the privations and sufferings, doing his +utmost to shield and protect his little mistress and her helpless uncle. + +When Estelle reappeared, dressed once more like a little French lady (at +least in the eyes of those who were not particular about fit), she found +a little feast being prepared for her out of the provisions sent by the +consuls; but she could not sit down to it till Arthur, escorted by +several of the Marabout's suite, had carried a share both of the food and +the garments to Lanty and Victorine. + +They, however, were not to be found. The whole adowara seemed to be +deserted except by a few frightened women and children, and Victorine and +her Irish swain had no doubt been driven off into the woods by Eyoub--no +Achilles certainly, but equally unwilling with the great Pelides to +resign Briseis as a substitute for Chryseis. + +It was too late to attempt anything more that night; indeed, at sundown +it became very cold. A fire was lighted in the larger room, in the +centre, where there was a hole for the exit of the smoke. + +The Marabouts seemed to be praying or reciting the Koran on one side of +it, for there was a continuous chant or hum going on there; but they +seemed to have no objection to the Christians sitting together on the +other side conversing and exchanging accounts of their adventures. Maitre +Hebert could not sufficiently dilate on the spirit, cheerfulness, and +patience that Mademoiselle had displayed through all. He only had to +lament her imprudence in trying to talk of the Christian faith to the +children, telling them stories of the saints, and doing what, if all the +tribe had not been so ignorant, would have brought destruction on them +all. 'I would not have Monseigneur there know of it for worlds,' said +he, glancing at the Grand Marabout. + +'Selim loves to hear such things,' said Estelle composedly. 'I have +taught him to say the Paternoster, and the meaning of it, and Zuleika can +nearly say them.' + +'_Misericorde_!' cried M. Hubert. 'What may not the child have brought +on herself!' + +'Selim will be a chief,' returned Estelle. 'He will make his people do +as he pleases, or he would do so; but now there will be no one to tell +him about the true God and the blessed Saviour,' she added sadly. + +'Mademoiselle!' cried Hebert in indignant anger--'Mademoiselle would not +be ungrateful for our safety from these horrors.' + +'Oh no!' exclaimed the child. 'I am very happy to return to my poor +papa, and my brothers, and my grandmamma. But I am sorry for Selim! +Perhaps some good mission fathers would go out to them like those we +heard of in Arcadia; and by and by, when I am grown up, I can come back +with some sisters to teach the women to wash their children and not scold +and fight.' + +The _maitre d'hotel_ sighed, and was relieved when Estelle retired to the +deserted women's apartments for the night. He seemed to think her +dangerous language might be understood and reported. + +The next morning the Marabout sent messengers, who brought back Yakoub +and his people, and before many hours a sort of council was convened in +the court of Yakoub's house, consisting of all the neighbouring heads of +families, brown men, whose eyes gleamed fiercely out from under their +haiks, and who were armed to the teeth with sabres, daggers, and, if +possible, pistols and blunderbusses of all the worn-out patterns in +Europe--some no doubt as old as the Thirty Years War; while those who +could not attain to these weapons had the long spears of their ancestors, +and were no bad representatives of the Amalekites of old. + +After all had solemnly taken their seats there was a fresh arrival of +Sheyk Abderrahman and his ferocious-looking following. He himself was a +man of fine bearing, with a great black beard, and a gold-embroidered +sash stuck full of pistols and knives, and with poor Madame de Bourke's +best pearl necklace round his neck. His son Selim was with him, a slim +youth, with beautiful soft eyes glancing out from under a haik, striped +with many colours, such as may have been the coat that marked Joseph as +the heir. + +There were many salaams and formalities, and then the chief Marabout made +a speech, explaining the purpose of his coming, diplomatically allowing +that the Cabeleyzes were not subject to the Dey of Algiers, but showing +that they enjoyed the advantages of the treaty with France, and that +therefore they were bound to release the unfortunate shipwrecked +captives, whom they had already plundered of all their property. So far +Estelle and Arthur, who were anxiously watching, crouching behind the +wall of the deserted house court, could follow. Then arose yells and +shouts of denial, and words too rapid to be followed. In a lull, Hadji +Eseb might be heard proffering ransom, while the cries and shrieks so +well known to accompany bargaining broke out. + +Ibrahim Aga, who stood by the wall, here told them that Yakoub and Eyoub +seemed not unwilling to consent to the redemption of the male captives, +but that they claimed both the females. Hebert clenched his teeth, and +bade Ibrahim interfere and declare that he would never be set free +without his little lady. + +Here, however, the tumult lulled a little, and Abderrahman's voice was +heard declaring that he claimed the Daughter of the Silkworm as a wife +for his son. + +Ibrahim then sprang to the Marabout's side, and was heard representing +that the young lady was of high and noble blood. To which Abderrahman +replied with the dignity of an old lion, that were she the daughter of +the King of the Franks himself, she would only be a fit mate for the son +of the King of the Mountains. A fresh roar of jangling and disputing +began, during which Estelle whispered, 'Poor Selim, I know he would +believe--he half does already. It would be like Clotilda.' + +'And then he would be cruelly murdered, and you too,' returned Arthur. + +'We should be martyrs,' said Estelle, as she had so often said before; +and as Hubert shuddered and cried, 'Do not speak of such things, +Mademoiselle, just as there is hope,' she answered, 'Oh no! do not think +I want to stay in this dreadful place--only if I should have to do so--I +long to go to my brother and my poor papa. Then I can send some good +fathers to convert them.' + +'Ha!' cried Arthur; 'what now! They are at one another's throats!' + +Yakoub and Eyoub with flashing sabres were actually flying at each other, +but Marabouts were seizing them and holding them back, and the Sunakite's +chant arose above all the uproar. + +Ibrahim was able to explain that Yakoub insisted that if the mistress +were appropriated by Abderrahman, the maid should be his compensation. +Eyoub, who had been the foremost in the rescue from the wreck, was +furious at the demand, and they were on the point of fighting when thus +withheld; while the Sunakite was denouncing woes on the spoiler and the +lover of Christians, which made the blood of the Cabeleyzes run cold. +Their flocks would be diseased, storms from the mountains would overwhelm +them, their children would die, their name and race be cut off, if +infidel girls were permitted to bewitch them and turn them from the faith +of the Prophet. He pointed to young Selim, and demanded whether he were +not already spellbound by the silken daughter of the Giaour to join in +her idolatry. + +There were howls of rage, a leaping up, a drawing of swords, a demand +that the unbelievers should die at once. It was a cry the captives knew +only too well. Arthur grasped a pistol, and loosened his sword, but +young Selim had thrown himself at the Marabout's feet, sobbing out +entreaties that the maiden's life might be saved, and assurances that he +was a staunch believer; while his father, scandalised at such an +exhibition on behalf of any such chattel as a female, roughly snatched +him from the ground, and insisted on his silence. + +The Marabouts had, at their chief's signal, ranged themselves in front of +the inner court, and the authority of the Hadji had imposed silence even +on the fanatic. He spoke again, making them understand that Frankish +vengeance in case of a massacre could reach them even in their mountains +when backed by the Dey. And to Abderrahman he represented that the only +safety for his son, the only peace for his tribe, was in the surrender of +these two dangerous causes of altercation. + +The 'King of the Mountains' was convinced by the scene that had just +taken place of the inexpedience of retaining the prisoners alive. And +some pieces of gold thrust into his hand by Ibrahim may have shown him +that much might be lost by slaughtering them. + +The Babel which next arose was of the amicable bargaining sort. And +after another hour of suspense the interpreter came to announce that the +mountaineers, out of their great respect, not for the Dey, but the +Marabout, had agreed to accept 900 piastres as the ransom of all the five +captives, and that the Marabout recommended an immediate start, lest +anything should rouse the ferocity of the tribe again. + +Estelle's warm heart would fain have taken leave of the few who had been +kind to her; but this was impossible, for the women were in hiding, and +she could only leave one or two kerchiefs sent from Algiers, hoping +Zuleika might have one of them. Ibrahim insisted on her being veiled as +closely as a Mohammedan woman as she passed out. One look between her +and Selim might have been fatal to all; though hers may have been in all +childish innocence, she did not know how the fiery youth was writhing in +his father's indignant grasp, forcibly withheld from rushing after one +who had been a new life and revelation to him. + +Mayhap the passion was as fleeting as it was violent, but the Marabout +knew it boded danger to the captives to whom he had pledged his honour. +He sent them, mounted on mules, on in front, while he and his company +remained in the rear, watching till Lanty and Victorine were driven up +like cattle by Eyoub, to whom he paid an earnest of his special share of +the ransom. He permitted no pause, not even for a greeting between +Estelle and poor Victorine, nor to clothe the two unfortunates, more than +by throwing a mantle to poor Victorine, who had nothing but a short +petticoat and a scanty, ragged, filthy bournouse. She shrouded herself +as well as she could when lifted on her mule, scarce perhaps yet aware +what had happened to her, only that Lanty was near, muttering +benedictions and thanksgivings as he vibrated between her mule and that +of the Abbe. + +It was only at the evening halt that, in a cave on the mountain-side, +Estelle and Victorine could cling to each other in a close embrace with +sobs of joy; and while Estelle eagerly produced clothes from her little +store of gifts, the poor _femme de chambre_ wept for joy to feel indeed +that she was free, and shed a fresh shower of tears of joy at the sight +of a brush and comb. + +Lanty was purring over his foster-brother, and cosseting him like a cat +over a newly-recovered kitten, resolved not to see how much shaken the +poor Abbe's intellect had been, and quite sure that the reverend father +would be altogether himself when he only had his _soutane_ again. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--WELCOME + + + 'Well hath the Prophet-chief your bidding done.' + + MOORE (_Lalla Rookh_). + +Bugia was thoroughly Moorish, and subject to attacks of fanaticism. +Perhaps the Grand Marabout did not wholly trust the Sunakite not to stir +up the populace, for he would not take the recovered captives to his +palace, avoided the city as much as possible, and took them down to the +harbour, where, beside the old Roman quay, he caused his trusty +attendant, Reverdi, to hire a boat to take them out to the French +tartane--Reverdi himself going with them to ensure the fidelity of the +boatmen. Estelle would have kissed the good old man's hand in fervent +thanks, but, child as she was, he shrank from her touch as an unholy +thing; and it was enforced on her and Victorine that they were by no +means to remove their heavy mufflings till they were safe on board the +tartane, and even out of harbour. The Frenchman in command of the vessel +was evidently of the same mind, and, though enchanted to receive them, +sent them at once below. He said his men had been in danger of being +mobbed in the streets, and that there were reports abroad that the harem +of a great Frank chief, and all his treasure, were being recovered from +the Cabeleyzes, so that he doubted whether all the influence of the Grand +Marabout might prevent their being pursued by corsairs. + +Right glad was he to recognise the pennant of the _Calypso_ outside the +harbour, and he instantly ran up a signal flag to intimate success. A +boat was immediately put off from the frigate, containing not only +Lieutenant Bullock, but an officer in scarlet, who had no sooner come on +deck than he shook Arthur eagerly by the hand, exclaiming, + +''Tis you, then! I cannot be mistaken in poor Davie's son, though you +were a mere bit bairn when I saw you last!' + +'Archie Hope!' exclaimed Arthur, joyfully. 'Can you tell me anything of +my mother?' + +'She was well when last I heard of her, only sore vexed that you should +be cut off from her by your own fule deed, my lad! Ye've thought better +of it now?' + +Major Hope was here interrupted by the lieutenant, who brought an +invitation from Captain Beresford to the whole French party to bestow +themselves on board the _Calypso_. After ascertaining that the Marabout +had taken up their cause, and that the journey up Mount Couco and back +again could not occupy less than twelve or fourteen days, he had sailed +for Minorca, where he had obtained sanction to convey any of the captives +who might be rescued to Algiers. He had also seen Major Hope, who, on +hearing of the adventures of his young kinsman, asked leave of absence to +come in search of him, and became the guest of the officers of the +_Calypso_. + +Arthur found himself virtually the head of the party, and, after +consultation with Ibrahim Aga and Maitre Hebert, it was agreed that there +would be far more safety, as well as better accommodation, in the British +ship than in the French tartane, and Arthur went down to communicate the +proposal to Estelle, whom the close, little, evil-smelling cabin was +already making much paler than all her privations had done. + +'An English ship,' she said. 'Would my papa approve?' and her little +prim diplomatic air sat comically on her. + +'Oh yes,' said Arthur. 'He himself asked the captain to seek for you, +Mademoiselle. There is peace between our countries, you know.' + +'That is good,' she said, jumping up. 'For oh! this cabin is worse than +it is inside Yakoub's hut! Oh take me on deck before I am ill!' + +She was able to be her own little charming French and Irish self when +Arthur led her on deck; and her gracious thanks and pretty courtesy made +them agree that it would have been ten thousand pities if such a creature +could not have been redeemed from the savage Arabs. + +The whole six were speedily on board the _Calypso_, where Captain +Beresford received the little heroine with politeness worthy of her own +manners. He had given up his own cabin for her and Victorine, purchased +at Port Mahon all he thought she could need, and had even recollected to +procure clerical garments for the Abbe--a sight which rejoiced Lanty's +faithful heart, though the poor Abbe was too ill all the time of the +voyage to leave his berth. Arthur's arrival was greeted by the +Abyssinian with an inarticulate howl of delight, as the poor fellow +crawled to his feet, and began kissing them before he could prevent it. +Fareek had been the pet of the sailors, and well taken care of by the +boatswain. He was handy, quick, and useful, and Captain Bullock thought +he might pick up a living as an attendant in the galley; but he showed +that he held himself to belong absolutely to Arthur, and rendered every +service to him that he could, picking up what was needful in the care of +European clothes by imitation of the captain's servant, and showing a +dexterity that made it probable that his cleverness had been the cause of +the loss of a tongue that might have betrayed too much. To young Hope he +seemed like a sacred legacy from poor Tam, and a perplexing one, such as +he could hardly leave in his dumbness to take the chances of life among +sailors. + +His own plans were likewise to be considered, and Major Hope concerned +himself much about them. He was a second cousin--a near relation in +Scottish estimation--and no distant neighbour. His family were Tories, +though content to submit to the House of Hanover, and had always been on +friendly terms with Lady Hope. + +'I writ at once, on hearing of you, to let her know you were in safety,' +said the major. 'And what do you intend the noo?' + +'Can I win home?' anxiously asked Arthur. 'You know I never was +attainted!' + +'And what would ye do if you were at home?' + +'I should see my mother.' + +'Small doubt of the welcome she would have for you, my poor laddie,' said +the major; 'but what next?' And as Arthur hesitated, 'I misdoubt greatly +whether Burnside would give you a helping hand if you came fresh from +colloguing with French Jacobites, though my father and all the rest of us +at the Lynn aye told him that he might thank himself and his dour old +dominie for your prank--you were but a schoolboy then--you are a man now; +and though your poor mother would be blithe to set eyes on you, she would +be sairly perplexed what gate you had best turn thereafter. Now, see +here! There's talk of our being sent to dislodge the Spaniards from +Sicily. You are a likely lad, and the colonel would take my word for you +if you came back with me to Port Mahon as a volunteer; and once under +King George's colours, there would be pressure enough from all of us +Hopes upon Burnside to gar him get you a commission, unless you win one +for yourself. Then you could gang hame when the time was served, a +credit and an honour to all!' + +'I had rather win my own way than be beholden to Burnside,' said Arthur, +his face lighting at the proposal. + +'Hout, man! That will be as the chances of war may turn out. As to your +kit, we'll see to that! Never fear. Your mother will make it up.' + +'Thanks, Archie, with all my heart, but I am not so destitute,' and he +mentioned Yusuf's legacy, which the major held that he was perfectly +justified in appropriating; and in answer to his next question, assured +him that he would be able to retain Fareek as his servant. + +This was enough for Arthur, who knew that the relief to his mother's mind +of his safety and acceptance as a subject would outweigh any +disappointment at not seeing his face, when he would only be an +unforgiven exile, liable to be informed against by any malicious +neighbour. + +He borrowed materials, and had written a long letter to her before the +_Calypso_ put in at Algiers. The little swift tartane had forestalled +her; and every one was on the watch, when Estelle, who had been treated +like a little princess on board, was brought in the long-boat with all +her party to the quay. Though it was at daybreak, not only the European +inhabitants, but Turks, Arabs, Moors, and Jews thronged the wharf in +welcome; and there were jubilant cries as all the five captives could be +seen seated in the boat in the light of the rising sun. + +M. Dessault, with Ulysse in his hand, stood foremost on the quay, and the +two children were instantly in each other's embrace. Their uncle had to +be helped out. He was more bewildered than gratified by the welcome. He +required to be assured that the multitudes assembled meant him no harm, +and would not move without Lanty; and though he bowed low in return to M. +Dessault's greeting, it was like an automaton, and with no recognition. + +Estelle, between her brother and her friend, and followed by all the +rest, was conducted by the French Consul to the chapel, arranged in one +of the Moorish rooms. There stood beside the altar his two chaplains, +and at once mass was commenced, while all threw themselves on their knees +in thankfulness; and at the well-known sound a ray of intelligence and +joy began to brighten even poor Phelim's features. + +Arthur, in overflowing joy, could not but kneel with the others; and when +the service concluded with the Te Deum's lofty praise, his tears dropped +for joy and gratitude that the captivity was over, the children safe, and +himself no longer an outcast and exile. + +He had, however, to take leave of the children sooner than he wished, for +the _Calypso_ had to sail the next day. + +Ulysse wept bitterly, clung to him, and persisted that he _was_ their +secretary, and must go with them. Estelle, too, had tears in her eyes; +but she said, half in earnest, 'You know, Mentor vanished when Telemaque +came home! Some day, Monsieur, you will come to see us at Paris, and we +shall know how to show our gratitude!' + +Both Lanty and Maitre Hebert promised to write to M. Arture; and in due +time he received not only their letters but fervent acknowledgments from +the Comte de Bourke, who knew that to him was owing the life and liberty +of the children. + +From Lanty Arthur further heard that the poor Abbe had languished and +died soon after reaching home. His faithful foster-brother was deeply +distressed, though the family had rewarded the fidelity of the servants +by promoting Hebert to be intendant of the Provencal estates, while Lanty +was wedded to Victorine, with a _dot_ that enabled them to start a +flourishing _perruquier's_ shop, and make a home for his mother when +little Jacques outgrew her care. + +Estelle was in due time married to a French nobleman, and in after years +'General Sir Arthur Hope' took his son and daughter to pay her a long +visit in her Provencal _chateau_, and to converse on the strange +adventures that seemed like a dream. He found her a noble lady, well +fulfilling the promise of her heroic girlhood, and still lamenting the +impossibility of sending any mission to open the eyes of the +half-converted Selim. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODERN TELEMACHUS*** + + +******* This file should be named 4271.txt or 4271.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/7/4271 + + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/4271.zip b/4271.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8deecd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/4271.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9e8ba4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #4271 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4271) diff --git a/old/mdtel10.txt b/old/mdtel10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ecc2f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mdtel10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6404 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of A Modern Telemachus +by Charlotte M. Yonge +(#18 in our series by Charlotte M. Yonge) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. Please do not remove this. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the etext. Do not change or edit it without written permission. +The words are carefully chosen to provide users with the +information they need to understand what they may and may not +do with the etext. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These Etexts Are Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get etexts, and +further information, is included below. We need your donations. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541 + + + +Title: A Modern Telemachus + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + +Release Date: July, 2003 [Etext #4271] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 25, 2001] +[Most recently updated: December 25, 2001] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of A Modern Telemachus +by Charlotte M. Yonge +******This file should be named mdtel10.txt or mdtel10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, mdtel11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mdtel10a.txt + +Transcribed by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk. From the +1889 Macmillan and Co. edition. + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep etexts in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our etexts one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +etexts, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2001 as we release over 50 new Etext +files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 4000+ +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 4,000 Etexts. We need +funding, as well as continued efforts by volunteers, to maintain +or increase our production and reach our goals. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of November, 2001, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, +Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, +Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, +Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, +Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, +and Wyoming. + +*In Progress + +We have filed in about 45 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +All donations should be made to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fundraising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fundraising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + +A MODERN TELEMACHUS + + + + +PREFACE + + + +The idea of this tale was taken from The Mariners' Chronicle, compiled +by a person named Scott early in the last century--a curious book of +narratives of maritime adventures, with exceedingly quaint +illustrations. Nothing has ever shown me more plainly that truth is +stranger than fiction, for all that is most improbable here is the +actual fact. + +The Comte de Bourke was really an Irish Jacobite, naturalised in +France, and married to the daughter of the Marquis de Varennes, as well +as in high favour with the Marshal Duke of Berwick. + +In 1719, just when the ambition of Elizabeth Farnese, the second wife +of Philip V. of Spain, had involved that country in a war with England, +France, and Austria, the Count was transferred from the Spanish Embassy +to that of Sweden, and sent for his wife and two elder children to join +him at a Spanish port. + +This arrangement was so strange that I can only account for it by +supposing that as this was the date of a feeble Spanish attempt on +behalf of the Jacobites in Scotland, Comte de Bourke may not have +ventured by the direct route. Or it may not have been etiquette for +him to re-enter France when appointed ambassador. At any rate, the +poor Countess did take this route to the South, and I am inclined to +think the narrative must be correct, as all the side-lights I have been +able to gain perfectly agree with it, often in an unexpected manner. + +The suite and the baggage were just as related in the story--the only +liberty I have taken being the bestowal of names. 'M. Arture' was +really of the party, but I have made him Scotch instead of Irish, and I +have no knowledge that the lackey was not French. The imbecility of +the Abbe is merely a deduction from his helplessness, but of course +this may have been caused by illness. + +The meeting with M. de Varennes at Avignon, Berwick's offer of an +escort, and the Countess's dread of the Pyrenees, are all facts, as +well as her embarkation in the Genoese tartane bound for Barcelona, and +its capture by the Algerine corsair commanded by a Dutch renegade, who +treated her well, and to whom she gave her watch. + +Algerine history confirms what is said of his treatment. Louis XIV. +had bombarded the pirate city, and compelled the Dey to receive a +consul and to liberate French prisoners and French property; but the +lady having been taken in an Italian ship, the Dutchman was afraid to +set her ashore without first taking her to Algiers, lest he should fall +under suspicion. He would not venture on taking so many women on board +his own vessel, being evidently afraid of his crew of more than two +hundred Turks and Moors, but sent seven men on board the prize and took +it in tow. + +Curiously enough, history mentions the very tempest which drove the +tartane apart from her captor, for it also shattered the French +transports and interfered with Berwick's Spanish campaign. + +The circumstances of the wreck have been closely followed. 'M. Arture' +actually saved Mademoiselle de Bourke, and placed her in the arms of +the maitre d'hotel, who had reached a rock, together with the Abbe, the +lackey, and one out of the four maids. The other three were all in the +cabin with their mistress and her son, and shared their fate. + +The real 'Arture' tried to swim to the shore, but never was seen again, +so that his adventures with the little boy are wholly imaginary. But +the little girl's conduct is perfectly true. When in the steward's +arms she declared that the savages might take her life, but never +should make her deny her faith. + +The account of these captors was a great difficulty, till in the old +Universal History I found a description of Algeria which tallied +wonderfully with the narrative. It was taken from a survey of the +coast made a few years later by English officials. + +The tribe inhabiting Mounts Araz and Couco, and bordering on Djigheli +Bay, were really wild Arabs, claiming high descent, but very loose +Mohammedans, and savage in their habits. Their name of Cabeleyzes is +said--with what truth I know not--to mean 'revolted,' and they held +themselves independent of the Dey. They were in the habit of murdering +or enslaving all shipwrecked travellers, except subjects of Algiers, +whom they released with nothing but their lives. + +All this perfectly explains the sufferings of Mademoiselle de Bourke. +The history of the plundering, the threats, the savage treatment of the +corpses, the wild dogs, the councils of the tribe, the separation of +the captives, and the child's heroism, is all literally true--the +expedient of Victorine's defence alone being an invention. It is also +true that the little girl and the maitre d'hotel wrote four letters, +and sent them by different chances to Algiers, but only the last ever +arrived, and it created a great sensation. + +M. Dessault is a real personage, and the kindness of the Dey and of the +Moors was exactly as related, also the expedient of sending the +Marabout of Bugia to negotiate. + +Mr. Thomas Thompson was really the English Consul at the time, but his +share in the matter is imaginary, as it depends on Arthur's adventures. + +The account of the Marabout system comes from the Universal History; +but the arrival, the negotiations, and the desire of the sheyk to +detain the young French lady for a wife to his son, are from the +narrative. He really did claim to be an equal match for her, were she +daughter of the King of France, since he was King of the Mountains. + +The welcome at Algiers and the Te Deum in the Consul's chapel also are +related in the book that serves me for authority. It adds that +Mademoiselle de Bourke finally married a Marquis de B--, and lived much +respected in Provence, dying shortly before the Revolution. + +I will only mention further that a rescued Abyssinian slave named +Fareek (happily not tongueless) was well known to me many years ago in +the household of the late Warden Barter of Winchester College. + +Since writing the above I have by the kindness of friends been enabled +to discover Mr. Scott's authority, namely, a book entitled Voyage pour +la Redemption des captifs aux Royaumes d'Alger et de Tunis, fait en +1720 par les P.P. Francois Comelin, Philemon de la Motte, et Joseph +Bernard, de l'Ordre de la Sainte Trinite, dit Mathurine. This Order +was established by Jean Matha for the ransom and rescue of prisoners in +the hands of the Moors. A translation of the adventures of the +Comtesse de Bourke and her daughter was published in the Catholic +World, New York, July 1881. It exactly agrees with the narration in +The Mariners' Chronicle except that, in the true spirit of the +eighteenth century, Mr. Scott thought fit to suppress that these +ecclesiastics were at Algiers at the time of the arrival of +Mademoiselle de Bourke's letter, that they interested themselves +actively on her behalf, and that they wrote the narrative from the lips +of the maitre d'hotel (who indeed may clearly be traced throughout). +It seems also that the gold cups were chalices, and that a complete set +of altar equipments fell a prey to the Cabeleyzes, whose name the good +fathers endeavour to connect with Cabale--with about as much reason as +if we endeavoured to derive that word from the ministry of Charles II. + +Had I known in time of the assistance of these benevolent brethren I +would certainly have introduced them with all due honour, but, like the +Abbe Vertot, I have to say, Mon histoire est ecrite, and what is worse- +-printed. Moreover, they do not seem to have gone on the mission with +the Marabout from Bugia, so that their presence really only accounts +for the Te Deum with which the redeemed captives were welcomed. + +It does not seem quite certain whether M. Dessault was Consul or Envoy; +I incline to think the latter. The translation in the Catholic World +speaks of Sir Arthur, but Mr. Scott's 'M. Arture' is much more +vraisemblable. He probably had either a surname to be concealed or +else unpronounceable to French lips. Scott must have had some further +information of the after history of Mademoiselle de Bourke since he +mentions her marriage, which could hardly have taken place when Pere +Comelin's book was published in 1720. + +C. M. YONGE. + + + +CHAPTER I--COMPANIONS OF THE VOYAGE + + + + 'Make mention thereto +Touching my much loved father's safe return, +If of his whereabouts I may best hear.' +Odyssey (MUSGRAVE). + +'Oh! brother, I wish they had named you Telemaque, and then it would +have been all right!' + +'Why so, sister? Why should I be called by so ugly a name? I like +Ulysses much better; and it is also the name of my papa.' + +'That is the very thing. His name is Ulysses, and we are going to seek +for him.' + +'Oh! I hope that cruel old Mentor is not coming to tumble us down over +a great rook, like Telemaque in the picture.' + +'You mean Pere le Brun?' + +'Yes; you know he always says he is our Mentor. And I wish he would +change into a goddess with a helmet and a shield, with an ugly face, +and go off in a cloud. Do you think he will, Estelle?' + +'Do not be so silly, Ulick; there are no goddesses now.' + +'I heard M. de la Mede tell that pretty lady with the diamond butterfly +that she was his goddess; so there are!' + +'You do not understand, brother. That was only flattery and +compliment. Goddesses were only in the Greek mythology, and were all +over long ago!' + +'But are we really going to see our papa?' + +'Oh yes, mamma told me so. He is made Ambassador to Sweden, you know.' + +'Is that greater than Envoy to Spain?' + +'Very, very much greater. They call mamma Madame l'Ambassadrice; and +she is having three complete new dresses made. See, there are la bonne +and Laurent talking. It is English, and if we go near with our cups +and balls we shall hear all about it. Laurent always knows, because my +uncle tells him.' + +'You must call him La Juenesse now he is made mamma's lackey. Is he +not beautiful in his new livery?' + +'Be still now, brother; I want to hear what they are saying.' + +This may sound somewhat sly, but French children, before Rousseau had +made them the fashion, were kept in the background, and were reduced to +picking up intelligence as best they could without any sense of its +being dishonourable to do so; and, indeed, it was more neglect than +desire of concealment that left their uninformed. + +This was in 1719, four years after the accession of Louis XV., a puny +infant, to the French throne, and in the midst of the Regency of the +Duke of Orleans. The scene was a broad walk in the Tuileries gardens, +beneath a closely-clipped wall of greenery, along which were disposed +alternately busts upon pedestals, and stone vases of flowers, while +beyond lay formal beds of flowers, the gravel walks between radiating +from a fountain, at present quiescent, for it was only ten o'clock in +the forenoon, and the gardens were chiefly frequented at that hour by +children and their attendants, who, like Estelle and Ulysse de Bourke, +were taking an early walk on their way home from mass. + +They were a miniature lady and gentleman of the period in costume, with +the single exception that, in consideration of their being only nine +and seven years old, their hair was free from powder. Estelle's light, +almost flaxen locks were brushed back from her forehead, and tied +behind with a rose-coloured ribbon, but uncovered, except by a tiny +lace cap on the crown of her head; Ulick's darker hair was carefully +arranged in great curls on his back and shoulders, as like a full- +bottomed wig as nature would permit, and over it he wore a little +cocked hat edged with gold lace. He had a rich laced cravat, a double- +breasted waistcoat of pale blue satin, and breeches to match, a brown +velvet coat with blue embroidery on the pockets, collar, and skirts, +silk stockings to match, as well as the knot of the tiny scabbard of +the semblance of a sword at his side, shoes with silver buckles, and +altogether he might have been a full-grown Comte or Vicomte seen +through a diminishing glass. His sister was in a full-hooped dress, +with tight long waist, and sleeves reaching to her elbows, the under +skirt a pale pink, the upper a deeper rose colour; but stiff as was the +attire, she had managed to give it a slight general air of +disarrangement, to get her cap a little on one side, a stray curl loose +on her forehead, to tear a bit of the dangling lace on her arms, and to +splash her robe with a puddle. He was in air, feature, and complexion +a perfect little dark Frenchman. The contour of her face, still more +its rosy glow, were more in accordance with her surname, and so +especially were the large deep blue eyes with the long dark lashes and +pencilled brows. And there was a lively restless air about her full of +intelligence, as she manoeuvred her brother towards a stone seat, +guarded by a couple of cupids reining in sleepy-looking lions in stone, +where, under the shade of a lime-tree, her little petticoated brother +of two years old was asleep, cradled in the lap of a large, portly, +handsome woman, in a dark dress, a white cap and apron, and dark +crimson cloak, loosely put back, as it was an August day. Native +costumes were then, as now, always worn by French nurses; but this was +not the garb of any province of the kingdom, and was as Irish as the +brogue in which she was conversing with the tall fine young man who +stood at ease beside her. He was in a magnificent green and gold +livery suit, his hair powdered, and fastened in a queue, the whiteness +contrasting with the dark brows, and the eyes and complexion of that +fine Irish type that it is the fashion to call Milesian. He looked +proud of his dress, which was viewed in those days as eminently +becoming, and did in fact display his well-made figure and limbs to +great advantage; but he looked anxiously about, and his first inquiry +on coming on the scene in attendance upon the little boy had been - + +'The top of the morning to ye, mother! And where is Victorine?' + +'Arrah, and what would ye want with Victorine?' demanded the bonne. +'Is not the old mother enough for one while, to feast her eyes on her +an' Lanty Callaghan, now he has shed the marmiton's slough, and come +out in old Ireland's colours, like a butterfly from a palmer? La +Jeunesse, instead of Laurent here, and Laurent there.' + +La Pierre and La Jeunesse were the stereotyped names of all pairs of +lackeys in French noble houses, and the title was a mark of promotion; +but Lanty winced and said, 'Have done with that, mother. You know that +never the pot nor the kettle has blacked my fingers since Master Phelim +went to the good fathers' school with me to carry his books and insinse +him with the larning. 'Tis all one, as his own body-servant that I +have been, as was fitting for his own foster-brother, till now, when +not one of the servants, barring myself and Maitre Hebert, the steward, +will follow Madame la Comtesse beyond the four walls of Paris. "Will +you desert us too, Laurent?" says the lady. "And is it me you mane, +Madame," says I, "Sorrah a Callaghan ever deserted a Burke!" "Then," +says she, "if you will go with us to Sweden, you shall have two +lackey's suits, and a couple of louis d'or to cross your pocket with by +the year, forbye the fee and bounty of all the visitors to M. le +Comte." "Is it M. l'Abbe goes with Madame?" says I. "And why not," +says she. "Then," says I, "'tis myself that is mightily obliged to +your ladyship, and am ready to put on her colours and do all in reason +in her service, so as I am free to attend to Master Phelim, that is M. +l'Abbe, whenever he needs me, that am in duty bound as his own foster- +brother." "Ah, Laurent," says she, "'tis you that are the faithful +domestic. We shall all stand in need of such good offices as we can do +to one another, for we shall have a long and troublesome, if not +dangerous journey, both before and after we have met M. le Comte."' + +Estelle here nodded her head with a certain satisfaction, while the +nurse replied - + +'And what other answer could the son of your father make--Heavens be +his bed--that was shot through the head by the masther's side in the +weary wars in Spain? and whom could ye be bound to serve barring Master +Phelim, that's lain in the same cradle with yees--' + +'Is not Victorine here, mother?' still restlessly demanded Lanty. + +'Never you heed Victorine,' replied she. 'Sure she may have a little +arrand of her own, and ye might have a word for the old mother that +never parted with you before.' + +'You not going, mother!' he exclaimed. + +''Tis my heart that will go with you and Masther Phelim, my jewel; but +Madame la Comtesse will have it that this weeny little darlint'-- +caressing the child in her lap--'could never bear the cold of that bare +and dissolute place in the north you are bound for, and old Madame la +Marquise, her mother, would be mad entirely if all the children left +her; but our own lady can't quit the little one without leaving his own +nurse Honor with him!' + +'That's news to me intirely, mother,' said Lanty; 'bad luck to it!' + +Honor laughed that half-proud, half-sad laugh of mothers when their +sons outgrow them. 'Fine talking! Much he cares for the old mother if +he can see the young girl go with him.' + +For Lanty's eyes had brightened at sight of a slight little figure, +trim to the last degree, with a jaunty little cap on her dark hair, gay +trimmings to the black apron, dainty shoes and stockings that came +tripping down the path. His tongue instantly changed to French from +what he called English, as in pathetic insinuating modulations he +demanded how she could be making him weary his very heart out. + +'Who bade you?' she retorted. 'I never asked you to waste your time +here!' + +'And will ye not give me a glance of the eyes that have made a cinder +of my poor heart, when I am going away into the desolate north, among +the bears and the savages and the heretics?' + +'There will be plenty of eyes there to look at your fine green and +gold, for the sake of the Paris cut; though a great lumbering fellow +like you does not know how to show it off!' + +'And if I bring back a heretic bru to break the heart of the mother, +will it not be all the fault of the cruelty of Mademoiselle Victorine?' + +Here Estelle, unable to withstand Lanty's piteous intonations, broke +in, 'Never mind, Laurent, Victorine goes with us. She went to be +measured for a new pair of slices on purpose!' + +'Ah! I thought I should disembarrass myself of a great troublesome +Irishman!' + +'No!' retorted the boy, 'you knew Laurent was going, for Maitre Hebert +had just come in to say he must have a lackey's suit!' + +'Yes,' said Estelle, 'that was when you took me in your arms and kissed +me, and said you would follow Madame la Comtesse to the end of the +world.' + +The old nurse laughed heartily, but Victorine cried out, 'Does +Mademoiselle think I am going to follow naughty little girls who invent +follies? It is still free to me to change my mind. Poor Simon +Claquette is gnawing his heart out, and he is to be left concierge!' + +The clock at the palace chimed eleven, Estelle took her brother's hand, +Honor rose with little Jacques in her arms, Victorine paced beside her, +and Lanty as La Jeunesse followed, puffing out his breast, and wielding +his cane, as they all went home to dejeuner. + +Twenty-nine years before the opening of this narrative, just after the +battle of Boyne Water had ruined the hopes of the Stewarts in Ireland, +Sir Ulick Burke had attended James II. in his flight from Waterford; +and his wife had followed him, attended by her two faithful servants, +Patrick Callaghan, and his wife Honor, carrying her mistress's child on +her bosom, and her own on her back. + +Sir Ulick, or Le Chevalier Bourke, as the French called him, had no +scruple in taking service in the armies of Louis XIV. Callaghan +followed him everywhere, while Honor remained a devoted attendant on +her lady, doubly bound to her by exile and sorrow. + +Little Ulick Burke's foster-sister died, perhaps because she had always +been made second to him through all the hardships and exposure of the +journey. Other babes of both lady and nurse had succumbed to the +mortality which beset the children of that generation, and the only +survivors besides the eldest Burke and one daughter were the two +youngest of each mother, and they had arrived so nearly at the same +time that Honor Callaghan could again be foster-mother to Phelim Burke, +a sickly child, reared with great difficulty. + +The family were becoming almost French. Sir Ulick was an intimate +friend of one of the noblest men of the day, James Fitz-James, Marshal +Duke of Berwick, who united military talent, almost equal to that of +his uncle of Marlborough, to an unswerving honour and integrity very +rare in those evil times. Under him, Sir Ulick fought in the campaigns +that finally established the House of Bourbon upon the throne of Spain, +and the younger Ulick or Ulysse, as his name had been classicalised and +Frenchified, was making his first campaign as a mere boy at the time of +the battle of Almanza, that solitary British defeat, for which our +national consolation is that the French were commanded by an +Englishman, the Duke of Berwick, and the English by a Frenchman, the +Huguenot Rubigne, Earl of Galway. The first English charge was, +however, fatal to the Chevalier Bourke, who fell mortally wounded, and +in the endeavour to carry him off the field the faithful Callaghan +likewise fell. Sir Ulick lived long enough to be visited by the Duke, +and to commend his children to his friend's protection. + +Berwick was held to be dry and stiff, but he was a faithful friend, and +well redeemed his promise. The eldest son, young as he was, obtained +as wife the daughter of the Marquis de Varennes, and soon distinguished +himself both in war and policy, so as to receive the title of Comte de +Bourke. + +The French Church was called on to provide for the other two children. +The daughter, Alice, became a nun in one of the Parisian convents, with +promises of promotion. The younger son, Phelim, was weakly in health, +and of intellect feeble, if not deficient, and was almost dependent on +the devoted care and tenderness of his foster-brother, Laurence +Callaghan. Nobody was startled when Berwick's interest procured for +the dull boy of ten years old the Abbey of St. Eudoce in Champagne. To +be sure the responsibilities were not great, for the Abbey had been +burnt down a century and a half ago by the Huguenots, and there had +never been any monks in it since, so the only effect was that little +Phelim Burke went by the imposing title of Monsieur l'Abbe de St. +Eudoce, and his family enjoyed as much of the revenues of the estates +of the Abbey as the Intendant thought proper to transmit to them. He +was, to a certain degree, ecclesiastically educated, having just memory +enough to retain for recitation the tasks that Lanty helped him to +learn, and he could copy the themes or translations made for him by his +faithful companion. Neither boy had the least notion of unfairness or +deception in this arrangement: it was only the natural service of the +one to the other, and if it were perceived in the Fathers of the +Seminary, whither Lanty daily conducted the young Abbot, they winked at +it. Nor, though the quick-witted Lanty thus acquired a considerable +amount of learning, no idea occurred to him of availing himself of it +for his own advantage. It sat outside him, as it were, for 'Masther +Phelim's' use; and he no more thought of applying it to his own +elevation than he did of wearing the soutane he brushed for his young +master. + +The Abbe was now five-and-twenty, had received the tonsure, and had +been admitted to minor Orders, but there was no necessity for him to +proceed any farther unless higher promotion should be accorded to him +in recompense of his brother's services. He was a gentle, amiable +being, not at all fit to take care of himself; and since the death of +his mother, he had been the charge of his brother and sister-in-law, or +perhaps more correctly speaking, of the Dowager Marquise de Varennes, +for all the branches of the family lived together in the Hotel de +Varennes at Paris, or its chateau in the country, and the fine old lady +ruled over all, her son and son-in-law being often absent, as was the +case at present. + +A fresh European war had been provoked by the ambition of the second +wife of Philip V. of Spain, the Prince for whose cause Berwick had +fought. This Queen, Elizabeth Farnese, wanted rank and dominion for +her own son; moreover, Philip looked with longing eyes at his native +kingdom of France, all claim to which he had resigned when Spain was +bequeathed to him; but now that only a sickly child, Louis XV., stood +between him and the succession in right of blood, he felt his rights +superior to those of the Duke of Orleans. Thus Spain was induced to +become hostile to France, and to commence the war known as that of the +Quadruple Alliance. + +While there was still hope of accommodation, the Comte de Bourke had +been sent as a special envoy to Madrid, and there continued even after +the war had broken out, and the Duke of Berwick, resigning all the +estates he had received from the gratitude of Philip V., had led an +army across the frontier. + +The Count had, however, just been appointed Ambassador to Sweden, and +was anxious to be joined by his family on the way thither. + +The tidings had created great commotion. Madame de Varennes looked on +Sweden as an Ultima Thule of frost and snow, but knew that a lady's +presence was essential to the display required of an ambassador. She +strove, however, to have the children left with her; but her daughter +declared that she could not part with Estelle, who was already a +companion and friend, and that Ulysse must be with his father, who +longed for his eldest son, so that only little Jacques, a delicate +child, was to be left to console his grandmother. + + + +CHAPTER II--A JACOBITE WAIF + + + +'Sac now he's o'er the floods sae gray, +And Lord Maxwell has ta'en his good-night.' +LORD MAXWELL'S Good-night. + +Madame La Comtesse de Bourke was by no means a helpless fine lady. She +had several times accompanied her husband on his expeditions, and had +only not gone with him to Madrid because he did not expect to be long +absent, and she sorely rued the separation. + +She was very busy in her own room, superintending the packing, and +assisting in it, when her own clever fingers were more effective than +those of her maids. She was in her robe de chambre, a dark blue +wrapper, embroidered with white, and put on more neatly than was always +the case with French ladies in deshabille. The hoop, long stiff stays, +rich brocade robe, and fabric of powdered hair were equally unsuitable +to ease or exertion, and consequently were seldom assumed till late in +the day, when the toilette was often made in public. + +So Madame de Bourke's hair was simply rolled out of her way, and she +appeared in her true colours, as a little brisk, bonny woman, with no +actual beauty, but very expressive light gray eyes, furnished with +intensely long black lashes, and a sweet, mobile, lively countenance. + +Estelle was trying to amuse little Jacques, and prevent him from +trotting between the boxes, putting all sorts of undesirable goods into +them; and Ulysse had collected his toys, and was pleading earnestly +that a headless wooden horse and a kite, twice as tall as himself, of +Lanty's manufacture, might go with them. + +He was told that another cerf-volant should be made for him at the +journey's end; but was only partially consoled, and his mother was fain +to compound for a box of woolly lambs. Estelle winked away a tear when +her doll was rejected, a wooden, highly painted lady, bedizened in +brocade, and so dear to her soul that it was hard to be told that she +was too old for such toys, and that the Swedes would be shocked to see +the Ambassador's daughter embracing a doll. She had, however, to +preserve her character of a reasonable child, and tried to derive +consolation from the permission to bestow 'Mademoiselle' upon the +concierge's little sick daughter, who would be sure to cherish her +duly. + +'But, oh mamma, I pray you to let me take my book!' + +'Assuredly, my child. Let us see! What? Telemaque? Not "Prince +Percinet and Princess Gracieuse?"' + +'I am tired of them, mamma.' + +'Nor Madame d'Aulnoy's Fairy Tales?' + +'Oh no, thank you, mamma; I love nothing so well as Telemaque.' + +'Thou art a droll child!' said her mother. + +'Ah, but we are going to be like Telemaque.' + +'Heaven forfend!' said the poor lady. + +'Yes, dear mamma, I am glad you are going with us instead of staying at +home to weave and unweave webs. If Penelope had been like you, she +would have gone!' + +'Take care, is not Jacques acting Penelope?' said Madame de Bourke, +unable to help smiling at her little daughter's glib mythology, while +going to the rescue of the embroidery silks, in which her youngest son +was entangling himself. + +At that moment there was a knock at the door, and a message was brought +that the Countess of Nithsdale begged the favour of a few minutes' +conversation in private with Madame. The Scottish title fared better +on the lips of La Jeunesse than it would have done on those of his +predecessor. There was considerable intimacy among all the Jacobite +exiles in and about Paris; and Winifred, Countess of Nithsdale, though +living a very quiet and secluded life, was held in high estimation +among all who recollected the act of wifely heroism by which she had +rescued her husband from the block. + +Madame de Bourke bade the maids carry off the little Jacques, and +Ulysse followed; but Estelle, who had often listened with rapt +attention to the story of the escape, and longed to feast her eyes on +the heroine, remained in her corner, usefully employed in disentangling +the embroilment of silks, and with the illustrations to her beloved +Telemaque as a resource in case the conversation should be tedious. +Children who have hundreds of picture-books to rustle through can +little guess how their predecessors could once dream over one. + +Estelle made her low reverence unnoticed, and watched with eager eyes +as the slight figure entered, clad in the stately costume that was +regarded as proper respect to her hostess; but the long loose sacque of +blue silk was faded, the feuille-morte velvet petticoat frayed, the +lace on the neck and sleeves washed and mended; there were no jewels on +the sleeves, though the long gloves fitted exquisitely, no gems in the +buckles of the high-heeled shoes, and the only ornament in the +carefully rolled and powdered hair, a white rose. Her face was thin +and worn, with pleasant brown eyes. Estelle could not think her as +beautiful as Calypso inconsolable for Ulysses, or Antiope receiving the +boar's a head. 'I know she is better than either,' thought the little +maid; 'but I wish she was more like Minerva.' + +The Countesses met with the lowest of curtseys, and apologies on the +one side for intrusion, on the other for deshabille, so they concluded +with an embrace really affectionate, though consideration for powder +made it necessarily somewhat theatrical in appearance. + +These were the stiffest of days, just before formality had become +unbearable, and the reaction of simplicity had set in; and Estelle had +undone two desperate knots in the green and yellow silks before the +preliminary compliments were over, and Lady Nithsdale arrived at the +point. + +'Madame is about to rejoin Monsieur son Mari.' + +'I am about to have that happiness.' + +'That is the reason I have been bold enough to derange her.' + +'Do not mention it. It is always a delight to see Madame la Comtesse' + +'Ah! what will Madame say when she hears that it is to ask a great +favour of her.' + +'Madame may reckon on me for whatever she would command.' + +'If you can grant it--oh! Madame,' cried the Scottish Countess, +beginning to drop her formality in her eagerness, 'we shall be for ever +beholden to you, and you will make a wounded heart to sing, besides +perhaps saving a noble young spirit.' + +'Madame makes me impatient to hear what she would have of me,' said the +French Countess, becoming a little on her guard, as the wife of a +diplomatist, recollecting, too, that peace with George I. might mean +war with the Jacobites. + +'I know not whether a young kinsman of my Lord's has ever been +presented to Madame. His name is Arthur Maxwell Hope; but we call him +usually by his Christian name.' + +'A tall, dark, handsome youth, almost like a Spaniard, or a picture by +Vandyke? It seems to me that I have seen him with M. le Comte.' +(Madame de Bourke could not venture on such a word as Nithsdale.) + +'Madame is right. The mother of the boy is a Maxwell, a cousin not far +removed from my Lord, but he could not hinder her from being given in +marriage as second wife to Sir David Hope, already an old man. He was +good to her, but when he died, the sons by the first wife were harsh +and unkind to her and to her son, of whom they had always been jealous. +The eldest was a creature of my Lord Stair, and altogether a Whig; +indeed, he now holds an office at the Court of the Elector of Hanover, +and has been created one of HIS peers. (The scorn with which the +gentle Winifred uttered those words was worth seeing, and the other +noble lady gave a little derisive laugh.) 'These half-brothers +declared that Lady Hope was nurturing the young Arthur in Toryism and +disaffection, and they made it a plea for separating him from her, and +sending him to an old minister, who kept a school, and who was very +severe and even cruel to the poor boy. But I am wearying Madame.' + +'Oh no, I listen with the deepest interest.' + +'Finally, when the King was expected in Scotland, and men's minds were +full of anger and bitterness, as well as hope and spirit, the boy--he +was then only fourteen years of age--boasted of his grandfather's +having fought at Killiecrankie, and used language which the tutor +pronounced treasonable. He was punished and confined to his room; but +in the night he made his escape and joined the royal army. My husband +was grieved to see him, told him he had no right to political opinions, +and tried to send him home in time to make his peace before all was +lost. Alas! no. The little fellow did, indeed, pass out safely from +Preston, but only to join my Lord Mar. He was among the gentlemen who +embarked at Banff; and when my Lord, by Heaven's mercy, had escaped +from the Tower of London, and we arrived at Paris, almost the first +person we saw was little Arthur, whom we thought to have been safe at +home. We have kept him with us, and I contrived to let his mother know +that he is living, for she had mourned him as among the slain.' + +'Poor mother.' + +'You may well pity her, Madame. She writes to me that if Arthur had +returned at once from Preston, as my Lord advised, all would have been +passed over as a schoolboy frolic; and, indeed, he has never been +attainted; but there is nothing that his eldest brother, Lord Burnside +as they call him, dreads so much as that it should be known that one of +his family was engaged in the campaign, or that he is keeping such ill +company as we are. Therefore, at her request, we have never called him +Hope, but let him go by our name of Maxwell, which is his by baptism; +and now she tells me that if he could make his way to Scotland, not as +if coming from Paris or Bar-le-Duc, but merely as if travelling on the +Continent, his brother would consent to his return.' + +'Would she be willing that he should live under the usurper?' + +'Madame, to tell you the truth,' said Lady Nithsdale, 'the Lady Hope is +not one to heed the question of usurpers, so long as her son is safe +and a good lad. Nay, for my part, we all lived peaceably and happily +enough under Queen Anne; and by all I hear, so they still do at home +under the Elector of Hanover.' + +'The Regent has acknowledged him,' put in the French lady. + +'Well,' said the poor exile, 'I know my Lord felt that it was his duty +to obey the summons of his lawful sovereign, and that, as he said when +he took up arms, one can only do one's duty and take the consequences; +but oh! when I look at the misery and desolation that has come of it, +when I think of the wives not so happy as I am, when I see my dear Lord +wearing out his life in banishment, and think of our dear home and our +poor people, I am tempted to wonder whether it were indeed a duty, or +whether there were any right to call on brave men without a more +steadfast purpose not to abandon them!' + +'It would have been very different if the Duke of Berwick had led the +way,' observed Madame de Bourke. 'Then my husband would have gone, +but, being French subjects, honour stayed both him and the Duke as long +as the Regent made no move.' The good lady, of course, thought that +the Marshal Duke and her own Count must secure victory; but Lady +Nithsdale was intent on her own branch of the subject, and did not +pursue 'what might have been.' + +'After all,' she said, 'poor Arthur, at fourteen, could have no true +political convictions. He merely fled because he was harshly treated, +heard his grandfather branded as a traitor, and had an enthusiasm for +my husband, who had been kind to him. It was a mere boy's escapade, +and if he had returned home when my Lord bade him, it would only have +been remembered as such. He knows it now, and I frankly tell you, +Madame, that what he has seen of our exiled court has not increased his +ardour in the cause.' + +'Alas, no,' said Madame de Bourke. 'If the Chevalier de St. George +were other than he is, it would be easier to act in his behalf.' + +'And you agree with me, Madame,' continued the visitor, 'that nothing +can be worse or more hopeless for a youth than the life to which we are +constrained here, with our whole shadow of hope in intrigue; and for +our men, no occupation worthy of their sex. We women are not so ill +off, with our children and domestic affairs; but it breaks my heart to +see brave gentlemen's lives thus wasted. We have done our best for +Arthur. He has studied with one of our good clergy, and my Lord +himself has taught him to fence; but we cannot treat him any longer as +a boy, and I know not what is to be his future, unless we can return +him to his own country.' + +'Our army,' suggested Madame de Bourke. + +'Ah! but he is Protestant.' + +'A heretic!' exclaimed the lady, drawing herself up. 'But--' + +'Oh, do not refuse me on that account. He is a good lad, and has lived +enough among Catholics to keep his opinions in the background. But you +understand that it is another reason for wishing to convey him, if not +to Scotland, to some land like Sweden or Prussia, where his faith would +not be a bar to his promotion.' + +'What is it you would have me do?' said Madame de Bourke, more coldly. + +'If Madame would permit him to be included in her passport, as about to +join the Ambassador's suite, and thus conduct him to Sweden; Lady Hope +would find means to communicate with him from thence, the poor young +man would be saved from a ruined career, and the heart of the widow and +mother would bless you for ever. + +Madame de Bourke was touched, but she was a prudent woman, and paused +to ask whether the youth had shown any tendency to run into temptation, +from which Lady Nithsdale wished to remove him. + +'Oh no,' she answered; 'he was a perfectly good docile lad, though +high-spirited, submissive to the Earl, and a kind playfellow to her +little girls; it was his very excellence that made it so unfortunate +that he should thus be stranded in early youth in consequence of one +boyish folly.' + +The Countess began to yield. She thought he might go as secretary to +her Lord, and she owned that if he was a brave young man, he would be +an addition to her little escort, which only numbered two men besides +her brother-in-law, the Abbe, who was of almost as little account as +his young nephew. 'But I should warn you, Madame,' added Madame de +Bourke, 'that it may be a very dangerous journey. I own to you, though +I would not tell my poor mother, that my heart fails me when I think of +it, and were it not for the express commands of their father, I would +not risk my poor children on it.' + +'I do not think you will find Sweden otherwise than a cheerful and +pleasant abode,' said Lady Nithsdale. + +'Ah! if we were only in Sweden, or with my husband, all would be well!' +replied the other lady; 'but we have to pass through the mountains, and +the Catalans are always ill-affected to us French.' + +'Nay; but you are a party of women, and belong to an ambassador!' was +the answer. + +'What do those robbers care for that? We are all the better prey for +them! I have heard histories of Spanish cruelty and lawlessness that +would make you shudder! You cannot guess at the dreadful presentiments +that have haunted me ever since I had my husband's letter.' + +'There is danger everywhere, dear friend,' said Lady Nithsdale kindly; +'but God finds a way for us through all.' + +'Ah! you have experienced it,' said Madame de Bourke. 'Let us proceed +to the affairs. I only thought I should tell you the truth.' + +Lady Nithsdale answered for the courage of her protege, and it was +further determined that he should be presented to her that evening by +the Earl, at the farewell reception which Madame de Varennes was to +hold on her daughter's behalf, when it could be determined in what +capacity he should be named in the passport. + +Estelle, who had been listening with all her ears, and trying to find a +character in Fenelon's romance to be represented by Arthur Hope, now +further heard it explained that the party were to go southward to meet +her father at one of the Mediterranean ports, as the English Government +were so suspicious of Jacobites that he did not venture on taking the +direct route by sea, but meant to travel through Germany. Madame de +Bourke expected to meet her brother at Avignon, and to obtain his +advice as to her further route. + +Estelle heard this with great satisfaction. 'We shall go to the +Mediterranean Sea and be in danger,' she said to herself, unfolding the +map at the beginning of her Telemaque; 'that is quite right! Perhaps +we shall see Calypso's island.' + +She begged hard to be allowed to sit up that evening to see the hero of +the escape from the Tower of London, as well as the travelling +companion destined for her, and she prevailed, for mamma pronounced +that she had been very sage and reasonable all day, and the grandmamma, +who was so soon to part with her, could refuse her nothing. So she was +full dressed, with hair curled, and permitted to stand by the tall +high-backed chair where the old lady sat to receive her visitors. + +The Marquise de Varennes was a small withered woman, with keen eyes, +and a sort of sparkle of manner, and power of setting people at ease, +that made her the more charming the older she grew. An experienced eye +could detect that she retained the costume of the prime of Louis XIV., +when headdresses were less high than that which her daughter was +obliged to wear. For the two last mortal hours of that busy day had +poor Madame de Bourke been compelled to sit under the hands of the +hairdresser, who was building up, with paste and powder and the like, +an original conception of his, namely, a northern landscape, with snow- +laden trees, drifts of snow, diamond icicles, and even a cottage beside +an ice-bound stream. She could ill spare the time, and longed to be +excused; but the artist had begged so hard to be allowed to carry out +his brilliant and unique idea, this last time of attending on Madame +l'Ambassadrice, that there was no resisting him, and perhaps her +strange forebodings made her less willing to inflict a disappointment +on the poor man. It would have been strange to contrast the fabric of +vanity building up outside her head, with the melancholy bodings within +it, as she sat motionless under the hairdresser's fingers; but at the +end she roused herself to smile gratefully, and give the admiration +that was felt to be due to the monstrosity that crowned her. +Forbearance and Christian patience may be exercised even on a toilette +a la Louis XV. Long practice enabled her to walk about, seat herself, +rise and curtsey without detriment to the edifice, or bestowing the +powder either on her neighbours or on the richly-flowered white brocade +she wore; while she received the compliments, one after another, of +ladies in even more gorgeous array, and gentlemen in velvet coats, +adorned with gold lace, cravats of exquisite fabric, and diamond shoe +buckles. + +Phelim Burke, otherwise l'Abbe de St. Eudoce, stood near her. He was a +thin, yellow, and freckled youth, with sandy hair and typical Irish +features, but without their drollery, and his face was what might have +been expected in a half-starved, half-clad gossoon in a cabin, rather +than surmounting a silken soutane in a Parisian salon; but he had a +pleasant smile when kindly addressed by his friends. + +Presently Lady Nithsdale drew near, accompanied by a tall, grave +gentleman, and bringing with them a still taller youth, with the +stiffest of backs and the longest of legs, who, when presented, made a +bow apparently from the end of his spine, like Estelle's lamented +Dutch-jointed doll when made to sit down. Moreover, he was more +shabbily dressed than any other gentleman present, with a general +outgrown look about his coat, and darns in his silk stockings; and +though they were made by the hand of a Countess, that did not add to +their elegance. And as he stood as stiff as a ramrod or as a sentinel, +Estelle's good breeding was all called into play, and her mother's +heart quailed as she said to herself, 'A great raw Scot! What can be +done with him? + +Lord Nithsdale spoke for him, thinking he had better go as secretary, +and showing some handwriting of good quality. 'Did he know any +languages?' 'French, English, Latin, and some Greek.' 'And, Madame,' +added Lord Nithsdale, 'not only is his French much better than mine, as +you would hear if the boy durst open his mouth, but our broad Scotch is +so like Swedish that he will almost be an interpreter there.' + +However hopeless Madame de Bourke felt, she smiled and professed +herself rejoiced to hear it, and it was further decided that Arthur +Maxwell Hope, aged eighteen, Scot by birth, should be mentioned among +those of the Ambassador's household for whom she demanded passports. +Her position rendered this no matter of difficulty, and it was wiser to +give the full truth to the home authorities; but as it was desirable +that it should not be reported to the English Government that Lord +Burnside's brother was in the suite of the Jacobite Comte de Bourke, he +was only to be known to the public by his first name, which was not +much harder to French lips than Maxwell or Hope. + +'Tall and black and awkward,' said Estelle, describing him to her +brother. 'I shall not like him--I shall call him Phalante instead of +Arthur.' + +'Arthur,' said Ulysse; 'King Arthur was turned into a crow!' + +'Well, this Arthur is like a crow--a great black skinny crow with torn +feathers.' + + + +CHAPTER III--ON THE RHONE + + + +'Fairer scenes the opening eye +Of the day can scarce descry, +Fairer sight he looks not on +Than the pleasant banks of Rhone.' +ARCHBISHOP TRENCH. + +Long legs may be in the abstract an advantage, but scarcely so in what +was called in France une grande Berline. This was the favourite +travelling carriage of the eighteenth century, and consisted of a close +carriage or coach proper, with arrangements on the top for luggage, and +behind it another seat open, but provided with a large leathern hood, +and in front another place for the coachman and his companions. Each +seat was wide enough to hold three persons, and thus within sat Madame +de Bourke, her brother-in-law, the two children, Arthur Hope, and +Mademoiselle Julienne, an elderly woman of the artisan class, femme de +chambre to the Countess. Victorine, who was attendant on the children, +would travel under the hood with two more maids; and the front seat +would be occupied by the coachman, Laurence Callaghan--otherwise La +Jeunesse, and Maitre Hebert, the maitre d'hotel. Fain would Arthur +have shared their elevation, so far as ease and comfort of mind and +body went, and the Countess's wishes may have gone the same way; but +besides that it would have been an insult to class him with the +servants, the horses of the home establishment, driven by their own +coachman, took the party the first stage out of Paris; and though +afterwards the post-horses or mules, six in number, would be ridden by +their own postilions, there was such an amount of luggage as to leave +little or no space for a third person outside. + +It had been a perfect sight to see the carriage packed; when Arthur, +convoyed by Lord Nithsdale, arrived in the courtyard of the Hotel de +Varennes. Madame de Bourke was taking with her all the paraphernalia +of an ambassador--a service of plate, in a huge chest stowed under the +seat, a portrait of Philip V., in a gold frame set with diamonds, being +included among her jewellery--and Lord Nithsdale, standing by, could +not but drily remark, 'Yonder is more than we brought with us, Arthur.' + +The two walked up and down the court together, unwilling to intrude on +the parting which, as they well knew, would be made in floods of tears. +Sad enough indeed it was, for Madame de Varennes was advanced in years, +and her daughter had not only to part with her, but with the baby +Jacques, for an unknown space of time; but the self-command and +restraint of grief for the sake of each other was absolutely unknown. +It was a point of honour and sentiment to weep as much as possible, and +it would have been regarded as frigid and unnatural not to go on crying +too much to eat or speak for a whole day beforehand, and at least two +afterwards. + +So when the travellers descended the steps to take their seats, each +face was enveloped in a handkerchief, and there were passionate +embraces, literal pressings to the breast, and violent sobs, as each +victim, one after the other, ascended the carriage steps and fell back +on the seat; while in the background, Honor Callaghan was uttering +Irish wails over the Abbe and Laurence, and the lamentable sound set +the little lap-dog and the big watch-dog howling in chorus. Arthur +Hope, probably as miserable as any of them in parting with his friend +and hero, was only standing like a stake, and an embarrassed stake (if +that be possible), and Lord Nithsdale, though anxious for him, heartily +pitying all, was nevertheless haunted by a queer recollection of Lance +and his dog, and thinking that French dogs were not devoid of sympathy, +and that the part of Crab was left for Arthur. + +However, the last embrace was given, and the ladies were all packed in, +while the Abbe with his breast heaving with sobs, his big hat in one +hand, and a huge silk pocket-handkerchief in the other, did not forget +his manners, but waved to Arthur to ascend the steps first. +'Secretary, not guest. You must remember that another time,' said Lord +Nithsdale. 'God bless you, my dear lad, and bring you safe back to +bonny Scotland, a true and leal heart.' + +Arthur wrung his friend's hand once more, and disappeared into the +vehicle; Nurse Honor made one more rush, and uttered another 'Ohone' +over Abbe Phelim, who followed into the carriage; the door was shut; +there was a last wail over 'Lanty, the sunbeam of me heart,' as he +climbed to the box seat; the harness jingled; coachman and postilions +cracked their whips, the impatient horses dashed out at the porte +cochere; and Arthur, after endeavouring to dispose of his legs, looked +about him, and saw, opposite to him, Madame de Bourke lying back in the +corner in a transport of grief, one arm round her daughter, and her +little son lying across her lap, both sobbing and crying; and on one +side of him the Abbe, sunk in his corner, his yellow silk handkerchief +over his face; on the other, Mademoiselle Julienne, who was crying too, +but with more moderation, perhaps more out of propriety or from +infection than from actual grief: at any rate she had more of her +senses about her than any one else, and managed to dispose of the +various loose articles that had been thrown after the travellers, in +pockets and under cushions. Arthur would have assisted, but only +succeeded in treading on various toes and eliciting some small shrieks, +which disconcerted him all the more, and made Mademoiselle Julienne +look daggers at him, as she relieved her lady of little Ulysse, lifting +him to her own knee, where, as he was absolutely exhausted with crying, +he fell asleep. + +Arthur hoped the others would do the same, and perhaps there was more +dozing than they would have confessed; but whenever there was a +movement, and some familiar object in the streets of Paris struck the +eye of Madame, the Abbe, or Estelle, there was a little cry, and they +went off on a fresh score. + +'Poor wretched weak creatures!' he said to himself, as he thought the +traditions of Scottish heroic women in whose heroism he had gloated. +And yet he was wrong: Madame de Bourke was capable of as much resolute +self-devotion as any of the ladies on the other side of the Channel, +but tears were a tribute required by the times. So she gave way to +them--just as no doubt the women of former days saw nothing absurd in +bottling them. + +Arthur's position among all these weeping figures was extremely +awkward, all the more so that he carried his sword upright between his +legs, not daring to disturb the lachrymose company enough to dispose of +it in the sword case appropriated to weapons. He longed to take out +the little pocket Virgil, which Lord Nithsdale had given him, so as to +have some occupation for his eyes, but he durst not, lest he should be +thought rude, till, at a halt at a cabaret to water the horses, the +striking of a clock reminded the Abbe that it was the time for reading +the Hours, and when the breviary was taken out, Arthur thought his book +might follow it. + +By and by there was a halt at Corbeil, where was the nunnery of Alice +Bourke, of whom her brother and sister-in-law were to take leave. +They, with the children, were set down there, while Arthur went on with +the carriage and servants to the inn to dine. + +It was the first visit of Ulysse to the convent, and he was much amazed +at peeping at his aunt's hooded face through a grating. However, the +family were admitted to dine in the refectory; but poor Madame de +Bourke was fit for nothing but to lie on a bed, attended affectionately +by her sister-in-law, Soeur Ste. Madeleine. + +'O sister, sister,' was her cry, 'I must say it to you--I would not to +my poor mother--that I have the most horrible presentiments I shall +never see her again, nor my poor child. No, nor my husband; I knew it +when he took leave of me for that terrible Spain.' + +'Yet you see he is safe, and you will be with him, sister,' returned +the nun. + +'Ah! that I knew I should! But think of those fearful Pyrenees, and +the bandits that infest them--and all the valuables we carry with us!' + +'Surely I heard that Marshal Berwick had offered you an escort.' + +'That will only attract the attention of the brigands and bring them in +greater force. O sister, sister, my heart sinks at the thought of my +poor children in the hands of those savages! I dream of them every +night.' + +'The suite of an ambassador is sacred.' + +'Ah! but what do they care for that, the robbers? I know destruction +lies that way!' + +'Nay, sister, this is not like you. You always were brave, and trusted +heaven, when you had to follow Ulick.' + +'Alas! never had I this sinking of heart, which tells me I shall be +torn from my poor children and never rejoin him.' + +Sister Ste. Madeleine caressed and prayed with the poor lady, and did +her utmost to reassure and comfort her, promising a neuvaine for her +safe journey and meeting with her husband. + +'For the children,' said the poor Countess. 'I know I never shall see +him more.' + +However, the cheerfulness of the bright Irish-woman had done her some +good, and she was better by the time she rose to pursue her journey. +Estelle and Ulysse had been much petted by the nuns, and when all met +again, to the great relief of Arthur, he found continuous weeping was +not de rigueur. When they got in again, he was able to get rid of his +sword, and only trod on two pair of toes, and got his legs twice +tumbled over. + +Moreover, Madame de Bourke had recovered the faculty of making pretty +speeches, and when the weapon was put into the sword case, she observed +with a sad little smile, 'Ah, Monsieur! we look to you as our +defender!' + +'And me too!' cried little Ulysse, making a violent demonstration with +his tiny blade, and so nearly poking out his uncle's eye that the +article was relegated to the same hiding-place as 'Monsieur Arture's,' +and the boy was assured that this was a proof of his manliness. + +He had quite recovered his spirits, and as his mother and sister were +still exhausted with weeping, he was not easy to manage, till Arthur +took heart of grace, and offering him a perch on his knee, let him look +out at the window, explaining the objects on the way, which were all +quite new to the little Parisian boy. Fortunately he spoke French +well, with scarcely any foreign accent, and his answers to the little +fellow's eager questions interspersed with observations on 'What they +do in my country,' not only kept Ulysse occupied, but gained Estelle's +attention, though she was too weary and languid, and perhaps, child as +she was, too much bound by the requirements of sympathy to manifest her +interest, otherwise than by moving near enough to listen. + +That evening the party reached the banks of one of the canals which +connected the rivers of France, and which was to convey them to the +Loire and thence to the Rhone, in a huge flat-bottomed barge, called a +coche d'eau, a sort of ark, with cabins, where travellers could be +fairly comfortable, space where the berlin could be stowed away in the +rear, and a deck with an awning where the passengers could disport +themselves. From the days of Sully to those of the Revolution, this +was by far the most convenient and secure mode of transport, especially +in the south of France. It was very convenient to the Bourke party; +who were soon established on the deck. The lady's dress was better +adapted to travelling than the full costume of Paris. It was what she +called en Amazone--namely, a clothe riding-habit faced with blue, with +a short skirt, with open coat and waistcoat, like a man's, hair +unpowdered and tied behind, and a large shady feathered hat. Estelle +wore a miniature of the same, and rejoiced in her freedom from the +whalebone stiffness of her Paris life, skipping about the deck with her +brother, like fairies, Lanty said, or, as she preferred to make it, +'like a nymph.' + +The water coach moved only by day, and was already arrived before the +land one brought the weary party to the meeting-place--a picturesque +water-side inn with a high roof, and a trellised passage down to the +landing-place, covered by a vine, hung with clusters of ripe grapes. + +Here the travellers supped on omelettes and vin ordinaire, and went off +to bed--Madame and her child in one bed, with the maids on the floor, +and in another room the Abbe and secretary, each in a grabat, the two +men-servants in like manner, on the floor. Such was the privacy of the +eighteenth century, and Arthur, used to waiting on himself, looked on +with wonder to see the Abbe like a baby in the hands of his faithful +foster-brother, who talked away in a queer mixture of Irish-English and +French all the time until they knelt down and said their prayers +together in Latin, to which Arthur diligently closed his Protestant +ears. + +Early the next morning the family embarked, the carriage having been +already put on board; and the journey became very agreeable as they +glided slowly, almost dreamily along, borne chiefly by the current, +although a couple of horses towed the barge by a rope on the bank, in +case of need, in places where the water was more sluggish, but nothing +more was wanting in the descent towards the Mediterranean. + +The accommodation was not of a high order, but whenever there was a +halt near a good inn, Madame de Bourke and the children landed for the +night. And in the fine days of early autumn the deck was delightful, +and to dine there on the provisions brought on board was a perpetual +feast to Estelle and Ulysse. + +The weather was beautiful, and there was a constant panorama of fair +sights and scenes. Harvest first, a perfectly new spectacle to the +children and then, as they went farther south, the vintage. The beauty +was great as they glided along the pleasant banks of Rhone. + +Tiers of vines on the hillsides were mostly cut and trimmed like +currant bushes, and disappointed Arthur, who had expected festoons on +trellises. But this was the special time for beauty. The whole +population, in picturesque costumes, were filling huge baskets with the +clusters, and snatches of their merry songs came pealing down to the +coche d'eau, as it quietly crept along. Towards evening groups were +seen with piled baskets on their heads, or borne between them, youths +and maidens crowned with vines, half-naked children dancing like little +Bacchanalians, which awoke classical recollections in Arthur and +delighted the children. + +Poor Madame de Bourke was still much depressed, and would sit dreaming +half the day, except when roused by some need of her children, some +question, or some appeal for her admiration. Otherwise, the lovely +heights, surmounted with tall towers, extinguisher-capped, of castle, +convent, or church, the clear reaches of river, the beautiful turns, +the little villages and towns gleaming white among the trees, seemed to +pass unseen before her eyes, and she might be seen to shudder when the +children pressed her to say how many days it would be before they saw +their father. + +An observer with a mind at ease might have been much entertained with +the airs and graces that the two maids, Rosette and Babette, lavished +upon Laurence, their only squire; for Maitre Hebert was far too distant +and elderly a person for their little coquetries. Rosette dealt in +little terrors, and, if he was at hand, durst not step across a plank +without his hand, was sure she heard wolves howling in the woods, and +that every peasant was 'ce barbare;' while Babette, who in conjunction +with Maitre Hebert acted cook in case of need, plied him with dainty +morsels, which he was only too apt to bestow on the beggars, or the +lean and hungry lad who attended on the horses. Victorine, on the +other hand, by far the prettiest and most sprightly of the three, +affected the most supreme indifference to him and his attentions, and +hardly deigned to give him a civil word, or to accept the cornflowers +and late roses he brought her from time to time. 'Mere weeds,' she +said. And the grapes and Queen Claude plums he brought her were always +sour. Yet a something deep blue might often be seen peeping above her +trim little apron. + +Not that Lanty had much time to disport himself in this fashion, for +the Abbe was his care, and was perfectly happy with a rod of his +arranging, with which to fish over the side. Little Ulysse was of +course fired with the same emulation, and dangled his line for an hour +together. Estelle would have liked to do the same, but her mother and +Mademoiselle Julienne considered the sport not convenable for a +demoiselle. Arthur was once or twice induced to try the Abbe's rod, +but he found it as mere a toy as that of the boy; and the mere action +of throwing it made his heart so sick with the contrast with the +'paidling in the burns' of his childhood, that he had no inclination to +continue the attempt, either in the slow canal or the broadening river. + +He was still very shy with the Countess, who was not in spirits to set +him at ease; and the Abbe puzzled him, as is often the case when +inexperienced strangers encounter unacknowledged deficiency. The +perpetual coaxing chatter, and undisguised familiarity of La Jeunesse +with the young ecclesiastic did not seem to the somewhat haughty cast +of his young Scotch mind quite becoming, and he held aloof; but with +the two children he was quite at ease, and was in truth their great +resource. + +He made Ulysse's fishing-rod, baited it, and held the boy when he used +it--nay, he once even captured a tiny fish with it, to the ecstatic +pity of both children. He played quiet games with them, and told them +stories--conversed on Telemaque with Estelle, or read to her from his +one book, which was Robinson Crusoe--a little black copy in pale print, +with the margins almost thumbed away, which he had carried in his +pocket when he ran away from school, and nearly knew by heart. + +Estelle was deeply interested in it, and varied in opinion whether she +should prefer Calypso's island or Crusoe's, which she took for as much +matter of fact as did, a century later, Madame Talleyrand, when, out of +civility to Mr. Robinson, she inquired after 'ce bon Vendredi.' + +She inclined to think she should prefer Friday to the nymphs. + +'A whole quantity of troublesome womenfolk to fash one,' said Arthur, +who had not arrived at the age of gallantry. + +'You would never stay there!' said Estelle; 'you would push us over the +rock like Mentor. I think you are our Mentor, for I am sure you tell +us a great deal, and you don't scold.' + +'Mentor was a cross old man,' said Ulysse. + +To which Estelle replied that he was a goddess; and Arthur very +decidedly disclaimed either character, especially the pushing over +rocks. And thus they glided on, spending a night in the great, busy, +bewildering city of Lyon, already the centre of silk industry; but more +interesting to the travellers as the shrine of the martyrdoms. All +went to pray at the Cathedral except Arthur. The time was not come for +heeding church architecture or primitive history; and he only wandered +about the narrow crooked streets, gazing at the toy piles of market +produce, and looking at the stalls of merchandise, but as one unable to +purchase. His mother had indeed contrived to send him twenty guineas, +but he knew that he must husband them well in case of emergencies, and +Lady Nithsdale had sewn them all up, except one, in a belt which he +wore under his clothes. + +He had arrived at the front of the Cathedral when the party came out. +Madame de Bourke had been weeping, but looked more peaceful than he had +yet seen her, and Estelle was much excited. She had bought a little +book, which she insisted on her Mentor's reading with her, though his +Protestant feelings recoiled. + +'Ah!' said Estelle, 'but you are not Christian.' + +'Yes, truly, Mademoiselle.' + +'And these died for the Christian faith. Do you know mamma said it +comforted her to pray there; for she was sure that whatever happened, +the good God can make us strong, as He made the young girl who sat in +the red-hot chair. We saw her picture, and it was dreadful. Do read +about her, Monsieur Arture.' + +They read, and Arthur had candour enough to perceive that this was the +simple primitive narrative of the death of martyrs struggling for +Christian truth, long ere the days of superstition and division. +Estelle's face lighted with enthusiasm. + +'Is it not noble to be a martyr?' she asked. + +'Oh!' cried Ulysse; 'to sit in a red-hot chair! It would be worse than +to be thrown off a rock! But there are no martyrs in these days, +sister?' he added, pressing up to Arthur as if for protection. + +'There are those who die for the right,' said Arthur, thinking of Lord +Derwentwater, who in Jacobite eyes was a martyr. + +'And the good God makes them strong,' said Estelle, in a low voice. +'Mamma told me no one could tell how soon we might be tried, and that I +was to pray that He would make us as brave as St. Blandina! What do +you think could harm us, Monsieur, when we are going to my dear papa?' + +It was Lanty who answered, from behind the Abbe, on whose angling +endeavours he was attending. 'Arrah then, nothing at all, +Mademoiselle. Nothing in the four corners of the world shall hurt one +curl of your blessed little head, while Lanty Callaghan is to the +fore.' + +'Ah! but you are not God, Lanty,' said Estelle gravely; 'you cannot +keep things from happening.' + +'The Powers forbid that I should spake such blasphemy!' said Lanty, +taking off his hat. ''Twas not that I meant, but only that poor Lanty +would die ten thousand deaths--worse than them as was thrown to the +beasts--before one of them should harm the tip of that little finger of +yours!' + +Perhaps the same vow was in Arthur's heart, though not spoken in such +strong terms. + +Thus they drifted on till the old city of Avignon rose on the eyes of +the travellers, a dark pile of buildings where the massive houses, +built round courts, with few external windows, recalled that these had +once been the palaces of cardinals accustomed to the Italian city +feuds, which made every house become a fortress. + +On the wharf stood a gentleman in a resplendent uniform of blue and +gold, whom the children hailed with cries of joy and outstretched arms, +as their uncle. The Marquis de Varennes was soon on board, embracing +his sister and her children, and conducting them to one of the great +palaces, where he had rooms, being then in garrison. Arthur followed, +at a sign from the lady, who presented him to her brother as 'Monsieur +Arture'--a young Scottish gentleman who will do my husband the favour +of acting as his secretary. + +She used the word gentilhomme, which conveyed the sense of nobility of +blood, and the Marquis acknowledged the introduction with one of those +graceful bows that Arthur hated, because they made him doubly feel the +stiffness of his own limitation. He was glad to linger with Lanty, who +was looking in wonder at the grim buildings. + +'And did the holy Father live here?' said he. 'Faith, and 'twas a +quare taste he must have had; I wonder now if there would be vartue in +a bit of a stone from his palace. It would mightily please my old +mother if there were.' + +'I thought it was the wrong popes that lived here,' suggested Arthur. + +Lanty looked at him a moment as if in doubt whether to accept a heretic +suggestion, but the education received through the Abbe came to mind, +and he exclaimed - + +'May be you are in the right of it, sir; and I'd best let the stones +alone till I can tell which is the true and which is the false. By the +same token, little is the difference it would make to her, unless she +knew it; and if she did, she'd as soon I brought her a hair of the old +dragon's bristles.' + +Lanty found another day or two's journey bring him very nearly in +contact with the old dragon, for at Tarascon was the cave in which St. +Martha was said to have demolished the great dragon of Provence with +the sign of the cross. Madame de Bourke and her children made a devout +pilgrimage thereto; but when Arthur found that it was the actual Martha +of Bethany to whom the legend was appended, he grew indignant, and +would not accompany the party. 'It was a very different thing from the +martyrs of Lyon and Vienne! Their history was credible, but this--' + +'Speak not so loud, my friend,' said M. de Varennes. 'Their shrines +are equally good to console women and children.' + +Arthur did not quite understand the tone, nor know whether to be +gratified at being treated as a man, or to be shocked at the Marquis's +defection from his own faith. + +The Marquis, who was able to accompany his sister as far as Montpelier, +was amused at her two followers, Scotch and Irish, both fine young men- +-almost too fine, he averred. + +'You will have to keep a careful watch on them when you enter Germany, +sister,' he said, 'or the King of Prussia will certainly kidnap them +for his tall regiment of grenadiers.' + +'O brother, do not speak of any more dangers: I see quite enough +before me ere I can even rejoin my dear husband.' + +A very serious council was held between the brother and sister. The +French army under Marshal Berwick had marched across on the south side +on the Pyrenees, and was probably by this time in the county of +Rousillon, intending to besiege Rosas. Once with them all would be +well, but between lay the mountain roads, and the very quarter of Spain +that had been most unwilling to accept French rule. + +The Marquis had been authorised to place an escort at his sister's +service, but though the numbers might guard her against mere mountain +banditti, they would not be sufficient to protect her from hostile +troops, such as might only too possibly be on the way to encounter +Berwick. The expense and difficulty of the journey on the mountain +roads would likewise be great, and it seemed advisable to avoid these +dangers by going by sea. Madame de Bourke eagerly acceded to this +plan, her terror of the wild Pyrenean passes and wilder inhabitants had +always been such that she was glad to catch at any means of avoiding +them, and she had made more than one voyage before. + +Estelle was gratified to find they were to go by sea, since Telemachus +did so in a Phoenician ship, and, in that odd dreamy way in which +children blend fiction and reality, wondered if they should come on +Calypso's island; and Arthur, who had read the Odyssey, delighted her +and terrified Ulysse with the cave of Polyphemus. M. de Varennes could +only go with his sister as far as Montpelier. Then he took leave of +her, and the party proceeded along the shores of the lagoons, in the +carriage to the seaport of Cette, one of the old Greek towns of the +Gulf of Lyon, and with a fine harbour full of ships. Maitre Hebert was +sent to take a passage on board of one, while his lady and her party +repaired to an inn, and waited all the afternoon before he returned +with tidings that he could find no French vessel about to sail for +Spain, but that there was a Genoese tartane, bound for Barcelona, on +which Madame la Comtesse could secure a passage for herself and her +suite, and which would take her thither in twenty-four hours. + +The town was full of troops, waiting a summons to join Marshal +Berwick's army. Several resplendent officers had already paid their +respects to Madame l'Ambassadrice, and they concurred in the advice, +unless she would prefer waiting for the arrival of one of the French +transports which were to take men and provisions to the army in Spain. + +This, however, she declined, and only accepted the services of the +gentlemen so far as to have her passports renewed, as was needful, +since they were to be conveyed by the vessel of an independent power, +though always an ally of France. + +The tartane was a beautiful object, a one-decked, single-masted vessel, +with a long bowsprit, and a huge lateen sail like a wing, and the +children fell in love with her at first sight. Estelle was quite sure +that she was just such a ship as Mentor borrowed for Telemachus; but +the poor maids were horribly frightened, and Babette might be heard +declaring she had never engaged herself to be at the mercy of the +waves, like a bit of lemon peel in a glass of eau sucree. + +'You may return,' said Madame de Bourke. 'I compel no one to share our +dangers and hardships.' + +But Babette threw herself on her knees, and declared that nothing +should ever separate her from Madame! She was a good creature, but she +could not deny herself the luxury of the sobs and tears that showed to +all beholders the extent of her sacrifice. + +Madame de Bourke knew that there would be considerable discomfort in a +vessel so little adapted for passengers, and with only one small cabin, +which the captain, who spoke French, resigned to her use. It would +only, however, be for a short time, and though it was near the end of +October, the blue expanse of sea was calm as only the Mediterranean can +be, so that she trusted that no harm would result to those who would +have to spend the night on dock. + +It was a beautiful evening which the little Genoese vessel left the +harbour and Cette receded in the distance, looking fairer the farther +it was left behind. The children were put to bed as soon as they could +be persuaded to cease from watching the lights in the harbour and the +phosphorescent wake of the vessel in the water. + +That night and the next day were pleasant and peaceful; there was no +rough weather, and little sickness among the travellers. Madame de +Bourke congratulated herself on having escaped the horrors of the +Pyrenean journey, and the Genoese captain assured her that unless the +weather should change rapidly, they would wake in sight of the Spanish +coast the next morning. If the sea were not almost too calm, they +would be there already. The evening was again so delightful that the +children were glad to hear that they would have again to return by sea, +and Arthur, who somewhat shrank from his presentation to the Count, +regretted that the end of the voyage was so near, though Ulysse assured +him that 'Mon papa would love him, because he could tell such charming +stories,' and Lanty testified that 'M. le Comte was a mighty friendly +gentleman.' + +Arthur was lying asleep on deck, wrapped in his cloak, when he was +awakened by a commotion among the sailors. He started up and found +that it was early morning, the sun rising above the sea, and the +sailors all gazing eagerly in that direction. He eagerly made his way +to ask if they were in sight of land, recollecting, however, as he made +the first step, that Spain lay to the west of them--not to the east. + +He distinguished the cry from the Genoese sailors, 'Ii Moro--Il Moro,' +in tones of horror and consternation, and almost at the same moment +received a shock from Maitre Hebert, who came stumbling against him. + +'Pardon, pardon, Monsieur; I go to prepare Madame! It's the accursed +Moors. Let me pass--misericorde, what will become of us?' + +Arthur struggled on in search of such of the crew as could speak +French, but all were in too much consternation to attend to him, and he +could only watch that to which their eyes were directed, a white sail, +bright in the morning light, coming up with a rapidity strange and +fearful in its precision, like a hawk pouncing on its prey, for it did +not depend on its sails alone, but was propelled by oars. + +The next moment Madame de Bourke was on deck, holding by the Abbe's +arm, and Estelle, her hair on her shoulders, clinging to her. She +looked very pale, but her calmness was in contrast to the Italian +sailors, who were throwing themselves with gestures of despair, +screaming out vows to the Madonna and saints, and shouting +imprecations. The skipper came to speak to her. 'Madame,' he said, 'I +implore you to remain in your cabin. After the first, you and all +yours will be safe. They cannot harm a French subject; alas! alas +would it were so with us.' + +'How then will it be with you?' she asked. + +He made a gesture of deprecation. + +'For me it will be ruin; for my poor fellows slavery; that is, if we +survive the onset. Madame, I entreat of you, take shelter in the +cabin, yourself and all yours. None can answer for what the first rush +of these fiends may be! Diavoli! veri diavola! Ah! for which of my +sins is it that after fifty voyages I should be condemned to lose my +all?' + +A fresh outburst of screams from the crew summoned the captain. 'They +are putting out the long-boat,' was the cry; 'they will board us!' + +'Madame! I entreat of you, shut yourself into the cabin.' + +And the four maids in various stages of deshabille, adding their cries +to those of the sailors, tried to drag her in, but she looked about for +Arthur. 'Come with us, Monsieur,' she said quietly, for after all her +previous depressions and alarms, her spirit rose to endurance in the +actual stress of danger. 'Come with us, I entreat of you,' she said. +'You are named in our passports, and the treaties are such that neither +French nor English subjects can be maltreated nor enslaved by these +wretches. As the captain says, the danger is only in the first +attack.' + +'I will protect you, Madame, with my life,' declared Arthur, drawing +his sword, as his cheeks and eyes lighted. + +'Ah, put that away. What could you do but lose your own?' cried the +lady. 'Remember, you have a mother--' + +The Genoese captain here turned to insist that Madame and all the women +should shut themselves instantly into the cabin. Estelle dragged hard +at Arthur's hand, with entreaties that he would come, but he lifted her +down the ladder, and then closed the door on her, Lanty and he being +both left outside. + +'To be shut into a hole like a rat in a trap when there's blows to the +fore, is more than flesh could stand,' said Lanty, who had seized on a +hand-spike and was waving it about his head, true shillelagh fashion, +by hereditary instinct in one who had never behold a faction fight, in +what ought to have been his native land. + +The Genoese captain looked at him as a madman, and shouted in a +confused mixture of French and Italian to lay down his weapon. + +'Quei cattivi--ces scelerats were armed to the teeth--would fire. All +lie flat on the deck.' + +The gesture spoke for itself. With a fearful howl all the Italians +dropped flat; but neither Scotch nor Irish blood brooked to follow +their example, or perhaps fully perceived the urgency of the need, till +a volley of bullets were whistling about their ears, though happily +without injury, the mast and the rigging having protected them, for the +sail was riddled with holes, and the smoke dimmed their vision as the +report sounded in their ears. In another second the turbaned, +scimitared figures were leaping on board. The Genoese still lay flat +offering no resistance, but Lanty and Arthur stood on either side of +the ladder, and hurled back the two who first approached; but four or +five more rushed upon them, and they would have been instantly cut +down, had it not been for a shout from the Genoese, 'Franchi! +Franchi!' At that magic word, which was evidently understood, the +pirates only held the two youths tightly, vituperating them no doubt in +bad Arabic,--Lanty grinding his teeth with rage, though scarcely +feeling the pain of the two sabre cuts he had received, and pouring +forth a volley of exclamations, chiefly, however, directed against the +white-livered spalpeens of sailors, who had not lifted so much as a +hand to help him. Fortunately no one understood a word he said but +Arthur, who had military experience enough to know there was nothing +for it but to stand still in the grasp of his captor, a wiry-looking +Moor, with a fez and a striped sash round his waist. + +The leader, a sturdy Turk in a dirty white turban, with a huge sabre in +his hand, was listening to the eager words, poured out with many +gesticulations by the Genoese captain, in a language utterly +incomprehensible to the Scot, but which was the lingua Franca of the +Mediterranean ports. + +It resulted in four men being placed on guard at the hatchway leading +to the cabin, while all the rest, including Arthur, Hebert, Laurence, +were driven toward the prow, and made to understand by signs that they +must not move on peril of their lives. A Tuck was placed at the helm, +and the tartane's head turned towards the pirate captor; and all the +others, who were not employed otherwise, began to ransack the vessel +and feast on the provisions. Some hams were thrown overboard, with +shouts of evident scorn as belonging to the unclean beast, but the wine +was eagerly drank, and Maitre Hebert uttered a wail of dismay as he saw +five Moors gorging large pieces of his finest pate. + + + +CHAPTER IV--WRECKED + + + + 'They had na sailed upon the sea + A day but barely three, +When the lift grew dark and the wind blew cauld + And gurly grew the sea. + + 'Oh where will I find a little wee boy + Will tak my helm in hand, + Till I gae up to my top mast + And see for some dry land.' +SIR PATRICK SPENS. + +It was bad enough on the deck of the unfortunate Genoese tartane, but +far worse below, where eight persons were shut into the stifling +atmosphere of the cabin, deprived of the knowledge of what was going on +above, except from the terrific sounds they heard. Estelle, on being +shut into the cabin, announced that the Phoenician ship was taken by +the vessels of Sesostris, but this did not afford any one else the same +satisfaction as she appeared to derive from it. Babette and Rosette +were echoing every scream of the crew, and quite certain that all would +be massacred, and little Ulysse, wakened by the hubbub, rolled round in +his berth and began to cry. + +Madame de Bourke, very white, but quite calm, insisted on silence and +then said, 'I do not think the danger is very great to ourselves if you +will keep silence and not attract attention. But our hope is in +Heaven. My brother, will you lead our prayers? Recite our office.' +Obediently the Abbe fell on his knees, and his example was followed by +the others. His voice went monotonously on throughout with the Latin. +The lady, no doubt, followed in her heart, and she made the responses +as did the others, fitfully; but her hands and eyes were busy, looking +to the priming of two small pistols, which she took out of her jewel +case, and the sight of which provoked fresh shrieks from the maids. +Mademoiselle Julienne meantime was dressing Ulysse, and standing guard +over him, Estelle watching all with eager bright eyes, scarcely +frightened, but burning to ask questions, from which her uncle's +prayers debarred her. + +At the volley of shot, Rosette was reduced to quiet by a swoon, but +Victorine, screaming that the wretches would have killed Laurent, would +have rushed on deck, had not her mistress forcibly withheld her. There +ensued a prodigious yelling and howling, trampling and scuffling, then +the sounds of strange languages in vituperation or command, steps +coming down the ladder, sounds of altercation, retreat, splashes in the +sea, the feeling that the ship was put about--and ever the trampling, +the wild cries of exultation, which over and over again made the +prisoners feel choked with the horror of some frightful crisis close at +hand. And all the time they were in ignorance, their little window in +the stern showed them nothing but sea; and even if Madame de Bourke's +determination had not hindered Victorine from peeping out of the cabin, +whether prison or fortress, the Moorish sentries outside kept the door +closed. + +How long this continued was scarcely to be guessed. It was hours by +their own feelings; Ulysse began to cry from hunger, and his mother +gave him and Estelle some cakes that were within reach. Mademoiselle +Julienne begged her lady to share the repast, reminding her that she +would need all her strength. The Abbe, too, was hungry enough, and +some wine and preserved fruits coming to light all the prisoners made a +meal which heartened most of them considerably; although the heat was +becoming terrible, as the sun rose higher in the sky, and very little +air could be obtained through the window, so that poor Julienne could +not eat, and Rosette fell into a heavy sleep in the midst of her sighs. +Even Estelle, who had got out her Telemaque, like a sort of oracle in +the course of being verified, was asleep over it, when fresh noises and +grating sounds were board, new steps on deck, and there were steps and +voices. The Genoese captain was heard exclaiming, 'Open, Madame! you +can do so safely. This is the Algerine captain, who is bound to +protect you.' + +The maids huddled together behind their lady, who stood forward as the +door opened to admit a stout, squarely-built man in the typical dress +of a Turk,--white turban, purple coat, broad sash crammed with weapons, +and ample trousers,--a truculent-looking figure which made the maids +shudder and embrace one another with suppressed shrieks, but which +somehow, even in the midst of his Eastern salaam, gave the Countess a +sense that he was acting a comedy, and carried her involuntarily back +to the Moors whom she had seen in the Cid on the stage. And looking +again, she perceived that though brown and weather-beaten, there was a +certain Northern ruddiness inherent in his complexion; that his eyes +were gray, so far as they were visible between the surrounding puckers; +and his eyebrows, moustache, and beard not nearly so dark as the hair +of the Genoese who stood cringing beside him as interpreter. She +formed her own conclusions and adhered to them, though he spoke in bad +Arabic to the skipper, who proceeded to explain that El Reis Hamed +would offer no injury to Madame la Comtesse, her suite or property, +being bound by treaty between the Dey and the King of France, but that +he required to see her passport. There was a little blundering in the +Italian's French rendering, and Madame de Bourke was quick to detect +the perception of it in the countenance of the Reis, stolid though it +was. She felt no doubt that he was a renegade of European birth, and +watched, with much anxiety as well as curiosity, his manner of dealing +with her passports, which she would not let out of her own hand. She +saw in a moment that though he let the Genoese begin to interpret them, +his eyes were following intelligently; and she hazarded the +observation, 'You understand, sir. You are Frank.' + +He turned one startled glance towards the door to see if there were any +listeners, and answered, 'Hollander, Madame.' + +The Countess had travelled with diplomatists all her life, and knew a +little of the vernacular of most languages, and it was in Dutch--broken +indeed, but still Dutch--that she declared that she was sure that she +might rely on his protection--a security which in truth she was far +from feeling; for while some of these unfortunate men, renegades only +from weakness, yearned after their compatriots and their lost home and +faith, others out-heroded the Moors themselves in ferocity, especially +towards the Christian captives; nor was a Dutchman likely to have any +special tenderness in his composition, above all towards the French. +However, there was a certain smile on the lips of Reis Hamed, and he +answered with a very hearty, 'Ja! ja! Madame. Upon my soul I will let +no harm come to you or the pretty little ones, nor the young vrouwkins +either, if they will keep close. You are safe by treaty. A Reis would +have to pay a heavy reckoning with Mehemed Dey if a French ambassador +had to complain of him, and you will bear me witness, Madame, that I +have not touched a hair of any of your heads!' + +'I am sure you wish me well, sir,' said Madame de Bourke in a dignified +way, 'but I require to be certified of the safety of the rest of my +suite, my steward, my lackey, and my husband's secretary, a young +gentleman of noble birth.' + +'They are safe, Madame. This Italian slave can bear me witness that no +creature has been harmed since my crew boarded this vessel.' + +'I desire then that they may be released, as being named in my +passport.' + +To this the Dutchman consented. + +Whereupon the skipper began to wring his hands, and piteously to +beseech Madame to intercede for him, but the Dutchman cut him short +before she could speak. 'Dog of an Italian, the lady knows better! +You and your fellows are our prize--poor enough after all the trouble +you have given us in chasing you.' + +Madame de Bourke spoke kindly to the poor man, telling him that though +she could do nothing for him now, it was possible that she might when +she should have rejoined her husband, and she then requested the Reis +to land her and her suite in his long-boat on the Spanish coast, which +could be seen in the distance, promising him ample reward if he could +do so. + +To this he replied: 'Madame, you ask what would be death to me.' + +He went on to explain that if he landed her on Christian ground, +without first presenting her and her passport to the Dey and the French +Consul, his men might represent him as acting in the interests of the +Christians, and as a traitor to the Algerine power, by taking a bribe +from a person belonging to a hostile state, in which case the bowstring +would be the utmost mercy he could expect; and the reigning Dey, +Mehemed, having been only recently chosen, it was impossible to guess +how he might deal with such cases. Once at Algiers, he assured Madame +de Bourke that she would have nothing to fear, as she would be under +the protection of the French Consul; and she had no choice but to +submit, though much concerned for the continued anxiety to her husband, +as well as the long delay and uncertainty of finding him. + +Still, when she perceived that it was inevitable, she complained no +more, and the Dutchman went on with a certain bluff kindness--as one +touched by her courtesy--to offer her the choice of remaining in the +tartane or coming on board his larger vessel. The latter he did not +recommend, as he had a crew of full two hundred Turks and Moors, and it +would be necessary to keep herself and all her women as closely as +possible secluded in the cabins; and even then, he added, that if once +seen he could hardly answer for some of those corsairs not endeavouring +to secure a fair young Frank girl for his harem; and as his eye fell on +Rosette, she bridled and hid herself behind Mademoiselle Julienne. + +He must, he said, remove all the Genoese, but he would send on board +the tartane only seven men on whom he could perfectly depend for +respectful behaviour, so that the captives would be able to take the +air on deck as freely as before. There was no doubt that he was in +earnest, and the lady accepted his offer with thanks, all the stronger +since she and all around her were panting and sick for want of fresh +air. + +It was a great relief when he took her on deck with him that she might +identify the three men whom she claimed as belonging to her suite. +Arthur, Lanty, and Hebert, who, in their vague knowledge of the +circumstances, had been dreading the oar for the rest of their lives, +could hardly believe their good fortune when she called them up to her, +and the Abbe gripped Lanty's arm as if he would never let him go again. +The poor Italians seemed to feel their fate all the harder for the +deliverance of those three, and sobbed, howled, and wept so piteously +that Arthur wondered how strong men could so give way, while Lanty's +tears sprang forth in sympathy, and he uttered assurances and made +signs that he would never cease to pray for their rescue. + +'Though,' as he observed, 'they were poor creatures that hadn't the +heart of a midge, when there was such a chance of a fight while the +haythen spalpeens were coming on board.' + +Here Lanty was called on to assist Hebert in identifying his lady's +bales of goods, when all those of the unfortunate Genoese were put on +board the corsair's vessel. A sail-cloth partition was extended across +the deck by the care of the Dutchman, 'who'--as Lanty said--'for a +haythen apostate was a very dacent man.' He evidently had a strong +compassion and fellow-feeling for the Christian lady, and assured her +that she might safely take the air and sit on deck as much as she +pleased behind its shelter; and he likewise carefully selected the +seven of his crew whom he sent on board to work the ship, the chief +being a heavy-looking old Turk, with a chocolate-coloured visage +between a huge white beard and eyebrows, and the others mere lads, +except one, who, from an indefinable European air about him, was +evidently a renegade, and could speak a sort of French, so as to hold +communication with the captives, especially Lanty, who was much quicker +than any of the rest in picking up languages, perhaps from having from +his infancy talked French and English (or rather Irish), and likewise +learnt Latin with his foster-brother. This man was the only one +permitted to go astern of the partition, in case of need, to attend to +the helm; but the vessel was taken in tow by the corsair, and needed +little management. The old Turk seemed to regard the Frankish women +like so many basilisks, and avoided turning a glance in their +direction, roaring at his crew if he only saw them approaching the +sail-cloth, and keeping a close watch upon the lithe black-eyed youths, +whose brown limbs carried them up the mast with the agility of monkeys. +There was one in especial--a slight, well-made fellow about twenty, +with a white turban cleaner than the rest--who contrived to cast +wonderful glances from the masthead over the barrier at Rosette, who +actually smiled in return at ce pauvre garcon, and smiled the more for +Mademoiselle Julienne's indignation. Suddenly, however, a shrill shout +made him descend hastily, and the old Turk's voice might be heard in +its highest key, no doubt shrieking out maledictions on all the +ancestry of the son of a dog who durst defile his eyes with gazing at +the shameless daughters of the Frank. Little Ulysse was, however, +allowed to disport himself wherever he pleased; and after once, under +Arthur's protection, going forward, he found himself made very welcome, +and offered various curiosities, such as shells, corals, and a curious +dried little hippocampus or seahorse. + +This he brought back in triumph, to the extreme delight of his sister's +classical mind. 'Oh mamma, mamma,' she cried, 'Ulysse really has got +the skeleton of a Triton. It is exactly like the stone creatures in +the Champs Elysees.' + +There was no denying the resemblance, and it so increased the confusion +in Estelle's mind between the actual and the mythological, that Arthur +told her that she was looking out for the car of Amphitrite to arise +from the waters. Anxiety and trouble had made him much better +acquainted with Madame de Bourke, who was grateful to him for his +kindness to her children, and not without concern as to whether she +should be able to procure his release as well as her own at Algiers. +For Laurence Callaghan she had no fears, since he was born at Paris, +and a naturalised French subject like her husband and his brother; but +Arthur was undoubtedly a Briton, and unless she could pass him off as +one of her suite, it would depend on the temper of the English Consul +whether he should be viewed as a subject or as a rebel, or simply left +to captivity until his Scottish relations should have the choice of +ransoming him. + +She took a good deal of pains to explain the circumstances to him as +well as to all who could understand them; for though she hoped to keep +all together, and to be able to act for them herself, no one could +guess how they might be separated, and she could not shake off that +foreboding of misfortune which had haunted her from the first. + +The kingdom of Algiers was, she told them, tributary to the Turkish +Sultan, who kept a guard of Janissaries there, from among whom they +themselves elected the Dey. He was supposed to govern by the consent +of a divan, but was practically as despotic as any Eastern sovereign; +and the Aga of the Janissaries was next in authority to him. Piracy on +the Mediterranean was, as all knew, the chief occupation of the Turks +and Moors of any spirit or enterprise, a Turk being in authority in +each vessel to secure that the Sultan had his share, and that the +capture was so conducted as not to involve Turkey in dangerous wars +with European powers. Capture by the Moors had for several centuries +been one of the ordinary contingencies of a voyage, and the misfortune +that had happened to the party was not at all an unusual one. + +In 1687, however, the nuisance had grown to such a height that Admiral +Du Quesne bombarded the town of Algiers, and destroyed all the +fortifications, peace being only granted on condition that a French +Consul should reside at Algiers, and that French ships and subjects +should be exempt from this violence of the corsairs. + +The like treaties existed with the English, but had been very little +heeded by the Algerines till recently, when the possession of Gibraltar +and Minorca had provided harbours for British ships, which exercised a +salutary supervision over these Southern sea-kings. The last Dey, Baba +Hali, had been a wise and prudent man, anxious to repress outrage, and +to be on good terms with the two great European powers; but he had died +in the spring of the current year, 1718, and the temper of his +successor, Mehemed, had not yet been proved. + +Madame de Bourke had some trust in the Dutch Reis, renegade though he +was. She had given him her beautiful watch, set with brilliants, and +he had taken it with a certain gruff reluctance, declaring that he did +not want it,--he was ready enough to serve her without such a toy. + +Nevertheless the lady thought it well to impress on each and all, in +case of any separation or further disaster, that their appeal must be +to the French Consul, explaining minutely the forms in which it should +be made. + +'I cannot tell you,' she said to Arthur, 'how great a comfort it is to +me to have with me a gentleman, one of intelligence and education to +whom I can confide my poor children. I know you will do your utmost to +protect them and restore them to their father.' + +'With my very heart's blood, Madame.' + +'I hope that may not be asked of you, Monsieur,' she returned with a +faint smile,--'though I fear there may be much of perplexity and +difficulty in the way before again rejoining him. You see where I have +placed our passports? My daughter knows it likewise; but in case of +their being taken from you, or any other accident happening to you, I +have written these two letters, which you had better bear about your +person. One is, as you see, to our Consul at Algiers, and may serve as +credentials; the other is to my husband, to whom I have already written +respecting you.' + +'A thousand thanks, Madame,' returned Arthur. 'But I hope and trust we +may all reach M. le Comte in safety together. You yourself said that +you expected only a brief detention before he could be communicated +with, and this captain, renegade though he be, evidently has a respect +for you.' + +'That is quite true,' she returned, 'and it may only be my foolish +heart that forebodes evil; nevertheless, I cannot but recollect that +c'est l'imprevu qui arrive.' + +'Then, Madame, that is the very reason there should be no misfortune,' +returned Arthur. + +It was on the second day after the capture of the tartane that the sun +set in a purple angry-looking bank of cloud, and the sea began to heave +in a manner which renewed the earlier distresses of the voyage to such +as were bad sailors. The sails both of the corsair and of the tartane +were taken in, and it was plain that a rough night was to be expected. +The children were lashed into their berths, and all prepared themselves +to endure. The last time Arthur saw Madame de Bourke's face, by the +light of the lamp swinging furiously from the cabin roof, as he +assisted in putting in the dead lights, it bore the same fixed +expression of fortitude and resignation as when she was preparing to be +boarded by the pirates. + +He remained on deck, but it was very perilous, for the vessel was so +low in the water that the waves dashed over it so wildly that he could +hardly help being swept away. It was pitch dark, too, and the lantern +of the other vessel could only just be seen, now high above their +heads, now sinking in the trouble of the sea, while the little tartane +was lifted up as though on a mountain; and in a kind of giddy dream, he +thought of falling headlong upon her deck. Finally he found himself +falling. Was he washed overboard? No; a sharp blow showed him that he +had only fallen down the hatchway, and after lying still a moment, he +heard the voices of Lanty and Hebert, and presently they were all +tossed together by another lurch of the ship. + +It was a night of miseries that seemed endless, and when a certain +amount of light appeared, and Arthur and Lanty crawled upon deck, the +tempest was unabated. They found themselves still dashed, as if their +vessel were a mere cork, on the huge waves; rushes of water coming over +them, whether from sea or sky there was no knowing, for all seemed +blended together in one mass of dark lurid gray; and where was the +Algerine ship--so lately their great enemy, now watched for as their +guide and guardian? + +It was no place nor time for questions, even could they have been heard +or understood. It was scarcely possible even to be heard by one +another, and it was some time before they convinced themselves that the +large vessel had disappeared. The cable must have parted in the night, +and they were running with bare poles before the gale; the seamanship +of the man at the helm being confined to avoiding the more direct blows +of the waves, on the huge crests of which the little tartane rode-- +gallantly perhaps in mariners' eyes, but very wretchedly to the +feelings of the unhappy landsmen within her. + +Arthur thought of St. Paul, and remembered with dismay that it was many +days before sun or moon appeared. He managed to communicate his +recollection to Lanty, who exclaimed, 'And he was a holy man, and he +was a prisoner too. He will feel for us if any man can in this sore +strait! Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis. An' haven't I got the blessed +scapulary about me neck that will bring me through worse than this?' + +The three managed to get down to tell the unfortunate inmates of the +cabin what was the state of things, and to carry them some food, though +at the expense of many falls and severe blows; and almost all of them +were too faint or nauseated to be able to swallow such food as could +survive the transport under such circumstances. Yet high-spirited +little Estelle entreated to be carried on deck, to see what a storm was +like. She had read of them so often, and wanted to see as well as to +feel. She was almost ready to cry when Arthur assured her it was quite +impossible, and her mother added a grave order not to trouble him. + +Madame de Bourke looked so exhausted by the continual buffeting and the +closeness of the cabin, and her voice was so weak, that Arthur grieved +over the impossibility of giving her any air. Julienne tried to make +her swallow some eau de vie; but the effort of steadying her hand +seemed too much for her, and after a terrible lurch of the ship, which +lodged the poor bonne in the opposite corner of the cabin, the lady +shook her head and gave up the attempt. Indeed, she seemed so worn out +that Arthur--little used to the sight of fainting--began to fear that +her forebodings of dying before she could rejoin her husband were on +the point of being realised. + +However, the gale abated towards evening, and the youth himself was so +much worn out that the first respite was spent in sleep. When he +awoke, the sea was much calmer, and the eastern sun was rising in glory +over it; the Turks, with their prayer carpets in a line, were +simultaneously kneeling and bowing in prayer, with their faces turned +towards it. Lanty uttered an only too emphatic curse upon the +misbelievers, and Arthur vainly tried to make him believe that their +'Allah il Allah' was neither addressed to Mohammed nor the sun. + +'Sure and if not, why did they make their obeisance to it all one as +the Persians in the big history-book Master Phelim had at school?' + +'It's to the east they turn Lanty, not to the sun.' + +'And what right have the haythen spalpeens to turn to the east like +good Christians?' + +''Tis to their Prophet's tomb they look, at Mecca.' + +'There, an' I tould you they were no better than haythens,' returned +Lanty, 'to be praying and knocking their heads on the bare boards--that +have as much sense as they have--to a dead man's tomb.' + +Arthur's Scotch mind thought the Moors might have had the best of it in +argument when he recollected Lanty's trust in his scapulary. + +They tried to hold a conversation with the Reis, between lingua Franca +and the Provencal of the renegade; and they came to the conclusion that +no one had the least idea where they were, or where they were going; +the ship's compass had been broken in the boarding, and there was no +chart more available than the little map in the beginning of Estelle's +precious copy of Telemaque. The Turkish Reis did not trouble himself +about it, but squatted himself down with his chibouque, abandoning all +guidance of the ship, and letting her drift at the will of wind and +wave, or, as he said, the will of Allah. When asked where he thought +she was going, he replied with solemn indifference, 'Kismet;' and all +the survivors of the crew--for one had been washed overboard--seemed to +share his resignation. + +The only thing he did seem to care for was that if the infidel woman +chose to persist in coming on deck, the canvas screen--which had been +washed overboard--should be restored. This was done, and Madame de +Bourke was assisted to a couch that had been prepared for her with +cloaks, where the air revived her a little; but she listened with a +faint smile to the assurances of Arthur, backed by Hebert, that this +abandonment to fate gave the best chance. They might either be picked +up by a Christian vessel or go ashore on a Christian coast; but Madame +de Bourke did not build much on these hopes. She knew too well what +were the habits of wreckers of all nations, to think that it would make +much difference whether they were driven on the coast of Sicily or of +Africa--'barring,' as Lanty said, 'that they should get Christian +burial in the former case.' + +'We are in the hands of a good God. That at least we know,' said the +Countess. 'And He can hear us through, whether for life in Paradise, +or trial a little longer here below.' + +'Like Blandina,' observed Estelle. + +'Ah! my child, who knows whether trials like even that blessed saint's +may not be in reserve even for your tender age. When I think of these +miserable men, who have renounced their faith, I see what fearful +ordeals there may be for those who fall into the hands of those +unbelievers. Strong men have yielded. How may it not be with my poor +children?' + +'God made Blandina brave, mamma. I will pray that He may make me so.' + +Land was in sight at last. Purple mountains rose to the south in wild +forms, looking strangely thunderous and red in the light of the sinking +sun. A bay, with rocks jutting out far into the sea, seemed to embrace +them with its arms. Soundings were made, and presently the Reis +decided on anchoring. It was a rocky coast, with cliffs descending +into the sea, covered with verdure, and the water beneath was clear as +glass. + +'Have we escaped the Syrtes to fall upon AEneas' cave?' murmured Arthur +to himself. + +'And if we could meet Queen Dido, or maybe Venus herself, 'twould be no +bad thing!' observed Lanty, who remembered his Virgil on occasion. +'For there's not a drop of wather left barring eau de vie, and if these +Moors get at that, 'tis raving madmen they would be.' + +'Do they know where we are?' asked Arthur. + +'Sorrah a bit!' returned Lanty, 'tho' 'tis a pretty place enough. If +my old mother was here, 'tis her heart would warm to the mountains.' + +'Is it Calypso's Island?' whispered Ulysse to his sister. + +'See, what are they doing?' cried Estelle. 'There are people--don't +you see, white specks crowding down to the water.' + +There was just then a splash, and two bronzed figures were seen setting +forth from the tartane to swim to shore. The Turkish Reis had +despatched them, to ascertain whether the vessel had drifted, and who +the inhabitants might be. + +A good while elapsed before one of these scouts returned. There was a +great deal of talk and gesticulating round him, and Lanty, mingling +with it, brought back word that the place was the Bay of Golo, not far +from Djigheli, and just beyond the Algerine frontier. The people were +Cabeleyzes, a wild race of savage dogs, which means dogs according the +Moors, living in the mountains, and independent of the Dey. A +considerable number rushed to the coast, armed, and in great numbers, +perceiving the tartane to be an Italian vessel, and expecting a raid by +Sicilian robbers on their cattle; but the Moors had informed them that +it was no such thing, but a prize taken in the name of the Dey of +Algiers, in which an illustrious French Bey's harem was being conveyed +to Algiers. From that city the tartane was now about a day's sail, +having been driven to the eastward of it during the storm. 'The +Turkish commander evidently does not like the neighbourhood,' said +Arthur, 'judging by his gestures.' + +'Dogs and sons of dogs are the best names he has for them,' rejoined +Lanty. + +'See! They have cut the cable! Are we not to wait for the other man +who swam ashore?' + +So it was. A favourable wind was blowing, and the Reis, being by no +means certain of the disposition of the Cabeleyzes, chose to leave them +behind him as soon as possible, and make his way to Algiers, which +began to appear to his unfortunate passengers like a haven of safety. + +They were not, however, out of the bay when the wind suddenly veered, +and before the great lateen sail could be reefed, it had almost caused +the vessel to be blown over. There was a pitching and tossing almost +as violent as in the storm, and then wind and current began carrying +the tartane towards the rocky shore. The Reis called the men to the +oars, but their numbers were too few to be availing, and in a very few +minutes more the vessel was driven hopelessly towards a mass of rocks. + +Arthur, the Abbe, Hebert, and Lanty were all standing together at the +head of the vessel. The poor Abbe seemed dazed, and kept dreamily +fingering his rosary, and murmuring to himself. The other three +consulted in a low voice. + +'Were it not better to have the women here on deck?' asked Arthur. + +'Eh, non!' sobbed Master Hebert. 'Let not my poor mistress see what is +coming on her and her little ones!' + +'Ah! and 'tis better if the innocent creatures must be drowned, that it +should be without being insensed of it till they wake in our Lady's +blessed arms,' added Lanty. 'Hark! and they are at their prayers.' + +But just then Victorine rushed up from below, and throwing her arms +round Lanty, cried, 'Oh! Laurent, Laurent. It is not true that it is +all over with us, is it? Oh! save me! save me!' + +'And if I cannot save you, mine own heart's core, we'll die together,' +returned the poor fellow, holding her fast. 'It won't last long, +Victorine, and the saints have a hold of my scapulary.' + +He had scarcely spoken when, lifted upon a wave, the tartane dashed +upon the rocks, and there was at once a horrible shivering and crashing +throughout her--a frightful mingling of shrieks and yells of despair +with the wild roar of the waves that poured over her. The party at the +head of the vessel were conscious of clinging to something, and when +the first burly-burly ceased a little they found themselves all +together against the bulwark, the vessel almost on her beam ends, +wedged into the rocks, their portion high and dry, but the stern, where +the cabin was, entirely under water. + +Victorine screamed aloud, 'My lady! my poor lady.' + +'I see--I see something,' cried Arthur, who had already thrown off his +coat, and in another moment he had brought up Estelle in his arms, +alive, sobbing and panting. Giving her over to the steward, he made +another dive, but then was lost sight of, and returned no more, nor was +anything to be seen of the rest. Shut up in the cabin, Madame de +Bourke, Ulysse, and the three maids must have been instantly drowned, +and none of the crew were to be seen. Maitre Hebert hold the little +girl in his arms, glad that, though living, she was only half- +conscious. Victorine, sobbing, hung heavily on Lanty, and before he +could free his hands he perceived to his dismay that the Abbe, +unassisted, was climbing down from the wreck upon the rock, scarcely +perhaps aware of his danger. + +Lanty tried to put Victorine aside, and called out, 'Your reverence, +wait--Masther Phelim, wait till I come and help you.' But the girl, +frantic with terror, grappled him fast, screaming to him not to let her +go--and at the same moment a wave broke over the Abbe. Lanty, almost +wild, was ready to leap into it after him, thinking he must be sucked +back with it, but behold! he still remained clinging to the rock. +Instinct seemed to serve him, for he had stuck his knife into the rock +and was holding on by it. There seemed no foothold, and while Lanty +was deliberating how to go to his assistance, another wave washed him +off and bore him to the next rock, which was only separated from the +mainland by a channel of smoother water. He tried to catch at a +floating plank, but in vain; however, an oar next drifted towards him, +and by it he gained the land, but only to be instantly surrounded by a +mob of Cabeleyzes, who seemed to be stripping off his garments. By +this time many were swimming towards the wreck; and Estelle, who had +recovered breath and senses, looked over Hebert's shoulder at them. +'The savages! the infidels!' she said. 'Will they kill me? or will +they try to make me renounce my faith? They shall kill me rather than +make me yield.' + +'Ah! yes, my dear demoiselle, that is right. That is the only way. It +is my resolution likewise,' returned Hebert. 'God give us grace to +persist.' + +'My mamma said so,' repeated the child. 'Is she drowned, Maitre +Hebert?' + +'She is happier than we are, my dear young lady.' + +'And my little brother too! Ah! then I shall remember that they are +only sending me to them in Paradise.' + +By this time the natives were near the wreck, and Estelle, shuddering, +clung closer to Hebert; but he had made up his mind what to do. 'I +must commit you to these men, Mademoiselle,' he said; 'the water is +rising--we shall perish if we remain here.' + +'Ah! but it would not hurt so much to be drowned,' said Estelle, who +had made up her mind to Blandina's chair. + +'I must endeavour to save you for your father, Mademoiselle, and your +poor grandmother! There! be a good child! Do not struggle.' + +He had attracted the attention of some of the swimmers, and he now +flung her to them. One caught her by an arm, another by a leg, and she +was safely taken to the shore, where at once a shoe and a stocking were +taken from her, in token of her becoming a captive; but otherwise her +garments were not meddled with; in which she was happier than her +uncle, whom she found crouched up on a rock, stripped almost to the +skin, so that he shrank from her, when she sprang to his side amid the +Babel of wild men and women, who were shouting in exultation and wonder +over his big flapped hat, his soutane and bands, pointing at his white +limbs and yellow hair--or, what amazed them even more, Estelle's light, +flaxen locks, which hung soaked around her. She felt a hand pulling +them to see whether anything so strange actually grew on her head, and +she turned round to confront them with a little gesture of defiant +dignity that evidently awed them, for they kept their hands off her, +and did not interfere as she stood sentry over her poor shivering +uncle. + +Lanty was by this time trying to drag Victorine over the rocks and +through the water. The poor Parisienne was very helpless, falling, +hurting herself, and screaming continually; and trebly, when a couple +of natives seized upon her, and dragged her ashore, where they +immediately snatched away her mantle and cap, pulled off her gold chain +and cross, and tore out her earrings with howls of delight. + +Lanty, struggling on, was likewise pounced upon, and bereft of his fine +green and gold livery coat and waistcoat, which, though by no means his +best, and stained with the sea water, were grasped with ecstasy, +quarrelled over, and displayed in triumph. The steward had secured a +rope by which he likewise reached the shore, only to become the prey of +the savages, who instantly made prize of his watch and purse, as well +as of almost all his garments. The five unfortunate survivors would +fain have remained huddled together, but the natives pointing to some +huts on the hillside, urged them thither by the language of shouts and +blows. + +'Faith and I'm not an ox,' exclaimed Lanty, as if the fellow could have +understood him, 'and is it to the shambles you're driving me?' + +'Best not resist! There's nothing for it but to obey them,' said the +steward, 'and at least there will be shelter for the child.' + +No objection was made to his lifting her in his arms, and he carried +her, as the party, half-drowned, nearly starved and exhausted, stumbled +on along the rocky paths which cut their feet cruelly, since their +shoes had all been taken from them. Lanty gave what help he could to +the Abbe and Victorine, who were both in a miserable plight, but ere +long he was obliged to take his turn in carrying Estelle, whose weight +had become too much for the worn out Hebert. He was alarmed to find, +on transferring her, that her head sank on his shoulder as if in a +sleep of exhaustion, which, however, shielded her from much terror. +For, as they arrived at a cluster of five or six tents, built of clay +and the branches of trees, out rushed a host of women, children, and +large fierce dogs, all making as much noise as they were capable of. +The dogs flew at the strange white forms, no doubt utterly new to them. +Victorine was severely bitten, and Lanty, trying to rescue her, had his +leg torn. + +These two were driven into one hut; Estelle, who was evidently +considered as the greatest prize, was taken into another and rather +better one, together with the steward and the Abbe. The Moors, who had +swum ashore, had probably told them that she was the Frankish Bey's +daughter; for this, miserable place though it was, appeared to be the +best hut in the hamlet, nor was she deprived of her clothes. A sort of +bournouse or haik, of coarse texture and very dirty, was given to each +of the others, and some rye cakes baked in the ashes. Poor little +Estelle turned away her head at first, but Hebert, alarmed at her +shivering in her wet clothes, contrived to make her swallow a little, +and then took off the soaked dress, and wrapped her in the bournouse. +She was by this time almost unconscious from weariness, and made no +resistance to the unaccustomed hands, or the disgusting coarseness and +uncleanness of her wrapper, but dropped asleep the moment he laid her +down, and he applied himself to trying to dry her clothes at a little +fire of sticks that had been lighted outside the open space, round +which the huts stood. + +The Abbe too had fallen asleep, as Hebert managed to assure poor Lanty, +who rushed out of the other tent, nearly naked, and bloodstained in +many places, but more concerned at his separation from his foster- +brother than at anything else that had befallen him. Men, women, +children, and dogs were all after him, supposing him to be trying to +escape, and he was seized upon and dragged back by main force, but not +before the steward had called out - + +'M. l'Abbe sleeps--sleeps sound--he is not hurt! For Heaven's sake, +Laurent, be quiet--do not enrage them! It is the only hope for him, as +for Mademoiselle and the rest of us.' + +Lanty, on hearing of the Abbe's safety, allowed himself to be taken +back, making himself, however, a passive dead weight on his captor's +hands. + +'Arrah,' he muttered to himself, 'if ye will have me, ye shall have the +trouble of me, bad luck to you. 'Tis little like ye are to the +barbarous people St. Paul was thrown with; but then what right have I +to expect the treatment of a holy man, the like of him? If so be, I +can save that poor orphan that's left, and bring off Master Phelim +safe, and save poor Victorine from being taken for some dirty +spalpeen's wife, when he has half a dozen more to the fore--'tis little +it matters what becomes of Lanty Callaghan; they might give him to +their big brutes of dogs, and mighty lean meat they would find him!' + +So came down the first night upon the captives. + + + +CHAPTER V--CAPTIVITY + + + +'Hold fast thy hope and Heaven will not +Forsake thee in thine hour. +Good angels will be near thee, +And evil ones will fear thee, +And Faith will give thee power.' +SOUTHEY. + +The whole northern coast of Africa is inhabited by a medley of tribes, +all owning a kind of subjection to the Sultan, but more in the sense of +Pope than of King. The part of the coast where the tartane had been +driven on the rocks was beneath Mount Araz, a spur of the Atlas, and +was in the possession of the Arab tribe called Cabeleyze, which is said +to mean 'the revolted.' The revolt had been from the Algerine power, +which had never been able to pursue them into the fastnesses of the +mountains, and they remained a wild independent race, following all +those Ishmaelite traditions and customs that are innate in the blood of +the Arab. + +When Estelle awoke from her long sleep of exhaustion, she was conscious +of a stifling atmosphere, and moreover of the crow of a cock in her +immediate vicinity, then of a dog growling, and a lamb beginning to +bleat. She raised herself a little, and beheld, lying on the ground +around her, dark heaps with human feet protruding from them. These +were interspersed with sheep, goats, dogs, and fowls, all seen by the +yellow light of the rising sun which made its way in not only through +the doorless aperture, but through the reeds and branches which formed +the walls. + +Close as the air was, she felt the chill of the morning and shivered. +At the same moment she perceived poor Maitre Hebert covering himself as +best he could with a dirty brown garment, and bending over her with +much solicitude, but making signs to make as little noise as possible, +while he whispered, 'How goes it with Mademoiselle?' + +'Ah,' said Estelle, recollecting herself, 'we are shipwrecked. We +shall have to confess our faith! Where are the rest?' + +'There is M. l'Abbe,' said Hebert, pointing to a white pair of the bare +feet. 'Poor Laurent and Victorine have been carried elsewhere.' + +'And mamma? And my brother?' + +'Ah! Mademoiselle, give the good God thanks that he has spared them +our trial.' + +'Mamma! Ah, she was in the cabin when the water came in? But my +brother! I had hold of his hand, he came out with me. I saw M. Arture +swim away with him. Yes, Maitre Hebert, indeed I did.' + +Hebert had not the least hope that they could be saved, but he would +not grieve the child by saying so, and his present object was to get +her dressed before any one was awake to watch, and perhaps appropriate +her upper garments. He was a fatherly old man, and she let him help +her with her fastenings, and comb out her hair with the tiny comb in +her etui. Indeed, friseurs were the rule in France, and she was not +unused to male attendants at the toilette, so that she was not shocked +at being left to his care. + +For the rest, the child had always dwelt in an imaginary world, a +curious compound of the Lives of the Saints and of Telemaque. Martyrs +and heroes alike had been shipwrecked, taken captive, and tormented; +and there was a certain sense of realised day-dream about her, as if +she had become one of the number and must act up to her part. She +asked Hebert if there were a Sainte Estelle, what was the day of the +month, and if she should be placed in the Calendar if she never +complained, do what these barbarians might to her. She hoped she +should hold out, for she would like to be able to help all whom she +loved, poor papa and all. But it was hard that mamma, who was so good, +could not be a martyr too; but she was a saint in Paradise all the +same, and thus Estelle made her little prayer in hope. There was no +conceit or over confidence in the tone, though of course the poor child +little knew what she was ready to accept; but it was a spark of the +martyr's trust that gleamed in her eye, and gave her a sense of +exaltation that took off the sharpest edge of grief and fear. + +By this time, however, the animals were stirring, and with them the +human beings who had lain down in their clothes. Peace was over; the +Abbe awoke, and began to call for Laurent and his clothes and his +beads; but this aroused the master of the house, who started up, and +threatening with a huge stick, roared at him what must have been orders +to be quiet. + +Estelle indignantly flew between and cried, 'You shall not hurt my +uncle.' + +The commanding gesture spoke for itself; and, besides, poor Phelim +cowered behind her with an air that caused a word and sign to pass +round, which the captives found was equivalent to innocent or imbecile; +and the Mohammedan respect and tenderness for the demented spared him +all further violence or molestation, except that he was lost and +miserable without the attentions of his foster-brother; and indeed the +shocks he had undergone seemed to have mobbed him of much of the small +degree of sense he had once possessed. + +Coming into the space before the doorway, Estelle found herself the +object of universal gaze and astonishment, as her long fair hair +gleamed in the sunshine, every one coming to touch it, and even pull it +to see if it was real. She was a good deal frightened, but too high- +spirited to show it more than she could help, as the dark-skinned, +bearded men crowded round with cries of wonder. The other two +prisoners likewise appeared: Victorine looking wretchedly ill, and +hardly able to hold up her head; Lanty creeping towards the Abbe, and +trying to arrange his remnant of clothing. There was a short respite, +while the Arabs, all turning eastwards, chanted their morning devotions +with a solemnity that struck their captives. The scene was a fine one, +if there had been any heart to admire. The huts were placed on the +verge of a fine forest of chestnut and cork trees--and beyond towered +up mountain peaks in every variety of dazzling colour--red and purple +beneath, glowing red and gold where the snowy peaks caught the morning +sun, lately broken from behind them. The slopes around were covered +with rich grass, flourishing after the summer heats, and to which the +herds were now betaking themselves, excepting such as were detained to +be milked by the women, who came pouring out of some of the other huts +in dark blue garments; and in front, still shadowed by the mountain, +lay the bay, deep, beautiful, pellucid green near the land, and shut in +by fantastic and picturesque rocks--some bare, some clothed with +splendid foliage, winter though it was--while beyond lay the exquisite +blue stretching to the horizon. Little recked the poor prisoners of +the scene so fair; they only saw the remnant of the wreck below, the +sea that parted them from hope, the savage rocks behind, the barbarous +people around, the squalor and dirt of the adowara, as the hamlet was +called. + +Comparatively, the Moor who had swum ashore to reconnoitre seemed like +a friend when he came forward and saluted Estelle and the Abbe +respectfully. Moreover the lingua Franca Lanty had picked up +established a very imperfect double system of interpretation by the +help of many gestures. This was Lanty's explanation to the rest: in +French, of course, but, like all his speech, Irish-English in +construction. + +'This Moor, Hassan, wants to stand our friend in his own fashion, but +he says they care not the value of an empty mussel-shell for the +French, and no more for the Dey of Algiers than I do for the Elector of +Hanover. He has told them that M. l'Abbe and Mademoiselle are brother +and daughter to a great Bey--but it is little they care for that. Holy +Virgin, they took Mademoiselle for a boy! That is why they are gazing +at her so impudently. Would that I could give them a taste of my cane! +Do you see those broken walls, and a bit of a castle on yonder headland +jutting out into the sea? They are bidding Hassan say that the French +built that, and garrisoned it with the help of the Dey; but there fell +out a war, and these fellows, or their fathers, surprised it, sacked +it, and carried off four hundred prisoners into slavery. Holy Mother +defend us! Here are all the rogues coming to see what they will do +with us!' + +For the open space in front of the huts, whence all the animals had now +been driven, was becoming thronged with figures with the haik laid over +their heads, spear or blunderbuss in hand, fine bearing, and sometimes +truculent, though handsome, browse countenances. They gazed at the +captives, and uttered what sounded like loud hurrahs or shouts; but +after listening to Hassan, Lanty turned round trembling. 'The +miserables! Some are for sacrificing us outright on the spot, but this +decent man declares that he will make them sensible that their prophet +was not out-and-out as bad as that. Never you fear, Mademoiselle.' + +'I am not afraid,' said Estelle, drawing up her head. 'We shall be +martyrs.' + +Lanty was engaged in listening to a moan from his foster-brother for +food, and Hebert joined in observing that they might as well be +sacrificed as starved to death; whereupon the Irishman's words and +gesticulations induced the Moor to make representations which resulted +in some dry pieces of samh cake, a few dates, and a gourd of water +being brought by one of the women; a scanty amount for the number, even +though poor Victorine was too ill to touch anything but the water; +while the Abbe seemed unable to understand that the servants durst not +demand anything better, and devoured her share and a quarter of Lanty's +as well as his own. Meantime the Cabeleyzes had all ranged themselves +in rows, cross-legged on the ground, opposite to the five unfortunate +captives, to sit in judgment on them. As they kept together in one +group, happily in the shade of a hut, Victorine, too faint and sick +fully to know what was going on, lay with her head on the lap of her +young mistress, who sat with her bright and strangely fearless eyes +confronting the wild figures opposite. + +Her uncle, frightened, though not comprehending the extent of his +danger, crouched behind Lanty, who with Hebert stood somewhat in +advance, the would-be guardians of the more helpless ones. + +There was an immense amount of deafening shrieking and gesticulating +among the Arabs. Hassan was responding, and finally turned to Lanty, +when the anxious watchers could perceive signs as if of paying down +coin made interrogatively. 'Promise them anything, everything,' cried +Hebert; 'M. le Comte would give his last sou--so would Madame la +Marquise--to save Mademoiselle.' + +'I have told him so,' said Laurence presently; 'I bade him let them +know it is little they can make of us, specially now they have stripped +us as bare as themselves, the rascals! but that their fortunes would be +made--and little they would know what to do with them--if they would +only send M. l'Abbe and Mademoiselle to Algiers safe and sound. There! +he is trying to incense them. Never fear, Master Phelim, dear, there +never was a rogue yet, black or white, or the colour of poor Madame's +frothed chocolate, who did not love gold better than blood, unless +indeed 'twas for the sweet morsel of revenge; and these, for all their +rolling eyes and screeching tongues, have not the ghost of a quarrel +with us.' + +'My beads, my breviary,' sighed the Abbe. 'Get them for me, Lanty.' + +'I wish they would end it quickly,' said Estelle. 'My head aches so, +and I want to be with mamma. Poor Victorine! yours is worse,' she +added, and soaked her handkerchief in the few drops of water left in +the gourd to lay it on the maid's forehead. + +The howling and shrieking betokened consultation, but was suddenly +interrupted by some half-grown lads, who came running in with their +hands full of what Lanty recognised to his horror as garments worn by +his mistress and fellow-servants, also a big kettle and a handspike. +They pointed down to the sea, and with yells of haste and exultation +all the wild conclave started up to snatch, handle, and examine, then +began rushing headlong to the beach. Hassan's explanations were +scarcely needed to show that they were about to ransack the ship, and +he evidently took credit to himself for having induced them to spare +the prisoners in case their assistance should be requisite to gain full +possession of the plunder. + +Estelle and Victorine were committed to the charge of a forbidding- +looking old hag, the mother of the sheyk of the party; the Abbe was +allowed to stray about as he pleased, but the two men were driven to +the shore by the eloquence of the club. Victorine revived enough for a +burst of tears and a sobbing cry, 'Oh, they will be killed! We shall +never see them again!' + +'No,' said Estelle, with her quiet yet childlike resolution, 'they are +not going to kill any of us yet. They said so. You are so tired, poor +Victorine! Now all the hubbub is over, suppose you lie still and +sleep. My uncle,' as he roamed round her, mourning for his rosary, 'I +am afraid your beads are lost; but see here, these little round seeds, +I can pierce them if you will gather some more for me, and make you +another set. See, these will be the Aves, and here are shells in the +grass for the Paters.' + +The long fibre of grass served for the string, and the sight of the +Giaour girl's employment brought round her all the female population +who had not repaired to the coast. Her first rosary was torn from her +to adorn an almost naked baby; but the Abbe began to whimper, and to +her surprise the mother restored it to him. She then made signs that +she would construct another necklace for the child, and she was +rewarded by a gourd being brought to her full of milk, which she was +able to share with her two companions, and which did something to +revive poor Victorine. Estelle was kept threading these necklaces and +bracelets all the wakeful hours of the day--for every one fell asleep +about noon--though still so jealous a watch was kept on her that she +was hardly allowed to shift her position so as to get out of the sun, +which even at that season was distressingly scorching in the middle of +the day. + +Parties were continually coming up from the beach laden with spoils of +all kinds from the wreck, Lanty, Hebert, and a couple of negroes being +driven up repeatedly, so heavily burthened as to be almost bent double. +All was thrown down in a heap at the other end of the adowara, and the +old sheyk kept guard over it, allowing no one to touch it. This went +on till darkness was coming on, when, while the cattle were being +collected for the night, the prisoners were allowed an interval, in +which Hebert and Lanty told how the natives, swimming like ducks, had +torn everything out of the wreck: all the bales and boxes that poor +Maitre Hebert had secured with so much care, and many of which he was +now forced himself to open for the pleasure of these barbarians. + +That, however, was not the worst. Hebert concealed from his little +lady what Lanty did not spare Victorine. 'And there--enough to melt +the heart of a stone--there lay on the beach poor Madame la Comtesse, +and all the three. Good was it for you, Victorine, my jewel, that you +were not in the cabin with them.' + +'I know not,' said the dejected Victorine; 'they are better off than +we?' + +'You would not say so, if you had seen what I have,' said Lanty, +shuddering. 'The dogs!--they cut off Madame's poor white fingers to +get at her rings, and not with knives either, lest her blessed flesh +should defile them, they said, and her poor face was an angel's all the +time. Nay, nor that was not the worst. The villainous boys, what must +they do but pelt the poor swollen bodies with stones! Ay, well you may +scream, Victorine. We went down on our knees, Maitre Hebert and I, to +pray they might let us give them burial, but they mocked us, and bade +Hassan say they never bury dogs. I went round the steeper path, for +all the load at my back, or I should have been flying at the throats of +the cowardly vultures, and then what would have become of M. l'Abbe?' + +Victorine trembled and wept bitterly for her companions, and then asked +if Lanty had seen the corpse of the little Chevalier. + +'Not a sight of him or M. Arthur either,' returned Lanty; 'only the +ugly face of the old Turk captain and another of his crew, and them +they buried decently, being Moslem hounds like themselves; while my +poor lady that is a saint in heaven--' and he, too, shed tears of hot +grief and indignation, recovering enough to warn Victorine by no means +to let the poor young girl know of this additional horror. + +There was little opportunity, for they had been appropriated by +different masters: Estelle, the Abbe, and Hebert to the sheyk, or +headman of the clan; and Lanty and Victorine to a big, strong, fierce- +looking fellow, of inferior degree but greater might. + +This time Estelle was to be kept for the night among the sheyk's women, +who, though too unsophisticated to veil their faces, had a part of the +hut closed off with a screen of reeds, but quite as bare as the +outside. Hebert, who could not endure to think of her sleeping on the +ground, and saw a large heap of grass or straw provided for a little +brown cow, endeavoured to take an armful for her. Unluckily it +belonged to Lanty's master, Eyoub, who instantly flew at him in a fury, +dragged him to a log of wood, caught up an axe, and had not Estelle's +screams brought up the sheyk, with Hassan and one or two other men, the +poor Maitre d'Hotel's head would have been off. There was a sharp +altercation between the sheyk and Eyoub, while Estelle held the +faithful servant's hand, saying, 'You did it for me! Oh, Hebert, do +not make them angry again. It would be beautiful to die for one's +faith, but not for a handful of hay.' + +'Ah! my dear demoiselle, what would my poor ladies say to see you +sleeping on the bare ground in a filthy hut?' + +'I slept well last night,' returned Estelle; 'indeed, I do not mind! +It is only the more like the dungeon at Lyon, you know! And I pray +you, Hebert, do not get yourself killed for nothing too soon, or else +we shall not all stand out and confess together, like St. Blandina and +St. Ponticus and St Epagathius.' + +'Alas, the dear child! The long names run off her tongue as glibly as +ever,' sighed Hebert, who, though determined not to forsake his faith, +by no means partook her enthusiasm for martyrdom. Hassan, however, +having explained what the purpose had been, Hebert was pardoned, though +the sheyk scornfully observed that what was good enough for the +daughters of a Hadji was good enough for the unclean child of the +Frankish infidels. + +The hay might perhaps have spared a little stiffness, but it would not +have ameliorated the chief annoyances--the closeness, the dirt, and the +vermin. It was well that it was winter, or the first of these would +have been far worse, and, fortunately for Estelle, she was one of those +whom suffocating air rather lulls than rouses. + +Eyoub's hovel did not rejoice in the refinement of a partition, but his +family, together with their animals, lay on the rocky floor as best +they might; and Victorine's fever came on again, so that she lay in +great misery, greeted by a growl from a great white dog whenever she +tried to relieve her restless aching limbs by the slightest movement, +or to reach one of the gourds of water laid near the sleepers, like +Saul's cruse at his pillow. + +Towards morning, however, Lanty, who had been sitting with his back +against the wall, awoke from the sleep well earned by acting as a beast +of burthen. The dog growled a little, but Lanty--though his leg still +showed its teeth-marks--had made friends with it, and his hand on its +head quieted it directly, so that he was able cautiously to hand a +gourd to Victorine. The Arabs were heavy sleepers, and the two were +able to talk under their breath; as, in reply to a kind word from +Lanty, poor Victorine moaned her envy of the fate of Rosette and +Babette; and he, with something of their little mistress's spirit, +declared that he had no doubt but that 'one way or the other they +should be out of it: either get safe home, or be blessed martyrs, +without even a taste of purgatory.' + +'Ah! but there's worse for me,' sighed Victorine. 'This demon brought +another to stare in my face--I know he wants to make me his wife! Kill +me first, Laurent.' + +'It is I that would rather espouse you, my jewel,' returned a tender +whisper. + +'How can you talk of such things at such a moment?' + +''Tis a pity M. l'Abbe is not a priest,' sighed Lanty. 'But, you know, +Victorine, who is the boy you always meant to take.' + +'You need not be so sure of that,' she said, the coy coquetry not quite +extinct. + +'Come, as you said, it is no time for fooling. Give me your word and +troth to be my wife so soon as we have the good luck to come by a +Christian priest by our Lady's help, and I'll outface them all--were it +Mohammed the Prophet himself, that you are my espoused and betrothed, +and woe to him that puts a finger on you.' + +'You would only get yourself killed.' + +'And would not I be proud to be killed for your sake? Besides, I'll +show them cause not to kill me if I have the chance. Trust me, +Victorine, my darling--it is but a chance among these murdering +villains, but it is the only one; and, sure, if you pretended to turn +the back of your hand to me when there were plenty of Christian men to +compliment you, yet you would rather have poor Lanty than a thundering +rogue of a pagan Mohammedan.' + +'I hope I shall die,' sighed poor Victorine faintly. 'It will only be +your death!' + +'That is my affair,' responded Lanty. 'Come, here's daylight coming +in; reach me your hand before this canaille wakes, and here's this good +beast of a dog, and yonder grave old goat with a face like Pere +Michel's for our witnesses--and by good luck, here's a bit of gilt wire +off my shoulder-knot that I've made into a couple of rings while I've +been speaking.' + +The strange betrothal had barely taken place before there was a stir, +and what was no doubt a yelling imprecation on the 'dog Giaours' for +the noise they made. + +The morning began as before, with the exception that Estelle had +established a certain understanding with a little chocolate-coloured +cupid of a boy of the size of her brother, and his lesser sister, by +letting them stroke her hair, and showing them the mysteries of cat's +cradle. They shared their gourd of goat's-milk with her, but would not +let her give any to her companions. However, the Abbe had only to hold +out his hand to be fed, and the others were far too anxious to care +much about their food. + +A much larger number of Cabeleyzes came streaming into the forum of the +adowara, and the prisoners were all again placed in a row, while the +new-comers passed before them, staring hard, and manifestly making +personal remarks which perhaps it was well that they did not +understand. The sheyk and Eyoub evidently regarded them as private +property, stood in front, and permitted nobody to handle them, which +was so far a comfort. + +Then followed a sort of council, with much gesticulation, in which +Hassan took his share. Then, followed by the sheyk, Eyoub, and some +other headmen, he advanced, and demanded that the captives should +become true believers. This was eked out with gestures betokening that +thus they would be free, in that case; while, if they refused, the +sword and the smouldering flame were pointed to, while the whole host +loudly shouted 'Islam!' + +Victorine trembled, sobbed, tried to hide herself; but Estelle stood +up, her young face lighted up, her dark eyes gleaming, as if she were +realising a daydream, as she shook her head, cried out to Lanty, 'Tell +him, No--never!' and held to her breast a little cross of sticks that +she had been forming to complete her uncle's rosary. Her gesture was +understood. A man better clad than the rest, with a turban and a broad +crimson sash, rushed up to her, seized her by the hair, and waved his +scimitar over her head. The child felt herself close to her mother. +She looked up in his face with radiant eyes and a smile on her lips. +It absolutely daunted the fellow: his arm dropped, and he gazed at her +like some supernatural creature; and the sheyk, enraged at the +interference with his property, darted forth to defend it, and there +was a general wrangling. + +Seconded by their interpreter, Hassan, who knew that the Koran did not +prescribe the destruction of Christians, Hebert and Lanty endeavoured +to show that their conversion was out of the question, and that their +slaughter would only be the loss of an exceedingly valuable ransom, +which would be paid if they were handed over safe and sound and in good +condition. + +There was no knowing what was the effect of this, for the council again +ended in a rush to secure the remaining pillage of the wreck. Hebert +and Lanty dreaded what they might see, but to their great relief those +poor remains had disappeared. They shuddered as they remembered the +hyenas' laughs and the jackals' howls they had heard at nightfall; but +though they hoped that the sea had been merciful, they could even have +been grateful to the animals that had spared them the sight of +conscious insults. + +The wreck was finally cleared, and among the fragments were found +several portions of books. These the Arabs disregarded, being too +ignorant even to read their own Koran, and yet aware of the Mohammedan +scruple which forbids the destruction of any scrap of paper lest it +should bear the name of Allah. Lanty secured the greater part of the +Abbe's breviary, and a good many pages of Estelle's beloved Telemaque; +while the steward gained possession of his writing case, and was +permitted to retain it when the Cabeleyzes, glutted with plunder, had +ascertained that it contained nothing of value to them. + +After everything had been dragged up to the adowara, there ensued a +sort of auction or division of the plunder. Poor Maitre Hebert was +doomed to see the boxes and bales he had so diligently watched broken +open by these barbarians,--nay, he had to assist in their own +dissection when the secrets were too much for the Arabs. There was the +King of Spain's portrait rent from its costly setting and stamped upon +as an idolatrous image. The miniature of the Count, worn by the poor +lady, had previously shared the same fate, but that happily was out of +sight and knowledge. Here was the splendid plate, presented by crowned +heads, howled over by savages ignorant of its use. The silver they +seemed to value; but there were three precious gold cups which the salt +water had discoloured, so that they were taken for copper and sold for +a very small price to a Jew, who somehow was attracted to the scene, +'like a raven to the slaughter,' said Lanty. + +This man likewise secured some of the poor lady's store of rich +dresses, but a good many more were appropriated to make sashes for the +men, and the smaller articles, including stockings, were wound turban +fashion round the children's heads. + +Lanty could not help observing, 'And if the saints are merciful to us, +and get us out of this, we shall have stories to tell that will last +our lives!' as he watched the solemn old chief smelling to the +perfumes, swallowing the rouge as splendid medicine, and finally +fingering a snuff-box, while half a dozen more crowded round to assist +in the opening, and in another moment sneezing, weeping, tingling, +dancing frantically about, vituperating the Christian's magic. + +This gave Lanty an idea. A little round box lay near, which, as he +remembered, contained a Jack-in-the-box, or Polichinelle, which the +poor little Chevalier had bought at the fair at Tarascon. This he +contrived to secrete and hand to Victorine. 'Keep the secret,' he +said, 'and you will find your best guardian in that bit of a box.' And +when that very evening an Arab showed some intentions of adding her to +his harem, Victorine bethought herself of the box, and unhooked in +desperation. Up sprang Punch, long-nosed and fur-capped, right in the +bearded face. + +Back the man almost fell; 'Shaitan, Shaitan!' was the cry, as the +inhabitants tumbled pell-mell out of the hovel, and Victorine and Punch +remained masters of the situation. + +She heard Lanty haranguing in broken Arabic and lingua Franca, and +presently he came in, shaking with suppressed laughter. 'If ever we +get home,' said he, 'we'll make a pilgrimage to Tarascon! Blessings on +good St. Martha that put that sweet little imp in my way! The rogues +think he is the very genie that the fisherman let out of the bottle in +Mademoiselle's book of the Thousand and One Nights, and thought to see +him towering over the whole place. And a fine figure he would be with +his hook nose and long beard. They sent me to beg you fairly to put up +your little Shaitan again. I told them that Shaitan, as they call him, +is always in it when there's meddling between an espoused pair--which +is as true as though the Holy Father at Rome had said it--and as long +as they were civil, Shaitan would rest; but if they durst molest you, +there was no saying where he would be, if once you had to let him out! +To think of the virtue of that ugly face and bit of a coil of wire!' + +Meantime Hebert, having ascertained that both the Jew and Hassan were +going away, the one to Constantina, the other to Algiers, wrote, and so +did Estelle, to the Consul at Algiers, explaining their position and +entreating to be ransomed. Though only nine years old, Estelle could +write a very fair letter, and the amazement of the Arabs was unbounded +that any female creature should wield a pen. Marabouts and merchants +were known to read the Koran, but if one of the goats had begun to +write, their wonder could hardly have been greater; and such crowds +came to witness the extraordinary operation that she could scarcely +breathe or see. + +It seemed to establish her in their estimation as a sort of +supernatural being, for she was always treated with more consideration +than the rest of the captives, never deprived of the clothes she wore, +and allowed to appropriate a few of the toilette necessaries that were +quite incomprehensible to those around her. + +She learnt the names for bread, chestnuts, dates, milk, and water, and +these were never denied to her; and her little ingenuities in nursery +games won the goodwill of the women and children around her, though +others used to come and make ugly faces at her, and cry out at her as +an unclean thing. The Abbe was allowed to wander about at will, and +keep his Hours, with Estelle to make the responses, and sometimes +Hebert. He was the only one that might visit the other two captives; +Lanty was kept hard at work over the crop of chestnuts that the clan +had come down from their mountains to gather in; and poor Victorine, +who was consumed by a low fever, and almost too weak to move, lay all +day in the dreary and dirty hut, expecting, but dreading death. + +Some days later there was great excitement, shouting, and rage. It +proved that the Bey of Constantina had sent to demand the party, +threatening to send an armed force to compel their surrender; but, +alas! the hope of a return to comparative civilisation was instantly +quashed, for the sheyk showed himself furious. He and Eyoub stood +brandishing their scimitars, and with eyes flashing like a panther's in +the dark, declaring that they were free, no subjects of the Dey nor the +Bey either; and that they would shed the blood of every one of the +captives rather than yield them to the dogs and sons of dogs at +Constantina. + +This embassy only increased the jealousy with which the prisoners were +guarded. None of them were allowed to stir without a man with a +halbert, and they had the greatest difficulty in entrusting a third +letter to the Moor in command of the party. Indeed, it was only +managed by Estelle's coaxing of the little Abou Daoud, who was growing +devoted to her, and would do anything for the reward of hearing her +sing life Malbrook s'en va-t'-n guerre. + +It might have been in consequence of this threat of the Bey, much as +they affected to despise it, that the Cabeleyzes prepared to return to +the heights of Mount Araz, whence they had only descended during the +autumn to find fresh pasture for their cattle, and to collect dates and +chestnuts from the forest. + +'Alas!' said Hubert, 'this is worse than ever. As long as we were near +the sea, I had hope, but now all trace of us will be lost, even if the +Consul should send after us.' + +'Never fear, Maitre Hubert,' said Estelle; 'you know Telemaque was a +prisoner and tamed the wild peasants in Egypt.' + +'Ah! the poor demoiselle, she always seems as if she were acting a +comedy.' + +This was happily true. Estelle seemed to be in a curious manner borne +through the dangers and discomforts of her surroundings by a strange +dreamy sense of living up to her part, sometimes as a possible martyr, +sometimes as a figure in the mythological or Arcadian romance that had +filtered into her nursery. + + + +CHAPTER VI--A MOORISH VILLAGE + + + +'Our laws and our worship on thee thou shalt take, +And this shalt thou first do for Zulema's sake.' +SCOTT. + +When Arthur Hope dashed back from the party on the prow of the wrecked +tartane in search of little Ulysse, he succeeded in grasping the child, +but at the same moment a huge breaker washed him off the slipperily- +sloping deck, and after a scarce conscious struggle he found himself, +still retaining his clutch of the boy, in the trough between it and +another. He was happily an expert swimmer, and holding the little +fellow's clothes in his teeth, he was able to avoid the dash, and to +rise on another wave. Then he perceived that he was no longer near the +vessel, but had been carried out to some little distance, and his +efforts only succeeded in keeping afloat, not in approaching the shore. +Happily a plank drifted so near him that he was able to seize it and +throw himself across it, thus obtaining some support, and being able to +raise the child farther above the water. + +At the same time he became convinced that a strong current, probably +from a river or stream, was carrying him out to sea, away from the bay. +He saw the black heads of two or three of the Moorish crew likewise +floating on spars, and yielding themselves to the stream, and this made +him better satisfied to follow their example. It was a sort of rest, +and gave him time to recover from the first exhaustion to convince +himself that the little boy was not dead, and to lash him to the plank +with a handkerchief. + +By and by--he knew not how soon--calls and shouts passed between the +Moors; only two seemed to survive, and they no longer obeyed the +direction of the current, but turned resolutely towards the land, where +Arthur dimly saw a green valley opening towards the sea. This was a +much severer effort, but by this time immediate self-preservation had +become the only thought, and happily both wind and the very slight tide +were favourable, so that, just as the sun sank beneath the western +waves, Arthur felt foothold on a sloping beach of white sand, even as +his powers became exhausted. He struggled up out of reach of the sea, +and then sank down, exhausted and unconscious. + +His first impression was of cries and shrieks round him, as he gasped +and panted, then saw as in a dream forms flitting round him, and then-- +feeling for the child and missing him--he raised himself in +consternation, and the movement was greeted by fresh unintelligible +exclamations, while a not unkindly hand lifted him up. It belonged to +a man in a sort of loose white garment and drawers, with a thin dark- +bearded face; and Arthur, recollecting that the Spanish word nino +passed current for child in lingua Franca, uttered it with an accent of +despairing anxiety. He was answered with a volley of words that he +only understood to be in a consoling tone, and the speaker pointed +inland. Various persons, among whom Arthur saw his recent shipmates, +seemed to be going in that direction, and he obeyed his guide, though +scarcely able to move from exhaustion and cold, the garments he had +retained clinging about him. Some one, however, ran down towards him +with a vessel containing a draught of sour milk. This revived him +enough to see clearly and follow his guides. After walking a distance, +which appeared to him most laborious, he found himself entering a sort +of village, and was ushered through a courtyard into a kind of room. +In the centre a fire was burning; several figures were busy round it, +and in another moment he perceived that they were rubbing, chafing, and +otherwise restoring his little companion. + +Indeed Ulysse had just recovered enough to be terribly frightened, and +as his friend's voice answered his screams, he sprang from the kind +brown hands, and, darting on Arthur, clung to him with face hidden on +his shoulder. The women who had been attending to him fell back as the +white stranger entered, and almost instantly dry clothes were brought, +and while Arthur was warming himself and putting them on, a little +table about a foot high was set, the contents of a cauldron of a kind +of soup which had been suspended over the fire were poured into a large +round green crock, and in which all were expected to dip their spoons +and fingers. Little Ulysse was exceedingly amazed, and observed that +ces gens were not bien eleves to eat out of the dish; but he was too +hungry to make any objection to being fed with the wooden spoon that +had been handed to Arthur; and when the warm soup, and the meat +floating in it, had refreshed them, signs were made to them to lie down +on a mat within an open door, and both were worn out enough to sleep +soundly. + +It was daylight when Arthur was awakened by poor little Ulysse sitting +up and crying out for his bonne, his mother, and sister, 'Oh! take me +to them,' he cried; 'I do not like this dark place.' + +For dark the room was, being windowless, though the golden sunlight +could be seen beyond the open doorway, which was under a sort of +cloister or verandah overhung by some climbing plant. Arthur, +collecting himself, reminded the child how the waves had borne them +away from the rest, with earnest soothing promises of care, and +endeavouring to get back to the rest. 'Say your prayers that God will +take care of you and bring you back to your sister,' Arthur added, for +he did not think it possible that the child's mother should have been +saved from the waves; and his heart throbbed at thoughts of his promise +to the poor lady. + +'But I want my bonne,' sighed Ulysse; 'I want my clothes. This is an +ugly robe de nuit, and there is no bed.' + +'Perhaps we can find your clothes,' said Arthur. 'They were too wet to +be kept on last night.' + +So they emerged into the court, which had a kind of farmyard +appearance; women with rows of coins hanging over their brows were +milking cows and goats, and there was a continuous confusion of sound +of their voices, and the lowing and bleating of cattle. At the +appearance of Arthur and the boy, there was a general shout, and people +seemed to throng in to gaze at them, the men handsome, stately, and +bearded, with white full drawers, and a bournouse laid so as first to +form a flat hood over the head, and then belted in at the waist, with a +more or less handsome sash, into which were stuck a spoon and knife, +and in some cases one or two pistols. They did not seem ill-disposed, +though their language was perfectly incomprehensible. Ulysse's clothes +were lying dried by the hearth and no objection was made to his +resuming them. Arthur made gestures of washing or bathing, and was +conducted outside the court, to a little stream of pure water +descending rapidly to the sea. It was so cold that Ulysse screamed at +the touch, as Arthur, with more spectators than he could have desired, +did his best to perform their toilettes. He had divested himself of +most of his own garments for the convenience of swimming, but his +pockets were left and a comb in them; and though poor Mademoiselle +Julienne would have been shocked at the result of his efforts, and the +little silken laced suit was sadly tarnished with sea water, Ulysse +became such an astonishing sight that the children danced round him, +the women screamed with wonder, and the men said 'Mashallah!' The +young Scotsman's height was perhaps equally amazing, for he saw them +pointing up to his head as if measuring his stature. + +He saw that he was in a village of low houses, with walls of unhewn +stone, enclosing yards, and set in the midst of fruit-trees and +gardens. Though so far on in the autumn there was a rich luxuriant +appearance; roots and fruits, corn and flax, were laid out to dry, and +girls and boys were driving the cattle out to pasture. He could not +doubt that he had landed among a settled and not utterly uncivilised +people, but he was too spent and weary to exert himself, or even to +care for much beyond present safety; and had no sooner returned to his +former quarters, and shared with Ulysse a bowl of curds, than they both +feel asleep again in the shade of the gourd plant trained on a +trellised roof over the wall. + +When he next awoke, Ulysse was very happily at play with some little +brown children, as if the sports of childhood defied the curse of +Babel, and a sailor from the tartane was being greeted by the master of +the house. Arthur hoped that some communication would now be possible, +but, unfortunately, the man knew very little of the lingua Franca of +the Mediterranean, and Arthur knew still less. However, he made out +that he was the only one of the shipwrecked crew who had managed to +reach the land, and that this was a village of Moors--settled +agricultural Moors, not Arabs, good Moslems--who would do him no harm. +This, and he pointed to a fine-looking elderly man, was the sheyk of +the village, Abou Ben Zegri, and if the young Giaours would conform to +the true faith all would be salem with them. Arthur shook his head, +and tried by word and sign to indicate his anxiety for the rest of his +companions. The sailor threw up his hands, and pointed towards the +sea, to show that he believed them to be all lost; but Arthur insisted +that five--marking them off on his fingers--were on gebal, a rock, and +emphatically indicated his desire of reaching them. The Moor returned +the word 'Cabeleyzes,' with gestures signifying throat-cutting and +slavery, also that these present hosts regarded them as banditti. How +far off they were it was not possible to make out, for of course +Arthur's own sensations were no guide; but he knew that the wreck had +taken place early in the afternoon, and that he had come on shore in +the dusk, which was then at about five o'clock. There was certainly a +promontory, made by the ridge of a hill, and also a river between him +and any survivors there might be. + +This was all that he could gather, and he was not sure of even thus +much, but he was still too much wearied and battered for any exertion +of thought or even anxiety. Three days' tempest in a cockle-shell of a +ship, and then three hours' tossing on a plank, had left him little but +the desire of repose, and the Moors were merciful and let him alone. +It was a beautiful place--that he already knew. A Scot, and used to +the sea-coast, his eye felt at home as it ranged to the grand heights +in the dim distance, with winter caps of snow, and shaded in the most +gorgeous tints of colouring forests beneath, slopes covered with the +exquisite green of young wheat. Autumn though it was, the orange- +trees, laden with fruit, the cork-trees, ilexes, and fan-palms, gave +plenty of greenery, shading the gardens with prickly pear hedges; and +though many of the fruit-trees had lost their leaves, fig, peach, and +olive, and mulberry, caper plants, vines with foliage of every tint of +red and purple, which were trained over the trellised courts of the +houses, made everything have a look of rural plenty and peace, most +unlike all that Arthur had ever heard or imagined of the Moors, who, as +he owned to himself, were certainly not all savage pirates and slave- +drivers. The whole within was surrounded by a stone wall, with a deep +horse-shoe-arched gateway, the fields and pastures lying beyond with +some more slightly-walled enclosures meant for the protection of the +flocks and herds at night. + +He saw various arts going on. One man was working in iron over a +little charcoal fire, with a boy to blow up his bellows, and several +more were busied over some pottery, while the women alternated their +grinding between two mill stones, and other domestic cares, with +spinning, weaving, and beautiful embroidery. To Arthur, who looked on, +with no one to speak to except little Ulysse, it was strangely like +seeing the life of the Israelites in the Old Testament when they dwelt +under their own vines and fig-trees--like reading a chapter in the +Bible, as he said to himself, as again and again he saw some allusion +to Eastern customs illustrated. He was still more struck--when, after +the various herds of kine, sheep, and goats, with one camel, several +asses, and a few slender-limbed Barbary horses had been driven in for +the night--by the sight of the population, as the sun sank behind the +mountains, all suspending whatever they were about, spreading their +prayer carpets, turning eastwards, performing their ablutions, and +uttering their brief prayer with one voice so devoutly that he was +almost struck with awe. + +'Are they saying their prayers?' whispered Ulysse, startled by the +instant change in his play-fellows, and as Arthur acquiesced, 'Then +they are good.' + +'If it were the true faith,' said Arthur, thinking of the wide +difference between this little fellow and Estelle; but though not two +years younger, Ulysse was far more childish than his sister, and when +she was no longer present to lead him with her enthusiasm, sank at once +to his own level. He opened wide his eyes at Arthur's reply, and said, +'I do not see their idols.' + +'They have none,' said Arthur, who could not help thinking that Ulysse +might look nearer home for idols--but chiefly concerned at the moment +to keep the child quiet, lest he should bring danger on them by +interruption. + +They were sitting in the embowered porch of the sheyk's court when, a +few seconds after the villagers had risen up from their prayer, they +saw a figure enter at the village gateway, and the sheyk rise and go +forward. There were low bending in salutation, hands placed on the +breast, then kisses exchanged, after which the Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri +went out with the stranger, and great excitement and pleasure seemed to +prevail among the villagers, especially the women. Arthur heard the +word 'Yusuf' often repeated, and by the time darkness had fallen on the +village, the sheyk ushered the guest into his court, bringing with him +a donkey with some especially precious load--which was removed; after +which the supper was served as before in the large low apartment, with +a handsomely tiled floor, and an opening in the roof for the issue of +the smoke from the fire, which became agreeable in the evening at this +season. Before supper, however, the stranger's feet and hands were +washed by a black slave in Eastern fashion; and then all, as before, +sat on mats or cushions round the central bowl, each being furnished +with a spoon and thin flat soft piece of bread to dip into the mess of +stewed kid, flakes of which might be extracted with the fingers. + +The women, who had fastened a piece of linen across their faces, ran +about and waited on the guests, who included three or four of the +principal men of the village, as well as the stranger, who, as Arthur +observed, was not of the uniform brown of the rest, but had some colour +in his cheeks, light eyes, and a ruddy beard, and also was of a larger +frame than these Moors, who, though graceful, lithe, and exceedingly +stately and dignified, hardly reached above young Hope's own shoulder. +Conversation was going on all the time, and Arthur soon perceived that +he was the subject of it. As soon as the meal was over, the new-comer +addressed him, to his great joy, in French. It was the worst French +imaginable--perhaps more correctly lingua Franca, with a French instead +of an Arabic foundation, but it was more comprehensible than that of +the Moorish sailor, and bore some relation to a civilised language; +besides which there was something indescribably familiar in the tone of +voice, although Arthur's good French often missed of being +comprehended. + +'Son of a great man? Ambassador, French!' The greatness seemed +impressed, but whether ambassador was understood was another thing, +though it was accepted as relating to the boy. + +'Secretary to the Ambassador' seemed to be an equal problem. The man +shook his head, but he took in better the story of the wreck, though, +like the sailor, he shook his head over the chance of there being any +survivors, and utterly negatived the idea of joining them. The great +point that Arthur tried to convey was that there would be a very +considerable ransom if the child could be conveyed to Algiers, and he +endeavoured to persuade the stranger, who was evidently a sort of +travelling merchant, and, as he began to suspect, a renegade, to convey +them thither; but he only got shakes of the head as answers, and +something to the effect that they were a good deal out of the Dey's +reach in those parts, together with what he feared was an intimation +that they were altogether in the power of Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri. + +They were interrupted by a servant of the merchant, who came to bring +him some message as well as a pipe and tobacco. The pipe was carried +by a negro boy, at sight of whom Ulysse gave a cry of ecstasy, 'Juba! +Juba! Grandmother's Juba! Why do not you speak to me?' as the little +black, no bigger than Ulysse himself, grinned with all his white teeth, +quite uncomprehending. + +'Ah! my poor laddie,' exclaimed Arthur in his native tongue, which he +often used with the boy, 'it is only another negro. You are far enough +from home.' + +The words had an astonishing effect on the merchant. He turned round +with the exclamation, 'Ye'll be frae Scotland!' + +'And so are you!' cried Arthur, holding out his hand. + +'Tak tent, tak tent,' said the merchant hastily, yet with a certain +hesitation, as though speaking a long unfamiliar tongue. 'The loons +might jalouse our being overfriendly thegither.' + +Then he returned to the sheyk, to whom he seemed to be making +explanations, and presenting some of his tobacco, which probably was of +a superior quality in preparation to what was grown in the village. +They solemnly smoked together and conversed, while Arthur watched them +anxiously, relieved that he had found an interpreter, but very doubtful +whether a renegade could be a friend, even though he were indeed a +fellow-countryman. + +It was not till several pipes had been consumed, and the village +worthies had, with considerable ceremony, taken leave, that the +merchant again spoke to Arthur. 'I'll see ye the morn; I hae tell'd +the sheyk we are frae the same parts. Maybe I can serve you, if ye ken +what's for your guid, but I canna say mair the noo.' + +The sheyk escorted him out of the court, for he slept in one of the two +striped horse-hair tents, which had been spread within the enclosures +belonging to the village, around which were tethered the mules and +asses that carried his wares. Arthur meanwhile arranged his little +charge for the night. + +He felt that among these enemies to their faith he must do what was in +his power to keep up that of the child, and not allow his prayers to be +neglected; but not being able to repeat the Latin forms, and thinking +them unprofitable to the boy himself, he prompted the saying of the +Creed and Lord's Prayer in English, and caused them to be repeated +after him, though very sleepily and imperfectly. + +All the men of the establishment seemed to take their night's rest on a +mat, wrapped in a bournouse, wherever they chanced to find themselves, +provided it was under shelter; the women in some penetralia beyond a +doorway, though they were not otherwise secluded, and only partially +veiled their faces at sight of a stranger. Arthur had by this time +made out that the sheyk, who was a very handsome man over middle-age, +seemed to have two wives; one probably of his own age, and though +withered up into a brown old mummy, evidently the ruler at home, +wearing the most ornaments, and issuing her orders in a shrill, cracked +tone. There was a much younger and handsome one, the mother apparently +of two or three little girls from ten or twelve years old to five, and +there was a mere girl, with beautiful melancholy gazelle-like eyes, and +a baby in her arms. She wore no ornaments, but did not seem to be +classed with the slaves who ran about at the commands of the elder +dame. + +However, his own position was a matter of much more anxious care, +although he had more hope of discovering what it really was. + +He had, however, to be patient. The sunrise orisons were no sooner +paid than there was a continual resort to the tent of the merchant, who +was found sitting there calmly smoking his long pipe, and ready to +offer the like, also a cup of coffee, to all who came to traffic with +him. He seemed to have a miscellaneous stock of coffee, tobacco, +pipes, preparations of sugar, ornaments in gold and silver, jewellery, +charms, pistols, and a host of other articles in stock, and to be ready +to purchase or barter these for the wax, embroidered handkerchiefs, +yarn, and other productions and manufactures of the place. Not a +single purchase could be made on either side without a tremendous +haggling, shouting, and gesticulating, as if the parties were on the +verge of coming to blows; whereas all was in good fellowship, and a +pleasing excitement and diversion where time was of no value to +anybody. Arthur began to despair of ever gaining attention. He was +allowed to wander about as he pleased within the village gates, and +Ulysse was apparently quite happy with the little children, who were +beautiful and active, although kept dirty and ragged as a protection +from the evil eye. + +Somehow the engrossing occupation of every one, especially of the only +two creatures with whom he could converse, made Arthur more desolate +than ever. He lay down under an ilex, and his heart ached with a sick +longing he had not experienced since he had been with the Nithsdales, +for his mother and his home--the tall narrow-gabled house that had +sprung up close to the grim old peel tower, the smell of the sea, the +tinkling of the burn. He fell asleep in the heat of the day, and it +was to him as if he were once more sitting by the old shepherd on the +braeside, hearing him tell the old tales of Johnnie Armstrong or Willie +o' the wudspurs. + +Actually a Scottish voice was in his ears, as he looked up and saw the +turbaned head of Yusuf the merchant bending over him, and saying--'Wake +up, my bonny laddie; we can hae our crack in peace while these folks +are taking their noonday sleep. Awed, and where are ye frae, and how +do you ca' yersel'?' + +'I am from Berwickshire,' responded the youth, and as the man started-- +'My name is Arthur Maxwell Hope of Burnside.' + +'Eh! No a son of auld Sir Davie?' + +'His youngest son.' + +The man clasped his hands, and uttered a strange sound as if in the +extremity of amazement, and there was a curious unconscious change of +tone, as he said--'Sir Davie's son! Ye'll never have heard tell of +Partan Jeannie?' he added. + +'A very old fishwife,' said Arthur, 'who used to come her rounds to our +door? Was she of kin to you?' + +'My mither, sir. Mony's the time I hae peepit out on the cuddie's back +between the creels at the door of the braw house of Burnside, and +mony's the bannock and cookie the gude lady gied me. My minnie'll no +be living thae noo,' he added, not very tenderly. + +'I should fear not,' said Arthur. 'I had not seen or heard of her for +some time before I left home, and that is now three years since. She +looked very old then, and I remember my mother saying she was not fit +to come her rounds.' + +'She wasna that auld,' returned the merchant gravely; 'but she had led +sic a life as falls to the lot of nae wife in this country.' + +Arthur had almost said, 'Whose fault was that?' but he durst not offend +a possible protector, and softened his words into, 'It is strange to +find you here, and a Mohammedan too.' + +'Hoots, Maister Arthur, let that flea stick by the wa'. We maun do at +Rome as Rome does, as ye'll soon find'--and disregarding Arthur's +exclamation--'and the bit bairn, I thocht ye said he was no Scot, when +I was daundering awa' at the French yestreen.' + +'No, he is half-Irish, half-French, eldest son of Count Burke, a good +Jacobite, who got into trouble with the Prince of Orange, and is high +in the French service.' + +'And what gars your father's son to be secretaire, as ye ca'd it, to +Frenchman or Irishman either?' + +'Well, it was my own fault. I was foolish enough to run away from +school to join the rising for our own King's--' + +'Eh, sirs! And has there been a rising on the Border side against the +English pock puddings? Oh, gin I had kenned it!' + +Yusuf's knowledge of English politics had been dim at the best, and he +had apparently left Scotland before even Queen Anne was on the throne. +When he understood Arthur's story, he communicated his own. He had +been engaged in a serious brawl with some English fishers, and in fear +of the consequences had fled from Eyemouth, and after casting about as +a common sailor in various merchant ships, had been captured by a +Moorish vessel, and had found it expedient to purchase his freedom by +conversion to Islam, after which his Scottish shrewdness and thrift had +resulted in his becoming a prosperous itinerant merchant, with his +headquarters at Bona. He expressed himself willing and anxious to do +all he could for his young countryman; but it would be almost +impossible to do so unless Arthur would accept the religion of his +captors; and he explained that the two boys were the absolute property +of the tribe, who had discovered and rescued them when going to the +seashore to gather kelp for the glass work practised by the Moors in +their little furnaces. + +'Forsake my religion? Never!' cried Arthur indignantly. + +'Saftly, saftly,' said Yusuf; 'nae doot ye trow as I did that they are +a' mere pagans and savage heathens, worshipping Baal and Ashtaroth, but +I fand myself quite mista'en. They hae no idols, and girn at the +blinded Papists as muckle as auld Deacon Shortcoats himsel'.' + +'I know that,' threw in Arthur. + +'Ay, and they are a hantle mair pious and devout than ever a body I hae +seen in Eyemouth, or a' the country side to boot; forbye, my minnie's +auld auntie, that sat graning by the ingle, and ay banned us when we +came ben. The meneester himsel' dinna gae about blessing and praying +over ilka sma' matter like the meenest of us here, and for a' the din +they make at hame about the honorable Sabbath, wha thinks of praying +five times the day? While as for being the waur for liquor, these +folks kenna the very taste of it. Put yon sheyk down on the wharf at +Eyemouth, and what wad he say to the Christian folk there?' + +A shock of conviction passed over Arthur, though he tried to lose it in +indignant defence; but Yusuf did not venture to stay any longer with +him, and bidding him think over what had been said, since slavery or +Islam were the only alternatives, returned to the tents of merchandise. + +First thoughts with the youth had of course been of horror at the bare +idea of apostacy, and yet as he watched his Moorish hosts, he could not +but own to himself that he never had dreamt that to be among them would +be so like dwelling under the oak of Mamre, in the tents of Abraham. +From what he remembered of Partan Jeannie's reputation as a being only +tolerated and assisted by his mother, on account of her extreme misery +and destitution, he could believe that the ne'er-do-weel son, who must +have forsaken her before he himself was born, might have really been +raised in morality by association with the grave, faithful, and +temperate followers of Mohammed, rather than the scum of the port of +Eyemouth. + +For himself and the boy, what did slavery mean? He hoped to understand +better from Yusuf, and at any rate to persuade the man to become the +medium of communication with the outside world, beyond that +'dissociable ocean,' over which his wistful gaze wandered. Then the +ransom of the little Chevalier de Bourke would be certain, and, if +there were any gratitude in the world, his own. But how long would +this take, and what might befall them in the meantime? + +Ulysse all this time seemed perfectly happy with the small Moors, who +all romped together without distinction of rank, of master, slave or +colour, for Yusuf's little negro was freely received among them. At +night, however, Ulysse's old home self seemed to revive; he crept back +to Arthur, tired and weary, fretting for mother, sister, and home; and +even after he had fallen asleep, waking again to cry for Julienne. +Poor Arthur, he was a rough nurse, but pity kept him patient, and he +was even glad to see that the child had not forgotten his home. + +Meantime, ever since the sunset prayer, there had been smoking of pipes +and drinking of coffee, and earnest discussion between the sheyk and +the merchant, and by and by Yusuf came and sat himself down by Arthur, +smiling a little at the young man's difficulty in disposing of those +long legs upon the ground. + +'Ye'll have to learn this and other things, sir,' said he, as he +crossed his own under him, Eastern fashion; but his demeanour was on +the whole that of the fisher to the laird's son, and he evidently +thought that he had a grand proposal to make, for which Master Arthur +ought to be infinitely obliged. + +He explained to Arthur that Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri had never had more +than two sons, and that both had been killed the year before in trying +to recover their cattle from the Cabeleyzes, 'a sort of Hieland +caterans.' + +The girl whom Arthur had noticed was the widow of the elder of the two, +and the child was only a daughter. The sheyk had been much impressed +by Arthur's exploit in swimming or floating round the headland and +saving the child, and regarded his height as something gigantic. +Moreover, Yusuf had asserted that he was son to a great Bey in his own +country, and in consequence Abou Ben Zegri was willing to adopt him as +his son, provided he would embrace the true faith, and marry Ayesha, +the widow. + +'And,' said Yusuf, 'these women are no that ill for wives, as I ken +owre weel'--and he sighed. 'I had as gude and douce a wee wifie at +Bona as heart culd wish, and twa bonny bairnies; but when I cam' back +frae my rounds, the plague had been there before me. They were a' +gone, even Ali, that had just began to ca' me Ab, Ab, and I hae never +had heart to gang back to the town house. She was a gude wife--nae +flying, nae rampauging. She wad hae died wi' shame to be likened to +thae randy wives at hame. Ye might do waur than tak' such a fair +offer, Maister Arthur.' + +'You mean it all kindly,' said Arthur, touched; 'but for nothing--no, +for nothing, can a Christian deny his Lord, or yield up his hopes for +hereafter.' + +'As for that,' returned Yusuf, 'the meneester and Beacon Shortcoats, +and my auld auntie, and the lave of them, aye ca'ed me a vessel of +destruction. That was the best name they had for puir Tam. So what +odds culd it mak, if I took up with the Prophet, and I was ower lang +leggit to row in a galley? Forbye, here they say that a man who prays +and gies awmous, and keeps frae wine, is sicker to win to Paradise and +a' the houris. I had rather it war my puir Zorah than any strange +houri of them a'; but any way, I hae been a better man sin' I took up +wi' them than ever I was as a cursing, swearing, drunken, fechting +sailor lad wha feared neither God nor devil.' + +'That was scarce the fault of the Christian faith,' said Arthur. + +'Aweel, the first answer in the Shorter Carritch was a' they ever +garred me learn, and that is what we here say of Allah. I see no +muckle to choose, and I KEN ane thing,--it is a hell on earth at ance +gin ye gang not alang wi' them. And that's sicker, as ye'll find to +your cost, sir, gin ye be na the better guided.' + +'With hope, infinite hope beyond,' said Arthur, trying to fortify +himself. 'No, I cannot, cannot deny my Lord--my Lord that bought me!' + +'We own Issa Ben Mariam for a Prophet,' said Yusuf. + +'But He is my only Master, my Redeemer, and God. No, come what may, I +can never renounce Him,' said Arthur with vehemence. + +'Wed, awed,' said Yusuf, 'maybe ye'll see in time what's for your gude. +I'll tell the sheyk it would misbecome your father's son to do sic a +deed owre lichtly, and strive to gar him wait while I am in these parts +to get your word, and nae doot it will be wiselike at the last.' + + + +CHAPTER VII--MASTER AND SLAVE + + + +'I only heard the reckless waters roar, +Those waves that would not hear me from the shore; +I only marked the glorious sun and sky +Too bright, too blue for my captivity, +And felt that all which Freedom's bosom cheers, +Must break my chain before it dried my tears.' +BYRON (The corsair). + +At the rate at which the traffic in Yusuf's tent proceeded, Arthur Hope +was likely to have some little time for deliberation on the question +presented to him whether to be a free Moslem sheyk or a Christian +slave. + +Not only had almost every household in El Arnieh to chaffer with the +merchant for his wares and to dispose of home-made commodities, but +from other adowaras and from hill-farms Moors and Cabyles came in with +their produce of wax, wool or silk, to barter--if not with Yusuf, with +the inhabitants of El Arnieh, who could weave and embroider, forge +cutlery, and make glass from the raw material these supplied. Other +Cabyles, divers from the coast, came up, with coral and sponges, the +latter of which was the article in which Yusuf preferred to deal, +though nothing came amiss to him that he could carry, or that could +carry itself--such as a young foal; even the little black boy had been +taken on speculation--and so indeed had the big Abyssinian, who, though +dumb, was the most useful, ready, and alert of his five slaves. Every +bargain seemed to occupy at least an hour, and perhaps Yusuf lingered +the longer in order to give Arthur more time for consideration; or it +might be that his native tongue, once heard, exercised an irresistible +fascination over him. He never failed to have what he called a 'crack' +with his young countryman at the hour of the siesta, or at night, +perhaps persuading the sheyk that it was controversial, though it was +more apt to be on circumstances of the day's trade or the news of the +Border-side. Controversy indeed there could be little with one so +ignorant as kirk treatment in that century was apt to leave the +outcasts of society, nor had conversion to Islam given him much +instruction in its tenets; so that the conversation generally was on +earthly topics, though it always ended in assurances that Master Arthur +would suffer for it if he did not perceive what was for his good. To +which Arthur replied to the effect that he must suffer rather than deny +his faith; and Yusuf, declaring that a wilful man maun have his way, +and that he would rue it too late, went off affronted, but always +returned to the charge at the next opportunity. + +Meantime Arthur was free to wander about unmolested and pick up the +language, in which, however, Ulysse made far more rapid progress, and +could be heard chattering away as fast, if not as correctly, as if it +were French or English. The delicious climate and the open-air life +were filling the little fellow with a strength and vigour unknown to +him in a Parisian salon, and he was in the highest spirits among his +brown playfellows, ceasing to pine for his mother and sister; and +though he still came to Arthur for the night, or in any trouble, it was +more and more difficult to get him to submit to be washed and dressed +in his tight European clothes, or to say his prayers. He was always +sleepy at night and volatile in the morning, and could not be got to +listen to the little instructions with which Arthur tried to arm him +against Mohammedanism into which the poor little fellow was likely to +drift as ignorantly and unconsciously as Yusuf himself. + +And what was the alternative? Arthur himself never wavered, nor indeed +actually felt that he had a choice; but the prospect before him was +gloomy, and Yusuf did not soften it. The sheyk would sell him, and he +would either be made to work in some mountain-farm, or put on board a +galley; and Yusuf had sufficient experience of the horrors of the +latter to assure him emphatically that the gude leddy of Burnside would +break her heart to think of her bonny laddie there. + +'It would more surely break her heart to think of her son giving up his +faith,' returned Arthur. + +As to the child, the opinion of the tribe seemed to be that he was just +fit to be sent to the Sultan to be bred as a Janissary. 'He will come +that gate to be as great a man as in his ain countree,' said Yusuf; +'wi' horse to ride, and sword to bear, and braws to wear, like King +Solomon in all his glory.' + +'While his father and mother would far rather he were lying dead with +her under the waves in that cruel bay,' returned Arthur. + +'Hout, mon, ye dinna ken what's for his gude, nor for your ain +neither,' retorted Yusuf. + +'Good here is not good hereafter.' + +'The life of a dog and waur here,' muttered Yusuf; 'ye'll mind me when +it is too late.' + +'Nay, Yusuf, if you will only take word of our condition to Algiers, we +shall--at least the boy--be assuredly redeemed, and you would win a +high reward.' + +'I am no free to gang to Algiers,' said Yusuf. 'I fell out with a loon +there, one of those Janissaries that gang hectoring aboot as though the +world were not gude enough for them, and if I hadna made the best of my +way out of the toon, my pow wad be a worricow on the wa's of the +tower.' + +'There are French at Bona, you say. Remember, I ask you to put +yourself in no danger, only to bear the tidings to any European,' +entreated Arthur. + +'And how are they to find ye?' demanded Yusuf. 'Abou Ben Zegri will +never keep you here after having evened his gude-daughter to ye. He'll +sell you to some corsair captain, and then the best that could betide +ye wad be that a shot frae the Knights of Malta should make quick work +wi' ye. Or look at the dumbie there, Fareek. A Christian, he ca's +himsel', too, though 'tis of a by ordinar' fashion, such as Deacon +Shortcoats would scarce own. I coft him dog cheap at Tunis, when his +master, the Vizier, had had his tongue cut out--for but knowing o' some +deed that suld ne'er have been done--and his puir feet bastinadoed to a +jelly. Gin a' the siller in the Dey's treasury ransomed ye, what gude +would it do ye after that?' + +'I cannot help that--I cannot forsake my God. I must trust Him not to +forsake me.' + +And, as usual, Yusuf went off angrily muttering, 'He that will to Cupar +maun to Cupar.' + +Perhaps Arthur's resistance had begun more for the sake of honour, and +instinctive clinging to hereditary faith, without the sense of heroism +or enthusiasm for martyrdom which sustained Estelle, and rather with +the feeling that inconstancy to his faith and his Lord would be base +and disloyal. But, as the long days rolled on, if the future of toil +and dreary misery developed itself before him, the sense of personal +love and aid towards the Lord and Master whom he served grew upon him. +Neither the gazelle-eyed Ayesha nor the prosperous village life +presented any great temptation. He would have given them all for one +bleak day of mist on a Border moss; it was the appalling contrast with +the hold of a Moorish galley that at times startled him, together with +the only too great probability that he should be utterly incapable of +saving poor little Ulysse from unconscious apostacy. + +Once Yusuf observed, that if he would only make outward submission to +Moslem law, he might retain his own belief and trust in the Lord he +seemed so much to love, and of whom he said more good than any Moslem +did of the Prophet. + +'If I deny Him, He will deny me,' said Arthur. + +'And will na He forgive ane as is hard pressed?' asked Yusuf. + +'It is a very different thing to go against the light, as I should be +doing,' said Arthur, 'and what it might be for that poor bairn, whom +Cod preserve.' + +'And wow! sir. 'Tis far different wi' you that had the best of gude +learning frae the gude leddy,' muttered Yusuf. 'My minnie aye needit +me to sort the fish and gang her errands, and wad scarce hae sent me to +scule, gin I wad hae gane where they girned at me for Partan Jeannie's +wean, and gied me mair o' the tawse than of the hornbook. Gin the +Lord, as ye ca' Him, had ever seemed to me what ye say He is to you, +Maister Arthur, I micht hae thocht twice o'er the matter. But there's +nae ganging back the noo. A Christian's life they harm na, though they +mak' it a mere weariness to him; but for him that quits the Prophet, +tearing the flesh wi' iron cleeks is the best they hae for him.' + +This time Yusuf retreated, not as usual in anger, but as if the bare +idea he had broached was too terrible to be dwelt upon. He had by the +end of a fortnight completed all his business at El Arnieh, and Arthur, +having by this time picked up enough of the language to make himself +comprehensible, and to know fully what was set before him, was called +upon to make his decision, so that either he might be admitted by +regular ritual into the Moslem faith, and adopted by the sheyk, or else +be advertised by Yusuf at the next town as a strong young slave. + +Sitting in the gate among the village magnates, like an elder of old, +Sheyk Abou Ben Zegri, with considerable grace and dignity, set the +choice before the Son of the Sea in most affectionate terms, asking of +him to become the child of his old age, and to heal the breach left by +the swords of the robbers of the mountains. + +The old man's fine dark eyes filled with tears, and there was a pathos +in his noble manner that made Arthur greatly grieved to disappoint him, +and sorry not to have sufficient knowledge of the language to qualify +more graciously the resolute reply he had so often rehearsed to +himself, expressing his hearty thanks, but declaring that nothing could +induce him to forsake the religion of his fathers. + +'Wilt thou remain a dog of an unbeliever, and receive the treatment of +dogs?' + +'I must,' said Arthur. + +'The youth is a goodly youth,' said the sheyk; 'it is ill that his +heart is blind. Once again, young man, Issa Ben Mariam and slavery, or +Mohammed and freedom?' + +'I cannot deny my Lord Christ.' + +There was a pause. Arthur stood upright, with lips compressed, hands +clasped together, while the sheyk and his companions seemed struck by +his courage and high spirit. Then one of them--a small, ugly fellow, +who had some pretensions to be considered the sheyk's next heir--cried, +'Out on the infidel dog!' and set the example of throwing a handful of +dust at him. The crowd who watched around were not slow to follow the +example, and Arthur thought he was actually being stoned; but the +missiles were for the most part not harmful, only disgusting, blinding, +and confusing. There was a tremendous hubbub of vituperation, and he +was at last actually stunned by a blow, waking to find himself alone, +and with hands and feet bound, in a dirty little shed appropriated to +camels. Should he ever be allowed to see poor little Ulysse again, or +to speak to Yusuf, in whom lay their only faint hope of redemption? He +was helpless, and the boy was at the mercy of the Moors. Was he +utterly forsaken? + +It was growing late in the day, and he had had no food for many hours. +Was he to be neglected and starved? At last he heard steps +approaching, and the door was opened by the man who had led the assault +on him, who addressed him as 'Son of an old ass--dog of a slave,' bade +him stand up and show his height, at the same time cutting the cords +that bound him. It was an additional pang that it was to Yusuf that he +was thus to exhibit himself, no doubt in order that the merchant should +carry a description of him to some likely purchaser. He could not +comprehend the words that passed, but it was very bitter to be handled +like a horse at a fair--doubly so that he, a Hope of Burnside, should +thus be treated by Partan Jeannie's son. + +There ensued outside the shrieking and roaring which always accompanied +a bargain, and which lasted two full hours. Finally Yusuf looked into +the hut, and roughly said in Arabic, 'Come over to me, dog; thou art +mine. Kiss the shoe of thy master'--adding in his native tongue, 'For +ance, sir. It maun be done before these loons.' + +Certainly the ceremony would have been felt as less humiliating towards +almost anybody else, but Arthur endured it; and then was led away to +the tents beyond the gate. + +'There, sir,' said Yusuf, 'it ill sorts your father's son to be in sic +a case, but it canna be helpit. I culd na leave behind the bonny Scots +tongue, let alane the gude Leddy Hope's son.' + +'You have been very good to me, Yusuf,' said Arthur, his pride much +softened by the merchant's evident sense of the situation. 'I know you +mean me well, but the boy--' + +'Hoots! the bairn is happy eno'. He will come to higher preferment +than even you or I. Why, mon, an Aga of the Janissaries is as good as +the Deuk himsel'.' + +'Yusuf, I am very grateful--I believe you must have paid heavily to +spare me from ill usage.' + +'Ye may say that, sir. Forty piastres of Tunis, and eight mules, and +twa pair of silver-mounted pistols. The extortionate rogue wad hae had +the little dagger, but I stood out against that.' + +'I see, I am deeply beholden,' said Arthur; 'but it would be tenfold +better if you would take him instead of me!' + +'What for suld I do that? He is nae countryman of mine--one side +French and the other Irish. He is naught to me.' + +'He is heir to a noble house,' waged Arthur. 'They will reward you +amply for saving him.' + +'Mair like to girn at me for a Moor. Na, na! Hae na I dune enough for +ye, Maister Arthur--giving half my beasties, and more than half my +silver? Canna ye be content without that whining bairn?' + +'I should be a forsworn man to be content to leave the child, whose +dead mother prayed me to protect him, and those who will turn him from +her faith. See, now, I am a man, and can guard myself, by the grace of +God; but to leave the poor child here would be letting these men work +their will on him ere any ransom could come. His mother would deem it +giving him up to perdition. Let me remain here, and take the helpless +child. You know how to bargain. His price might be my ransom.' + +'Ay, when the jackals and hyenas have picked your banes, or you have +died under the lash, chained to the oar, as I hae seen, Maister +Arthur.' + +'Better so than betray the dead woman's trust. How no--' + +For there was a pattering of feet, a cry of 'Arthur, Arthur!' and +sobbing, screaming, and crying, Ulysse threw himself on his friend's +breast. He was pursued by one or two of the hangers-on of the sheyk's +household, and the first comer seized him by the arm; but he clung to +Arthur, screamed and kicked, and the old nurse who had come hobbling +after coaxed in vain. He cried out in a mixture of Arabic and French +that he WOULD sleep with Arthur--Arthur must put him to bed; no one +should take him away. + +'Let him stay,' responded Yusuf; 'his time will come soon enough.' + +Indulgence to children was the rule, and there was an easy good-nature +about the race, which made them ready to defer the storm, and acquiesce +in the poor little fellow remaining for another evening with that last +remnant of his home to whom he always reverted at nightfall. + +He held trembling by Arthur till all were gone, then looked about in +terror, and required to be assured that no one was coming to take him +away. + +'They shall not,' he cried. 'Arthur, you will not leave me alone? +They are all gone--Mamma, and Estelle, and la bonne, and Laurent, and +my uncle, and all, and you will not go.' + +'Not now, not to-night, my dear little mannie,' said Arthur, tears in +his eyes for the first time throughout these misfortunes. + +'Not now! No, never!' said the boy hugging him almost to choking. +'That naughty Ben Kader said they had sold you for a slave, and you +were going away; but I knew I should find you--you are not a slave!-- +you are not black--' + +'Ah! Ulysse, it is too true; I am--' + +'No! no! no!' the child stamped, and hung on him in a passion of tears. +'You shall not be a slave. My papa shall come with his soldiers and +set you free.' + +Altogether the boy's vehemence, agitation, and terror were such that +Arthur found it impossible to do anything but soothe and hush him, as +best might be, till his sobs subsided gradually, still heaving his +little chest even after he fell asleep in the arms of his unaccustomed +nurse, who found himself thus baffled in using this last and only +opportunity of trying to strengthen the child's faith, and was also +hindered from pursuing Yusuf, who had left the tent. And if it were +separation that caused all this distress, what likelihood that Yusuf +would encumber himself with a child who had shown such powers of +wailing and screaming? + +He durst not stir nor speak for fear of wakening the boy, even when +Yusuf returned and stretched himself on his mat, drawing a thick +woollen cloth over him, for the nights were chill. Long did Arthur lie +awake under the strange sense of slavery and helplessness, and utter +uncertainty as to his fate, expecting, in fact, that Yusuf meant to +keep him as a sort of tame animal to talk Scotch; but hoping to work on +him in time to favour an escape, and at any rate to despatch a letter +to Algiers, as a forlorn hope for the ultimate redemption of the poor +little unconscious child who lay warm and heavy across his breast. +Certainly, Arthur had never so prayed for aid, light. and deliverance +as now! + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE SEARCH + + + +'The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks, +The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs. The deep +Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.' +TENNYSON. + +Arthur fell asleep at last, and did not waken till after sunrise, nor +did Ulysse, who must have been exhausted with crying and struggling. +When they did awaken, Arthur thinking with heavy heart that the moment +of parting was come, he saw indeed the other three slaves busied in +making bales of the merchandise; but the master, as well as the +Abyssinian, Fareek, and the little negro were all missing. Bekir, who +was a kind of foreman, and looked on the new white slave with some +jealousy, roughly pointed to some coarse food, and in reply to the +question whether the merchant was taking leave of the sheyk, intimated +that it was no business of theirs, and assumed authority to make his +new fellow-slave assist in the hardest of the packing. + +Arthur had no heart to resist, much as it galled him to be ordered +about by this rude fellow. It was only a taste, as he well knew, of +what he had embraced, and he was touched by poor little Ulysse's +persistency in keeping as close as possible, though his playfellows +came down and tried first to lure, then to drag him away, and finally +remained to watch the process of packing up. Though Bekir was too +disdainful to reply to his fellow-slave's questions, Arthur picked up +from answers to the Moors who came down that Yusuf had recollected that +he had not finished his transactions with a little village of Cabyle +coral and sponge-fishers on the coast, and had gone down thither, +taking the little negro, to whom the headman seemed to have taken a +fancy, so as to become a possible purchaser, and with the Abyssinian to +attend to the mules. + +A little before sundown Yusuf returned. Fareek lifted down a pannier +covered by a crimson and yellow kerchief, and Yusuf declared, with much +apparent annoyance, that the child was sick, and that this had +frustrated the sale. He was asleep, must be carried into the tent, and +not disturbed: for though the Cabyles had not purchased him, there was +no affording to loose anything of so much value. Moreover, observing +Ulysse still hovering round the Scot, he said, 'You may bide here the +night, laddie, I ha tell't the sheyk;' and he repeated the same to the +slaves in Arabic, dismissing them to hold a parting feast on a lamb +stuffed with pistachio nuts, together with their village friends. + +Then drawing near to Arthur, he said, 'Can ye gar yon wean keep a quiet +sough, if we make him pass for the little black?' + +Arthur started with joy, and stammered some words of intense relief and +gratitude. + +'The deed's no dune yet,' said Yusuf, 'and it is ower like to end in +our leaving a' our banes on the sands! But a wilfu' man maun have his +way,' he repeated; 'so, sir, if it be your wull, ye'd better speak to +the bairn, for we must make a blackamoor of him while there is licht to +do it, or Bekir, whom I dinna lippen to, comes back frae the feast.' + +Ulysse, being used to Irish-English, had little understanding of +Yusuf's broad Scotch; but he was looking anxiously from one to the +other of the speakers, and when Arthur explained to him that the +disguise, together with perfect silence, was the only hope of not being +left behind among the Moors, and the best chance of getting back to his +home and dear ones again, he perfectly understood. As to the +blackening, for which Yusuf had prepared a mixture to be laid on with a +feather, it was perfectly enchanting to faire la comedie. He laughed +so much that he had to be peremptorily hushed, and they were sensible +of the danger that in case of a search he might betray himself to his +Moorish friends; and Arthur tried to make him comprehend the extreme +danger, making him cry so that his cheeks had to be touched up. His +eyes and hair were dark, and the latter was cut to its shortest by +Yusuf, who further managed to fasten some tufts of wool dipped in the +black unguent to the kerchief that bound his head. The childish +features had something of the Irish cast, which lent itself to the +transformation, and in the scanty garments of the little negro Arthur +owned that he should never have known the small French gentleman. +Arthur was full of joy--Yusuf gruff, brief, anxious, like one acting +under some compulsion most unwillingly, and even despondently, but +apparently constrained by a certain instinctive feudal feeling, which +made him follow the desires of the young Border laird's son. + +All had been packed beforehand, and there was nothing to be done but to +strike the tents, saddle the mules, and start. Ulysse, still very +sleepy, was lifted into the pannier, almost at the first streak of +dawn, while the slaves were grumbling at being so early called up; and +to a Moor who wakened up and offered to take charge of the little Bey, +Yusuf replied that the child had been left in the sheyk's house. + +So they were safely out at the outer gate, and proceeding along a +beautiful path leading above the cliffs. The mules kept in one long +string, Bekir with the foremost, which was thus at some distance from +the hindmost, which carried Ulysse and was attended by Arthur, while +the master rode his own animals and gave directions. The fiction of +illness was kept up, and when the bright eyes looked up in too lively a +manner, Yusuf produced some of the sweets, which were always part of +his stock in trade, as a bribe to quietness. + +At sunrise, the halt for prayer was a trial to Arthur's intense +anxiety, and far more so was the noontide one for sleep. He even +ventured a remonstrance, but was answered, 'Mair haste, worse speed. +Our lives are no worth a boddle till the search is over.' + +They were on the shady side of a great rock overhung by a beautiful +creeping plant, and with a spring near at hand, and Yusuf, in leisurely +fashion, squatted down, caused Arthur to lift out the child, who was +fast asleep again, and the mules to be allowed to feed, and distributed +some dried goat's flesh and dates; but Ulysse, somewhat to Arthur's +alarm, did not wake sufficiently to partake. + +Looking up in alarm, he met a sign from Yusuf and presently a whisper, +'No hurt done--'tis safer thus--' + +And by this time there were alarming sounds on the air. The sheyk and +two of the chief men of El Arnieh were on horseback and armed with +matchlocks; and the whole 'posse of the village were following on foot, +with yells and vituperations of the entire ancestry of the merchant, +and far more complicated and furious threats than Arthur could follow; +but he saw Yusuf go forward to meet them with the utmost cool courtesy. + +They seemed somewhat discomposed: Yusuf appeared to condole with them +on the loss, and, waving his hands, put all his baggage at their +service for a search, letting them run spears through the bales, and +overturn the baskets of sponges, and search behind every rock. When +they approached the sleeping boy, Arthur, with throbbing heart, dimly +comprehended that Yusuf was repeating the story of the disappointment +of a purchase caused by his illness, and lifting for a moment the +covering laid over him to show the bare black legs and arms. There +might also have been some hint of infection which, in spite of all +Moslem belief in fate, deterred Abou Ben Zegri from an over-close +inspection. Yusuf further invented a story of having put the little +Frank in charge of a Moorish woman in the adowara; but added he was so +much attached to the Son of the Sea, that most likely he had wandered +out in search of him, and the only wise course would be to seek him +before he was devoured by any of the wild beasts near home. + +Nevertheless, there was a courteous and leisurely smoking of pipes and +drinking of coffee before the sheyk and his followers turned homewards. +To Arthur's alarm and surprise, however, Yusuf did not resume the +journey, but told Bekir that there would hardly be a better halting- +place within their powers, as the sun was already some way on his +downward course; and besides, it would take some time to repack the +goods which had been cast about in every direction during the search. +The days were at their shortest, though that was not very short, +closing in at about five o'clock, so that there was not much time to +spare. Arthur began to feel some alarm at the continued drowsiness of +the little boy, who only once muttered something, turned round, and +slept again. + +'What have you done to him?' asked Arthur anxiously. + +'The poppy,' responded Yusuf. 'Never fash yoursel'. The bairn willna +be a hair the waur, and 'tis better so than that he shuld rax a' our +craigs.' + +Yusuf's peril was so much the greater, that it was impossible to object +to any of his precautions, especially as he might take offence and +throw the whole matter over; but it was impossible not to chafe +secretly at the delay, which seemed incomprehensible. Indeed, the +merchant was avoiding private communication with Arthur, only assuming +the master, and ordering about in a peremptory fashion which it was +very hard to digest. + +After the sunset orisons had been performed, Yusuf regaled his slaves +with a donation of coffee and tobacco, but with a warning to Arthur not +to partake, and to keep to windward of them. So too did the +Abyssinian, and the cause of the warning was soon evident, as Bekir and +his companion nodded, and then sank into a slumber as sound as that of +the little Frenchman. Indeed, Arthur himself was weary enough to fall +asleep soon after sundown, in spite of his anxiety, and the stars were +shining like great lamps when Yusuf awoke him. One mule stood equipped +beside him, and held by the Abyssinian. Yusuf pointed to the child, +and said, 'Lift him upon it.' + +Arthur obeyed, finding a pannier empty on one side to receive the +child, who only muttered and writhed instead of awaking. The other +side seemed laden. Yusuf led the animal, retracing their way, while +fire-flies flitted around with their green lights, and the distant +laughter of hyenas gave Arthur a thrill of loathing horror. Huge bats +fluttered round, and once or twice grim shapes crossed their path. + +'Uncanny beasties,' quoth Yusuf; 'but they will soon be behind us.' + +He turned into a rapidly-sloping path. Arthur felt a fresh salt breeze +in his face, and his heart leapt up with hope. + +In about an hour and a half they had reached a cove, shut in by dark +rocks which in the night looked immeasurable, but on the white beach a +few little huts were dimly discernible, one with a light in it. The +sluggish dash of waves could be heard on the shore; there was a sense +of infinite space and breadth before them; and Jupiter sitting in the +north-west was like an enormous lamp, casting a pathway of light +shimmering on the waters to lead the exiles home. + +Three or four boats were drawn up on the beach; a man rose up from +within one, and words in a low voice were exchanged between him and +Yusuf; while Fareek, grinning so that his white teeth could be seen in +the starlight, unloaded the mule, placing its packs, a long Turkish +blunderbuss, and two skins of water, in the boat, and arranging a mat +on which Arthur could lay the sleeping child. + +Well might the youth's heart bound with gratitude, as, unmindful of all +the further risks and uncertainties to be encountered, he almost saw +his way back to Burnside! + + + +CHAPTER IX--ESCAPE + + + +'Beside the helm he sat, steering expert, +Nor sleep fell ever on his eyes that watch'd +Intent the Pleiads, tardy in decline, +Bootes and the Bear, call'd else the Wain, +Which in his polar prison circling, looks +Direct towards Orion, and alone +Of these sinks never to the briny deep.' +Odyssey (COWPER). + +The boat was pushed off, the Abyssinian leapt into it; Arthur paused to +pour out his thankfulness to Yusuf, but was met with the reply, 'Hout +awa'! Time enugh for that--in wi' ye.' And fancying there was some +alarm, he sprang in, and to his amazement found Yusuf instantly at his +side, taking the rudder, and giving some order to Fareek, who had taken +possession of a pair of oars; while the waters seemed to flash and +glitter a welcome at every dip. + +'You are coming! you are coming!' exclaimed Arthur, clasping the +merchant's hand, almost beside himself with joy. + +'Sma' hope wad there be of a callant like yersel' and the wean there +winning awa' by yer lane,' growled Yusuf. + +'You have given up all for us.' + +'There wasna muckle to gie,' returned the sponge merchant. 'Sin' the +gudewife and her bit bairnies at Bona were gane, I hadna the heart to +gang thereawa', nor quit the sound o' the bonny Scots tongue. I wad as +soon gang to the bottom as to the toom house. For dinna ye trow +yersells ower sicker e'en the noo.' + +'Is there fear of pursuit?' + +'No mickle o' that. The folk here are what they ca' Cabyles, a douce +set, not forgathering with Arabs nor wi' Moors. I wad na gang among +them till the search was over to-day; but yesterday I saw yon carle, +and coft the boatie frae him for the wee blackamoor and the mule. The +Moors at El Aziz are not seafaring; and gin the morn they jalouse what +we have done, we have the start of them. Na, I'm not feared for them; +but forbye that, this is no the season for an open boatie wi' a crew of +three and a wean. Gin we met an Algerian or Tunisian cruiser, as we +are maist like to do, a bullet or drooning wad be ower gude in their +e'en for us--for me, that is to say. They wad spare the bairn, and may +think you too likely a lad to hang on the walls like a split corbie on +the woodsman's lodge.' + +'Well, Yusuf, my name is Hope, you know,' said Arthur. 'God has +brought us so far, and will scarce leave us now. I feel three times +the man that I was when I lay down this evening. Do we keep to the +north, where we are sure to come to a Christian land in time?' + +'Easier said than done. Ye little ken what the currents are in this +same sea, or deed ye'll soon ken when we get into them.' + +Arthur satisfied himself that they were making for the north by looking +at the Pole Star, so much lower than he was used to see it in Scotland +that he hardly recognised his old friend; but, as he watched the +studded belt of the Hunter and the glittering Pleiades, the Horatian +dread of Nimbosus Orion occurred to him as a thought to be put away. + +Meantime there was a breeze from the land, and the sail was hoisted. +Yusuf bade both Arthur and Fareek lie down to sleep, for their +exertions would be wanted by and by, since it would not be safe to use +the sail by daylight. It was very cold--wild blasts coming down from +the mountains; but Arthur crept under the woollen mantle that had been +laid over Ulysse, and was weary enough to sleep soundly. Both were +awakened by the hauling down of the mast; and the little boy, who had +quite slept off the drug, scrambling out from under the covering, was +astonished beyond measure at finding himself between the glittering, +sparkling expanse of sea and the sky, where the sun had just leapt up +in a blaze of gold. + +The white summits of Atlas were tipped with rosy light, beautiful to +behold, though the voyagers had much rather have been out of sight of +them. + +'How much have we made, Yusuf?' began Arthur. + +'Tam Armstrong, so please you, sir! Yusuf's dead and buried the noo; +and if I were farther beyant the grip of them that kenned him, my +thrapple would feel all the sounder!' + +This day was, he further explained, the most perilous one, since they +were by no means beyond the track of vessels plying on the coast; and +as a very jagged and broken cluster of rocks lay near, he decided on +availing themselves of the shelter they afforded. The boat was steered +into a narrow channel between two which stood up like the fangs of a +great tooth, and afforded a pleasant shade; but there was such a +screaming and calling of gulls, terns, cormorants, and all manner of +other birds, as they entered the little strait, and such a cloud of +them hovered and whirled overhead, that Tam uttered imprecations on +their skirling, and bade his companions lie close and keep quiet till +they had settled again, lest the commotion should betray that the rocks +were the lair of fugitives. + +It was not easy to keep Ulysse quiet, for he was in raptures at the +rush of winged creatures, and no less so at the wonderful sea-anemones +and starfish in the pools, where long streamers of weed of beautiful +colours floated on the limpid water. + +Nothing reduced him to stillness but the sight of the dried goat's +flesh and dates that Tam Armstrong produced, and for which all had +appetites, which had to be checked, since no one could tell how long it +would be before any kind of haven could be reached. + +Arthur bathed himself and his charge in a pool, after Tam had +ascertained that no many-armed squid or cuttlefish lurked within it. +And while Ulysse disported himself like a little fish, Arthur did his +best to restore him to his natural complexion, and tried to cleanse the +little garments, which showed only too plainly the lack of any change, +and which were the only Frank or Christian clothes among them, since +young Hope himself had been almost stripped when he came ashore, and +wore the usual garb of Yusuf's slaves. + +Presently Fareek made an imperative sign to hush the child's merry +tongue; and peering forth in intense anxiety, the others perceived a +lateen sail passing perilously near, but happily keeping aloof from the +sharp reef of rocks around their shelter. Arthur had forgotten the +child's prayers and his own, but Ulysse connected them with dressing, +and the alarm of the passing ship had recalled them to the young man's +mind, though he felt shy as he found that Tam Armstrong was not asleep, +but was listening and watching with his keen gray eyes under their +grizzled brows. Presently, when Ulysse was dropping to sleep again, +the ex-merchant began to ask questions with the intelligence of his +shrewd Scottish brains. + +The stern Calvinism of the North was wont to consign to utter neglect +the outcast border of civilisation, where there were no decent parents +to pledge themselves; and Partan Jeannie's son had grown up well-nigh +in heathen ignorance among fisher lads and merchant sailors, till it +had been left for him to learn among the Mohammedans both temperance +and devotional habits. His whole faith and understanding would have +been satisfied for ever; but there had been strange yearnings within +him ever since he had lost his wife and children, and these had not +passed away when Arthur Hope came in his path. Like many another +renegade, he could not withstand the attraction of his native tongue; +and in this case it was doubled by the feudal attachment of the +district to the family of Burnside, and a grateful remembrance of the +lady who had been one of the very few persons who had ever done a +kindly deed by the little outcast. He had broken with all his Moslem +ties for Arthur Hope's sake; and these being left behind, he began to +make some inquiries about that Christian faith to which he must needs +return--if return be the right word in the case of one who knew it so +little when he had abjured it. + +And Arthur had not been bred to the grim reading of the doctrine of +predestination which had condemned poor Tam, even before he had +embraced the faith of the Prophet. Boyish, and not over thoughtful, +the youth, when brought face to face with apostacy, had been ready to +give life or liberty rather than deny his Lord; and deepened by that +great decision, he could hold up that Lord and Redeemer in colours that +made Tam see that his clinging to his faith was not out of mere honour +and constancy, but that Mohammed had been a poor and wretched +substitute for Him whom the poor fellow had denied, not knowing what he +did. + +'Weel!' he said, 'gin the Deacon and the auld aunties had tellt me as +mickle about Him, thae Moors might ha' preached their thrapples sair +for Tam. Mashallah! Maister Arthur, do ye think, noo, He can forgie a +puir carle for turning frae Him an' disowning Him?' + +'I am sure of it, Tam. He forgives all who come to Him--and you--you +did it in ignorance.' + +'And you trow na that I am a vessel of wrath, as they aye said?' + +'No, no, no, Tam. How could that be with one who has done what you +have for us? There is good in you--noble goodness, Tam; and who could +have put it there but God, the Holy Spirit? I believe myself He was +leading you all the time, though you did not know it; making you a +better man first, and now, through this brave kindness to us, bringing +you back to be a real true Christian and know Him.' + +Arthur felt as if something put the words into his mouth, but he felt +them with all his heart, and the tears were in his eyes. + +At sundown Tam grew restless. Force of habit impelled him to turn to +Mecca and make his devotions as usual, and after nearly kneeling down +on the flat stone, he turned to Arthur and said, 'I canna wed do +without the bit prayer, sir. + +'No, indeed, Tam. Only let it be in the right Name.' + +And Arthur knelt down beside him and said the Lord's Prayer--then, +under a spell of bashfulness, muttered special entreaty for protection +and safety. + +They were to embark again now that darkness would veil their movements, +but the wind blew so much from the north that they could not raise the +sail. The oars were taken by Tam and Fareek at first, but when they +came into difficult currents Arthur changed places with the former. + +And thus the hours passed. The Mediterranean may be in our eyes a +European lake, but it was quite large enough to be a desert of sea and +sky to the little crew of an open boat, even though they were favoured +by the weather. Otherwise, indeed, they must have perished in the +first storm. They durst not sail except by night, and then only with +northerly winds, nor could there be much rest, since they could not lay +to, and drift with the currents, lest they should be carried back to +the African coast. Only one of the three men could sleep at a time, +and that by one of the others taking both oars, and in time this could +not but become very exhausting. It was true that all the coasts to the +north were of Christian lands; but in their Moorish garments and in +perfect ignorance of Italian, strangers might fare no better in +Sardinia or Sicily than in Africa, and Spain might be no better; but +Tam endeavoured to keep a north-westerly course, thinking from what +Arthur had said that in this direction there was more chance of being +picked up by a French vessel. Would their strength and provisions hold +out? Of this there was serious doubt. Late in the year as it was, the +heat and glare were as distressing by day as was the cold by night, and +the continued exertion of rowing produced thirst, which made it very +difficult to husband the water in the skins. Tam and Fareek were both +tough, and inured to heat and privation; but Arthur, scarce yet come to +his full height, and far from having attained proportionate robustness +and muscular strength, could not help flagging, though, whenever +steering was of minor importance, Tam gave him the rudder, moved by his +wan looks, for he never complained, even when fragments of dry goat's +flesh almost choked his parched mouth. The boy was never allowed to +want for anything save water; but it was very hard to hear him fretting +for it. Tam took the goatskin into his own keeping, and more than once +uttered a rough reproof, and yet Arthur saw him give the child half his +own precious ration when it must have involved grievous suffering. The +promise about giving the cup of cold water to a little one could not +but rise to his lips. + +'Cauld! and I wish it were cauld!' was all the response Tam made; but +his face showed some gratification. + +This was no season for traffic, and they had barely seen a sail or two +in the distance, and these only such as the experienced eyes of the ex- +sponge merchant held to be dangerous. Deadly lassitude began to seize +the young Scot; he began scarcely to heed what was to become of them, +and had not energy to try to console Ulysse, who, having in an +unwatched moment managed to swallow some sea water, was crying and +wailing under the additional misery he had inflicted on himself. The +sun beat down with noontide force, when on that fourth day, turning +from its scorching, his languid eye espied a sail on the northern +horizon. + +'See,' he cried; 'that is not the way of the Moors.' + +'Bismillah! I beg your pardon, sir,' cried Tam, but said no more, only +looked intently. + +Gradually, gradually the spectacle rose on their view fuller and +fuller, not the ruddy wings of the Algerine or Italian, but the square +white castle-like tiers of sails rising one above another, bearing +along in a south-easterly direction. + +'English or French,' said Tam, with a long breath, for her colours and +build were not yet discernible. 'Mashallah! I beg pardon. I mean, +God grant she pass us not by!' + +The mast was hastily raised, with Tam's turban unrolled, floating at +the top of it; and while he and Fareek plied their oars with might and +main, he bade Arthur fire off at intervals the blunderbuss, which had +hitherto lain idle at the bottom of the boat. + +How long the intense suspense lasted they knew not ere Arthur cried, +'They are slackening sail! Thank God. Tam, you have saved us! +English!' + +'Not so fast!' Tam uttered an Arabic and then a Scottish interjection. + +Their signal had been seen by other eyes. An unmistakable Algerine, +with the crescent flag, was bearing down on them from the opposite +direction. + +'Rascals. Do they not dread the British flag?' cried Arthur. 'Surely +that will protect us?' + +'They are smaller and lighter, and with their galley slaves can defy +the wind, and loup off like a flea in a blanket,' returned Tam, grimly. +'Mair by token, they guess what we are, and will hold on to hae my +life's bluid if naething mair! Here! Gie us a soup of the water, and +the last bite of flesh. 'Twill serve us the noo, find we shall need it +nae mair any way.' + +Arthur fed him, for he durst not slacken rowing for a moment. Then +seeing Fareek, who had borne the brunt of the fatigue, looking spent, +the youth, after swallowing a few morsels and a little foul-smelling +drink, took the second oar, while double force seemed given to the long +arms lately so weary, and both pulled on in silent, grim desperation. +Ulysse had given one scream at seeing the last of the water swallowed, +but he too, understood the situation, and obeyed Arthur's brief words, +'Kneel down and pray for us, my boy.' + +The Abyssinian was evidently doing the same, after having loaded the +blunderbuss; but it was no longer necessary to use this as a signal, +since the frigate had lowered her boat, which was rapidly coming +towards them. + +But, alas! still more swiftly, as it seemed to those terrified eyes, +came the Moorish boat--longer, narrower, more favoured by currents and +winds, flying like a falcon towards its prey. It was a fearful race. +Arthur's head began to swim, his breath to labour, his arms to move +stiffly as a thresher's flail; but, just as power was failing him, an +English cheer came over the waters, and restored strength for a few +more resolute strokes. + +Then came some puffs of smoke from the pirate's boat, a report, a jerk +to their own, a fresh dash forward, even as Fareek fired, giving a +moment's check to the enemy. There was a louder cheer, several shots +from the English boat, a cloud from the ship's side. Then Arthur was +sensible of a relaxation of effort, and that the chase was over, then +that the British boat was alongside, friendly voices ringing in his +ears, 'How now, mates? Runaways, eh? Where d'ye hail from?' + +'Scottish! British!' panted out Arthur, unable to utter more, faint, +giddy, and astounded by the cheers around him, and the hands stretched +out in welcome. He scarcely saw or understood. + +'Queer customers here! What! a child! Who are you, my little man? +And what's this? A Moor! He's hit--pretty hard too.' + +This brought back Arthur's reeling senses in one flash of horror, at +the sight of Tam, bleeding fast in the bottom of the boat. + +'O Tam! Tam! He saved me! He is Scottish too,' cried Arthur. 'Sir, +is he alive?' + +'I think so,' said the officer, who had bent over Tam. 'We'll have him +aboard in a minute, and see what the doctor can do with him. You seem +to have had a narrow escape.' + +Arthur was too busy endeavouring to staunch the blood which flowed fast +from poor Tam's side to make much reply, but Ulysse, perched on the +officer's knee, was answering for him in mixed English and French. +'Moi, je suis le Chevalier de Bourke! My papa is ambassador to Sweden. +This gentleman is his secretary. We were shipwrecked--and M. Arture +and I swam away together. The Moors were good to us, and wanted to +make us Moors; but M. Arture said it would be wicked. And Yusuf bought +him for a slave; but that was only from faire la comedie. He is bon +Chretien after all, and so is poor Fareek, only he is dumb. Yusuf-- +that is, Tam--made me all black, and changed me for his little negro +boy; and we got into the boat, and it was very hot, and oh! I am so +thirsty. And now M. Arture will take me to Monsieur mon Pere, and get +me some nice clothes again,' concluded the young gentleman, who, in +this moment of return to civilised society, had become perfectly aware +of his own rank and importance. + +Arthur only looked up to verify the child's statements, which had much +struck the lieutenant. Their boat had by this time been towed +alongside of the frigate, and poor Tam was hoisted on board, and the +surgeon was instantly at hand; but he said at once that the poor fellow +was fast dying, and that it would be useless torture to carry him below +for examination. + +A few words passed with the captain, and then the little Chevalier was +led away to tell his own tale, which he was doing with a full sense of +his own importance; but presently the captain returned, and beckoned to +Arthur, who had been kneeling beside poor Tam, moistening his lips, and +bathing his face, as he lay gasping and apparently unconscious, except +that he had gripped hold of his broad sash or girdle when it was taken +off. + +'The child tells me he is Comte de Bourke's son,' said the captain, in +a tentative manner, as if doubtful whether he should be understood, and +certainly Arthur looked more Moorish than European. + +'Yes, sir! He was on his way with his mother to join his father when +we were taken by a Moorish corsair.' + +'But you are not French?' said the captain, recognising the tones. + +'No, sir; Scottish--Arthur Maxwell Hope. I was to have gone as the +Count's secretary.' + +'You have escaped from the Moors? I could not understand what the boy +said. Where are the lady and the rest?' + +Arthur as briefly as he could, for he was very anxious to return to +poor Tam, explained the wreck and the subsequent adventures, saying +that he feared the poor Countess was lost, but that he had seen her +daughter and some of her suite on a rock. Captain Beresford was +horrified at the idea of a Christian child among the wild Arabs. His +station was Minorca, but he had just been at the Bay of Rosas, where +poor Comte de Bourke's anxiety and distress about his wife and children +were known, and he had received a request amounting to orders to try to +obtain intelligence about them, so that he held it to be within his +duty to make at once for Djigheli Bay. + +For further conversation was cut short by sounds of articulate speech +from poor Tam. Arthur turned hastily, and the captain proceeded to +give his orders. + +'Is Maister Hope here?' + +'Here! Yes. O Tam, dear Tam, if I could do anything!' cried Arthur. + +'I canna see that well,' said Tam, with a sound of anxiety. 'Where's +my sash?' + +'This is it, in your own hand,' said Arthur, thinking he was wandering, +but the other hand sought one of the ample folds, which was sewn over, +and weighty. + +'Tak' it; tak' tent of it; ye'll need the siller. Four hunder piastres +of Tunis, not countin' zeechins, and other sma' coin.' + +'Shall I send them to any one at Eyemouth?' + +Tam almost laughed. 'Na, na; keep them and use them yersell, sir. +There's nane at hame that wad own puir Tam. The leddy, your mither, +an' you hae been mair to me than a' beside that's above ground, and +what wad ye do wi'out the siller?' + +'O Tam! I owe all and everything to you. And now --' + +Tam looked up, as Arthur's utterance was choked, and a great tear fell +on his face. 'Wha wad hae said,' murmured he, 'that a son of Burnside +wad be greetin' for Partan Jeannie's son?' + +'For my best friend. What have you not saved me from! and I can do +nothing!' + +'Nay, sir. Say but thae words again.' + +'Oh for a clergyman! Or if I had a Bible to read you the promises.' + +'You shall have one,' said the captain, who had returned to his side. +The surgeon muttered that the lad seemed as good as a parson; but +Arthur heard him not, and was saying what prayers came to his mind in +this stress, when, even as the captain returned, the last struggle came +on. Once more Tam looked up, saying, 'Ye'll be good to puir Fareek;' +and with a word more, 'Oh, Christ: will He save such as I?' all was +over. + +'Come away, you can do nothing more,' said the doctor. 'You want +looking to yourself.' + +For Arthur tottered as he tried to rise, and needed the captain's kind +hand as he gained his feet. 'Sir,' he said, as the tears gushed to his +eyes, 'he DOES deserve all honour--my only friend and deliverer.' + +'I see,' said Captain Beresford, much moved; 'whatever he has been, he +died a Christian. He shall have Christian burial. And this fellow?' +pointing to poor Fareek, whose grief was taking vent in moans and sobs. + +'Christian--Abyssinian, but dumb,' Arthur explained; and having his +promise that all respect should be paid to poor Tam's corpse, he let +the doctor lead him away, for he had now time to feel how sun-scorched +and exhausted he was, with giddy, aching head, and legs cramped and +stiff, arms strained and shoulders painful after his three days and +nights of the boat. His thirst, too, seemed unquenchable, in spite of +drinks almost unconsciously taken, and though hungry he had little will +to eat. + +The surgeon made him take a warm bath, and then fed him with soup, +after which, on a promise of being called in due time, he consented to +deposit himself in a hammock, and presently fell asleep. + +When he awoke he found that clothes had been provided for him--naval +uniforms; but that could not be helped, and the comfort was great. He +was refreshed, but still very stiff. However, he dressed and was just +ready, when the surgeon came to see whether he were in condition to be +summoned, for it was near sundown, and all hands were piped up to +attend poor Tam's funeral rites. His generous and faithful deed had +eclipsed the memory that he was a renegade, and, indeed, it had been in +such ignorance that he had had little to deny. + +All the sailors stood as respectfully as if he had been one of +themselves while the captain read a portion of the Burial Office. Such +honours would never have been his in his native land, where at that +time even Episcopalians themselves could not have ventured on any out- +door rites; and Arthur was thus doubly struck and impressed, when, as +the corpse, sewn in sail-cloth and heavily weighted, was launched into +the blue waves, he heard the words committing the body to the deep, +till the sea should give up her dead. He longed to be able to +translate them to poor Fareek, who was weeping and howling so +inconsolably as to attest how good a master he had lost. + +Perhaps Tam's newly-found or recovered Christianity might have been put +to hard shocks as to the virtues he had learnt among the Moslems. At +any rate Arthur often had reason to declare in after life that the poor +renegade might have put many a better-trained Christian to shame. + + + +CHAPTER X--ON BOARD THE 'CALYPSO' + + + + 'From when this youth? +His country, name, and birth declare!' +SCOTT. + +'You had forgotten this legacy, Mr. Hope,' said Captain Beresford, +taking Arthur into his cabin, 'and, judging by its weight, it is hardly +to be neglected. I put it into my locker for security.' + +'Thank you, sir,' said Arthur. 'The question is whether I ought to +take it. I wished for your advice.' + +'I heard what passed,' said the captain. 'I should call your right as +complete as if you had a will made by a half a dozen lawyers. When we +get into port, a few crowns to the ship's company to drink your health, +and all will be right. Will you count it?' + +The folds were undone, and little piles made of the gold, but neither +the captain nor Arthur were much the wiser. The purser might have +computed it, but Captain Beresford did not propose this, thinking +perhaps that it was safer that no report of a treasure should get +abroad in the ship. + +He made a good many inquiries, which he had deferred till Arthur should +be in a fitter condition for answering, first about the capture and +wreck, and what the young man had been able to gather about the +Cabeleyzes. Then, as the replies showed that he had a gentleman before +him, Captain Beresford added that he could not help asking, 'Que diable +allait il faire dans cette galere?' + +'Sir,' said Arthur, 'I do not know whether you will think it your duty +to make me a prisoner, but I had better tell you the whole truth.' + +'Oho!' said the captain; 'but you are too young! You could never have +been out with--with--we'll call him the Chevalier.' + +'I ran away from school,' replied Arthur, colouring. 'I was a mere +boy, and I never was attainted,' explained Arthur, blushing. 'I have +been with my Lord Nithsdale, and my mother thought I could safely come +home, and that if I came from Sweden my brother could not think I +compromised him.' + +'Your brother?' + +'Lord Burnside. He is at Court, in favour, they say, with King George. +He is my half-brother; my mother is a Maxwell.' + +'There is a Hope in garrison at Port Mahon--a captain,' said the +captain. 'Perhaps he will advise you what to do if you are sick of +Jacobite intrigue and mystery, and ready to serve King George.' + +Arthur's face lighted up. 'Will it be James Hope of Ryelands, or +Dickie Hope of the Lynn, or--?' + +Captain Beresford held up his hands. + +'Time must show that, my young friend,' he said, smiling. 'And now I +think the officers expect you to join their mess in the gunroom.' + +There Arthur found the little Chevalier strutting about in an +adaptation of the smallest midshipman's uniform, and the centre of an +admiring party, who were equally diverted by his consequential airs and +by his accounts of his sports among the Moors. Happy fellow, he could +adapt himself to any society, and was ready to be the pet and plaything +of the ship's company, believing himself, when he thought of anything +beyond the present, to be full on the road to his friends again. + +Fareek was a much more difficult charge, for Arthur had hardly a word +that he could understand. He found the poor fellow coiled up in a +corner, just where he had seen his former master's remains disappear, +still moaning and weeping bitterly. As Arthur called to him he looked +up for a moment, then crawled forward, striking his forehead at +intervals against the deck. He was about to kiss the feet of his +former fellow-slave, the glittering gold, blue, and white of whose +borrowed dress no doubt impressed him. Arthur hastily started back, to +the amazement of the spectators, and called out a negative--one of the +words sure to be first learnt. He tried to take Fareek's hand and +raise him from his abject attitude; but the poor fellow continued +kneeling, and not only were no words available to tell him that he was +free, but it was extremely doubtful whether freedom was any boon to +him. One thing, however, he did evidently understand--he pointed to +the St. George's pennant with the red cross, made the sign, looked an +interrogation, and on Arthur's reply, 'Christians,' and reiteration of +the word 'Salem,' PEACE, he folded his arms and looked reassured. + +'Ay, ay, my hearty,' said the big boatswain, 'ye've got under the old +flag, and we'll soon make you see the difference. Cut out your poor +tongue, have they, the rascals, and made a dummy of you? I wish my cat +was about their ears! Come along with you, and you shall find what +British grog is made of.' + +And a remarkable friendship arose between the two, the boatswain +patronising Fareek on every occasion, and roaring at him as if he were +deaf as well as dumb, and Fareek appearing quite confident under his +protection, and establishing a system of signs, which were fortunately +a universal language. The Abyssinian evidently viewed himself as young +Hope's servant or slave, probably thinking himself part of his late +master's bequest, and there was no common language between them in +which to explain the difference or ascertain the poor fellow's wishes. +He was a slightly-made, dexterous man, probably about five and twenty +years of age, and he caught up very quickly, by imitation, the care he +could take of Arthur's clothes, and the habit of waiting on him at +meals. + +Meantime the Calypso held her course to the south-east, till the chart +declared the coast to be that of Djigheli Bay, and Arthur recognised +the headlands whither the unfortunate tartane had drifted to her +destruction. Anchoring outside the hay, Captain Beresford sent the +first lieutenant, Mr. Bullock, in the long-boat, with Arthur and a +well-armed force, with instructions to offer no violence, but to +reconnoitre; and if they found Mademoiselle de Bourke, or any others of +the party, to do their best for their release by promises of ransom or +representations of the consequences of detaining them. Arthur was +prepared to offer his own piastres at once in case of need of immediate +payment. He was by this time tolerably versed in the vernacular of the +Mediterranean, and a cook's boy, shipped at Gibraltar, was also +supposed to be capable of interpreting. + +The beautiful bay, almost realising the description of AEneas' landing- +place, lay before them, the still green waters within reflecting the +fantastic rocks and the wreaths of verdure which crowned them, while +the white mountain-tops rose like clouds in the far distance against +the azure sky. Arthur could only, however, think of all this fair +scene as a cruel prison, and those sharp rocks as the jaws of a trap, +when he saw the ribs of the tartane still jammed into the rock where +she had struck, and where he had saved the two children as they were +washed up the hatchway. He saw the rock where the other three had +clung, and where he had left the little girl. He remembered the crowd +of howling, yelling savages, leaping and gesticulating on the beach, +and his heart trembled as he wondered how it had ended. + +Where were the Cabeleyzes who had thus greeted them? The bay seemed +perfectly lonely. Not a sound was to be heard but the regular dip of +the oars, the cry of a startled bird, and the splash of a flock of +seals, which had been sunning themselves on the shore, and which +floundered into the sea like Proteus' flock of yore before Ulysses. +Would that Proteus himself had still been there to be captured and +interrogated! For the place was so entirely deserted that, saving for +the remains of the wreck, he must have believed himself mistaken in the +locality, and the lieutenant began to question him whether it had been +daylight when he came ashore. + +Could the natives have hidden themselves at sight of an armed vessel? +Mr. Bullock resolved on landing, very cautiously, and with a sufficient +guard. On the shore some fragments of broken boxes and packing cases +appeared; and a sailor pointed out the European lettering painted on +one--sse de B-. It plainly was part of the address to the Comtesse de +Bourke. This encouraged the party in their search. They ascended the +path which poor Hebert and Lanty Callaghan had so often painfully +climbed, and found themselves before the square of reed hovels, also +deserted, but with black marks where fires had been lighted, and with +traces of recent habitation. + +Arthur picked up a rag of the Bourke livery, and another of a brocade +which he had seen the poor Countess wearing. Was this all the relic +that he should ever be able to take to her husband? + +He peered about anxiously in hopes of discovering further tokens, and +Mr. Bullock was becoming impatient of his lingering, when suddenly his +eye was struck by a score on the bark of a chestnut tree like a cross, +cut with a feeble hand. Beneath, close to the trunk, was a stone, +beyond the corner of which appeared a bit of paper. He pounced upon +it. It was the title-page of Estelle's precious Telemaque, and on the +back was written in French, If any good Christian ever finds this, I +pray him to carry it to M. the French Consul at Algiers. We are five +poor prisoners, the Abbe de St. Eudoce, Estelle, daughter of the Comte +de Bourke, and our servants, Jacques Hebert, Laurent Callaghan, +Victorine Renouf. The Cabeleyzes are taking us away to their +mountains. We are in slavery, in hunger, filth, and deprivation of all +things. We pray day and night that the good God will send some one to +rescue us, for we are in great misery, and they persecute us to make us +deny our faith. O, whoever you may be, come and deliver us while we +are yet alive.' + +Arthur was almost choked with tears as he translated this piteous +letter to the lieutenant, and recollected the engaging, enthusiastic +little maiden, as he had seen her on the Rhone, but now brought to such +a state. He implored Mr. Bullock to pursue the track up the mountain, +and was grieved at this being treated as absurdly impossible, but then +recollecting himself, 'You could not, sir, but I might follow her and +make them understand that she must be saved--' + +'And give them another captive,' said Bullock; 'I thought you had had +enough of that. You will do more good to this flame of yours--' + +'No flame, sir. She is a mere child, little older than her brother. +But she must not remain among these lawless savages.' + +'No! But we don't throw the helve after the hatchet, my lad! All you +can do is to take this epistle to the French Consul, who might find it +hard to understand without your explanations. At any rate, my orders +are to bring you safe on board again.' + +Arthur had no choice but to submit, and Captain Beresford, who had a +wife and children at home, was greatly touched by the sight of the +childish writing of the poor little motherless girl; above all when +Arthur explained that the high-sounding title of Abbe de St. Eudoce +only meant one who was more likely to be a charge than a help to her. + +France was for the nonce allied with England, and the dread of passing +to Sweden through British seas had apparently been quite futile, since, +if Captain Beresford recollected the Irish blood of the Count, it was +only as an additional cause for taking interest in him. Towards the +Moorish pirates the interest of the two nations united them. It was +intolerable to think of the condition of the captives; and the captain, +anxious to lose no time, rejoiced that his orders were such as to +justify him in sailing at once for Algiers to take effectual measures +with the consul before letting the family know the situation of the +poor Demoiselle de Bourke. + + + +CHAPTER XI--THE PIRATE CITY + + + +'With dazed vision unawares +From the long alley's latticed shade +Emerged, I came upon the great +Pavilion of the Caliphat. +Right to the carven cedarn doors, +Flung inward over spangled floors, +Broad-based flights of marble stairs +Ran up with golden balustrade, + After the fashion of the time, + And humour of the golden prime + Of good Haroun Alraschid.' +TENNYSON. + +Civilised and innocuous existence has no doubt been a blessing to +Algiers as well as to the entire Mediterranean, but it has not improved +the picturesqueness of its aspect any more than the wild and splendid +'tiger, tiger burning bright,' would be more ornamental with his claws +pared, the fiery gleam of his yellow eyes quenched, and his spirit +tamed, so as to render him only an exaggerated domestic cat. The +steamer, whether of peace or war, is a melancholy substitute for the +splendid though sinister galley, with her ranks of oars and towers of +canvas, or for the dainty lateen-sailed vessels, skimming the waters +like flying fish, and the Frank garb ill replaces the graceful Arab +dress. The Paris-like block of houses ill replaces the graceful +Moorish architecture, undisturbed when the Calypso sailed into the +harbour, and the amphitheatre-like city rose before her, in successive +terraces of dazzling white, interspersed with palms and other trees +here and there, with mosques and minarets rising above them, and with a +crown of strong fortifications. The harbour itself was protected by a +strongly-fortified mole, and some parley passed with the governor of +the strong and grim-looking castle adjacent--a huge round tower erected +by the Spaniards, and showing three ranks of brazen teeth in the shape +of guns. + +Finally, the Algerines having been recently brought to their bearings, +as Captain Beresford said, entrance was permitted, and the Calypso +enjoyed the shelter of the mole; while he, in full-dress uniform, took +boat and went ashore, and with him the two escaped prisoners. Fareek +remained on board till the English Consul could be consulted on his +fate. + +England and France were on curious terms with Algiers. The French had +bombarded the city in 1686, and had obtained a treaty by which a consul +constantly resided in the city, and the persons and property of French +subjects were secured from piracy, or if captured were always released. +The English had made use of the possession of Gibraltar and Minorca to +enforce a like treaty. There was a little colony of European +merchants--English, French, and Dutch--in the lower town, near the +harbour, above which the Arab town rose, as it still rises, in a steep +stair. Ships of all these nations traded at the port, and quite +recently the English Consul, Thomas Thompson by name, had vindicated +the honour of his flag by citing before the Dey a man who had insulted +him on the narrow causeway of the mole. The Moor was sentenced to +receive 2200 strokes of bastinado on the feet, 1000 the first day, 1200 +on the second, and he died in consequence, so that Englishmen safely +walked the narrow streets. The Dey who had inflicted this punishment +was, however, lately dead. Mehemed had been elected and installed by +the chief Janissaries, and it remained to be proved whether he would +show himself equally anxious to be on good terms with the Christian +Powers. + +Arthur's heart had learnt to beat at sight of the British ensign with +emotions very unlike those with which he had seen it wave at +Sheriffmuir; but it looked strange above the low walls of a Moorish +house, plain outside, but with a richly cusped and painted horse-shoe +arch at the entrance to a lovely cloistered court, with a sparkling +fountain surrounded by orange trees with fruit of all shades from green +to gold. Servants in white garments and scarlet fezzes, black, brown, +or white (by courtesy), seemed to swarm in all directions; and one of +them called a youth in European garb, but equally dark-faced with the +rest, and not too good an English scholar. However, he conducted them +through a still more beautiful court, lined with brilliant mosaics in +the spandrels of the exquisite arches supported on slender shining +marble columns. + +Mr. Thompson's English coat and hearty English face looked incongruous, +as at sight of the blue and white uniform he came forward with all the +hospitable courtesy due to a post-captain. There was shaking of hands, +and doffing of cocked hats, and calling for wine, and pipes, and +coffee, in the Alhambra-like hall, where a table covered with papers +tied with red tape, in front of a homely leathern chair, looked more +homelike than suitable. Other chairs there were for Frank guests, who +preferred them to the divan and piles of cushions on which the Moors +transacted business. + +'What can I do for you, sir?' he asked of the captain, 'or for this +little master,' he added, looking at Ulysse, who was standing by +Arthur. 'He is serving the King early.' + +'I don't belong to your King George,' broke out the young gentleman. +'He is an usurpateur. I have only this uniform on till I can get my +proper clothes. I am the son of the Comte de Bourke, Ambassador to +Spain and Sweden. I serve no one but King Louis!' + +'That is plain to be seen!' said Mr. Thompson. 'The Gallic cock crows +early. But is he indeed the son of Count Bourke, about whom the French +Consul has been in such trouble?' + +'Even so, sir,' replied the captain. 'I am come to ask you to present +him, with this gentleman, Mr. Hope, to your French colleague. Mr. +Hope, to whom the child's life and liberty are alike owing, has +information to give which may lead to the rescue of the boy's sister +and uncle with their servants.' + +Mr. Thompson had heard of a Moorish galley coming in with an account of +having lost a Genoese prize, with ladies on board, in the late storm. +He was sure that the tidings Mr. Hope brought would be most welcome, +but he knew that the French Consul was gone up with a distinguished +visitor, M. Dessault, for an audience of the Dey; and, in the meantime, +his guests must dine with him. And Arthur narrated his adventures. + +The Consul shook his head when he heard of Djigheli Bay. + +'Those fellows, the Cabeleyzes, hate the French, and make little enough +of the Dey, though they do send home Moors who fall into their hands. +Did you see a ruined fort on a promontory? That was the Bastion de +France. The old King Louis put it up and garrisoned it, but these +rogues contrived a surprise, and made four hundred prisoners, and ever +since they have been neither to have nor to hold. Well for you, young +gentleman, that you did not fall into their hands, but those of the +country Moors--very decent folk--descended, they say, from the Spanish +Moors. A renegade got you off, did he? Yes, they will sometimes do +that, though at an awful risk. If they are caught, they are hung up +alive on hooks to the walls. You had an escape, I can tell you, and so +had he, poor fellow, of being taken alive.' + +'He knew the risk!' said Arthur, in a low voice; 'but my mother had +once been good to him, and he dared everything for me.' + +The Consul readily estimated Arthur's legacy as amounting to little +less than 200 pounds, and was also ready to give him bills of exchange +for it. The next question was as to Fareek. To return him to his own +country was impossible; and though the Consul offered to buy him of +Arthur, not only did the young Scot revolt at the idea of making +traffic of the faithful fellow, but Mr. Thompson owned that there might +be some risk in Algiers of his being recognised as a runaway; and +though this was very slight, it was better not to give any cause of +offence. Captain Beresford thought the poor man might be disposed of +at Port Mahon, and Arthur kept to himself that Tam's bequest was sacred +to him. His next wish was for clothes to which he might have a better +right than to the uniform of the senior midshipman of H.M.S. Calypso--a +garb in which he did not like to appear before the French Consul. Mr. +Thompson consulted his Greek clerk, and a chest belonging to a captured +merchantman, which had been claimed as British property, but had not +found an owner, was opened, and proved to contain a wardrobe sufficient +to equip Arthur like other gentlemen of the day, in a dark crimson +coat, with a little gold lace about it, and the rest of the dress +white, a wide beaver hat, looped up with a rosette, and everything, +indeed, except shoes, and he was obliged to retain those of the senior +midshipman. With his dark hair tied back, and a suspicion of powder, +he found himself more like the youth whom Lady Nithsdale had introduced +in Madame de Varennes' salon than he had felt for the last month; and, +moreover, his shyness and awkwardness had in great measure disappeared +during his vicissitudes, and he had made many steps towards manhood. + +Ulysse had in the meantime been consigned to a kind, motherly, portly +Mrs. Thompson, who, accustomed as she was to hearing of strange +adventures, was aghast at what the child had undergone, and was +enchanted with the little French gentleman who spoke English so well, +and to whom his Grand Seigneur airs returned by instinct in contact +with a European lady; but his eye instantly sought Arthur, nor would he +be content without a seat next to his protector at the dinner, early as +were all dinners then, and a compound of Eastern and Western dishes, +the latter very welcome to the travellers, and affording the Consul's +wife themes of discourse on her difficulties in compounding them. + +Pipes, siesta, and coffee followed, Mr. Thompson assuring them that his +French colleague would not be ready to receive them till after the like +repose had been undergone, and that he had already sent a billet to +announce their coming. + + The French Consulate was not distant. The fleur-de-lis waved over a +house similar to Mr. Thompson's, but they were admitted with greater +ceremony, when Mr. Thompson at length conducted them. Servants and +slaves, brown and black, clad in white with blue sashes, and white +officials in blue liveries, were drawn up in the first court in two +lines to receive them; and the Chevalier, taking it all to himself, +paraded in front with the utmost grandeur, until, at the next archway, +two gentlemen, resplendent in gold lace, came forward with low bows. +At sight of the little fellow there were cries of joy. M. Dessault +spread out his arms, clasped the child to his breast, and shed tears +over him, so that the less emotional Englishmen thought at first that +they must be kinsmen. However, Arthur came in for a like embrace as +the boy's preserver; and if Captain Beresford had not stepped back and +looked uncomprehending and rigid he might have come in for the same. + +Seated in the verandah, Arthur told his tale and presented the letter, +over which there were more tears, as, indeed, well there might be over +the condition of the little girl and her simple mode of describing it. +It was nearly a month since the corsair had arrived, and the story of +the Genoese tartane being captured and lost with French ladies on board +had leaked out. The French Consul had himself seen and interrogated +the Dutch renegade captain, had become convinced of the identity of the +unfortunate passengers, and had given up all hopes of them, so that he +greeted the boy as one risen from the dead. + +To know that the boy's sister and uncle were still in the hands of the +Cabeleyzes was almost worse news than the death of his mother, for this +wild Arab tribe had a terrible reputation even among the Moors and +Turks. + +The only thing that could be devised after consultation between the two +consuls, the French envoy, and the English captain, was that an +audience should be demanded of the Dey, and Estelle's letter presented +the next morning. Meanwhile Arthur and Ulysse were to remain as guests +at the English Consulate. The French one would have made them welcome, +but there was no lady in his house; and Mrs. Thompson had given Arthur +a hint that his little charge would be the better for womanly care. + +There was further consultation whether young Hope, as a runaway slave-- +who had, however, carried off a relapsed renegade with him--would be +safe on shore beyond the precincts of the Consulate; but as no one had +any claim on him, and it might be desirable to have his evidence at +hand, it was thought safe that he should remain, and Captain Beresford +promised to come ashore in the morning to join the petitioners to the +Dey. + +Perhaps he was not sorry, any more than was Arthur, for the opportunity +of beholding the wonderful city and palace, which were like a dream of +beauty. He came ashore early, with two or three officers, all in full +uniform; and the audience having been granted, the whole party-- +consuls, M. Dessault, and their attendants--mounted the steep, narrow +stone steps leading up the hill between the walls of houses with +fantastically carved doorways or lattices; while bare-legged Arabs +niched themselves into every coigne of vantage with baskets of fruit or +eggs, or else embroidering pillows and slippers with exquisite taste. + +The beauty of the buildings was unspeakable, and they projected enough +to make a cool shade--only a narrow fragment of deep blue sky being +visible above them. The party did not, however, ascend the whole 497 +steps, as the abode of the Dey was then not the citadel, but the palace +of Djenina in the heart of the city. Turning aside, they made their +way thither over terraces partly in the rock, partly on the roofs of +houses. + +Fierce-looking Janissaries, splendidly equipped, guarded the entrance, +with an air so proud and consequential as to remind Arthur of poor +Yusuf's assurances of the magnificence that might await little Ulysse +as an Aga of that corps. Even as they admitted the infidels they +looked defiance at them from under the manifold snowy folds of their +mighty turbans. + +If the beauty of the consuls' houses had struck and startled Arthur, +far more did the region into which he was now admitted seem like a +dream of fairyland as he passed through ranks of orange trees round +sparkling fountains--worthy of Versailles itself--courts surrounded +with cloisters, sparkling with priceless mosaics, in those brilliant +colours which Eastern taste alone can combine so as to avoid gaudiness, +arches and columns of ineffable grace and richness, halls with domes +emulating the sky, or else ceiled with white marble lacework, whose +tracery seemed delicate and varied as the richest Venice point! But +the wonderful beauty seemed to him to have in it something terrible and +weird, like that fairyland of his native country, whose glory and charm +is overshadowed by the knowledge of the teinds to be paid to hell. It +was an unnatural, incomprehensible world; and from longing to admire +and examine, he only wished to be out of it, felt it a relief to fix +his eyes upon the uniforms of the captain and the consuls, and did not +wonder that Ulysse, instead of proudly heading the procession, shrank +up to him and clasped his hand as his protector. + +The human figures were as strange as the architecture; the glittering +of Janissaries in the outer court, which seemed a sort of guardroom, +the lines of those on duty in the next, and in the third court the +black slaves in white garments, enhancing the blackness of their limbs, +each with a formidable curved scimitar. At the golden cusped archway +beyond, all had to remove their shoes as though entering a mosque. The +Consuls bade the new-comers submit to this, adding that it was only +since the recent victory that it had not been needful to lay aside the +sword on entering the Dey's august presence. The chamber seemed to the +eyes of the strangers one web of magic splendour--gold-crusted lacework +above, arches on one side open to a beauteous garden, and opposite +semicircles of richly-robed Janissary officers, all culminating in a +dazzling throne, where sat a white-turbaned figure, before whom the +visitors all had to bow lower than European independence could well +brook. + +The Dey's features were not very distinctly seen at the distance where +etiquette required them to stand; but Arthur thought him hardly worthy +to be master of such fine-looking beings as Abou Ben Zegri and many +others of the Moors, being in fact a little sturdy Turk, with Tartar +features, not nearly so graceful as the Moors and Arabs, nor so +handsome and imposing as the Janissaries of Circassian blood. Turkish +was the court language; and even if he understood any other, an +interpreter was a necessary part of the etiquette. M. Dessault +instructed the interpreter, who understood with a readiness which +betrayed that he was one of the many renegades in the Algerine service. + +The Dey was too dignified to betray much emotion; but he spoke a few +words, and these were understood to profess his willingness to assist +in the matter. A richly-clad official, who was, Mr. Thompson +whispered, a Secretary of State, came to attend the party in a smaller +but equally beautiful room, where pipes and coffee were served, and a +consultation took place with the two Consuls, which was, of course, +incomprehensible to the anxious listeners. M. Dessault's interest was +deeply concerned in the matter, since he was a connection of the +Varennes family, to which poor Madame de Bourke belonged. + +Commands from the Dey, it was presently explained, would be utterly +disregarded by these wild mountaineers--nay, would probably lead to the +murder of the captives in defiance. But it was known that if these +wild beings paid deference to any one, it was to the Grand Marabout at +Bugia; and the Secretary promised to send a letter in the Dey's name, +which, with a considerable present, might induce him to undertake the +negotiation. Therewith the audience terminated, after M. Dessault had +laid a splendid diamond snuff-box at the feet of the Secretary. + +The Consuls were somewhat disgusted at the notion of having recourse to +the Marabouts, whom the French Consul called vilains charlatan, and the +English one filthy scoundrels and impostors. Like the Indian Fakirs, +opined Captain Beresford; like the begging friars, said M. Dessault, +and to this the Consuls assented. Just, however, as the Dominicans, +besides the low class of barefooted friars, had a learned and +cultivated set of brethren in high repute at the Universities, and a +general at Rome, so it appeared that the Marabouts, besides their wild +crew of masterful beggars, living at free quarters, partly through +pretended sanctity, partly through the awe inspired by cabalistic arts, +had a higher class who dwelt in cities, and were highly esteemed, for +the sake of either ten years' abstinence from food or the attainment of +fifty sciences, by one or other of which means an angelic nature was +held to be attained. + +Fifty sciences! This greatly astonished the strangers, but they were +told by the residents that all the knowledge of the highly cultivated +Arabs of Bagdad and the Moors of Spain had been handed on to the select +few of their African descendants, and that really beautiful poetry was +still produced by the Marabouts. Certainly no one present could doubt +of the architectural skill and taste of the Algerines, and Mr. Thompson +declared that not a tithe of the wonders of their mechanical art had +been seen, describing the wonderful silver tree of Tlemcen, covered +with birds, who, by the action of wind, were made to produce the songs +of each different species which they represented, till a falcon on the +topmost branch uttered a harsh cry, and all became silent. General +education had, however, fallen to a low ebb among the population, and +the wisdom of the ancients was chiefly concentrated among the higher +class of Marabouts, whose headquarters were at Bugia, and their present +chief, Hadji Eseb Ben Hassan, had the reputation of a saint, which the +Consuls believed to be well founded. + +The Cabeleyzes, though most irregular Moslems, were extremely +superstitious as regarded the supernatural arts supposed to be +possessed by the Marabouts, and if these could be induced to take up +the cause of the prisoners, there would be at least some chance of +their success. + +And not long after the party had arrived at the French Consulate, where +they were to dine, a messenger arrived with a parcel rolled up in silk, +embroidered with gold, and containing a strip of paper beautifully +emblazoned, and in Turkish characters. The Consul read it, and found +it to be a really strong recommendation to the Marabout to do his +utmost for the servants of the Dey's brother, the King of France, now +in the hands of the children of Shaitan. + +'Well purchased,' said M. Dessault; 'though that snuff-box came from +the hands of the Elector of Bavaria!' + +As soon as the meal was over, the French Consul, instead of taking his +siesta as usual, began to take measures for chartering a French tartane +to go to Bugia immediately. He found there was great interest excited, +not only among the Christian merchants, but among Turks, Moors, and +Jews, so horrible was the idea of captivity among the Cabeleyzes. The +Dey set the example of sending down five purses of sequins towards the +young lady's ransom, and many more contributions came in unasked. It +was true that the bearers expected no small consideration in return, +but this was willingly given, and the feeling manifested was a perfect +astonishment to all the friends at the Consulate. + +The French national interpreter, Ibrahim Aga, was charged with the +negotiations with the Marabout. Arthur entreated to go with him, and +with some hesitation this was agreed to, since the sight of an old +friend might be needed to reassure any survivors of the poor captives-- +for it was hardly thought possible that all could still survive the +hardships of the mountains in the depth of winter, even if they were +spared by the ferocity of their captors. + +Ulysse, the little son and heir, was not to be exposed to the perils of +the seas till his sister's fate was decided, and accordingly he was to +remain under the care of Mrs. Thompson; while Captain Beresford meant +to cruise about in the neighbourhood, having a great desire to know the +result of the enterprise, and hoping also that if Mademoiselle de +Bourke still lived he might be permitted to restore her to her +relations. Letters, clothes, and comforts were provided, and placed +under the charge of the interpreter and of Arthur, together with a +considerable gratuity for the Marabout, and authority for any ransom +that Cabeleyze rapacity might require,--still, however, with great +doubt whether all might not be too late. + + + +CHAPTER XII--ON THE MOUNTAINS + + + +'We cannot miss him. He doth make our fire, +Fetch in our wood, and serve in offices +That profit us.' Tempest. + +Bugia, though midway on the 'European lake,' is almost unknown to +modern travellers, though it has become a French possession. + +It looked extremely beautiful when the French tartane entered it, +rising from the sea like a magnificent amphitheatre, at the foot of the +mountains that circled round it, and guarded by stern battlemented +castles, while the arches of one of the great old Roman aqueducts made +a noble cord to the arc described by the lower part of the town. + +The harbour, a finer one naturally than that of Algiers, contained +numerous tartanes and other vessels, for, as Ibrahim Aga, who could +talk French very well, informed Arthur, the inhabitants were good +workers in iron, and drove a trade in plough-shares and other +implements, besides wax and oil. But it was no resort of Franks, and +he insisted that Arthur should only come on shore in a Moorish dress, +which had been provided at Algiers. Thanks to young Hope's naturally +dark complexion, and the exposure of the last month, he might very well +pass for a Moor: and he had learnt to wear the white caftan, wide +trousers, broad sash, and scarlet fez, circled with muslin, so +naturally that he was not likely to be noticed as a European. + +The city, in spite of its external beauty, proved to be ruinous within, +and in the midst of the Moorish houses and courts still were visible +remnants of the old Roman town that had in past ages flourished there. +Like Algiers, it had narrow climbing streets, excluding sunshine, and +through these the guide Ibrahim had secured led the way; while in +single file came the interpreter, Arthur, two black slaves bearing +presents for the Marabout, and four men besides as escort. Once or +twice there was a vista down a broader space, with an awning over it, +where selling and buying were going on, always of some single species +of merchandise. + +Thus they arrived at one of those Moorish houses, to whose beauty +Arthur was becoming accustomed. It had, however, a less luxurious and +grave aspect than the palaces of Algiers, and the green colour sacred +to the Prophet prevailed in the inlaid work, which Ibrahim Aga told him +consisted chiefly of maxims from the Koran. + +No soldiers were on guard, but there were a good many young men wholly +clad in white--neophytes endeavouring to study the fifty sciences, +mostly sitting on the ground, writing copies, either of the sacred +books, or of the treatises on science and medicine which had descended +from time almost immemorial; all rehearsed aloud what they learnt or +wrote, so as to produce a strange hum. A grave official, similarly +clad, but with a green sash, came to meet them, and told them that the +chief Marabout was sick; but on hearing from the interpreter that they +were bearers of a letter from the Dey, he went back with the +intelligence, and presently returned salaaming very low, to introduce +them to another of the large halls with lacework ceilings, where it was +explained that the Grand Marabout was, who was suffering from ague. +The fit was passing off, and he would be able to attend of the coffee +and the pipes which were presented to his honoured guests so soon as +they had partaken them. + +After a delay, very trying to Arthur's anxiety, though beguiled by such +coffee and tobacco as he was never likely to encounter again, Hadji +Eseb Ben Hassan, a venerable-looking man, appeared, with a fine white +beard and keen eyes, slenderly formed, and with an air of very +considerable ability--much more so than the Dey, in all his glittering +splendour of gold, jewels, and embroidery, whereas this old man wore +the pure white woollen garments of the Moor, with the green sash, and +an emerald to fasten the folds of his white turban. + +Ibrahim Aga prostrated himself as if before the Dey, and laid before +the Marabout, as a first gift, a gold watch; then, after a blessing had +been given in return, he produced with great ceremony the Dey's letter, +to which every one in the apartment did obeisance by touching the floor +with their foreheads, and the Grand Marabout further rubbed it on his +brow before proceeding to read it, which he chose to do for himself, +chanting it out in a low, humming voice. It was only a recommendation, +and the other letter was from the French Consul containing all +particulars. The Marabout seemed much startled, and interrogated the +interpreter. Arthur could follow them in some degree, and presently +the keen eye of the old man seemed to detect his interest, for there +was a pointing to him, an explanation that he had been there, and +presently Hadji Eseb addressed a question to him in the vernacular +Arabic. He understood and answered, but the imperfect language or his +looks betrayed him, for Hadji Eseb demanded, 'Thou art Frank, my son?' + +Ibrahim Aga, mortally afraid of the consequences of having brought a +disguised Giaour into these sacred precincts, began what Arthur +perceived to be a lying assurance of his having embraced Islam; and he +was on the point of breaking in upon the speech, when the Marabout +observed his gesture, and said gravely, 'My son, falsehood is not +needed to shield a brave Christian; a faithful worshipper of Issa Ben +Mariam receives honour if he does justice and works righteousness +according to his own creed, even though he be blind to the true faith. +Is it true, good youth, that thou art--not as this man would have me +believe--one of the crew from Algiers, but art come to strive for the +release of thy sister?' + +Arthur gave the history as best he could, for his month's practice had +made him able to speak the vernacular so as to be fairly +comprehensible, and the Marabout, who was evidently a man of very high +abilities, often met him half way, and suggested the word at which he +stumbled. He was greatly touched by the account, even in the imperfect +manner in which the youth could give it; and there was no doubt that he +was a man of enlarged mind and beneficence, who had not only mastered +the fifty sciences, but had seen something of the world. + +He had not only made his pilgrimage to Mecca more than once, but had +been at Constantinople, and likewise at Tunis and Tripoli; thus, with +powers both acute and awake, he understood more than his countrymen of +European Powers and their relation to one another. As a civilised and +cultivated man, he was horrified at the notion of the tenderly-nurtured +child being in the clutches of savages like the Cabeleyzes; but the +first difficulty was to find out where she was; for, as he said, +pointing towards the mountains, they were a wide space, and it would be +hunting a partridge on the hills. + +Looking at his chief councillor, Azim Reverdi, he demanded whether some +of the wanderers of their order, whom he named, could not be sent +through the mountains to discover where any such prisoners might be; +but after going into the court in quest of these persons, Azim returned +with tidings that a Turkish soldier had returned on the previous day to +the town, and had mentioned that on Mount Couco, Sheyk Abderrahman was +almost at war with his subordinates, Eyoub and Ben Yakoub, about some +shipwrecked Frank captives, if they had not already settled the matter +by murdering them all, and, as was well known, nothing would persuade +this ignorant, lawless tribe that nothing was more abhorrent to the +Prophet than human sacrifices. + +Azim had already sent two disciples to summon the Turk to the presence +of the Grand Marabout, and in due time he appeared--a rough, heavy, +truculent fellow enough, but making awkward salaams as one in great awe +of the presence in which he stood--unwilling awe perhaps--full of +superstitious fear tempered by pride--for the haughty Turks revolted +against homage to one of the subject race of Moors. + +His language was only now and then comprehensible to Arthur, but +Ibrahim kept up a running translation into French for his benefit. + +There were captives--infidels--saved from the wreck, he knew not how +many, but he was sure of one--a little maid with hair like the unwound +cocoon, so that they called her the Daughter of the Silkworm. It was +about her that the chief struggle was. She had fallen to the lot of +Ben Yakoub, who had been chestnut-gathering by the sea at the time of +the wreck; but when he arrived on Mount Couco the Sheyk Abderrahman had +claimed her and hers as the head of the tribe, and had carried her off +to his own adowara in the valley of Ein Gebel. + +The Turk, Murad, had been induced by Yakoub to join him and sixteen +more armed men whom he had got together to demand her. For it was he +who had rescued her from the waves, carried her up the mountains, fed +her all this time, and he would not have her snatched away from him, +though for his part Murad thought it would have been well to be quit of +them, for not only were they Giaours, but he verily believed them to be +of the race of Jinns. The little fair-haired maid had papers with +strange signs on them. She wrote--actually wrote--a thing that he +believed no Sultana Velide even had ever been known to do at Stamboul. +Moreover, she twisted strings about on her hands in a manner that was +fearful to look at. It was said to be only to amuse the children, but +for his part he believed it was for some evil spell. What was certain +was that the other, a woman full grown, could, whenever any one +offended her, raise a Jinn in a cloud of smoke, which caused such +sneezing that she was lost sight of. And yet these creatures had so +bewitched their captors that there were like to be hard blows before +they were disposed of, unless his advice were taken to make an end of +them altogether. Indeed, two of the men, the mad Santon and the chief +slave, had been taken behind a bush to be sacrificed, when the Daughter +of the Silkworm came between with her incantations, and fear came upon +Sheyk Yakoub. Murad evidently thought it highly advisable that the +chief Marabout should intervene to put a stop to these doings, and +counteract the mysterious influence exercised by these strange beings. + + High time, truly, Arthur and Ibrahim Aga likewise felt it, to go to +the rescue, since terror and jealousy might, it appeared, at any time +impel ces barbares feroces, as Ibrahim called them, to slaughter their +prisoners. To their great joy, the Marabout proved to be of the same +opinion, in spite of his sickness, which, being an intermitting ague, +would leave him free for a couple of days, and might be driven off by +the mountain air. He promised to set forth early the next day, and +kept the young man and the interpreter as his guests for the night, +Ibrahim going first on board to fetch the parcel of clothes and +provisions which M. Dessault had sent for the Abbe and Mademoiselle de +Bourke, and for an instalment of the ransom, which the Hadji Eseb +assured him might safely be carried under his own sacred protection. + +Arthur did not see much of his host, who seemed to be very busy +consulting with his second in command on the preparations, for probably +the expedition was a delicate undertaking, even for him, and his +companions had to be carefully chosen. + +Ibrahim had advised Arthur to stay quietly where he was, and not +venture into the city, and he spent his time as he best might by the +help of a narghile, which was hospitably presented to him, though the +strictness of Marabout life forbade the use alike of tobacco and +coffee. + +Before dawn the courts of the house were astir. Mules, handsomely +trapped, were provided to carry the principal persons of the party +wherever it might be possible, and there were some spare ones, ridden +at first by inferiors, but intended for the captives, should they be +recovered. + +It was very cold, being the last week in November, and all were wrapped +in heavy woollen haiks over their white garments, except one wild- +looking fellow, whose legs and arms were bare, and who only seemed to +possess one garment of coarse dark sackcloth. He skipped and ran by +the side of the mules, chanting and muttering, and Ibrahim observed in +French that he was one of the Sunakites, or fanatic Marabouts, and +advised Arthur to beware of him; but, though dangerous in himself, his +presence would be a sufficient protection from all other thieves or +vagabonds. Indeed, Arthur saw the fellow glaring unpleasantly at him, +when the sun summoned all the rest to their morning devotions. He was +glad that he had made the fact of his Christianity known, for he could +no more act Moslem than BE one, and Hadji Eseb kept the Sunakite in +check by a stern glance, so that no harm ensued. + +Afterwards Arthur was bidden to ride near the chief, who talked a good +deal, asking intelligent questions. Gibraltar had impressed him +greatly, and it also appeared that in one of his pilgrimages the +merchant vessel he was in had been rescued from some Albanian pirates +by an English ship, which held the Turks as allies, and thus saved them +from undergoing vengeance for the sufferings of the Greeks. Thus the +good old man felt that he owed a debt of gratitude which Allah required +him to pay, even to the infidel. + +Up steep roads the mules climbed. The first night the halt was at a +Cabyle village, where hospitality was eagerly offered to persons of +such high reputation for sanctity as the Marabouts; but afterwards +habitations grew more scanty as the ground rose higher, and there was +no choice but to encamp in the tents brought by the attendants, and +which seemed to Arthur a good exchange for the dirty Cabyle huts. + +Altogether the journey took six days. The mules climbed along wild +paths on the verge of giddy precipices, where even on foot Arthur would +have hesitated to venture. The scenery would now be thought +magnificent, but it was simply frightful to the mind of the early +eighteenth century, especially when a constant watch had to be kept to +avoid the rush of stones, or avalanches, on an almost imperceptible, +nearly perpendicular path, where it was needful to trust to the +guidance of the Sunakite, the only one of the cavalcade who had been +there before. + +On the last day they found themselves on the borders of a slope of +pines and other mountain-growing trees, bordering a wide valley or +ravine where the Sunakite hinted that Abderrahman might be found. + +The cavalcade pursued a path slightly indicated by the treading of feet +and hoofs, and presently there emerged on them from a slighter side +track between the red stems of the great pines a figure nearly bent +double under the weight of two huge faggots, with a basket of great +solid fir-cones on the top of them. Very scanty garments seemed to be +vouchsafed to him, and the bare arms and legs were so white, as well as +of a length so unusual among Arabs or Moors, that simultaneously the +Marabout exclaimed, 'One of the Giaour captives,' and Arthur cried out, +'La Jeunesse! Laurence!' + +There was only just time for a start and a response, 'M. Arture! And +is it yourself?' before a howl of vituperation was heard--of abuse of +all the ancestry of the cur of an infidel slave, the father of +tardiness--and a savage-looking man appeared, brandishing a cudgel, +with which he was about to belabour his unfortunate slave, when he was +arrested by astonishment, and perhaps terror, at the goodly company of +Marabouts. Hadji Eseb entered into conversation with him, and +meanwhile Lanty broke forth, 'O wirrah, wirrah, Master Arthur! an' have +they made a haythen Moor of ye? By the powers, but this is worse than +all. What will Mademoiselle say?--she that has held up the faith of +every one of us, like a little saint and martyr as she is! Though, to +be sure, ye are but a Protestant; only these folks don't know the +differ.' + +'If you would let me speak, Laurence,' said Arthur, 'you would hear +that I am no more a Moslem than yourself, only my Frank dress might +lead to trouble. We are come to deliver you all, with a ransom from +the French Consul. Are you all safe--Mademoiselle and all? and how +many of you?' + +'Mademoiselle and M. l'Abbe were safe and well three days since,' said +Lanty; 'but that spalpeen there is my master and poor Victorine's, and +will not let us put a foot near them.' + +'Where are they? How many?' anxiously asked Arthur. + +'There are five of us altogether,' said Lanty; 'praise be to Him who +has saved us thus far. We know the touch of cold steel at our throats, +as well as ever I knew the poor misthress' handbell; and unless our +Lady, and St. Lawrence, and the rest of them, keep the better watch on +us, the rascals will only ransom us without our heads, so jealous and +bloodthirsty they are. The Bey of Constantina sent for us once, but +all we got by that was worse usage than the very dogs in Paris, and +being dragged up these weary hills, where Maitre Hubert and I carried +Mademoiselle every foot of the way on our backs, and she begging our +pardon so prettily--only she could not walk, the rocks had so bruised +her darlin' little feet.' + +'This is their chief holy man, Lanty. If any one can prevail on these +savages to release you it is he.' + +'And how come you to be hand and glove with them, Masther Arthur--you +that I thought drownded with poor Madame and the little Chevalier and +the rest?' + +'The Chevalier is not drowned, Laurent. He is safe in the Consul's +house at Algiers.' + +'Now heaven and all the saints be praised! The Chevalier safe and +well! 'Tis a very miracle!' cried Lanty, letting fall his burthen, as +he clasped his hands in ecstasy and performed a caper which, in spite +of all his master Eyoub's respect for the Marabouts, brought a furious +yell of rage, and a tremendous blow with the cudgel, which Lanty, in +his joy, seemed to receive as if it had been a feather. + +Hadji Eseb averted a further blow; and understanding from Arthur that +the poor fellow's transport was caused by the tidings of the safety of +his master's son, he seemed touched, and bade that he and Eyoub should +lead the way to the place of durance of the chief prisoners. On the +way Ibrahim Aga interrogated both Eyoub in vernacular Arabic and Lanty +in French. The former was sullen, only speaking from his evident awe +of the Marabouts, the latter voluble with joy and hope. + +Arthur learnt that the letter he had found under the stone was the +fourth that Estelle and Hebert had written. There had been a terrible +journey up the mountains, when Lanty had fully thought Victorine must +close her sufferings in some frightful ravine; but, nevertheless, she +had recovered health and strength with every day's ascent above the +close, narrow valley. They were guarded all the way by Arabs armed to +the teeth to prevent a rescue by the Bey of Constantina. + +On their arrival at the valley, which was the headquarters of the +tribe, the sheyk of the entire clan had laid claim to the principal +captives, and had carried off the young lady and her uncle; and in his +dwelling she had a boarded floor to sleep on, and had been made much +more comfortable than in the squalid huts below. Her original master, +Yakoub, had, however, come to seize her, with the force described by +Murad. Then it was that again there was a threat to kill rather than +resign them; but on this occasion it was averted by Sheyk Abderrahman's +son, a boy of about fourteen, who threw himself on his knees before +Mademoiselle, and prayed his father earnestly for her life. + +'They spared her then,' said Lanty, 'and, mayhap, worse still may come +of that. Yakoub, the villain, ended by getting her back till they can +have a council of their tribe, and there she is in his filthy hut; but +the gossoon, Selim, as they call him, prowls about the place as if he +were bewitched. All the children are, for that matter, wherever she +goes. She makes cats' cradles for them, and sings to them, and tells +them stories in her own sweet way out of the sacred history--such as +may bring her into trouble one of these days. Maitre Hebert heard her +one day telling them the story of Moses, and he warned her that if she +went on in that fashion it might be the death of us all. "But," says +she, "suppose we made Selim, and little Zuleika, and all the rest of +them, Christians? Suppose we brought all the tribe to come down and +ask baptism, like as St. Nona did in the Lives of the Saints?" He told +her it was more like that they would only get her darling little head +cut off, if no worse, but he could not get her to think that mattered +at all at all. She would have a crown and a palm up in heaven, and +after her name in the Calendar on earth, bless her.' + +Then he went on to tell that Yakoub was furious at the notion of +resigning his prize, and (Agamemnon-like) declared that if she were +taken from him he should demand Victorine from Eyoub. Unfortunately +she was recovering her good looks in the mountain air; and, worse +still, the spring of her 'blessed little Polichinelle' was broken, +though happily no one guessed it, and hitherto it had been enough to +show them the box. + + + +CHAPTER XIII--CHRYSEIS AND BRISEIS + + + + 'The child +Restore, I pray, her proffered ransom take, +And in His priest, the Lord of Light revere. + Then through the ranks assenting murmurs rang, +The priest to reverence, and the ransom take.' +HOMER (DERBY). + +For one moment, before emerging from the forest, looking through an +opening in the trees, down a steep slope, a group of children could be +seen on the grass in front of the huts composing the adowara, little +brown figures in scanty garments, lying about evidently listening +intently to the figure, the gleam of whose blonde hair showed her +instantly to be Estelle de Bourke. + +However, either the deputation had been descried, or Eyoub may have +made some signal, for when the calvalcade had wound about through the +remaining trees, and arrived among the huts, no one was to be seen. +There was only the irregular square of huts built of rough stones and +thatched with reeds, with big stones to keep the thatch on in the +storm; a few goats were tethered near, and there was a rush of the +great savage dogs, but they recognised Eyoub and Lanty, and were +presently quieted. + +'This is the chief danger,' whispered Lanty. + +'Pray heaven the rogues do not murder them rather than give them up!' + +The Sunakite, beginning to make strange contortions and mutterings in a +low voice, seemed to terrify Eyoub greatly. Whether he pointed it out +or not, or whether Eyoub was induced by his gestures to show it, was +not clear to Arthur's mind; but at the chief abode, an assemblage of +two stone hovels and rudely-built walls, the party halted, and made a +loud knocking at the door, Hadji Eseb's solemn tones bidding those +within to open in the name of Allah. + +It was done, disclosing a vista of men with drawn scimitars. The +Marabout demanded without ceremony where were the prisoners. + +'At yonder house,' he was answered by Yakoub himself, pointing to the +farther end of the village. + +'Dog of a liar,' burst forth the Sunakite. 'Dost thou think to blind +the eyes of the beloved of Allah, who knoweth the secrets of heaven and +earth, and hath the sigil of Suleiman Ben Daoud, wherewith to penetrate +the secret places of the false?' + +The ferocious-looking guardians looked at each other as though under +the influence of supernatural terror, and then Hadji Eseb spoke: +'Salaam Aleikum, my children; no man need fear who listens to the will +of Allah, and honours his messengers.' + +All made way for the dignified old man and his suite, and they advanced +into the court, where two men with drawn swords were keeping guard over +the captives, who were on their knees in a corner of the court. + + The sabres were sheathed, and there was a shuffling away at the +advance of the Marabouts, Sheyk Yakoub making some apology about having +delayed to admit such guests, but excusing himself on the score of +supposing they were emissaries sent by those whose authority he so +defied that he had sworn to slaughter his prisoners rather than +surrender them. + +Hadji Eseb replied with a quotation from the Koran forbidding cruelty +to the helpless, and sternly denounced wrath on the transgressors, +bidding Yakoub draw off his savage bodyguard. + +The man was plainly alarmed, more especially as the Sunakite broke out +into one of his wild wails of denunciation, waving his hands like a +prophet of wrath, and predicting famine, disease, pestilence, to these +slack observers of the law of Mohammed. + +This completed the alarm. The bodyguard fled away pell-mell, Yakoub +after them. His women shut themselves into some innermost recesses, +and the field was left to the Marabouts and the prisoners, who, not +understanding what all this meant, were still kneeling in their corner. +Hadji Eseb bade Arthur and the interpreter go to reassure them. + +At their advance a miserable embrowned figure, barefooted and half clad +in a ragged haik, roped round his waist, threw himself before the fair- +haired child, crying out in imperfect Arabic, 'Spare her, spare her, +great Lord! much is to be won by saving her.' + +'We are come to save her,' said Arthur in French. 'Maitre Hebert, do +you not know me?' + +Hubert looked up. 'M. Arture! M. Arture! Risen from the dead!' he +cried, threw himself into the young man's arms, and burst out into a +vehement sob; but in a second he recovered his manners and fell back, +while Estelle looked up. + +'M. Arture,' she repeated. 'Ah! is it you? Then, is my mamma alive +and safe?' + +'Alas! no,' replied Arthur; 'but your little brother is safe and well +at Algiers, and this good man, the Marabout, is come to deliver you.' + +'My mamma said you would protect us, and I knew you would come, like +Mentor, to save us,' said Estelle, clasping her hands with ineffable +joy. 'Oh, Monsieur! I thank you next to the good God and the saints!' +and she began fervently kissing Arthur's hand. He turned to salute the +Abbe, but was shocked to see how much more vacant the poor gentleman's +stare had become, and how little he seemed to comprehend. + +'Ah!' said Estelle, with her pretty, tender, motherly air, 'my poor +uncle has never seemed to understand since that dreadful day when they +dragged him and Maitre Hebert out into the wood and were going to kill +them. And he has fever every night. But, oh, M. Arture, did you say +my brother was safe?' she repeated, as if not able to dwell enough upon +the glad tidings. + +'And I hope you will soon be with him,' said Arthur. 'But, +Mademoiselle, let me present you to the Grand Marabout, a sort of +Moslem Abbe, who has come all this way to obtain your release.' + +He led Estelle forward, when she made a courtesy fit for her +grandmother's salon, and in very fluent Cabeleyze dialect gave thanks +for the kindness of coming to release her, and begged him to excuse her +uncle, who was sick, and, as you say here, 'stricken of Allah.' + +The little French demoiselle's grace and politeness were by no means +lost on the Marabout, who replied to her graciously; and at the sight +of her reading M. Dessault's letter, which the interpreter presented to +her, one of the suite could not help exclaiming, 'Ah! if women such as +this will be went abroad in our streets, there would be nothing to hope +for in Paradise.' + +Estelle did not seem to have suffered in health; indeed, in Arthur's +eyes, she seemed in these six weeks to have grown, and to have more +colour, while her expression had become less childish, deeper, and +higher. Her hair did not look neglected, though her dress--the same +dark blue which she had worn on the voyage--had become very ragged and +soiled, and her shoes were broken, and tied on with strips of rag. + +She gave a little scream of joy when the parcel of clothes sent by the +French Consul was given to her, only longing to send some to Victorine +before she retired to enjoy the comfort of clean and respectable +clothes; and in the meantime something was attempted for the comfort of +her companions, though it would not have been safe to put them into +Frankish garments, and none had been brought. Poor Hebert was the very +ghost of the stout and important maitre d'hotel, and, indeed, the +faithful man had borne the brunt of all the privations and sufferings, +doing his utmost to shield and protect his little mistress and her +helpless uncle. + +When Estelle reappeared, dressed once more like a little French lady +(at least in the eyes of those who were not particular about fit), she +found a little feast being prepared for her out of the provisions sent +by the consuls; but she could not sit down to it till Arthur, escorted +by several of the Marabout's suite, had carried a share both of the +food and the garments to Lanty and Victorine. + +They, however, were not to be found. The whole adowara seemed to be +deserted except by a few frightened women and children, and Victorine +and her Irish swain had no doubt been driven off into the woods by +Eyoub--no Achilles certainly, but equally unwilling with the great +Pelides to resign Briseis as a substitute for Chryseis. + +It was too late to attempt anything more that night; indeed, at sundown +it became very cold. A fire was lighted in the larger room, in the +centre, where there was a hole for the exit of the smoke. + +The Marabouts seemed to be praying or reciting the Koran on one side of +it, for there was a continuous chant or hum going on there; but they +seemed to have no objection to the Christians sitting together on the +other side conversing and exchanging accounts of their adventures. +Maitre Hebert could not sufficiently dilate on the spirit, +cheerfulness, and patience that Mademoiselle had displayed through all. +He only had to lament her imprudence in trying to talk of the Christian +faith to the children, telling them stories of the saints, and doing +what, if all the tribe had not been so ignorant, would have brought +destruction on them all. 'I would not have Monseigneur there know of +it for worlds,' said he, glancing at the Grand Marabout. + +'Selim loves to hear such things,' said Estelle composedly. 'I have +taught him to say the Paternoster, and the meaning of it, and Zuleika +can nearly say them.' + +'Misericorde!' cried M. Hubert. 'What may not the child have brought +on herself!' + +'Selim will be a chief,' returned Estelle. 'He will make his people do +as he pleases, or he would do so; but now there will be no one to tell +him about the true God and the blessed Saviour,' she added sadly. + +'Mademoiselle!' cried Hebert in indignant anger--'Mademoiselle would +not be ungrateful for our safety from these horrors.' + +'Oh no!' exclaimed the child. 'I am very happy to return to my poor +papa, and my brothers, and my grandmamma. But I am sorry for Selim! +Perhaps some good mission fathers would go out to them like those we +heard of in Arcadia; and by and by, when I am grown up, I can come back +with some sisters to teach the women to wash their children and not +scold and fight.' + +The maitre d'hotel sighed, and was relieved when Estelle retired to the +deserted women's apartments for the night. He seemed to think her +dangerous language might be understood and reported. + +The next morning the Marabout sent messengers, who brought back Yakoub +and his people, and before many hours a sort of council was convened in +the court of Yakoub's house, consisting of all the neighbouring heads +of families, brown men, whose eyes gleamed fiercely out from under +their haiks, and who were armed to the teeth with sabres, daggers, and, +if possible, pistols and blunderbusses of all the worn-out patterns in +Europe--some no doubt as old as the Thirty Years War; while those who +could not attain to these weapons had the long spears of their +ancestors, and were no bad representatives of the Amalekites of old. + +After all had solemnly taken their seats there was a fresh arrival of +Sheyk Abderrahman and his ferocious-looking following. He himself was +a man of fine bearing, with a great black beard, and a gold-embroidered +sash stuck full of pistols and knives, and with poor Madame de Bourke's +best pearl necklace round his neck. His son Selim was with him, a slim +youth, with beautiful soft eyes glancing out from under a haik, striped +with many colours, such as may have been the coat that marked Joseph as +the heir. + +There were many salaams and formalities, and then the chief Marabout +made a speech, explaining the purpose of his coming, diplomatically +allowing that the Cabeleyzes were not subject to the Dey of Algiers, +but showing that they enjoyed the advantages of the treaty with France, +and that therefore they were bound to release the unfortunate +shipwrecked captives, whom they had already plundered of all their +property. So far Estelle and Arthur, who were anxiously watching, +crouching behind the wall of the deserted house court, could follow. +Then arose yells and shouts of denial, and words too rapid to be +followed. In a lull, Hadji Eseb might be heard proffering ransom, +while the cries and shrieks so well known to accompany bargaining broke +out. + +Ibrahim Aga, who stood by the wall, here told them that Yakoub and +Eyoub seemed not unwilling to consent to the redemption of the male +captives, but that they claimed both the females. Hebert clenched his +teeth, and bade Ibrahim interfere and declare that he would never be +set free without his little lady. + +Here, however, the tumult lulled a little, and Abderrahman's voice was +heard declaring that he claimed the Daughter of the Silkworm as a wife +for his son. + +Ibrahim then sprang to the Marabout's side, and was heard representing +that the young lady was of high and noble blood. To which Abderrahman +replied with the dignity of an old lion, that were she the daughter of +the King of the Franks himself, she would only be a fit mate for the +son of the King of the Mountains. A fresh roar of jangling and +disputing began, during which Estelle whispered, 'Poor Selim, I know he +would believe--he half does already. It would be like Clotilda.' + +'And then he would be cruelly murdered, and you too,' returned Arthur. + + 'We should be martyrs,' said Estelle, as she had so often said before; +and as Hubert shuddered and cried, 'Do not speak of such things, +Mademoiselle, just as there is hope,' she answered, 'Oh no! do not +think I want to stay in this dreadful place--only if I should have to +do so--I long to go to my brother and my poor papa. Then I can send +some good fathers to convert them.' + +'Ha!' cried Arthur; 'what now! They are at one another's throats!' + +Yakoub and Eyoub with flashing sabres were actually flying at each +other, but Marabouts were seizing them and holding them back, and the +Sunakite's chant arose above all the uproar. + +Ibrahim was able to explain that Yakoub insisted that if the mistress +were appropriated by Abderrahman, the maid should be his compensation. +Eyoub, who had been the foremost in the rescue from the wreck, was +furious at the demand, and they were on the point of fighting when thus +withheld; while the Sunakite was denouncing woes on the spoiler and the +lover of Christians, which made the blood of the Cabeleyzes run cold. +Their flocks would be diseased, storms from the mountains would +overwhelm them, their children would die, their name and race be cut +off, if infidel girls were permitted to bewitch them and turn them from +the faith of the Prophet. He pointed to young Selim, and demanded +whether he were not already spellbound by the silken daughter of the +Giaour to join in her idolatry. + +There were howls of rage, a leaping up, a drawing of swords, a demand +that the unbelievers should die at once. It was a cry the captives +knew only too well. Arthur grasped a pistol, and loosened his sword, +but young Selim had thrown himself at the Marabout's feet, sobbing out +entreaties that the maiden's life might be saved, and assurances that +he was a staunch believer; while his father, scandalised at such an +exhibition on behalf of any such chattel as a female, roughly snatched +him from the ground, and insisted on his silence. + +The Marabouts had, at their chief's signal, ranged themselves in front +of the inner court, and the authority of the Hadji had imposed silence +even on the fanatic. He spoke again, making them understand that +Frankish vengeance in case of a massacre could reach them even in their +mountains when backed by the Dey. And to Abderrahman he represented +that the only safety for his son, the only peace for his tribe, was in +the surrender of these two dangerous causes of altercation. + +The 'King of the Mountains' was convinced by the scene that had just +taken place of the inexpedience of retaining the prisoners alive. And +some pieces of gold thrust into his hand by Ibrahim may have shown him +that much might be lost by slaughtering them. + +The Babel which next arose was of the amicable bargaining sort. And +after another hour of suspense the interpreter came to announce that +the mountaineers, out of their great respect, not for the Dey, but the +Marabout, had agreed to accept 900 piastres as the ransom of all the +five captives, and that the Marabout recommended an immediate start, +lest anything should rouse the ferocity of the tribe again. + +Estelle's warm heart would fain have taken leave of the few who had +been kind to her; but this was impossible, for the women were in +hiding, and she could only leave one or two kerchiefs sent from +Algiers, hoping Zuleika might have one of them. Ibrahim insisted on +her being veiled as closely as a Mohammedan woman as she passed out. +One look between her and Selim might have been fatal to all; though +hers may have been in all childish innocence, she did not know how the +fiery youth was writhing in his father's indignant grasp, forcibly +withheld from rushing after one who had been a new life and revelation +to him. + +Mayhap the passion was as fleeting as it was violent, but the Marabout +knew it boded danger to the captives to whom he had pledged his honour. +He sent them, mounted on mules, on in front, while he and his company +remained in the rear, watching till Lanty and Victorine were driven up +like cattle by Eyoub, to whom he paid an earnest of his special share +of the ransom. He permitted no pause, not even for a greeting between +Estelle and poor Victorine, nor to clothe the two unfortunates, more +than by throwing a mantle to poor Victorine, who had nothing but a +short petticoat and a scanty, ragged, filthy bournouse. She shrouded +herself as well as she could when lifted on her mule, scarce perhaps +yet aware what had happened to her, only that Lanty was near, muttering +benedictions and thanksgivings as he vibrated between her mule and that +of the Abbe. + +It was only at the evening halt that, in a cave on the mountain-side, +Estelle and Victorine could cling to each other in a close embrace with +sobs of joy; and while Estelle eagerly produced clothes from her little +store of gifts, the poor femme de chambre wept for joy to feel indeed +that she was free, and shed a fresh shower of tears of joy at the sight +of a brush and comb. + +Lanty was purring over his foster-brother, and cosseting him like a cat +over a newly-recovered kitten, resolved not to see how much shaken the +poor Abbe's intellect had been, and quite sure that the reverend father +would be altogether himself when he only had his soutane again. + + + +CHAPTER XIV--WELCOME + + + +'Well hath the Prophet-chief your bidding done.' +MOORE (Lalla Rookh). + +Bugia was thoroughly Moorish, and subject to attacks of fanaticism. +Perhaps the Grand Marabout did not wholly trust the Sunakite not to +stir up the populace, for he would not take the recovered captives to +his palace, avoided the city as much as possible, and took them down to +the harbour, where, beside the old Roman quay, he caused his trusty +attendant, Reverdi, to hire a boat to take them out to the French +tartane--Reverdi himself going with them to ensure the fidelity of the +boatmen. Estelle would have kissed the good old man's hand in fervent +thanks, but, child as she was, he shrank from her touch as an unholy +thing; and it was enforced on her and Victorine that they were by no +means to remove their heavy mufflings till they were safe on board the +tartane, and even out of harbour. The Frenchman in command of the +vessel was evidently of the same mind, and, though enchanted to receive +them, sent them at once below. He said his men had been in danger of +being mobbed in the streets, and that there were reports abroad that +the harem of a great Frank chief, and all his treasure, were being +recovered from the Cabeleyzes, so that he doubted whether all the +influence of the Grand Marabout might prevent their being pursued by +corsairs. + +Right glad was he to recognise the pennant of the Calypso outside the +harbour, and he instantly ran up a signal flag to intimate success. A +boat was immediately put off from the frigate, containing not only +Lieutenant Bullock, but an officer in scarlet, who had no sooner come +on deck than he shook Arthur eagerly by the hand, exclaiming, + +''Tis you, then! I cannot be mistaken in poor Davie's son, though you +were a mere bit bairn when I saw you last!' + +'Archie Hope!' exclaimed Arthur, joyfully. 'Can you tell me anything +of my mother?' + +'She was well when last I heard of her, only sore vexed that you should +be cut off from her by your own fule deed, my lad! Ye've thought +better of it now?' + +Major Hope was here interrupted by the lieutenant, who brought an +invitation from Captain Beresford to the whole French party to bestow +themselves on board the Calypso. After ascertaining that the Marabout +had taken up their cause, and that the journey up Mount Couco and back +again could not occupy less than twelve or fourteen days, he had sailed +for Minorca, where he had obtained sanction to convey any of the +captives who might be rescued to Algiers. He had also seen Major Hope, +who, on hearing of the adventures of his young kinsman, asked leave of +absence to come in search of him, and became the guest of the officers +of the Calypso. + +Arthur found himself virtually the head of the party, and, after +consultation with Ibrahim Aga and Maitre Hebert, it was agreed that +there would be far more safety, as well as better accommodation, in the +British ship than in the French tartane, and Arthur went down to +communicate the proposal to Estelle, whom the close, little, evil- +smelling cabin was already making much paler than all her privations +had done. + +'An English ship,' she said. 'Would my papa approve?' and her little +prim diplomatic air sat comically on her. + +'Oh yes,' said Arthur. 'He himself asked the captain to seek for you, +Mademoiselle. There is peace between our countries, you know.' + +'That is good,' she said, jumping up. 'For oh! this cabin is worse +than it is inside Yakoub's hut! Oh take me on deck before I am ill!' + +She was able to be her own little charming French and Irish self when +Arthur led her on deck; and her gracious thanks and pretty courtesy +made them agree that it would have been ten thousand pities if such a +creature could not have been redeemed from the savage Arabs. + +The whole six were speedily on board the Calypso, where Captain +Beresford received the little heroine with politeness worthy of her own +manners. He had given up his own cabin for her and Victorine, +purchased at Port Mahon all he thought she could need, and had even +recollected to procure clerical garments for the Abbe--a sight which +rejoiced Lanty's faithful heart, though the poor Abbe was too ill all +the time of the voyage to leave his berth. Arthur's arrival was +greeted by the Abyssinian with an inarticulate howl of delight, as the +poor fellow crawled to his feet, and began kissing them before he could +prevent it. Fareek had been the pet of the sailors, and well taken +care of by the boatswain. He was handy, quick, and useful, and Captain +Bullock thought he might pick up a living as an attendant in the +galley; but he showed that he held himself to belong absolutely to +Arthur, and rendered every service to him that he could, picking up +what was needful in the care of European clothes by imitation of the +captain's servant, and showing a dexterity that made it probable that +his cleverness had been the cause of the loss of a tongue that might +have betrayed too much. To young Hope he seemed like a sacred legacy +from poor Tam, and a perplexing one, such as he could hardly leave in +his dumbness to take the chances of life among sailors. + +His own plans were likewise to be considered, and Major Hope concerned +himself much about them. He was a second cousin--a near relation in +Scottish estimation--and no distant neighbour. His family were Tories, +though content to submit to the House of Hanover, and had always been +on friendly terms with Lady Hope. + +'I writ at once, on hearing of you, to let her know you were in +safety,' said the major. 'And what do you intend the noo?' + +'Can I win home?' anxiously asked Arthur. 'You know I never was +attainted!' + +'And what would ye do if you were at home?' + +'I should see my mother.' + +'Small doubt of the welcome she would have for you, my poor laddie,' +said the major; 'but what next?' And as Arthur hesitated, 'I misdoubt +greatly whether Burnside would give you a helping hand if you came +fresh from colloguing with French Jacobites, though my father and all +the rest of us at the Lynn aye told him that he might thank himself and +his dour old dominie for your prank--you were but a schoolboy then--you +are a man now; and though your poor mother would be blithe to set eyes +on you, she would be sairly perplexed what gate you had best turn +thereafter. Now, see here! There's talk of our being sent to dislodge +the Spaniards from Sicily. You are a likely lad, and the colonel would +take my word for you if you came back with me to Port Mahon as a +volunteer; and once under King George's colours, there would be +pressure enough from all of us Hopes upon Burnside to gar him get you a +commission, unless you win one for yourself. Then you could gang hame +when the time was served, a credit and an honour to all!' + + 'I had rather win my own way than be beholden to Burnside,' said +Arthur, his face lighting at the proposal. + + 'Hout, man! That will be as the chances of war may turn out. As to +your kit, we'll see to that! Never fear. Your mother will make it +up.' + + 'Thanks, Archie, with all my heart, but I am not so destitute,' and he +mentioned Yusuf's legacy, which the major held that he was perfectly +justified in appropriating; and in answer to his next question, assured +him that he would be able to retain Fareek as his servant. + +This was enough for Arthur, who knew that the relief to his mother's +mind of his safety and acceptance as a subject would outweigh any +disappointment at not seeing his face, when he would only be an +unforgiven exile, liable to be informed against by any malicious +neighbour. + +He borrowed materials, and had written a long letter to her before the +Calypso put in at Algiers. The little swift tartane had forestalled +her; and every one was on the watch, when Estelle, who had been treated +like a little princess on board, was brought in the long-boat with all +her party to the quay. Though it was at daybreak, not only the +European inhabitants, but Turks, Arabs, Moors, and Jews thronged the +wharf in welcome; and there were jubilant cries as all the five +captives could be seen seated in the boat in the light of the rising +sun. + +M. Dessault, with Ulysse in his hand, stood foremost on the quay, and +the two children were instantly in each other's embrace. Their uncle +had to be helped out. He was more bewildered than gratified by the +welcome. He required to be assured that the multitudes assembled meant +him no harm, and would not move without Lanty; and though he bowed low +in return to M. Dessault's greeting, it was like an automaton, and with +no recognition. + +Estelle, between her brother and her friend, and followed by all the +rest, was conducted by the French Consul to the chapel, arranged in one +of the Moorish rooms. There stood beside the altar his two chaplains, +and at once mass was commenced, while all threw themselves on their +knees in thankfulness; and at the well-known sound a ray of +intelligence and joy began to brighten even poor Phelim's features. + +Arthur, in overflowing joy, could not but kneel with the others; and +when the service concluded with the Te Deum's lofty praise, his tears +dropped for joy and gratitude that the captivity was over, the children +safe, and himself no longer an outcast and exile. + +He had, however, to take leave of the children sooner than he wished, +for the Calypso had to sail the next day. + +Ulysse wept bitterly, clung to him, and persisted that he WAS their +secretary, and must go with them. Estelle, too, had tears in her eyes; +but she said, half in earnest, 'You know, Mentor vanished when +Telemaque came home! Some day, Monsieur, you will come to see us at +Paris, and we shall know how to show our gratitude!' + +Both Lanty and Maitre Hebert promised to write to M. Arture; and in due +time he received not only their letters but fervent acknowledgments +from the Comte de Bourke, who knew that to him was owing the life and +liberty of the children. + +From Lanty Arthur further heard that the poor Abbe had languished and +died soon after reaching home. His faithful foster-brother was deeply +distressed, though the family had rewarded the fidelity of the servants +by promoting Hebert to be intendant of the Provencal estates, while +Lanty was wedded to Victorine, with a dot that enabled them to start a +flourishing perruquier's shop, and make a home for his mother when +little Jacques outgrew her care. + +Estelle was in due time married to a French nobleman, and in after +years 'General Sir Arthur Hope' took his son and daughter to pay her a +long visit in her Provencal chateau, and to converse on the strange +adventures that seemed like a dream. He found her a noble lady, well +fulfilling the promise of her heroic girlhood, and still lamenting the +impossibility of sending any mission to open the eyes of the half- +converted Selim. + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of A Modern Telemachus +by Charlotte M. Yonge + diff --git a/old/mdtel10.zip b/old/mdtel10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..71d962e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mdtel10.zip |
