diff options
Diffstat (limited to '7974-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 7974-8.txt | 17065 |
1 files changed, 17065 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/7974-8.txt b/7974-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..656a973 --- /dev/null +++ b/7974-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17065 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pilot, by J. Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pilot + +Author: J. Fenimore Cooper + + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7974] +This file was first posted on June 8, 2003 +Last Updated: May 4, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILOT *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, Marvin A. +Hodges, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +THE PILOT + +A Tale of the Sea + + + +By J. Fenimore Cooper + + + + +TO + +WILLIAM BRANFORD SHUBRICK, ESQ., + +U. S. NAVY. + + +MY DEAR SHUBRICK, + + +Each year brings some new and melancholy chasm in what is now the brief +list of my naval friends and former associates. War, disease, and the +casualties of a hazardous profession have made fearful inroads in the +limited number; while the places of the dead are supplied by names that +to me are those of strangers. With the consequences of these sad changes +before me, I cherish the recollection of those with whom I once lived +in close familiarity with peculiar interest, and feel a triumph in their +growing reputations, that is but little short of their own honest pride. + +But neither time nor separation has shaken our intimacy: and I know that +in dedicating to you this volume, I tell you nothing new, when I add +that it is a tribute paid to an enduring friendship, by + +Your old Messmate, + +THE AUTHOR. + + + * * * * * + + + + +PREFACE. + + +It is probable a true history of human events would show that a far +larger proportion of our acts are the results of sudden impulses and +accident, than of that reason of which we so much boast. However true, +or false, this opinion may be in more important matters, it is certainly +and strictly correct as relates to the conception and execution of this +book. + +The Pilot was published in 1823. This was not long after the appearance +of "The PIRATE," a work which, it is hardly necessary to remind the +reader, has a direct connection with the sea. In a conversation with a +friend, a man of polished taste and extensive reading, the authorship of +the Scottish novels came under discussion. The claims of Sir Walter were +a little distrusted, on account of the peculiar and minute information +that the romances were then very generally thought to display. The +Pirate was cited as a very marked instance of this universal knowledge, +and it was wondered where a man of Scott's habits and associations could +have become so familiar with the sea. The writer had frequently observed +that there was much looseness in this universal knowledge, and that the +secret of its success was to be traced to the power of creating that +_resemblance_, which is so remarkably exhibited in those world-renowned +fictions, rather than to any very accurate information on the part of +their author. It would have been hypercritical to object to the Pirate, +that it was not strictly nautical, or true in its details; but, when the +reverse was urged as a proof of what, considering the character of other +portions of the work, would have been most extraordinary attainments, +it was a sort of provocation to dispute the seamanship of the Pirate, a +quality to which the book has certainly very little just pretension. The +result of this conversation was a sudden determination to produce a work +which, if it had no other merit, might present truer pictures of the +ocean and ships than any that are to be found in the Pirate. To this +unpremeditated decision, purely an impulse, is not only the Pilot due, +but a tolerably numerous school of nautical romances that have succeeded +it. + +The author had many misgivings concerning the success of the +undertaking, after he had made some progress in the work; the opinions +of his different friends being anything but encouraging. One would +declare that the sea could not be made interesting; that it was tame, +monotonous, and without any other movement than unpleasant storms, and +that, for his part, the less he got of it the better. The women very +generally protested that such a book would have the odor of bilge +water, and that it would give them the _maladie de mer_. Not a single +individual among all those who discussed the merits of the project, +within the range of the author's knowledge, either spoke, or looked, +encouragingly. It is probable that all these persons anticipated a +signal failure. + +So very discouraging did these ominous opinions get to be that the +writer was, once or twice, tempted to throw his manuscript aside, and +turn to something new. A favorable opinion, however, coming from a very +unexpected quarter, put a new face on the matter, and raised new +hopes. Among the intimate friends of the writer was an Englishman, who +possessed most of the peculiar qualities of the educated of his country. +He was learned even, had a taste that was so just as always to command +respect, but was prejudiced, and particularly so in all that related to +this country and its literature. He could never be persuaded to admire +Bryant's Water-Fowl, and this mainly because if it were accepted as good +poetry, it must be placed at once amongst the finest fugitive pieces of +the language. Of the Thanatopsis he thought better, though inclined +to suspect it of being a plagiarism. To the tender mercies of this +one-sided critic, who had never affected to compliment the previous +works of the author, the sheets of a volume of the Pilot were committed, +with scarce an expectation of his liking them. The reverse proved to +be the case;--he expressed himself highly gratified, and predicted a +success for the book which it probably never attained. + +Thus encouraged, one more experiment was made, a seaman being selected +for the critic. A kinsman, a namesake, and an old messmate of the +author, one now in command on a foreign station, was chosen, and a +considerable portion of the first volume was read to him. There is no +wish to conceal the satisfaction with which the effect on this listener +was observed. He treated the whole matter as fact, and his criticisms +were strictly professional, and perfectly just. But the interest he +betrayed could not be mistaken. It gave a perfect and most gratifying +assurance that the work would be more likely to find favor with nautical +men than with any other class of readers. + +The Pilot could scarcely be a favorite with females. The story has +little interest for them, nor was it much heeded by the author of the +book, in the progress of his labors. His aim was to illustrate vessels +and the ocean, rather than to draw any pictures of sentiment and +love. In this last respect, the book has small claims on the reader's +attention, though it is hoped that the story has sufficient interest to +relieve the more strictly nautical features of the work. + +It would be affectation to deny that the Pilot met with a most +unlooked-for success. The novelty of the design probably contributed a +large share of this result. Sea-tales came into vogue, as a consequence; +and, as every practical part of knowledge has its uses, something has +been gained by letting the landsman into the secrets of the seaman's +manner of life. Perhaps, in some small degree, an interest has been +awakened in behalf of a very numerous, and what has hitherto been a sort +of proscribed class of men, that may directly tend to a melioration of +their condition. + +It is not easy to make the public comprehend all the necessities of a +service afloat. With several hundred rude beings confined within the +narrow limits of a vessel, men of all nations and of the lowest habits, +it would be to the last degree indiscreet to commence their reformation +by relaxing the bonds of discipline, under the mistaken impulses of +a false philanthropy. It has a lofty sound, to be sure, to talk about +American citizens being too good to be brought under the lash, upon the +high seas; but he must have a very mistaken notion who does not see that +tens of thousands of these pretending persons on shore, even, would be +greatly benefited by a little judicious flogging. It is the judgment +in administering, and not the mode of punishment, that requires to be +looked into; and, in this respect, there has certainly been a great +improvement of late years. It is seldom, indeed, that any institution, +practice, or system, is improved by the blind interference of those who +know nothing about it. Better would it be to trust to the experience +of those who have long governed turbulent men, than to the impulsive +experiments of those who rarely regard more than one side of a question, +and that the most showy and glittering; having, quite half of the time, +some selfish personal end to answer. + +There is an uneasy desire among a vast many well-disposed persons to get +the fruits of the Christian Faith, without troubling themselves about +the Faith itself. This is done under the sanction of Peace Societies, +Temperance and Moral Reform Societies, in which the end is too often +mistaken for the means. When the Almighty sent His Son on earth, it was +to point out the way in which all this was to be brought about, by +means of the Church; but men have so frittered away that body of divine +organization, through their divisions and subdivisions, all arising from +human conceit, that it is no longer regarded as the agency it was so +obviously intended to be, and various contrivances are to be employed as +substitutes for that which proceeded directly from the Son of God! + +Among the efforts of the day, however, there is one connected with the +moral improvement of the sailor that commands our profound respect. Cut +off from most of the charities of life for so large a portion of his +time, deprived altogether of association with the gentler and better +portions of the other sex, and living a man in a degree proscribed, amid +the many signs of advancement that distinguish the age, it was time +that he should be remembered and singled out, and become the subject +of combined and Christian philanthropy. There is much reason to believe +that the effort, now making in the right direction and under proper +auspices, will be successful; and that it will cause the lash to be +laid aside in the best and most rational manner,--by rendering its use +unnecessary. + +COOPERSTOWN, _August_ 20, 1829. + + + + +THE PILOT + + + + +CHAPTER I + + "Sullen waves, incessant rolling, + Rudely dash'd against her sides." + _Song_ + + +A single glance at the map will make the reader acquainted with the +position of the eastern coast of the Island of Great Britain, as +connected with the shores of the opposite continent. Together they form +the boundaries of the small sea that has for ages been known to the +world as the scene of maritime exploits, and as the great avenue through +which commerce and war have conducted the fleets of the northern nations +of Europe. Over this sea the islanders long asserted a jurisdiction, +exceeding that which reason concedes to any power on the highway +of nations, and which frequently led to conflicts that caused an +expenditure of blood and treasure, utterly disproportioned to the +advantages that can ever arise from the maintenance of a useless and +abstract right. It is across the waters of this disputed ocean that +we shall attempt to conduct our readers, selecting a period for our +incidents that has a peculiar interest for every American, not only +because it was the birthday of his nation, but because it was also the +era when reason and common sense began to take the place of custom and +feudal practices in the management of the affairs of nations. + +Soon after the events of the revolution had involved the kingdoms of +France and Spain, and the republics of Holland, in our quarrel, a group +of laborers was collected in a field that lay exposed to the winds +of the ocean, on the north-eastern coast of England. These men were +lightening their toil, and cheering the gloom of a day in December, by +uttering their crude opinions on the political aspects of the times. The +fact that England was engaged in a war with some of her dependencies on +the other side of the Atlantic had long been known to them, after the +manner that faint rumors of distant and uninteresting events gain on the +ear; but now that nations, with whom she had been used to battle, were +armed against her in the quarrel, the din of war had disturbed the quiet +even of these secluded and illiterate rustics. The principal speakers, +on the occasion, were a Scotch drover, who was waiting the leisure of +the occupant of the fields, and an Irish laborer, who had found his +way across the Channel, and thus far over the island, in quest of +employment. + +"The Nagurs wouldn't have been a job at all for ould England, letting +alone Ireland," said the latter, "if these French and Spanishers hadn't +been troubling themselves in the matter. I'm sure its but little reason +I have for thanking them, if a man is to kape as sober as a praist at +mass, for fear he should find himself a souldier, and he knowing nothing +about the same." + +"Hoot! mon! ye ken but little of raising an airmy in Ireland, if ye mak' +a drum o' a whiskey keg," said the drover, winking to the listeners. +"Noo, in the north, they ca' a gathering of the folk, and follow the +pipes as graciously as ye wad journey kirkward o' a Sabbath morn. I've +seen a' the names o' a Heeland raj'ment on a sma' bit paper, that ye +might cover wi' a leddy's hand. They war' a' Camerons and M'Donalds, +though they paraded sax hundred men! But what ha' ye gotten here! That +chield has an ow'r liking to the land for a seafaring body; an' if the +bottom o' the sea be onything like the top o't, he's in gr'at danger o' +a shipwreck!" + +This unexpected change in the discourse drew all eyes on the object +toward which the staff of the observant drover was pointed. To the utter +amazement of every individual present, a small vessel was seen moving +slowly round a point of land that formed one of the sides of the little +bay, to which the field the laborers were in composed the other. There +was something very peculiar in the externals of this unusual visitor, +which added in no small degree to the surprise created by her appearance +in that retired place. None but the smallest vessels, and those rarely, +or, at long intervals, a desperate smuggler, were ever known to venture +so close to the land, amid the sand-bars and sunken rocks with which +that immediate coast abounded. The adventurous mariners who now +attempted this dangerous navigation in so wanton, and, apparently, +so heedless a manner, were in a low black schooner, whose hull seemed +utterly disproportioned to the raking masts it upheld, which, in their +turn, supported a lighter set of spars, that tapered away until their +upper extremities appeared no larger than the lazy pennant, that in vain +endeavored to display its length in the light breeze. + +The short day of that high northern latitude was already drawing to a +close, and the sun was throwing his parting rays obliquely across the +waters, touching the gloomy waves here and there with streaks of pale +light. The stormy winds of the German Ocean were apparently lulled +to rest; and, though the incessant rolling of the surge on the shore +heightened the gloomy character of the hour and the view, the light +ripple that ruffled the sleeping billows was produced by a gentle +air, that blew directly from the land. Notwithstanding this favorable +circumstance, there was something threatening in the aspect of the +ocean, which was speaking in hollow but deep murmurs, like a volcano +on the eve of an eruption, that greatly heightened the feelings of +amazement and dread with which the peasants beheld this extraordinary +interruption to the quiet of their little bay. With no other sails +spread to the action of the air than her heavy mainsail, and one of +those light jibs that projected far beyond her bows, the vessel glided +over the water with a grace and facility that seemed magical to the +beholders, who turned their wondering looks from the schooner to each +other in silent amazement. At length the drover spoke in a low solemn +voice: + +"He's a bold chield that steers her! and if that bit craft has wood in +her bottom, like the brigantines that ply between Lon'on and the Frith +at Leith, he's in mair danger than a prudent mon could wish. Ay! he's +by the big rock that shows his head when the tide runs low, but it's +no mortal man who can steer long in the road he's journeying and not +speedily find land wi' water a-top o't." + +The little schooner, however, still held her way among the rocks and +sand-pits, making such slight deviations in her course as proved her to +be under the direction of one who knew his danger, until she entered as +far into the bay as prudence could at all justify, when her canvas was +gathered into folds, seemingly without the agency of hands, and the +vessel, after rolling for a few minutes on the long billows that hove in +from the ocean, swung round in the currents of the tide, and was held by +her anchor. + +The peasants now began to make their conjectures more freely concerning +the character and object of their visitor; some intimating that she was +engaged in contraband trade, and others that her views were hostile, and +her business war. A few dark hints were hazarded on the materiality of +her construction, for nothing of artificial formation, it was urged, +would be ventured by men in such a dangerous place, at a time when even +the most inexperienced landsman was enabled to foretell the certain +gale. The Scotchman, who, to all the sagacity of his countrymen, added +no small portion of their superstition, leaned greatly to the latter +conclusion, and had begun to express this sentiment warily with +reverence, when the child of Erin, who appeared not to possess any very +definite ideas on the subject interrupted him, by exclaiming: + +"Faith! there's two of them! a big and a little! sure the bogles of the +saa likes good company the same as any other Christians!" + +"Twa!" echoed the drover; "twa! ill luck bides o' some o' ye. Twa craft +a sailing without hand to guide them, in sic a place as this, whar' +eyesight is na guid enough to show the dangers, bodes evil to a' that +luik thereon. Hoot! she's na yearling the tither! Luik, mon! luik! +she's a gallant boat, and a gr'at:" he paused, raised his pack from +the ground, and first giving one searching look at the objects of +his suspicions, he nodded with great sagacity to the listeners, and +continued, as he moved slowly towards the interior of the country, "I +should na wonder if she carried King George's commission aboot her: +weel, weel, I wull journey upward to the town, and ha' a crack wi' the +good mon; for they craft have a suspeecious aspect, and the sma' bit +thing wu'ld nab a mon quite easy, and the big ane wu'ld hold us a' and +no feel we war' in her." + +This sagacious warning caused a general movement in the party, for +the intelligence of a hot press was among the rumors of the times. The +husbandmen collected their implements of labor, and retired homewards; +though many a curious eye was bent on the movements of the vessels from +the distant hills, but very few of those not immediately interested in +the mysterious visitors ventured to approach the little rocky cliffs +that lined the bay. + +The vessel that occasioned these cautious movements was a gallant ship, +whose huge hull, lofty masts, and square yards loomed in the evening's +haze, above the sea, like a distant mountain rising from the deep. She +carried but little sail, and though she warily avoided the near approach +to the land that the schooner had attempted, the similarity of their +movements was sufficiently apparent to warrant the conjecture that they +were employed on the same duty. The frigate, for the ship belonged to +this class of vessels, floated across the entrance of the little bay, +majestically in the tide, with barely enough motion through the water to +govern her movements, until she arrived opposite to the place where +her consort lay, when she hove up heavily into the wind, squared the +enormous yards on her mainmast, and attempted, in counteracting the +power of her sails by each other, to remain stationary; but the light +air that had at no time swelled her heavy canvas to the utmost began +to fail, and the long waves that rolled in from the ocean ceased to be +ruffled with the breeze from the land. The currents and the billows +were fast sweeping the frigate towards one of the points of the estuary, +where the black heads of the rocks could be seen running far into the +sea, and in their turn the mariners of the ship dropped an anchor to the +bottom, and drew her sails in festoons to the yards. As the vessel swung +round to the tide, a heavy ensign was raised to her peak, and a current +of air opening for a moment its folds, the white field and red cross, +that distinguish the flag of England, were displayed to view. So much +even the wary drover had loitered at a distance to behold; but when a +boat was launched from either vessel, he quickened his steps, +observing to his wondering and amused companions, that "they craft were +a'thegither mair bonny to luik on than to abide wi'." + +A numerous crew manned the barge that was lowered from the frigate, +which, after receiving an officer, with an attendant youth, left the +ship, and moved with a measured stroke of its oars directly towards the +head of the bay. As it passed at a short distance from the schooner a +light whale-boat, pulled by four athletic men, shot from her side, and +rather dancing over than cutting through the waves, crossed her course +with a wonderful velocity. As the boats approached each other, the men, +in obedience to signals from their officers, suspended their efforts, +and for a few minutes they floated at rest, during which time there was +the following dialogue: + +"Is the old man mad!" exclaimed the young officer in the whale-boat, +when his men had ceased rowing; "does he think that the bottom of the +Ariel is made of iron, and that a rock can't knock a hole in it! or does +he think she is manned with alligators, who can't be drowned!" + +A languid smile played for a moment round the handsome features of the +young man, who was rather reclining than sitting in the stern-sheets of +the barge, as he replied: + +"He knows your prudence too well, Captain Barnstable, to fear either the +wreck of your vessel or the drowning of her crew. How near the bottom +does your keel lie?" + +"I am afraid to sound," returned Barnstable. "I have never the heart to +touch a lead-line when I see the rocks coming up to breathe like so many +porpoises." + +"You are afloat!" exclaimed the other, with a vehemence that denoted an +abundance of latent fire. + +"Afloat!" echoed his friend; "ay, the little Ariel would float in air!" +As he spoke, he rose in the boat, and lifting his leathern sea-cap from +his head, stroked back the thick clusters of black locks which shadowed +his sun-burnt countenance, while he viewed his little vessel with the +complacency of a seaman who was proud of her qualities. "But it's close +work, Mr. Griffith, when a man rides to a single anchor in a place like +this, and at such a nightfall. What are the orders?" + +"I shall pull into the surf and let go a grapnel; you will take Mr. +Merry into your whale-boat, and try to drive her through the breakers on +the beach." + +"Beach!" retorted Barnstable; "do you call a perpendicular rock of a +hundred feet in height a beach!" + +"We shall not dispute about terms," said Griffith, smiling, "but you +must manage to get on the shore; we have seen the signal from the land, +and know that the pilot, whom we have so long expected, is ready to come +off." + +Barnstable shook his head with a grave air, as he muttered to himself, +"This is droll navigation; first we run into an unfrequented bay that is +full of rocks, and sandpits, and shoals, and then we get off our pilot. +But how am I to know him?" + +"Merry will give you the password, and tell you where to look for him. +I would land myself, but my orders forbid it. If you meet with +difficulties, show three oar-blades in a row, and I will pull in to your +assistance. Three oars on end and a pistol will bring the fire of my +muskets, and the signal repeated from the barge will draw a shot from +the ship." + +"I thank you, I thank you," said Barnstable, carelessly; "I believe I +can fight my own battles against all the enemies we are likely to fall +in with on this coast. But the old man is surely mad, I would----" + +"You would obey his orders if he were here, and you will now please to +obey mine," said Griffith, in a tone that the friendly expression of his +eye contradicted. "Pull in, and keep a lookout for a small man in a drab +pea-jacket; Merry will give you the word; if he answer it, bring him off +to the barge." + +The young men now nodded familiarly and kindly to each other, and the +boy who was called Mr. Merry having changed his place from the barge +to the whale-boat, Barnstable threw himself into his seat, and making a +signal with his hand, his men again bent to their oars. The light vessel +shot away from her companion, and dashed in boldly towards the rocks; +after skirting the shore for some distance in quest of a favorable +place, she was suddenly turned, and dashing over the broken waves, was +run upon a spot where a landing could be effected in safety. + +In the mean time the barge followed these movements, at some distance, +with a more measured progress, and when the whale-boat was observed to +be drawn up alongside of a rock, the promised grapnel was cast into the +water, and her crew deliberately proceeded to get their firearms in a +state for immediate service. Everything appeared to be done in obedience +to strict orders that must have been previously communicated; for +the young man, who has been introduced to the reader by the name of +Griffith, seldom spoke, and then only in the pithy expressions that +are apt to fall from those who are sure of obedience. When the boat had +brought up to her grapnel, he sunk back at his length on the cushioned +seats of the barge, and drawing his hat over his eyes in a listless +manner, he continued for many minutes apparently absorbed in thoughts +altogether foreign to his present situation. Occasionally he rose, and +would first bend his looks in quest of his companions on the shore, and +then, turning his expressive eyes toward the ocean, the abstracted +and vacant air, that so often usurped the place of animation and +intelligence in his countenance, would give place to the anxious and +intelligent look of a seaman gifted with an experience beyond his years. +His weather beaten and hardy crew, having made their dispositions for +offence, sat in profound silence, with their hands thrust into the +bosoms of their jackets, but with their eyes earnestly regarding every +cloud that was gathering in the threatening atmosphere, and exchanging +looks of deep care, whenever the boat rose higher than usual on one of +those long heavy groundswells, that were heaving in from the ocean with +increasing rapidity and magnitude. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + ----"A horseman's coat shall hide + thy taper shape and comeliness of side: + And with a bolder stride and looser air, + Mingled with men, a man thou must appear." + _Prior_. + + +When the whale-boat obtained the position we have described, the young +lieutenant, who, in consequence of commanding a schooner, was usually +addressed by the title of captain, stepped on the rocks, followed by the +youthful midshipman, who had quitted the barge to aid in the hazardous +duty of their expedition. + +"This is, at best, but a Jacob's ladder we have to climb," said +Barnstable, casting his eyes upward at the difficult ascent, "and it's +by no means certain that we shall be well received, when we get up, even +though we should reach the top." + +"We are under the guns of the frigate," returned the boy; "and you +remember, sir, three oar-blades and a pistol, repeated from the barge, +will draw her fire." + +"Yes, on our own heads. Boy, never be so foolish as to trust a long +shot. It makes a great smoke and some noise, but it's a terrible +uncertain manner of throwing old iron about. In such a business as this, +I would sooner trust Tom Coffin and his harpoon to back me, than the +best broadside that ever rattled out of the three decks of a ninety-gun +ship. Come, gather your limbs together, and try if you can walk on terra +firma, Master Coffin." + +The seaman who was addressed by this dire appellation arose slowly from +the place where he was stationed as cockswain of the boat, and seemed to +ascend high in air by the gradual evolution of numberless folds in his +body. When erect, he stood nearly six feet and as many inches in his +shoes, though, when elevated in his perpendicular attitude, there was a +forward inclination about his head and shoulders that appeared to be the +consequence of habitual confinement in limited lodgings. His whole frame +was destitute of the rounded outlines of a well-formed man, though +his enormous hands furnished a display of bones and sinews which gave +indication of gigantic strength. On his head he wore a little, low, +brown hat of wool, with an arched top, that threw an expression +of peculiar solemnity and hardness over his hard visage, the sharp +prominent features of which were completely encircled by a set of black +whiskers that began to be grizzled a little with age. One of his hands +grasped, with a sort of instinct, the staff of a bright harpoon, the +lower end of which he placed firmly on the rock, as, in obedience to the +order of his commander, he left the place where, considering his vast +dimensions, he had been established in an incredibly small space. + +As soon as Captain Barnstable received this addition to his strength, he +gave a few precautionary orders to the men in the boat, and proceeded +to the difficult task of ascending the rocks. Notwithstanding the great +daring and personal agility of Barnstable, he would have been completely +baffled in this attempt, but for the assistance he occasionally received +from his cockswain, whose prodigious strength and great length of limbs +enabled him to make exertions which it would have been useless for +most men to attempt. When within a few feet of the summit, they availed +themselves of a projecting rock to pause for consultation and breath, +both of which seemed necessary for their further movements. + +"This will be but a bad place for a retreat, if we should happen to fall +in with enemies," said Barnstable. "Where are we to look for this pilot, +Mr. Merry, or how are we to know him; and what certainty have you that +he will not betray us?" + +"The question you are to put to him is written on this bit of paper," +returned the boy, as he handed the other the word of recognition; "we +made the signal on the point of the rock at yon headland, but, as he +must have seen our boat, he will follow us to this place. As to his +betraying us, he seems to have the confidence of Captain Munson, who has +kept a bright lookout for him ever since we made the land." + +"Ay," muttered the lieutenant, "and I shall have a bright lookout kept +on him now we are _on_ the land. I like not this business of hugging the +shore so closely, nor have I much faith in any traitor. What think you +of it, Master Coffin?" + +The hardy old seaman, thus addressed, turned his grave visage on his +commander, and replied with a becoming gravity: + +"Give me a plenty of sea-room, and good canvas, where there is no +occasion for pilots at all, sir. For my part, I was born on board a +chebacco-man, and never could see the use of more land than now and then +a small island to raise a few vegetables, and to dry your fish--I'm sure +the sight of it always makes me feel uncomfortable, unless we have the +wind dead off shore." + +"Ah! Tom, you are a sensible fellow," said Barnstable, with an air half +comic, half serious. "But we must be moving; the sun is just touching +those clouds to seaward, and God keep us from riding out this night at +anchor in such a place as this." + +Laying his hand on a projection of the rock above him, Barnstable swung +himself forward, and following this movement with a desperate leap +or two, he stood at once on the brow of the cliff. His cockswain very +deliberately raised the midshipman after his officer, and proceeding +with more caution but less exertion, he soon placed himself by his side. + +When they reached the level land that lay above the cliffs and began to +inquire, with curious and wary eyes, into the surrounding scenery, +the adventurers discovered a cultivated country, divided in the usual +manner, by hedges and walls. Only one habitation for man, however, and +that a small dilapidated cottage, stood within a mile of them, most of +the dwellings being placed as far as convenience would permit from the +fogs and damps of the ocean. + +"Here seems to be neither anything to apprehend, nor the object of +our search," said Barnstable, when he had taken the whole view in his +survey: "I fear we have landed to no purpose, Mr. Merry. What say you, +long Tom; see you what we want?" + +"I see no pilot, sir," returned the cockswain; "but it's an ill wind +that blows luck to nobody; there is a mouthful of fresh meat stowed away +under that row of bushes, that would make a double ration to all hands +in the Ariel." + +The midshipman laughed, as he pointed out to Barnstable the object +of the cockswain's solicitude, which proved to be a fat ox, quietly +ruminating under a hedge near them. + +"There's many a hungry fellow aboard of us," said the boy, merrily, +"who would be glad to second long Tom's motion, if the time and business +would permit us to slay the animal." + +"It is but a lubber's blow, Mr. Merry," returned the cockswain, without +a muscle of his hard face yielding, as he struck the end of his harpoon +violently against the earth, and then made a motion toward poising the +weapon; "let Captain Barnstable but say the word, and I'll drive the +iron through him to the quick; I've sent it to the seizing in many a +whale, that hadn't a jacket of such blubber as that fellow wears." + +"Pshaw! you are not on a whaling-voyage, where everything that offers is +game," said Barnstable, turning himself pettishly away from the beast, +as if he distrusted his own forbearance; "but stand fast! I see some one +approaching behind the hedge. Look to your arms, Mr. Merry,--the first +thing we hear may be a shot." + +"Not from that cruiser," cried the thoughtless lad; "he is a younker, +like myself, and would hardly dare run down upon such a formidable force +as we muster." + +"You say true, boy," returned Barnstable, relinquishing the grasp he +held on his pistol. "He comes on with caution, as if afraid. He is +small, and is in drab, though I should hardly call it a pea-jacket--and +yet he may be our man. Stand you both here, while I go and hail him." + +As Barnstable walked rapidly towards the hedge, that in part concealed +the stranger, the latter stopped suddenly, and seemed to be in doubt +whether to advance or to retreat. Before he had decided on either, the +active sailor was within a few feet of him. + +"Pray, sir," said Barnstable, "what water have we in this bay?" + +The slight form of the stranger started, with an extraordinary emotion, +at this question, and he shrunk aside involuntarily, as if to conceal +his features, before he answered, in a voice that was barely audible: + +"I should think it would be the water of the German Ocean." + +"Indeed! you must have passed no small part of your short life in the +study of geography, to be so well informed," returned the lieutenant; +"perhaps, sir, your cunning is also equal to telling me how long we +shall sojourn together, if I make you a prisoner, in order to enjoy the +benefit of your wit?" + +To this alarming intimation, the youth who was addressed made no reply; +but as he averted his face, and concealed it with both his hands, the +offended seaman, believing that a salutary impression had been made upon +the fears of his auditor, was about to proceed with his interrogatories. +The singular agitation of the stranger's frame, however, caused the +lieutenant to continue silent a few moments longer, when, to his +utter amazement, he discovered that what he had mistaken for alarm was +produced by an endeavor, on the part of the youth, to suppress a violent +fit of laughter. + +"Now, by all the whales in the sea," cried Barnstable, "but you are +merry out of season, young gentleman. It's quite bad enough to be +ordered to anchor in such a bay as this with a storm brewing before +my eyes, without landing to be laughed at by a stripling who has not +strength to carry a beard if he had one, when I ought to be getting an +offing for the safety of both body and soul. But I'll know more of you +and your jokes, if I take you into my own mess, and am giggled out of my +sleep for the rest of the cruise." + +As the commander of the schooner concluded, he approached the stranger, +with an air of offering some violence, but the other shrank back from +his extended arm, and exclaimed, with a voice in which real terror had +gotten the better of mirth: + +"Barnstable! dear Barnstable! would you harm me?" + +The sailor recoiled several feet, at this unexpected appeal, and rubbing +his eyes, he threw the cap from his head, before he cried: + +"What do I hear! and what do I see! There lies the Ariel--and yonder is +the frigate. Can this be Katherine Plowden!" + +His doubts, if any doubts remained, were soon removed, for the stranger +sank on the bank at her side, in an attitude in which female bashfulness +was beautifully contrasted with her attire, and gave vent to her mirth +in an uncontrollable burst of merriment. + +From that moment, all thoughts of his duty, and the pilot, or even of +the Ariel, appeared to be banished from the mind of the seaman, who +sprang to her side, and joined in her mirth, though he hardly knew why +or wherefore. + +When the diverted girl had in some degree recovered her composure, she +turned to her companion, who had sat good-naturedly by her side, content +to be laughed at, and said: + +"But this is not only silly, but cruel to others. I owe you an +explanation of my unexpected appearance, and perhaps, also, of my +extraordinary attire." + +"I can anticipate everything," cried Barnstable; "you heard that we +were on the coast, and have flown to redeem the promises you made me in +America. But I ask no more; the chaplain of the frigate--" + +"May preach as usual, and to as little purpose," interrupted the +disguised female; "but no nuptial benediction shall be pronounced over +me, until I have effected the object of this hazardous experiment. You +are not usually selfish, Barnstable; would you have me forgetful of the +happiness of others?" + +"Of whom do you speak?" + +"My poor, my devoted cousin. I heard that two vessels answering the +description of the frigate and the Ariel were seen hovering on the +coast, and I determined at once to have a communication with you. I +have followed your movements for a week, in this dress, but have been +unsuccessful till now. To-day I observed you to approach nearer to +the shore than usual, and happily, by being adventurous, I have been +successful." + +"Ay, God knows we are near enough to the land! But does Captain Munson +know of your wish to get on board his ship?" + +"Certainly not--none know of it but yourself. I thought that if Griffith +and you could learn our situation, you might be tempted to hazard a +little to redeem us from our thraldom. In this paper I have prepared +such an account as will, I trust, excite all your chivalry, and by which +you may govern your movements." + +"Our movements!" interrupted Barnstable. "You will pilot us in person." + +"Then there's two of them!" said a hoarse voice near them. + +The alarmed female shrieked as she recovered her feet, but she still +adhered, with instinctive dependence, to the side of her lover. +Barnstable, who recognized the tones of his cockswain, bent an angry +brow on the sober visage that was peering at them above the hedge, and +demanded the meaning of the interruption. + +"Seeing you were hull down, sir, and not knowing but the chase might +lead you ashore, Mr. Merry thought it best to have a lookout kept. I +told him that you were overhauling the mail-bags of the messenger for +the news, but as he was an officer, sir, and I nothing but a common +hand, I did as he ordered." + +"Return, sir, where I commanded you to remain," said Barnstable, "and +desire Mr. Merry to wait my pleasure." + +The cockswain gave the usual reply of an obedient seaman; but before +he left the hedge, he stretched out one of his brawny arms towards the +ocean, and said, in tones of solemnity suited to his apprehensions and +character: + +"I showed you how to knot a reef-point, and pass a gasket, Captain +Barnstable, nor do I believe you could even take two half-hitches when +you first came aboard of the Spalmacitty. These be things that a man +is soon expart in, but it takes the time of his nat'ral life to larn to +know the weather. There be streaked wind-galls in the offing, that speak +as plainly to all that see them, and know God's language in the clouds, +as ever you spoke through a trumpet, to shorten sail; besides, sir, +don't you hear the sea moaning as if it knew the hour was at hand when +it was to wake up from its sleep!" + +"Ay, Tom," returned his officer, walking to the edge of the cliffs, +and throwing a seaman's glance at the gloomy ocean, "'tis a threatening +night indeed; but this pilot must be had--and--" + +"Is that the man?" interrupted the cockswain, pointing toward a man +who was standing not far from them, an attentive observer of their +proceedings, the same time that he was narrowly watched himself by the +young midshipman. "God send that he knows his trade well, for the bottom +of a ship will need eyes to find its road out of this wild anchorage." + +"That must indeed be the man!" exclaimed Barnstable, at once recalled to +his duty. He then held a short dialogue with his female companion, whom +he left concealed by the hedge, and proceeded to address the stranger. +When near enough to be heard, the commander of the schooner demanded: + +"What water have you in this bay?" + +The stranger, who seemed to expect this question, answered without the +least hesitation: + +"Enough to take all out in safety, who have entered with confidence." + +"You are the man I seek," cried Barnstable; "are you ready to go off?" + +"Both ready and willing," returned the pilot, "and there is need of +haste. I would give the best hundred guineas that ever were coined for +two hours more use of that sun which has left us, or for even the time +of this fading twilight." + +"Think you our situation so bad?" said the lieutenant. "Follow this +gentleman to the boat then; I will join you by the time you can descend +the cliffs. I believe I can prevail on another hand to go off with us." + +"Time is more precious now than any number of hands," said the pilot, +throwing a glance of impatience from under his lowering brows, "and the +consequences of delay must be visited on those who occasion it." + +"And, sir, I will meet the consequences with those who have a right to +inquire into my conduct," said Barnstable, haughtily. + +With this warning and retort they separated; the young officer retracing +his steps impatiently toward his mistress, muttering his indignation in +suppressed execrations, and the pilot, drawing the leathern belt of his +pea-jacket mechanically around his body, as he followed the midshipman +and cockswain to their boat, in moody silence. + +Barnstable found the disguised female who had announced herself as +Katherine Plowden, awaiting his return, with intense anxiety depicted +on every feature of her intelligent countenance. As he felt all the +responsibility of his situation, notwithstanding his cool reply to the +pilot, the young man hastily drew an arm of the apparent boy, forgetful +of her disguise, through his own, and led her forward. + +"Come, Katherine," he said, "the time urges to be prompt." + +"What pressing necessity is there for immediate departure?" she +inquired, checking his movements by withdrawing herself from his side. + +"You heard the ominous prognostic of my cockswain on the weather, and +I am forced to add my own testimony to his opinion. 'Tis a crazy night +that threatens us, though I cannot repent of coming into the bay, since +it has led to this interview." + +"God forbid that we should either of us have cause to repent of it," +said Katherine, the paleness of anxiety chasing away the rich bloom +that had mantled the animated face of the brunette. "But you have the +paper--follow its directions, and come to our rescue; you will find us +willing captives, if Griffith and yourself are our conquerors." + +"What mean you, Katherine!" exclaimed her lover; "you at least are now +in safety--'twould be madness to tempt your fate again. My vessel +can and shall protect you, until your cousin is redeemed; and then, +remember, I have a claim on you for life." + +"And how would you dispose of me in the interval?" said the young +maiden, retreating slowly from his advances. + +"In the Ariel--by heaven, you shall be her commander; I will bear that +rank only in name." + +"I thank you, thank you, Barnstable, but distrust my abilities to fill +such a station," she said, laughing, though the color that again crossed +her youthful features was like the glow of a summer's sunset, and even +her mirthful eyes seemed to reflect their tints. "Do not mistake me, +saucy one. If I have done more than my sex will warrant, remember it was +through a holy motive, and if I have more than a woman's enterprise, it +must be----" + +"To lift you above the weakness of your sex," he cried, "and to enable +you to show your noble confidence in me." + +"To fit me for, and to keep me worthy of being one day your wife." As +she uttered these words she turned and disappeared, with a rapidity that +eluded his attempts to detain her, behind an angle of the hedge, that +was near them. For a moment, Barnstable remained motionless, through +surprise, and when he sprang forward in pursuit, he was able only to +catch a glimpse of her light form, in the gloom of the evening, as she +again vanished in a little thicket at some distance. + +Barnstable was about to pursue, when the air lighted with a sudden +flash, and the bellowing report of a cannon rolled along the cliffs, and +was echoed among the hills far inland. + +"Ay, grumble away, old dotard!" the disappointed young sailor muttered +to himself, while he reluctantly obeyed the signal; "you are in as great +a hurry to get out of your danger as you were to run into it." + +The quick reports of three muskets from the barge beneath where he stood +urged him to quicken his pace, and as he threw himself carelessly down +the rugged and dangerous passes of the cliffs, his experienced eye +beheld the well-known lights displayed from the frigate, which commanded +"the recall of all her boats." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + In such a time as this it is not meet + That every nice offence should bear its comment. + _Shakespeare_ + + +The cliffs threw their dark shadows wide on the waters, and the gloom +of the evening had so far advanced as to conceal the discontent that +brooded over the ordinarily open brow of Barnstable as he sprang from +the rocks into the boat, and took his seat by the side of the silent +pilot. "Shove off," cried the lieutenant, in tones that his men knew +must be obeyed. "A seaman's curse light on the folly that exposes planks +and lives to such navigation; and all to burn some old timberman, or +catch a Norway trader asleep! give way, men, give way!" + +Notwithstanding the heavy and dangerous surf that was beginning to +tumble in upon the rocks in an alarming manner, the startled seamen +succeeded in urging their light boat over the waves, and in a few +seconds were without the point where danger was most to be apprehended. +Barnstable had seemingly disregarded the breakers as they passed, but +sat sternly eyeing the foam that rolled by them in successive surges, +until the boat rose regularly on the long seas, when he turned his looks +around the bay in quest of the barge. + +"Ay, Griffith has tired of rocking in his pillowed cradle," he muttered, +"and will give us a pull to the frigate, when we ought to be getting the +schooner out of this hard-featured landscape. This is just such a place +as one of your sighing lovers would doat on; a little land, a little +water, and a good deal of rock. Damme, long Tom, but I am more than half +of your mind, that an island now and then is all the terra firma that a +seaman needs." + +"It's reason and philosophy, sir," returned the sedate cockswain; "and +what land there is, should always be a soft mud, or a sandy ooze, in +order that an anchor might hold, and to make soundings sartin. I have +lost many a deep-sea, besides hand leads by the dozen, on rocky bottoms; +but give me the roadstead where a lead comes up light and an anchor +heavy. There's a boat pulling athwart our forefoot, Captain Barnstable; +shall I run her aboard or give her a berth, sir?" + +"'Tis the barge!" cried the officer; "Ned has not deserted me, after +all!" + +A loud hail from the approaching boat confirmed this opinion, and in a +few seconds the barge and whale-boat were again rolling by each other's +side. Griffith was no longer reclining on the cushions of his seats, but +spoke earnestly, and with a slight tone of reproach in his manner. + +"Why have you wasted so many precious moments, when every minute +threatens us with new dangers? I was obeying the signal, but I heard +your oars, and pulled back to take out the pilot. Have you been +successful?" + +"There he is; and if he finds his way out, through the shoals, he will +earn a right to his name. This bids fair to be a night when a man will +need a spy-glass to find the moon. But when you hear what I have seen +on those rascally cliffs, you will be more ready to excuse my delay, Mr. +Griffith." + +"You have seen the true man, I trust, or we incur this hazard to an evil +purpose." + +"Ay, I have seen him that is a true man, and him that is not," replied +Barnstable, bitterly; "you have the boy with you, Griffith--ask him what +his young eyes have seen." + +"Shall I!" cried the young midshipman, laughing; "then I have seen a +little clipper, in disguise, out sail an old man-of-war's man in a hard +chase, and I have seen a straggling rover in long-togs as much like my +cousin----" + +"Peace, gabbler!" exclaimed Barnstable in a voice of thunder; "would you +detain the boats with your silly nonsense at a time like this? Away into +the barge, sir, and if you find him willing to hear, tell Mr. Griffith +what your foolish conjectures amount to, at your leisure." + +The boy stepped lightly from the whale-boat to the barge, whither the +pilot had already preceded him, and, as he sunk, with a mortified air, +by the side of Griffith, he said, in a low voice: + +"And that won't be long, I know, if Mr. Griffith thinks and feels on the +coast of England as he thought and felt at home." + +A silent pressure of his hand was the only reply that the young +lieutenant made, before he paid the parting compliments to Barnstable, +and directed his men to pull for their ship. + +The boats were separating, and the plash of the oars was already heard, +when the voice of the pilot was for the first time raised in earnest. + +"Hold!" he cried; "hold water, I bid ye!" + +The men ceased their efforts at the commanding tones of his voice, and +turning toward the whale-boat, he continued: + +"You will get your schooner under way immediately, Captain Barnstable, +and sweep into the offing with as little delay as possible. Keep the +ship well open from the northern headland, and as you pass us, come +within hail." + +"This is a clean chart and plain sailing, Mr. Pilot," returned +Barnstable; "but who is to justify my moving without orders, to Captain +Munson? I have it in black and white, to run the Ariel into this +feather-bed sort of a place, and I must at least have it by signal or +word of mouth from my betters, before my cutwater curls another wave. +The road may be as hard to find going out as it was coming in--and then +I had daylight as well as your written directions to steer by." + +"Would you lie there to perish on such a night?" said the pilot, +sternly. "Two hours hence, this heavy swell will break where your vessel +now rides so quietly." + +"There we think exactly alike; but if I get drowned now, I am drowned +according to orders; whereas, if I knock a plank out of the schooner's +bottom, by following your directions, 'twill be a hole to let in mutiny, +as well as sea-water. How do I know but the old man wants another pilot +or two." + +"That's philosophy," muttered the cockswain of the whale-boat, in a +voice that was audible: "but it's a hard strain on a man's conscience to +hold on in such an anchorage!" + +"Then keep your anchor down, and follow it to the bottom," said the +pilot to himself; "it's worse to contend with a fool than a gale of +wind; but if----" + +"No, no, sir--no fool neither," interrupted Griffith. "Barnstable does +not deserve that epithet, though he certainly carries the point of duty +to the extreme. Heave up at once, Mr. Barnstable, and get out of this +bay as fast as possible." + +"Ah! you don't give the order with half the pleasure with which I shall +execute it; pull away, boys--the Ariel shall never lay her bones in such +a hard bed, if I can help it." + +As the commander of the schooner uttered these words with a cheering +voice, his men spontaneously shouted, and the whale-boat darted away +from her companion, and was soon lost in the gloomy shadows cast from +the cliffs. + +In the mean time, the oarsmen of the barge were not idle, but by +strenuous efforts they forced the heavy boat rapidly through the water, +and in a few minutes she ran alongside of the frigate. During this +period the pilot, in a voice which had lost all the startling fierceness +and authority it had manifested in his short dialogue with Barnstable, +requested Griffith to repeat to him, slowly, the names of the officers +that belonged to his ship. When the young lieutenant had complied with +this request, he observed to his companion: + +"All good men and true, Mr. Pilot; and though this business in which you +are just now engaged may be hazardous to an Englishman, there are none +with us who will betray you. We need your services, and as we expect +good faith from you, so shall we offer it to you in exchange." + +"And how know you that I need its exercise?" asked the pilot, in a +manner that denoted a cold indifference to the subject. + +"Why, though you talk pretty good English, for a native," returned +Griffith, "yet you have a small bur-r-r in your mouth that would prick +the tongue of a man who was born on the other side of the Atlantic." + +"It is but of little moment where a man is born, or how he speaks," +returned the pilot, coldly, "so that he does his duty bravely and in +good faith." + +It was perhaps fortunate for the harmony of this dialogue, that +the gloom, which had now increased to positive darkness, completely +concealed the look of scornful irony that crossed the handsome features +of the young sailor, as he replied: "True, true, so that he does his +duty, as you say, in good faith. But, as Barnstable observed, you must +know your road well to travel among these shoals on such a night as +this. Know you what water we draw?" + +"'Tis a frigate's draught, and I shall endeavor to keep you in four +fathoms; less than that would be dangerous." + +"She's a sweet boat!" said Griffith, "and minds her helm as a marine +watches the eye of his sergeant at a drill; but you must give her room +in stays, for she fore-reaches, as if she would put out the wind's eye." + +The pilot attended, with a practised ear, to this description of the +qualities of the ship that he was about to attempt extricating from an +extremely dangerous situation. Not a syllable was lost on him; and +when Griffith had ended, he remarked, with the singular coldness that +pervaded his manner: + +"That is both a good and a bad quality in a narrow channel. I fear it +will be the latter to-night, when we shall require to have the ship in +leading-strings." + +"I suppose we must feel our way with the lead?" said Griffith. + +"We shall need both eyes and leads," returned the pilot, recurring +insensibly to his soliloquizing tone of voice. "I have been both in and +out in darker nights than this, though never with a heavier draught than +a half-two." + +"Then, by heaven, you are not fit to handle that ship among these rocks +and breakers!" exclaimed Griffith; "your men of a light draught never +know their water; 'tis the deep keel only that finds a channel;--pilot! +pilot! beware how you trifle with us ignorantly; for 'tis a dangerous +experiment to play at hazards with an enemy." + +"Young man, you know not what you threaten, nor whom," said the pilot +sternly, though his quiet manner still remained undisturbed; "you forget +that you have a superior here, and that I have none." + +"That shall be as you discharge your duty," said Griffith; "for if----" + +"Peace!" interrupted the pilot; "we approach the ship, let us enter in +harmony." + +He threw himself back on the cushions when he had said this; and +Griffith, though filled with the apprehensions of suffering, either by +great ignorance or treachery on the part of his companion, smothered +his feelings so far as to be silent, and they ascended the side of the +vessel in apparent cordiality. + +The frigate was already riding on lengthened seas, that rolled in from +the ocean at each successive moment with increasing violence, though her +topsails still hung supinely from her yards; the air, which continued +to breathe occasionally from the land, being unable to shake the heavy +canvas of which they were composed. + +The only sounds that were audible, when Griffith and the pilot had +ascended to the gangway of the frigate, were produced by the sullen +dashing of the sea against the massive bows of the ship, and the shrill +whistle of the boatswain's mate as he recalled the side-boys, who were +placed on either side of the gangway to do honor to the entrance of the +first lieutenant and his companion. + +But though such a profound silence reigned among the hundreds +who inhabited the huge fabric, the light produced by a dozen +battle-lanterns, that were arranged in different parts of the decks, +served not only to exhibit faintly the persons of the crew, but the +mingled feeling of curiosity and care that dwelt on most of their +countenances. + +Large groups of men were collected in the gangways, around the mainmast, +and on the booms of the vessel, whose faces were distinctly visible, +while numerous figures, lying along the lower yards or bending out of +the tops, might be dimly traced in the background, all of whom expressed +by their attitudes the interest they took in the arrival of the boat. + +Though such crowds were collected in other parts of the vessel, the +quarter-deck was occupied only by the officers, who were disposed +according to their several ranks, and were equally silent and attentive +as the remainder of the crew. In front stood a small collection of young +men, who, by their similarity of dress, were the equals and companions +of Griffith, though his juniors in rank. On the opposite side of the +vessel was a larger assemblage of youths, who claimed Mr. Merry as their +fellow. Around the capstan three or four figures were standing, one of +whom wore a coat of blue, with the scarlet facings of a soldier, and +another the black vestments of the ship's chaplain. Behind these, and +nearer the passage to the cabin from which he had just ascended, stood +the tall, erect form of the commander of the vessel. + +After a brief salutation between Griffith and the junior officers, the +former advanced, followed slowly by the pilot, to the place where he +was expected by his veteran commander. The young man removed his hat +entirely, as he bowed with a little more than his usual ceremony, and +said: + +"We have succeeded, sir, though not without more difficulty and delay +than were anticipated." + +"But you have not brought off the pilot," said the captain, "and without +him, all our risk and trouble have been in vain." + +"He is here," said Griffith, stepping aside, and extending his arm +towards the man that stood behind him, wrapped to the chin in his coarse +pea-jacket, and his face shadowed by the falling rims of a large hat, +that had seen much and hard service. + +"This!" exclaimed the captain; "then there is a sad mistake--this is not +the man I would have, seen, nor can another supply his place." + +"I know not whom you expected, Captain Munson," said the stranger, in +a low, quiet voice; "but if you have not forgotten the day when a very +different flag from that emblem of tyranny that now hangs over yon +taffrail was first spread to the wind, you may remember the hand that +raised it." + +"Bring here the light!" exclaimed the commander, hastily. + +When the lantern was extended towards the pilot, and the glare fell +strong on his features, Captain Munson started, as he beheld the calm +blue eye that met his gaze, and the composed but pallid countenance of +the other. Involuntarily raising his hat, and baring his silver locks, +the veteran cried: + +"It is he! though so changed----" + +"That his enemies did not know him," interrupted the pilot, quickly; +then touching the other by the arm as he led him aside, he continued, +in a lower tone, "neither must his friends, until the proper hour shall +arrive." + +Griffith had fallen back to answer the eager questions of his messmates, +and no part of this short dialogue was overheard by the officers, though +it was soon perceived that their commander had discovered his error, and +was satisfied that the proper man had been brought on board his vessel. +For many minutes the two continued to pace a part of the quarter-deck, +by themselves, engaged in deep and earnest discourse. + +As Griffith had but little to communicate, the curiosity of his +listeners was soon appeased, and all eyes were directed toward that +mysterious guide, who was to conduct them from a situation already +surrounded by perils, which each moment not only magnified in +appearance, but increased in reality. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + ----"Behold the threaden sails, + Borne with the invisible and creeping winds, + Draw the huge bottoms through the furrowed sea, + Breasting the lofty surge." + _Shakespeare._ + + +It has been already explained to the reader, that there were threatening +symptoms in the appearance of the weather to create serious forebodings +of evil in the breast of a seaman. When removed from the shadows of the +cliffs, the night was not so dark but objects could be discerned at +some little distance, and in the eastern horizon there was a streak of +fearful light impending over the gloomy waters, in which the swelling +outline formed by the rising waves was becoming each moment more +distinct, and, consequently, more alarming. Several dark clouds overhung +the vessel, whose towering masts apparently propped the black vapor, +while a few stars were seen twinkling, with a sickly flame, in the +streak of clear sky that skirted the ocean. Still, light currents of +air occasionally swept across the bay, bringing with them the fresh odor +from the shore, but their flitting irregularity too surely foretold them +to be the expiring breath of the land breeze. The roaring of the surf, +as it rolled on the margin of the bay, produced a dull, monotonous +sound, that was only Interrupted at times by a hollow bellowing, as a +larger wave than usual broke violently against some cavity in the rock. +Everything, in short, united to render the scene gloomy and portentous, +without creating instant terror, for the ship rose easily on the long +billows, without even straightening the heavy cable that held her to her +anchor. + +The higher officers were collected around the capstan, engaged in +earnest discourse about their situation and prospects, while some of +the oldest and most favored seamen would extend their short walk to the +hallowed precincts of the quarter-deck, to catch, with greedy ears, +the opinions that fell from their superiors. Numberless were the uneasy +glances that were thrown from both officers and men at their commander +and the pilot, who still continued their secret communion in a distant +part of the vessel. Once, an ungovernable curiosity, or the heedlessness +of his years, led one of the youthful midshipmen near them; but a stern +rebuke from his captain sent the boy, abashed and cowering, to hide +his mortification among his fellows. This reprimand was received by the +elder officers as an intimation that the consultation which they beheld +was to be strictly inviolate; and, though it by no means suppressed the +repeated expressions of their impatience, it effectually prevented an +interruption to the communications, which all, however, thought were +unreasonably protracted for the occasion. + +"This is no time to be talking over bearings and distances," observed +the officer next in rank to Griffith; "but we should call the hands up, +and try to kedge her off while the sea will suffer a boat to live." + +"'Twould be a tedious and bootless job to attempt warping a ship for +miles against a head-beating sea," returned the first lieutenant; "but +the land-breeze yet flutters aloft, and if our light sails would draw, +with the aid of this ebb tide we might be able to shove her from the +shore." + +"Hail the tops, Griffith," said the other, "and ask if they feel the air +above; 'twill be a hint at least to set the old man and that lubberly +pilot in motion." + +Griffith laughed as he complied with the request, and when he received +the customary reply to his call, he demanded in a loud voice: + +"Which way have you the wind, aloft?" + +"We feel a light catspaw, now and then, from the land, sir," returned +the sturdy captain of the top; "but our topsail hangs in the clewlines, +sir, without winking." + +Captain Munson and his companion suspended their discourse while this +question and answer were exchanged, and then resumed their dialogue as +earnestly as if it had received no interruption. + +"If it did wink, the hint would be lost on our betters," said the +officer of the marines, whose ignorance of seamanship added greatly to +his perception of the danger, but who, from pure idleness, made more +jokes than any other man in the ship. "That pilot would not receive a +delicate intimation through his ears, Mr. Griffith; suppose you try him +by the nose." + +"Faith, there was a flash of gunpowder between us in the barge," +returned the first lieutenant, "and he does not seem a man to stomach +such hints as you advise. Although he looks so meek and quiet, I doubt +whether he has paid much attention to the book of Job." + +"Why should he?" exclaimed the chaplain, whose apprehensions at least +equaled those of the marine, and with a much more disheartening effect; +"I am sure it would have been a great waste of time: there are so many +charts of the coast, and books on the navigation of these seas, for him +to study, that I sincerely hope he has been much better employed." + +A loud laugh was created at this speech among the listeners, and it +apparently produced the effect that was so long anxiously desired, by +putting an end to the mysterious conference between their captain and +the pilot. As the former came forward towards his expecting crew, he +said, is the composed, steady manner that formed the principal trait in +his character: + +"Get the anchor, Mr. Griffith, and make sail on the ship; the hour has +arrived when we must be moving." + +The cheerful "Ay! ay! sir!" of the young lieutenant was hardly uttered, +before the cries of half a dozen midshipmen were heard summoning the +boatswain and his mates to their duty. + +There was a general movement in the living masses that clustered around +the mainmast, on the booms, and in the gangways, though their habits of +discipline held the crew a moment longer in suspense. The silence was +first broken by the sound of the boatswain's whistle, followed by the +hoarse cry of "All hands, up anchor, ahoy!"--the former rising on the +night air, from its first low mellow notes to a piercing shrillness +that gradually died away on the waters; and the latter bellowing through +every cranny of the ship, like the hollow murmurs of distant thunder. + +The change produced by the customary summons was magical. Human +beings sprang out from between the guns, rushed up the hatches, threw +themselves with careless activity from the booms, and gathered from +every quarter so rapidly, that in an instant the deck of the frigate +was alive with men. The profound silence, that had hitherto been only +interrupted by the low dialogue of the officers, was now changed for the +stern orders of the lieutenants, mingled with the shriller cries of the +midshipmen, and the hoarse bawling of the boatswain's crew, rising above +the tumult of preparation and general bustle. + +The captain and the pilot alone remained passive, in this scene of +general exertion; for apprehension had even stimulated that class of +officers which is called "idlers" to unusual activity, though frequently +reminded by their more experienced messmates that, instead of aiding, +they retarded the duty of the vessel. The bustle, however, gradually +ceased, and in a few minutes the same silence pervaded the ship as +before. + +"We are brought-to, sir," said Griffith, who stood overlooking the +scene, holding in one hand a short speaking, trumpet, and grasping +with the other one of the shrouds of the ship, to steady himself in the +position he had taken on a gun. + +"Heave round, sir," was the calm reply. + +"Heave round!" repeated Griffith, aloud. + +"Heave round!" echoed a dozen eager voices at once, and the lively +strains of a fife struck up a brisk air, to enliven the labor. The +capstan was instantly set in motion, and the measured tread of the +seamen was heard, as they stamped the deck in the circle of their march. +For a few minutes no other sounds were heard, if we except the voice +of an officer, occasionally cheering the sailors, when it was announced +that they "were short;" or, in other words, that the ship was nearly +over her anchor. + +"Heave and pull," cried Griffith; when the quivering notes of the +whistle were again succeeded by a general stillness in the vessel. + +"What is to be done now, sir?" continued the lieutenant; "shall we trip +the anchor? There seems not a breath of air; and as the tide runs slack, +I doubt whether the sea do not heave the ship ashore." + +There was so much obvious truth in this conjecture, that all eyes turned +from the light and animation afforded by the decks of the frigate, to +look abroad on the waters, in a vain desire to pierce the darkness, as +if to read the fate of their apparently devoted ship from the aspect of +nature. + +"I leave all to the pilot," said the captain, after he had stood a short +time by the side of Griffith, anxiously studying the heavens and the +ocean. "What say you, Mr. Gray?" + +The man who was thus first addressed by name was leaning over the +bulwarks, with his eyes bent in the same direction as the others; but as +he answered he turned his face towards the speaker, and the light from +the deck fell full upon his quiet features, which exhibited a +calmness bordering on the supernatural, considering his station and +responsibility. + +"There is much to fear from this heavy ground-swell," he said, in the +same unmoved tones as before; "but there is certain destruction to us, +if the gale that is brewing in the east finds us waiting its fury in +this wild anchorage. All the hemp that ever was spun into cordage would +not hold a ship an hour, chafing on these rocks, with a northeaster +pouring its fury on her. If the powers of man can compass it, gentlemen, +we must get an offing, and that speedily." + +"You say no more, sir, than the youngest boy in the ship can see for +himself," said Griffith--"ha! here comes the schooner!" + +The dashing of the long sweeps in the water was now plainly audible, and +the little Ariel was seen through the gloom, moving heavily under their +feeble impulse. As she passed slowly under the stern of the frigate, the +cheerful voice of Barnstable was first heard, opening the communications +between them. + +"Here's a night for spectacles, Captain Munson!" he cried; "but I +thought I heard your fife, sir. I trust in God, you do not mean to ride +it out here till morning?" + +"I like the berth as little as yourself, Mr. Barnstable," returned +the veteran seaman, in his calm manner, in which anxiety was, however, +beginning to grow evident. "We are short; but are afraid to let go our +hold of the bottom, lest the sea cast us ashore. How make you out the +wind?" + +"Wind!" echoed the other; "there is not enough to blow a lady's curl +aside. If you wait, sir, till the land-breeze fills your sails, you will +wait another moon. I believe I've got my eggshell out of that nest +of gray-caps; but how it has been done in the dark, a better man than +myself must explain." + +"Take your directions from the pilot, Mr. Barnstable," returned his +commanding officer, "and follow them strictly and to the letter." + +A deathlike silence, in both vessels, succeeded this order; for all +seemed to listen eagerly to catch the words that fell from the man on +whom, even the boys now felt, depended their only hopes for safety. A +short time was suffered to elapse, before his voice was heard, in the +same low but distinct tones as before: + +"Your sweeps will soon be of no service to you," he said, "against the +sea that begins to heave in; but your light sails will help them to get +you out. So long as you can head east-and-by-north, you are doing +well, and you can stand on till you open the light from that northern +headland, when you can heave to and fire a gun; but if, as I dread, you +are struck aback before you open the light, you may trust to your lead +on the larboard tack; but beware, with your head to the southward, for +no lead will serve you there." + +"I can walk over the same ground on one tack as on the other," said +Barnstable, "and make both legs of a length." + +"It will not do," returned the pilot. "If you fall off a point to +starboard from east-and-by-north, in going large, you will find both +rocks and points of shoals to bring you up; and beware, as I tell you, +of the starboard tack." + +"And how shall I find my way? you will let me trust to neither time, +lead, nor log." + +"You must trust to a quick eye and a ready hand. The breakers only will +show you the dangers, when you are not able to make out the bearings of +the land. Tack in season, sir, and don't spare the lead when you head to +port." + +"Ay, ay," returned Barnstable, in a low muttering voice. "This is a sort +of blind navigation with a vengeance, and all for no purpose that I can +see--see! damme, eyesight is of about as much use now as a man's nose +would be in reading the Bible." + +"Softly, softly, Mr. Barnstable," interrupted his commander--for such +was the anxious stillness in both vessels that even the rattling of +the schooner's rigging was heard, as she rolled in the trough of the +sea--"the duty on which Congress has sent us must be performed, at the +hazard of our lives." + +"I don't mind my life, Captain Munson," said Barnstable, "but there is +a great want of conscience in trusting a vessel in such a place as +this. However, it is a time to do, and not to talk. But if there be such +danger to an easy draught of water, what will become of the frigate? had +I not better play jackal, and try and feel the way for you?" + +"I thank you," said the pilot; "the offer is generous, but would avail +us nothing. I have the advantage of knowing the ground well, and must +trust to my memory and God's good favor. Make sail, make sail, sir, and +if you succeed, we will venture to break ground." + +The order was promptly obeyed, and in a very short time the Ariel was +covered with canvas. Though no air was perceptible on the decks of the +frigate, the little schooner was so light that she succeeded in stemming +her way over the rising waves, aided a little by the tide; and in a few +minutes her low hull was just discernible in the streak of light along +the horizon, with the dark outline of her sails rising above the sea, +until their fanciful summits were lost in the shadows of the clouds. + +Griffith had listened to the foregoing dialogue, like the rest of the +junior officers, in profound silence; but when the Ariel began to grow +indistinct to the eye, he jumped lightly from the gun to the deck, and +cried: + +"She slips off, like a vessel from the stocks! Shall I trip the anchor, +sir, and follow?" + +"We have no choice," replied his captain. "You hear the question, Mr. +Gray? shall we let go the bottom?" + +"It must be done, Captain Munson; we may want more drift than the rest +of this tide to get us to a place of safety," said the pilot "I would +give five years from a life that I know will be short, if the ship lay +one mile further seaward." + +This remark was unheard by all, except the commander of the frigate, who +again walked aside with the pilot, where they resumed their mysterious +communications. The words of assent were no sooner uttered, however, +than Griffith gave forth from his trumpet the command to "heave away!" +Again the strains of the fife were followed by the tread of the men at +the capstan. At the same time that the anchor was heaving up, the +sails were loosened from the yards, and opened to invite the breeze. In +effecting this duty, orders were thundered through the trumpet of the +first lieutenant, and executed with the rapidity of thought. Men were +to be seen, like spots in the dim light from the heavens, lying on every +yard or hanging as in air, while strange cries were heard issuing +from every part of the rigging and each spar of the vessel. "Ready the +foreroyal," cried a shrill voice, as if from the clouds; "ready the +foreyard," uttered the hoarser tones of a seaman beneath him; "all ready +aft, sir," cried a third, from another quarter; and in a few moments the +order was given to "let fall." + +The little light which fell from the sky was now excluded by the falling +canvas, and a deeper gloom was cast athwart the decks of the ship, that +served to render the brilliancy of the lanterns even vivid, while it +gave to objects outboard a more appalling and dreary appearance than +before. + +Every individual, excepting the commander and his associate, was now +earnestly engaged in getting the ship under way. The sounds of "we're +away" were repeated by a burst from fifty voices, and the rapid +evolutions of the capstan announced that nothing but the weight of the +anchor was to be lifted. The hauling of cordage, the rattling of blocks, +blended with the shrill calls of the boatswain and his mates, succeeded; +and though to a landsman all would have appeared confusion and hurry, +long practice and strict discipline enabled the crew to exhibit their +ship under a cloud of canvas, from her deck to the trucks, in less time +than we have consumed in relating it. + +For a few minutes, the officers were not disappointed by the result; for +though the heavy sails flapped lazily against the masts, the light duck +on the loftier spars swelled outwardly, and the ship began sensibly to +yield to their influence. + +"She travels! she travels!" exclaimed Griffith joyously; "ah! the hussy! +she has as much antipathy to the land as any fish that swims: it blows a +little gale aloft yet!" + +"We feel its dying breath," said the pilot, in low, soothing tones, but +in a manner so sudden as to startle Griffith, at whose elbow they were +unexpectedly uttered. "Let us forget, young man, everything but the +number of lives that depend, this night, on your exertions and my +knowledge." + +"If you be but half as able to exhibit the one as I am willing to make +the other, we shall do well," returned the lieutenant, in the same tone. +"Remember, whatever may be your feelings, that _we_ are on an enemy's +coast, and love it not enough to wish to lay our bones there." + +With this brief explanation they separated, the vessel requiring the +constant and close attention of the officer to her movements. + +The exultation produced in the crew by the progress of their ship +through the water was of short duration; for the breeze that had seemed +to await their motions, after forcing the vessel for a quarter of a +mile, fluttered for a few minutes amid their light canvas, and then left +them entirely. The quartermaster, whose duty it was to superintend the +helm, soon announced that he was losing the command of the vessel, as +she was no longer obedient to her rudder. This ungrateful intelligence +was promptly communicated to his commander by Griffith, who suggested +the propriety of again dropping an anchor. + +"I refer you to Mr. Gray," returned the captain; "he is the pilot, sir, +and with him rests the safety of the vessel." + +"Pilots sometimes lose ships as well as save them," said Griffith: +"know you the man well, Captain Munson, who holds all our lives in his +keeping, and so coolly as if he cared but little for the venture?" + +"Mr. Griffith, I do know him; he is, in my opinion, both competent and +faithful. Thus much I tell you, to relieve your anxiety; more you must +not ask;--but is there not a shift of wind?" + +"God forbid!" exclaimed his lieutenant; "if that northeaster catches us +within the shoals, our case will be desperate indeed!" + +The heavy rolling of the vessel caused an occasional expansion, and as +sudden a reaction, in their sails, which left the oldest seaman in the +ship in doubt which way the currents of air were passing, or whether +there existed any that were not created by the flapping of their own +canvas. The head of the ship, however, began to fall off from the sea, +and notwithstanding the darkness, it soon became apparent that she was +driving in, bodily, towards the shore. + +During these few minutes of gloomy doubt, Griffith, by one of those +sudden revulsions of the mind that connect the opposite extremes of +feeling, lost his animated anxiety, and elapsed into the listless apathy +that so often came over him, even in the most critical moments of trial +and danger. He was standing with one elbow resting on his capstan, +shading his eyes from the light of the battle-lantern that stood near +him with one hand, when he felt a gentle pressure of the other, +that recalled his recollection. Looking affectionately, though still +recklessly, at the boy who stood at his side, he said: + +"Dull music, Mr. Merry." + +"So dull, sir, that I can't dance to it," returned the midshipman. "Nor +do I believe there is a man in the ship who would not rather hear 'The +girl I left behind me,' than those execrable sounds." + +"What sounds, boy? The ship is as quiet as the Quaker meeting in the +Jerseys, before your good old grandfather used to break the charm of +silence with his sonorous voice." + +"Ah! laugh at my peaceable blood, if thou wilt, Mr. Griffith," said the +arch youngster, "but remember, there is a mixture of it in all sorts of +veins. I wish I could hear one of the old gentleman's chants now, sir; I +could always sleep to them, like a gull in the surf. But he that sleeps +to-night, with that lullaby, will make a nap of it." + +"Sounds! I hear no sounds, boy, but the flapping aloft; even that pilot, +who struts the quarter-deck like an admiral, has nothing to say." + +"Is not that a sound to open a seaman's ear?" + +"It is in truth a heavy roll of the surf, lad, but the night air +carries it heavily to our ears. Know you not the sounds of the surf yet, +younker?" + +"I know it too well, Mr. Griffith, and do not wish to know it better. +How fast are we tumbling in towards that surf, sir?" + +"I think we hold our own," said Griffith, rousing again; "though we had +better anchor. Luff, fellow, luff--you are broadside to the sea!" + +The man at the wheel repeated his former intelligence, adding a +suggestion, that he thought the ship "was gathering stern way." + +"Haul up your courses, Mr. Griffith," said Captain Munson, "and let us +feel the wind." + +The rattling of the blocks was soon heard, and the enormous sheets of +canvas that hung from the lower yards were instantly suspended "in the +brails." When this change was effected, all on board stood silent and +breathless, as if expecting to learn their fate by the result. Several +contradictory opinions were, at length, hazarded among the officers, +when Griffith seized the candle from the lantern, and springing on one +of the guns, held it on high, exposed to the action of the air. The +little flame waved, with uncertain glimmering, for a moment, and then +burned steadily, in a line with the masts. Griffith was about to lower +his extended arm, when, feeling a slight sensation of coolness on his +hand, he paused, and the light turned slowly toward the land, flared, +flickered, and finally deserted the wick. + +"Lose not a moment, Mr. Griffith," cried the pilot aloud; "clew up and +furl everything but your three topsails, and let them be double-reefed. +Now is the time to fulfill your promise." + +The young man paused one moment, in astonishment, as the clear, distinct +tones of the stranger struck his ears so unexpectedly; but turning his +eyes to seaward, he sprang on the deck, and proceeded to obey the order, +as if life and death depended on his dispatch. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + "She rights! she rights, boys! ware off shore!" + _Song._ + + +The extraordinary activity of Griffith, which communicated itself with +promptitude to the crew, was produced by a sudden alteration in the +weather. In place of the well-defined streak along the horizon, that has +been already described, an immense body of misty light appeared to be +moving in, with rapidity, from the ocean, while a distinct but distant +roaring announced the sure approach of the tempest that had so long +troubled the waters. Even Griffith, while thundering his orders through +the trumpet, and urging the men, by his cries, to expedition, would +pause, for instants, to cast anxious glances in the direction of the +coming storm; and the faces of the sailors who lay on the yards were +turned, instinctively, towards the same quarter of the heavens, while +they knotted the reef-points, or passed the gaskets that were to confine +the unruly canvas to the prescribed limits. + +The pilot alone, in that confused and busy throng, where voice rose +above voice, and cry echoed cry, in quick succession, appeared as if he +held no interest in the important stake. With his eye steadily fixed +on the approaching mist, and his arms folded together in composure, he +stood calmly waiting the result. + +The ship had fallen off, with her broadside to the sea, and was +become unmanageable, and the sails were already brought into the folds +necessary to her security, when the quick and heavy fluttering of canvas +was thrown across the water, with all the gloomy and chilling sensations +that such sounds produce, where darkness and danger unite to appall the +seaman. + +"The schooner has it!" cried Griffith: "Barnstable has held on, like +himself, to the last moment.--God send that the squall leave him cloth +enough to keep him from the shore!" + +"His sails are easily handled," the commander observed, "and she must be +over the principal danger. We are falling off before it, Mr. Gray; shall +we try a cast of the lead?" + +The pilot turned from his contemplative posture, and moved slowly across +the deck before he returned any reply to this question--like a man who +not only felt that everything depended on himself, but that he was equal +to the emergency. + +"'Tis unnecessary," he at length said; "'twould be certain destruction +to be taken aback; and it is difficult to say, within several points, +how the wind may strike us." + +"'Tis difficult no longer," cried Griffith; "for here it comes, and in +right earnest!" + +The rushing sounds of the wind were now, indeed, heard at hand; and +the words were hardly past the lips of the young lieutenant, before the +vessel bowed down heavily to one side, and then, as she began to move +through the water, rose again majestically to her upright position, as +if saluting, like a courteous champion, the powerful antagonist with +which she was about to contend. Not another minute elapsed, before +the ship was throwing the waters aside, with a lively progress, and, +obedient to her helm, was brought as near to the desired course as the +direction of the wind would allow. The hurry and bustle on the yards +gradually subsided, and the men slowly descended to the deck, all +straining their eyes to pierce the gloom in which they were enveloped, +and some shaking their heads, in melancholy doubt, afraid to express the +apprehensions they really entertained. All on board anxiously waited for +the fury of the gale; for there were none so ignorant or inexperienced +in that gallant frigate, as not to know that as yet they only felt the +infant effects of the wind. Each moment, however, it increased in power, +though so gradual was the alteration, that the relieved mariners began +to believe that all their gloomy forebodings were not to be realized. +During this short interval of uncertainty, no other sounds were heard +than the whistling of the breeze, as it passed quickly through the mass +of rigging that belonged to the vessel, and the dashing of the spray +that began to fly from her bows, like the foam of a cataract. + +"It blows fresh," cried Griffith, who was the first to speak in that +moment of doubt and anxiety; "but it is no more than a capful of wind +after all. Give us elbow-room, and the right canvas, Mr. Pilot, and I'll +handle the ship like a gentleman's yacht, in this breeze." + +"Will she stay, think ye, under this sail?" said the low voice of the +stranger. + +"She will do all that man, in reason, can ask of wood and iron," +returned the lieutenant; "but the vessel don't float the ocean that will +tack under double-reefed topsails alone, against a heavy sea. Help +her with her courses, pilot, and you shall see her come round like a +dancing-master." + +"Let us feel the strength of the gale first," returned the man who was +called Mr. Gray, moving from the side of Griffith to the weather gangway +of the vessel, where he stood in silence, looking ahead of the ship, +with an air of singular coolness and abstraction. + +All the lanterns had been extinguished on the deck of the frigate, when +her anchor was secured, and as the first mist of the gale had passed +over, it was succeeded by a faint light that was a good deal aided by +the glittering foam of the waters, which now broke in white curls around +the vessel in every direction. The land could be faintly discerned, +rising like a heavy bank of black fog above the margin of the waters, +and was only distinguishable from the heavens by its deeper gloom and +obscurity. The last rope was coiled, and deposited in its proper place, +by the seamen, and for several minutes the stillness of death pervaded +the crowded decks. It was evident to every one, that their ship +was dashing at a prodigious rate through the waves; and as she was +approaching, with such velocity, the quarter of the bay where the shoals +and dangers were known to be situated, nothing but the habits of the +most exact discipline could suppress the uneasiness of the officers and +men within their own bosoms. At length the voice of Captain Munson was +heard, calling to the pilot: + +"Shall I send a hand into the chains, Mr. Gray," he said, "and try our +water?" + +Although this question was asked aloud, and the interest it excited drew +many of the officers and men around him, in eager impatience for his +answer, it was unheeded by the man to whom it was addressed. His head +rested on his hand, as he leaned over the hammock-cloths of the vessel, +and his whole air was that of one whose thoughts wandered from the +pressing necessity of their situation. Griffith was among those who had +approached the pilot; and after waiting a moment, from respect, to hear +the answer to his commander's question, he presumed on his own rank, and +leaving the circle that stood at a little distance, stepped to the side +of the mysterious guardian of their lives. + +"Captain Munson desires to know whether you wish a cast of the lead?" +said the young officer, with a little impatience of manner. No immediate +answer was made to this repetition of the question, and Griffith laid +his hand unceremoniously on the shoulder of the other, with an intent +to rouse him before he made another application for a reply, but the +convulsive start of the pilot held him silent in amazement. + +"Fall back there," said the lieutenant, sternly; to the men, who were +closing around them in compact circle; "away with you to your stations, +and see all clear for stays." The dense mass of heads dissolved, at this +order, like the water of one of the waves commingling with the ocean, +and the lieutenant and his companions were left by themselves. + +"This is not a time for musing, Mr. Gray," continued Griffith; "remember +our compact, and look to your charge--is it not time to put the vessel +in stays? of what are you dreaming?" + +The pilot laid his hand on the extended arm of the lieutenant, and +grasped it with a convulsive pressure, as he answered: + +"'Tis a dream of reality. You are young, Mr. Griffith, nor am I past the +noon of life; but should you live fifty years longer, you never can +see and experience what I have encountered in my little period of +three-and-thirty years!" + +A good deal astonished at this burst of feeling, so singular at such a +moment, the young sailor was at a loss for a reply; but as his duty +was uppermost in his thoughts, he still dwelt on the theme that most +interested him. + +"I hope much of your experience has been on this coast, for the ship +travels lively," he said, "and the daylight showed us so much to dread, +that we do not feel over-valiant in the dark. How much longer shall we +stand on, upon this tack?" + +The pilot turned slowly from the side of the vessel, and walked towards +the commander of the frigate, as he replied, in a tone that seemed +deeply agitated by his melancholy reflections: + +"You have your wish, then; much, very much of my early life was passed +on this dreaded coast. What to you is all darkness and gloom, to me is +as light as if a noon-day sun shone upon it. But tack your ship, sir, +tack your ship; I would see how she works before we reach the point +where she _must_ behave well, or we perish." + +Griffith gazed after him in wonder, while the pilot slowly paced the +quarter-deck, and then, rousing from his trance, gave forth the cheering +order that called each man to his station, to perform the desired +evolution. The confident assurances which the young officer had given to +the pilot respecting the qualities of his vessel and his own ability to +manage her, were fully realized by the result. The helm was no sooner +put a-lee, than the huge ship bore up gallantly against the wind, and, +dashing directly through the waves, threw the foam high into the air, +as she looked boldly into the very eye of the wind; and then, yielding +gracefully to its power, she fell off on the other tack, with her head +pointed from those dangerous shoals that she had so recently approached +with such terrifying velocity. The heavy yards swung round, as if they +had been vanes to indicate the currents of the air; and in a few moments +the frigate again moved, with stately progress, through the water, +leaving the rocks and shoals behind her on one side of the bay, but +advancing towards those that offered equal danger on the other. + +During this time the sea was becoming more agitated, and the violence +of the wind was gradually increasing. The latter no longer whistled amid +the cordage of the vessel, but it seemed to howl, surlily, as it passed +the complicated machinery that the frigate obtruded on its path. An +endless succession of white surges rose above the heavy billows, and +the very air was glittering with the light that was disengaged from the +ocean. The ship yielded, each moment, more and more before the storm, +and in less than half an hour from the time that she had lifted her +anchor, she was driven along with tremendous fury by the full power of a +gale of wind. Still the hardy and experienced mariners who directed +her movements held her to the course that was necessary to their +preservation, and still Griffith gave forth, when directed by their +unknown pilot, those orders that turned her in the narrow channel where +alone safety was to be found. + +So far, the performance of his duty appeared easy to the stranger, and +he gave the required directions in those still, calm tones, that formed +so remarkable a contrast to the responsibility of his situation. But +when the land was becoming dim, in distance as well as darkness, and the +agitated sea alone was to be discovered as it swept by them in foam, he +broke in upon the monotonous roaring of the tempest with the sounds of +his voice, seeming to shake off his apathy, and rouse himself to the +occasion. + +"Now is the time to watch her closely, Mr. Griffith," he cried; "here we +get the true tide and the real danger. Place the best quartermaster of +your ship in those chains, and let an officer stand by him, and see that +he gives us the right water." + +"I will take that office on myself," said the captain; "pass a light +into the weather main-chains." + +"Stand by your braces!" exclaimed the pilot, with startling quickness. +"Heave away that lead!" + +These preparations taught the crew to expect the crisis, and every +officer and man stood in fearful silence, at his assigned station, +awaiting the issue of the trial. Even the quartermaster at the cun gave +out his orders to the men at the wheel, in deeper and hoarser tones than +usual, as if anxious not to disturb the quiet and order of the vessel. + +While this deep expectation pervaded the frigate, the piercing cry of +the leadsman, as he called "By the mark seven," rose above the tempest, +crossed over the decks, and appeared to pass away to leeward, borne on +the blast like the warnings of some water-spirit. + +"'Tis well," returned the pilot, calmly; "try it again." + +The short pause was succeeded by another cry, "And a half-five!" + +"She shoals! she shoals!" exclaimed Griffith: "keep her a good full." + +"Ay! you must hold the vessel in command, now," said the pilot, with +those cool tones that are most appalling in critical moments because +they seem to denote most preparation and care. + +The third call, "By the deep four," was followed by a prompt direction +from the stranger to tack. + +Griffith seemed to emulate the coolness of the pilot, in issuing the +necessary orders to execute this manoeuvre. + +The vessel rose slowly from the inclined position into which she had +been forced by the tempest, and the sails were shaking violently, as if +to release themselves from their confinement, while the ship stemmed +the billows, when the well-known voice of the sailing-master was heard +shouting from the forecastle: + +"Breakers! breakers, dead ahead!" + +This appalling sound seemed yet to be lingering about the ship, when a +second voice cried: + +"Breakers on our lee bow!" + +"We are in a bite of the shoals, Mr. Gray," cried the commander. "She +loses her way; perhaps an anchor might hold her." + +"Clear away that best bower!" shouted Griffith through his trumpet. + +"Hold on!" cried the pilot, in a voice that reached the very hearts of +all who heard him; "hold on everything." + +The young man turned fiercely to the daring stranger who thus defied the +discipline of his vessel, and at once demanded: + +"Who is it that dares to countermand my orders? Is it not enough that +you run the ship into danger, but you must interfere to keep her there? +If another word----" + +"Peace, Mr. Griffith," interrupted the captain, bending from the +rigging, his gray locks blowing about in the wind and adding a look +of wildness to the haggard care that he exhibited by the light of his +lantern; "yield the trumpet to Mr. Gray; he alone can save us." + +Griffith threw his speaking-trumpet on the deck, and as he walked +proudly away, muttered in bitterness of feeling: + +"Then all is lost, indeed! and among the rest the foolish hopes with +which I visited this coast." + +There was, however, no time for reply; the ship had been rapidly running +into the wind, and as the efforts of the crew were paralyzed by the +contradictory orders they had heard, she gradually lost her way, and in +a few seconds all her sails were taken aback. + +Before the crew understood their situation the pilot had applied the +trumpet to his mouth, and in a voice that rose above the tempest, he +thundered forth his orders. Each command was given distinctly, and with +a precision that showed him to be master of his profession. The helm +was kept fast, the head-yards swung up heavily against the wind, and the +vessel was soon whirling round on her heel, with a retrograde movement. + +Griffith was too much of a seaman not to perceive that the pilot +had seized, with a perception almost intuitive, the only method that +promised to extricate the vessel from her situation. He was young, +impetuous, and proud--but he was also generous. Forgetting his +resentment and his mortification, he rushed forward among the men, and, +by his presence and example, added certainty to the experiment. The +ship fell off slowly before the gale, and bowed her yards nearly to the +water, as she felt the blast pouring its fury on her broadside, while +the surly waves beat violently against her stern, as if in reproach at +departing from her usual manner of moving. + +The voice of the pilot, however, was still heard, steady and calm, and +yet so clear and high as to reach every ear; and the obedient seamen +whirled the yards at his bidding in despite of the tempest, as if they +handled the toys of their childhood. When the ship had fallen off dead +before the wind, her head-sails were shaken, her after-yards trimmed, +and her helm shifted, before she had time to run upon the danger that +had threatened, as well to leeward as to windward. The beautiful fabric, +obedient to her government, threw her bows up gracefully towards the +wind again; and, as her sails were trimmed, moved out from among the +dangerous shoals, in which she had been embayed, as steadily and swiftly +as she had approached them. + +A moment of breathless astonishment succeeded the accomplishment of +this nice manoeuvre, but there was no time for the usual expressions of +surprise. The stranger still held the trumpet, and continued to lift +his voice amid the howlings of the blast, whenever prudence or skill +required any change in the management of the ship. For an hour longer +there was a fearful struggle for their preservation, the channel +becoming at each step more complicated, and the shoals thickening around +the mariners on every side. The lead was cast rapidly, and the quick +eye of the pilot seemed to pierce the darkness with a keenness of vision +that exceeded human power. It was apparent to all in the vessel that +they were under the guidance of one who understood the navigation +thoroughly, and their exertions kept pace with their reviving +confidence. Again and again the frigate appeared to be rushing blindly +on shoals where the sea was covered with foam, and where destruction +would have been as sudden as it was certain, when the clear voice of +the stranger was heard warning them of the danger, and inciting them +to their duty. The vessel was implicitly yielded to his government; +and during those anxious moments when she was dashing the waters aside, +throwing the spray over her enormous yards, each ear would listen +eagerly for those sounds that had obtained a command over the crew that +can only be acquired, under such circumstances, by great steadiness and +consummate skill. The ship was recovering from the inaction of changing +her course, in one of those critical tacks that she had made so often, +when the pilot, for the first time, addressed the commander of the +frigate, who still continued to superintend the all-important duty of +the leadsman. + +"Now is the pinch," he said, "and if the ship behaves well, we are +safe--but if otherwise, all we have yet done will be useless." + +The veteran seaman whom he addressed left the chains at this portentous +notice, and calling to his first lieutenant, required of the stranger an +explanation of his warning. + +"See you yon light on the southern headland?" returned the pilot; "you +may know it from the star near it?--by its sinking, at times, in the +ocean. Now observe the hummock, a little north of it, looking like a +shadow in the horizon--'tis a hill far inland. If we keep that light +open from the hill, we shall do well--but if not, we surely go to +pieces." + +"Let us tack again," exclaimed the lieutenant. + +The pilot shook his head, as he replied: + +"There is no more tacking or box-hauling to be done tonight. We have +barely room to pass out of the shoals on this course; and if we can +weather the 'Devil's Grip,' we clear their outermost point--but if not, +as I said before, there is but an alternative." + +"If we had beaten out the way we entered," exclaimed Griffith, "we +should have done well." + +"Say, also, if the tide would have let us do so," returned the pilot, +calmly. "Gentlemen, we must be prompt; we have but a mile to go, and the +ship appears to fly. That topsail is not enough to keep her up to the +wind; we want both jib and mainsail." + +"'Tis a perilous thing to loosen canvas in such a tempest!" observed the +doubtful captain. + +"It must be done," returned the collected stranger; "we perish without +it--see the light already touches the edge of the hummock; the sea casts +us to leeward." + +"It shall be done," cried Griffith, seizing the trumpet from the hand of +the pilot. + +The orders of the lieutenant were executed almost as soon as issued; +and, everything being ready, the enormous folds of the mainsail were +trusted loose to the blast. There was an instant when the result was +doubtful; the tremendous threshing of the heavy sail seemed to bid +defiance to all restraint, shaking the ship to her centre; but art and +strength prevailed, and gradually the canvas was distended, and bellying +as it filled, was drawn down to its usual place by the power of a +hundred men. The vessel yielded to this immense addition of force, and +bowed before it like a reed bending to a breeze. But the success of the +measure was announced by a joyful cry from the stranger, that seemed to +burst from his inmost soul. + +"She feels it! she springs her luff! observe," he said, "the light opens +from the hummock already: if she will only bear her canvas we shall go +clear." + +A report, like that of a cannon, interrupted his exclamation, and +something resembling a white cloud was seen drifting before the wind +from the head of the ship, till it was driven into the gloom far to +leeward. + +"'Tis the jib, blown from the bolt-ropes," said the commander of the +frigate. "This is no time to spread light duck--but the mainsail may +stand it yet." + +"The sail would laugh at a tornado," returned the lieutenant; "but the +mast springs like a piece of steel." + +"Silence all!" cried the pilot. "Now, gentlemen, we shall soon know our +fate. Let her luff--luff you can!" + +This warning effectually closed all discourse, and the hardy mariners, +knowing that they had already done all in the power of man to insure +their safety, stood in breathless anxiety, awaiting the result. At a +short distance ahead of them the whole ocean was white with foam, and +the waves, instead of rolling on in regular succession, appeared to be +tossing about in mad gambols. A single streak of dark billows, not half +a cable's length in width, could be discerned running into this chaos +of water; but it was soon lost to the eye amid the confusion of the +disturbed element. Along this narrow path the vessel moved more heavily +than before, being brought so near the wind as to keep her sails +touching. The pilot silently proceeded to the wheel, and, with his own +hands, he undertook the steerage of the ship. No noise proceeded from +the frigate to interrupt the horrid tumult of the ocean; and she +entered the channel among the breakers, with the silence of a desperate +calmness. Twenty times, as the foam rolled away to leeward, the crew +were on the eve of uttering their joy, as they supposed the vessel past +the danger; but breaker after breaker would still heave up before them, +following each other into the general mass, to check their exultation. +Occasionally, the fluttering of the sails would be heard; and when the +looks of the startled seamen were turned to the wheel, they beheld the +stranger grasping its spokes, with his quick eye glancing from the water +to the canvas. At length the ship reached a point where she appeared +to be rushing directly into the jaws of destruction, when suddenly her +course was changed, and her head receded rapidly from the wind. At the +same instant the voice of the pilot was heard shouting: + +"Square away the yards!--in mainsail!" + +A general burst from the crew echoed, "Square away the yards!" and, +quick as thought, the frigate was seen gliding along the channel before +the wind. The eye had hardly time to dwell on the foam, which seemed +like clouds driving in the heavens, and directly the gallant vessel +issued from her perils, and rose and fell on the heavy waves of the sea. + +The seamen were yet drawing long breaths, and gazing about them like +men recovered from a trance, when Griffith approached the man who had so +successfully conducted them through their perils. The lieutenant grasped +the hand of the other, as he said: + +"You have this night proved yourself a faithful pilot, and such a seaman +as the world cannot equal." + +The pressure of the hand was warmly returned by the unknown mariner, who +replied: + +"I am no stranger to the seas, and I may yet find my grave in them. +But you, too, have deceived me; you have acted nobly, young man, and +Congress----" + +"What of Congress?" asked Griffith, observing him to pause. + +"Why, Congress is fortunate if it has many such ships as this," said the +stranger, coldly, walking away toward the commander. + +Griffith gazed after him a moment in surprise; but, as his duty required +his attention, other thoughts soon engaged his mind. + +The vessel was pronounced to be in safety. The gale was heavy and +increasing, but there was a clear sea before them; and as she slowly +stretched out into the bosom of the ocean, preparations were made for +her security during its continuance. Before midnight, everything was in +order. A gun from the Ariel soon announced the safety of the schooner +also, which had gone out by another and an easier channel, that the +frigate had not dared to attempt; when the commander directed the usual +watch to be set, and the remainder of the crew to seek their necessary +repose. + +The captain withdrew with the mysterious pilot to his own cabin. +Griffith gave his last order; and renewing his charge to the officer +instructed with the care of the vessel, he wished him a pleasant +watch, and sought the refreshment of his own cot. For an hour the young +lieutenant lay musing on the events of the day. The remark of Barnstable +would occur to him, in connection with the singular comment of the boy; +and then his thoughts would recur to the pilot, who, taken from the +hostile shores of Britain, and with her accent on his tongue, had served +them so faithfully and so well. He remembered the anxiety of Captain +Munson to procure this stranger, at the very hazard from which they had +just been relieved, and puzzled himself with conjecturing why a pilot +was to be sought at such a risk. His more private feelings would then +resume their sway, and the recollection of America, his mistress, and +his home, mingled with the confused images of the drowsy youth. The +dashing of the billows against the side of the ship, the creaking of +guns and bulkheads, with the roaring of the tempest, however, became +gradually less and less distinct, until nature yielded to necessity, and +the young man forgot even the romantic images of his love, in the deep +sleep of a seaman. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + ----"The letter! ay! the letter! + 'Tis there a woman loves to speak her wishes; + It spares the blushes of the love-sick maiden. + And every word's a smile, each line a tongue." + _Duo._ + + +The slumbers of Griffith continued till late on the following morning, +when he was awakened by the report of a cannon, issuing from the deck +above him. He threw himself, listlessly, from his cot, and perceiving +the officer of marines near him, as his servant opened the door of his +stateroom, he inquired, with some little interest in his manner, if "the +ship was in chase of anything, that a gun was fired?" + +"'Tis no more than a hint to the Ariel," the soldier replied, "that +there is bunting abroad for them to read. It seems as if all hands were +asleep on board her, for we have shown her signal, these ten minutes, +and she takes us for a collier, I believe, by the respect she pays it." + +"Say, rather, that she takes us for an enemy, and is wary," returned +Griffith. "Brown Dick has played the English so many tricks himself, +that he is tender of his faith." + +"Why, they have shown him a yellow flag over a blue one, with a cornet, +and that spells Ariel, in every signal-book we have; surely he can't +suspect the English of knowing how to read Yankee." + +"I have known Yankees read more difficult English," said Griffith, +smiling; "but, in truth, I suppose that Barnstable has been, like +myself, keeping a dead reckoning of his time, and his men have profited +by the occasion. She is lying to, I trust." + +"Ay! like a cork in a mill-pond, and I dare say you are right. Give +Barnstable plenty of sea-room, a heavy wind, and but little sail, and +he will send his men below, put that fellow he calls long Tom at the +tiller, and follow himself, and sleep as quietly as I ever could at +church." + +"Ah! yours is a somniferous orthodoxy, Captain Manual," said the young +sailor, laughing, while he slipped his arms into the sleeves of +a morning round-about, covered with the gilded trappings of his +profession; "sleep appears to come most naturally to all you idlers. But +give me a passage, and I will go up, and call the schooner down to us in +the turning of an hour-glass." + +The indolent soldier raised himself from the leaning posture he had +taken against the door of the stateroom, and Griffith proceeded through +the dark wardroom, up the narrow stairs that led him to the principal +battery of the ship, and thence, by another and broader flight of steps +to the open deck. + +The gale still blew strong, but steadily; the blue water of the ocean +was rising in mimic mountains, that were crowned with white foam, which +the wind, at times, lifted from its kindred element, to propel in mist, +through the air, from summit to summit. But the ship rode on these +agitated billows with an easy and regular movement that denoted the +skill with which her mechanical powers were directed. + +The day was bright and clear, and the lazy sun, who seemed unwilling +to meet the toil of ascending to the meridian, was crossing the heavens +with a southern inclination, that hardly allowed him to temper the +moist air of the ocean with his genial heat. At the distance of a mile, +directly in the wind's eye, the Ariel was seen obeying the signal which +had caused the dialogue we have related. Her low black hull was barely +discernible, at moments, when she rose to the crest of a larger wave +than common; but the spot of canvas that she exposed to the wind was to +be seen, seeming to touch the water on either hand, as the little vessel +rolled amid the seas. At times she was entirely hid from view, when the +faint lines of her raking masts would again be discovered, issuing, as +it were, from the ocean, and continuing to ascend, until the hull itself +would appear, thrusting its bows into the air, surrounded by foam, and +apparently ready to take its flight into another element. + +After dwelling a moment on the beautiful sight we have attempted to +describe, Griffith cast his eyes upward to examine, with the keenness of +a seaman, the disposition of things aloft, and then turned his attention +to those who were on the deck of the frigate. + +His commander stood, in his composed manner, patiently awaiting the +execution of his order by the Ariel, and at his side was placed the +stranger who had so recently acted such a conspicuous part in the +management of the ship. Griffith availed himself of daylight and his +situation to examine the appearance of this singular being more closely +than the darkness and confusion of the preceding night had allowed. He +was a trifle below the middle size in stature, but his form was muscular +and athletic, exhibiting the finest proportions of manly beauty. His +face appeared rather characterized by melancholy and thought, than by +that determined decision which he had so powerfully displayed in the +moments of their most extreme danger; but Griffith well knew that it +could also exhibit looks of the fiercest impatience. At present, it +appeared, to the curious youth, when compared to the glimpses he +had caught by the lights of their lanterns, like the ocean at rest, +contrasted with the waters around him. The eyes of the pilot rested +on the deck, or, when they did wander, it was with uneasy and rapid +glances. The large pea-jacket, that concealed most of his other attire, +was as roughly made, and of materials as coarse, as that worn by the +meanest seaman in the vessel; and yet it did not escape the inquisitive +gaze of the young lieutenant, that it was worn with an air of neatness +and care that was altogether unusual in men of his profession. The +examination of Griffith ended here, for the near approach of the +Ariel attracted the attention of all on the deck of the frigate to the +conversation that was about to pass between their respective commanders. + +As the little schooner rolled along under their stern, Captain Munson +directed his subordinate to leave his vessel and repair on board the +ship. As soon as the order was received, the Ariel rounded to, and +drawing ahead into the smooth water occasioned by the huge fabric that +protected her from the gale, the whale-boat was again launched from her +decks, and manned by the same crew that had landed on those shores which +were now faintly discerned far to leeward, looking like blue clouds on +the skirts of the ocean. + +When Barnstable had entered his boat, a few strokes of the oars sent it, +dancing over the waves, to the side of the ship. The little vessel was +then veered off to a distance, where it rode in safety under the care +of a boat-keeper, and the officer and his men ascended the side of the +lofty frigate. + +The usual ceremonials of reception were rigidly observed by Griffith and +his juniors, when Barnstable touched the deck; and though every hand was +ready to be extended toward the reckless seaman, none presumed to exceed +the salutations of official decorum, until a short and private dialogue +had taken place between him and their captain. + +In the mean time, the crew of the whale-boat passed forward, and mingled +with the seamen of the frigate, with the exception of the cockswain, who +established himself in one of the gangways, where he stood in the +utmost composure, fixing his eyes aloft, and shaking his head in evident +dissatisfaction, as he studied the complicated mass of rigging above +him. This spectacle soon attracted to his side some half-dozen youths, +with Mr. Merry at their head, who endeavored to entertain their guest in +a manner that should most conduce to the indulgence of their own waggish +propensities. + +The conversation between Barnstable and his superior soon ended; when +the former, beckoning to Griffith, passed the wondering group who had +collected around the capstan, awaiting his leisure to greet him more +cordially, and led the way to the wardroom, with the freedom of one who +felt himself no stranger. As this unsocial manner formed no part of the +natural temper or ordinary deportment of the man, the remainder of the +officers suffered their first lieutenant to follow him alone, believing +that duty required that their interview should be private. Barnstable +was determined that it should be so, at all events; for he seized the +lamp from the mess-table, and entered the stateroom of his friend, +closing the door behind them and turning the key. When they were +both within its narrow limits--pointing to the only chair the little +apartment contained, with a sort of instinctive deference to his +companion's rank--the commander of the schooner threw himself carelessly +on a sea-chest; and, placing the lamp on the table, he opened the +discourse as follows: + +"What a night we had of it! Twenty times I thought I could see the sea +breaking over you; and I had given you over as drowned men, or, what +is worse, as men driven ashore, to be led to the prison-ships of these +islanders, when I saw your lights in answer to my gun. Had you hoisted +the conscience of a murderer, you wouldn't have relieved him more than +you did me, by showing that bit of tallow and cotton, tipped with flint +and steel. But, Griffith, I have a tale to tell of a different kind----" + +"Of how you slept when you found yourself in deep water, and how your +crew strove to outdo their commander, and how all succeeded so well +that there was a gray-head on board here, that began to shake with +displeasure," interrupted Griffith; "truly, Dick, you will get into +lubberly habits on board that bubble in which you float about, where all +hands go to sleep as regularly as the inhabitants of a poultry-yard go +to roost." + +"Not so bad, not half so bad, Ned," returned the other, laughing; "I +keep as sharp a discipline as if we wore a flag. To be sure, forty men +can't make as much parade as three or four hundred; but as for making or +taking in sail, I am your better any day." + +"Ay, because a pocket-handkerchief is sooner opened and shut than a +table-cloth. But I hold it to be un-seamanlike to leave any vessel +without human eyes, and those open, to watch whether she goes east or +west, north or south." + +"And who is guilty of such a dead man's watch?" + +"Why, they say aboard here, that when it blows hard, you seat the man +you call long Tom by the side of the tiller, tell him to keep her head +to sea, and then pipe all hands to their night-caps, where you all +remain, comfortably stowed in your hammocks, until you are awakened by +the snoring of your helmsman." + +"'Tis a damned scandalous insinuation," cried Barnstable, with an +indignation that he in vain attempted to conceal. "Who gives currency to +such a libel, Mr. Griffith?" + +"I had it of the marine," said his friend, losing the archness that had +instigated him to worry his companion, in the vacant air of one who was +careless of everything; "but I don't believe half of it myself--I have +no doubt you all had your eyes open last night, whatever you might have +been about this morning." + +"Ah! this morning! there was an oversight, indeed! But I was studying a +new signal-book, Griffith, that has a thousand times more interest for +me than all the bunting you can show, from the head to the heel of your +masts." + +"What! have you found out the Englishman's private talk?" + +"No, no," said the other, stretching forth his hand, and grasping the +arm of his friend. "I met last night one on those cliffs, who has proved +herself what I always believed her to be, and loved her for, a girl of +quick thought and bold spirit." + +"Of whom do you speak?" + +"Of Katherine----" + +Griffith started from his chair involuntarily at the sound of this name, +and the blood passed quickly through the shades of his countenance, +leaving it now pale as death, and then burning as if oppressed by a +torrent from his heart. Struggling to overcome an emotion, which he +appeared ashamed to betray even to the friend he most loved, the young +man soon recovered himself so far as to resume his seat, when he asked, +gloomily: + +"Was she alone?" + +"She was; but she left with me this paper and this invaluable book, +which is worth a library of all other works." + +The eye of Griffith rested vacantly on the treasure that the other +valued so highly, but his hand seized eagerly the open letter which was +laid on the table for his perusal. The reader will at once understand +that it was in the handwriting of a female, and that it was the +communication Barnstable had received from his betrothed on the cliffs. +Its contents were as follows: + +"Believing that Providence may conduct me where we shall meet, or whence +I may be able to transmit to you this account, I have prepared a short +statement of the situation of Cecila Howard and myself; not, however, to +urge you and Griffith to any rash or foolish hazards, but that you may +both sit down, and, after due consultation, determine what is proper for +our relief. + +"By this time, you must understand the character of Colonel Howard too +well to expect he will ever consent to give his niece to a rebel. He +has already sacrificed to his loyalty, as he calls it (but I whisper to +Cecilia, 'tis his treason), not only his native country, but no small +part of his fortune also. In the frankness of my disposition (you know +my frankness, Barnstable, but too well!), I confessed to him, after +the defeat of the mad attempt Griffith made to carry off Cecilia, in +Carolina, that I had been foolish enough to enter into some weak promise +to the brother officer who had accompanied the young sailor in his +traitorous visits to the plantation. Heigho! I sometimes think it would +have been better for us all, if your ship had never been chased into the +river, or, after she was there, if Griffith had made no attempt to renew +his acquaintance with my cousin. The colonel received the intelligence +as such a guardian would hear that his ward was about to throw away +thirty thousand dollars and herself on a traitor to his king and +country. I defended you stoutly: said that you had no king, as the tie +was dissolved; that America was your country, and that your profession +was honorable; but it would not all do. He called you rebel; that I was +used to. He said you were a traitor; that, in his vocabulary, amounts to +the same thing. He even hinted that you were a coward; and that I +knew to be false, and did not hesitate to tell him so. He used fifty +opprobrious terms that I cannot remember; but among others were the +beautiful epithets of 'disorganizer,' 'leveller, 'democrat,' and +'jacobin' (I hope he did not mean a monk!). In short, he acted Colonel +Howard in a rage. But as his dominion does not, like that of his +favorite kings, continue from generation to generation, and one short +year will release me from his power, and leave me mistress of my own +actions--that is, if your fine promises are to be believed--I bore it +all very well, being resolved to suffer anything but martyrdom, rather +than abandon Cecilia. She, dear girl, has much more to distress her than +I can have; she is not only the ward of Colonel Howard, but his niece +and his sole heir. I am persuaded this last circumstance makes no +difference in either her conduct or her feelings; but he appears to +think it gives him a right to tyrannize over her on all occasions. After +all, Colonel Howard is a gentleman when you do not put him in a passion, +and, I believe, a thoroughly honest man; and Cecilia even loves him. +But a man who is driven from his country, in his sixtieth year, with the +loss of near half his fortune, is not apt to canonize those who compel +the change. + +"It seems that when the Howards lived on this island, a hundred years +ago, they dwelt in the county of Northumberland. Hither, then, he +brought us, when political events, and his dread of becoming the uncle +to a rebel, induced him to abandon America, as he says, forever. We have +been here now three months, and for two-thirds of that time we lived in +tolerable comfort; but latterly, the papers have announced the arrival +of the ship and your schooner in France; and from that moment as strict +a watch has been kept over us as if we had meditated a renewal of +the Carolina flight. The colonel, on his arrival here, hired an old +building, that is, part house, part abbey, part castle, and all prison; +because it is said to have once belonged to an ancestor of his. In this +delightful dwelling there are many cages that will secure more uneasy +birds than we are. About a fortnight ago an alarm was given in a +neighboring village which is situated on the shore, that two American +vessels, answering your description, had been seen hovering along the +coast; and, as people in this quarter dream of nothing but that terrible +fellow, Paul Jones, it was said that he was on board one of them. But +I believe that Colonel Howard suspects who you really are. He was very +minute in his inquiries, I hear; and since then has established a sort +of garrison in the house, under the pretence of defending it against +marauders, like those who are said to have laid my Lady Selkirk under +contribution. + +"Now, understand me, Barnstable; on no account would I have you risk +yourself on shore; neither must there be blood spilt, if you love me; +but that you may know what sort of a place we are confined in, and by +whom surrounded, I will describe both our prison and the garrison. The +whole building is of stone, and not to be attempted with slight means. +It has windings and turnings, both internally and externally, that would +require more skill than I possess to make intelligible; but the rooms we +inhabit are in the upper or third floor of a wing, that you may call a +tower, if you are in a romantic mood, but which, in truth, is nothing +but a wing. Would to God I could fly with it! If any accident should +bring you in sight of the dwelling, you will know our rooms by the +three smoky vanes that whiffle about its pointed roof, and also, by the +windows in that story being occasionally open. Opposite to our windows, +at the distance of half a mile, is a retired unfrequented ruin, +concealed, in a great measure, from observation by a wood, and affording +none of the best accommodations, it is true, but shelter in some of its +vaults or apartments. I have prepared, according to the explanations +you once gave me on this subject, a set of small signals, of differently +colored silks, and a little dictionary of all the phrases that I could +imagine as useful to refer to, properly numbered to correspond with the +key and the flags, all of which I shall send you with this letter. You +must prepare your own flags, and of course I retain mine, as well as a +copy of the key and book. If opportunity should ever offer, we can have, +at least, a pleasant discourse together; you from the top of the old +tower in the ruins, and I from the east window of my dressing-room! But +now for the garrison. In addition to the commandant, Colonel Howard, who +retains all the fierceness of his former military profession, there +is, as his second in authority, that bane of Cecilia's happiness, Kit +Dillon, with his long Savannah face, scornful eyes of black, and skin of +the same color. This gentleman, you know, is a distant relative of the +Howards, and wishes to be more nearly allied. He is poor, it is true, +but then, as the colonel daily remarks, he is a good and loyal subject, +and no rebel. When I asked why he was not in arms in these stirring +times, contending for the prince he loves so much, the colonel answers +that it is not his profession, that he has been educated for the law, +and was destined to fill one of the highest judicial stations in the +colonies, and that he hoped he should yet live to see him sentence +certain nameless gentlemen to condign punishment. This was consoling, to +be sure; but I bore it. However, he left Carolina with us, and here he +is, and here he is likely to continue, unless you can catch him, and +anticipate his judgment on himself. The colonel has long desired to see +this gentleman the husband of Cecilia, and since the news of your being +on the coast, the siege has nearly amounted to a storm. The consequences +are, that my cousin at first kept her room, and then the colonel kept +her there, and even now she is precluded from leaving the wing we +inhabit. In addition to these two principal jailers, we have four +men-servants, two black and two white; and an officer and twenty +soldiers from the neighboring town are billeted on us, by particular +desire, until the coast is declared free from pirates! yes, that is the +musical name they give you--and when their own people land, and plunder, +and rob, and murder the men and insult the women, they are called +heroes! It's a fine thing to be able to invent names and make +dictionaries--and it must be your fault, if mine has been framed for no +purpose. I declare, when I recollect all the insulting and cruel things +I hear in this country of my own and her people, it makes me lose +my temper and forget my sex; but do not let my ill humor urge you to +anything rash; remember your life, remember their prisons, remember your +reputation, but do not, do not forget your + +"KATHERINE PLOWDEN. + +"P.S. I had almost forgotten to tell you, that in the signal-book you +will find a more particular description of our prison, where it stands, +and a drawing of the grounds, etc." + +When Griffith concluded this epistle, he returned it to the man to +whom it was addressed, and fell back in his chair, in an attitude that +denoted deep reflection. + +"I knew she was here, or I should have accepted the command offered to +me by our commissioners in Paris," he at length uttered; "and I thought +that some lucky chance might throw her in my way; but this is bringing +us close, indeed! This intelligence must be acted on, and that promptly. +Poor girl, what does she not suffer in such a situation!" + +"What a beautiful hand she writes!" exclaimed Barnstable; "'tis as +clear, and as pretty, and as small, as her own delicate fingers. Griff, +what a log-book she would keep!" + +"Cecilia Howard touch the coarse leaves of a log-book!" cried the other +in amazement; but perceiving Barnstable to be poring over the contents +of his mistress' letter, he smiled at their mutual folly, and continued +silent. After a short time spent in cool reflection, Griffith inquired +of his friend the nature and circumstances of his interview with +Katherine Plowden. Barnstable related it, briefly, as it occurred, in +the manner already known to the reader. + +"Then," said Griffith, "Merry is the only one, besides ourselves, who +knows of this meeting, and he will be too chary of the reputation of his +kinswoman to mention it." + +"Her reputation needs no shield, Mr. Griffith," cried her lover; "'tis +as spotless as the canvas above your head, and----" + +"Peace, dear Richard; I entreat your pardon; my words may have conveyed +more than I intended; but it is important that our measures should be +secret, as well as prudently concerted." + +"We must get them both off," returned Barnstable, forgetting his +displeasure the moment it was exhibited, "and that, too, before the old +man takes it into his wise head to leave the coast. Did you ever get a +sight of his instructions, or does he keep silent?" + +"As the grave. This is the first time we have left port, that he has not +conversed freely with me on the nature of the cruise; but not a syllable +has been exchanged between us on the subject, since we sailed from +Brest." + +"Ah! that is your Jersey bashfulness," said Barnstable; "wait till I +come alongside him, with my eastern curiosity, and I pledge myself to +get it out of him in an hour." + +"'Twill be diamond cut diamond, I doubt," said Griffith, laughing; +"you will find him as acute at evasion, as you can possibly be at a +cross-examination." + +"At any rate, he gives me a chance to-day; you know, I suppose, that +he sent for me to attend a consultation of his officers on important +matters." + +"I did not," returned Griffith, fixing his eyes intently on the speaker; +"what has he to offer?" + +"Nay, that you must ask your pilot; for while talking to me, the old man +would turn and look at the stranger, every minute, as if watching for +signals how to steer." + +"There is a mystery about that man, and our connection with him, that I +cannot fathom," said Griffith. "But I hear the voice of Manual calling +for me; we are wanted in the cabin. Remember, you do not leave the ship +without seeing me again." + +"No, no, my dear fellow; from the public we must retire to another +private consultation." + +The young men arose, and Griffith, throwing off the roundabout in which +he had appeared on deck, drew on a coat of more formal appearance, and +taking a sword carelessly in his hand, they proceeded together along the +passage already described, to the gun-deck, where they entered, with the +proper ceremonials, into the principal cabin of the frigate. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + "Sempronius, speak." + _Cato._ + + +The arrangements for the consultation were brief and simple. The veteran +commander of the frigate received his officers with punctilious respect; +and pointing to the chairs that were placed around the table, which was +a fixture in the centre of his cabin, he silently seated himself, and +his example was followed by all without further ceremony. In taking +their stations, however, a quiet but rigid observance was paid to the +rights of seniority and rank. On the right of the captain was placed +Griffith, as next in authority; and opposite to him was seated the +commander of the schooner. The officer of marines, who was included in +the number, held the next situation in point of precedence, the same +order being observed to the bottom of the table, which was occupied by +a hard-featured, square-built, athletic man, who held the office of +sailing-master. When order was restored, after the short interruption +of taking their places, the officer who had required the advice of his +inferiors opened the business on which he demanded their opinions. + +"My instructions direct me, gentlemen," he said, "after making the coast +of England, to run the land down----" + +The hand of Griffith was elevated respectfully for silence, and +the veteran paused, with a look that inquired the reason of his +interruption. + +"We are not alone," said the lieutenant, glancing his eye toward the +part of the cabin where the pilot stood, leaning on one of the guns, in +an attitude of easy indulgence. + +The stranger moved not at this direct hint; neither did his eye change +from its close survey of a chart that lay near him on the deck. The +captain dropped his voice to tones of cautious respect, as he replied: + +"'Tis only Mr. Gray. His services will be necessary on the occasion, and +therefore nothing need be concealed from him." + +Glances of surprise were exchanged among the young men; but Griffith +bowing his silent acquiescence in the decision of his superior, the +latter proceeded: + +"I was ordered to watch for certain signals from the headlands that we +made, and was furnished with the best of charts, and such directions +as enabled us to stand into the bay we entered last night. We have now +obtained a pilot, and one who has proved himself a skilful man; such +a one, gentlemen, as no officer need hesitate to rely on, in any +emergency, either on account of his integrity or his knowledge." + +The veteran paused, and turned his looks on the countenances of the +listeners, as if to collect their sentiments on this important +point. Receiving no other reply than the one conveyed by the silent +inclinations of the heads of his hearers, the commander resumed his +explanations, referring to an open paper in his hand: + +"It is known to you all, gentlemen, that the unfortunate question of +retaliation has been much agitated between the two governments, our +own and that of the enemy. For this reason, and for certain political +purposes, it has become an object of solicitude with our commissioners +in Paris to obtain a few individuals of character from the enemy, who +may be held as a check on their proceedings, while at the same time it +brings the evils of war, from our own shores, home to those who have +caused it. An opportunity now offers to put this plan in execution, and +I have collected you, in order to consult on the means." + +A profound silence succeeded this unexpected communication of the object +of their cruise. After a short pause, their captain added, addressing +himself to the sailing-master: + +"What course would you advise me to pursue, Mr. Boltrope?" + +The weather beaten seaman who was thus called on to break through the +difficulties of a knotty point with his opinion, laid one of his short, +bony hands on the table, and began to twirl an inkstand with great +industry, while with the other he conveyed a pen to his mouth, which was +apparently masticated with all the relish that he could possibly have +felt had it been a leaf from the famous Virginian weed. But perceiving +that he was expected to answer, after looking first to his right hand +and then to his left, he spoke as follows, in a hoarse, thick voice, +in which the fogs of the ocean seemed to have united with sea-damps and +colds to destroy everything like melody: + +"If this matter is ordered, it is to be done, I suppose," he said; "for +the old rule runs, 'obey orders, if you break owners'; though the maxim +which says, 'one hand for the owner, and t'other for yourself,' is quite +as good, and has saved many a hearty fellow from a fall that would have +balanced the purser's books. Not that I mean a purser's books are not as +good as any other man's; but that when a man is dead, his account must +be closed, or there will be a false muster. Well, if the thing is to be +done, the next question is, how is it to be done? There is many a man +that knows there is too much canvas on a ship, who can't tell how to +shorten sail. Well, then, if the thing is really to be done, we must +either land a gang to seize them, or we must show false lights and sham +colors, to lead them off to the ship. As for landing, Captain Munson, I +can only speak for one man, and that is myself; which is to say, that +if you run the ship with her jib-boom into the king of England's +parlor-windows, why, I'm consenting, nor do I care how much of his +crockery is cracked in so doing; but as to putting the print of my foot +on one of his sandy beaches, if I do, that is always speaking for only +one man, and saving your presence, may I hope to be d--d." + +The young men smiled as the tough old seaman uttered his sentiments so +frankly, rising with his subject, to that which with him was the climax +of all discussion; but his commander, who was but a more improved +scholar from the same rough school, appeared to understand his arguments +entirely, and without altering a muscle of his rigid countenance, he +required the opinion of the junior lieutenant. + +The young man spoke firmly, but modestly, though the amount of what he +said was not much more distinct than that uttered by the master, and was +very much to the same purpose, with the exception that he appeared to +entertain no personal reluctance to trusting himself on dry ground. + +The opinions of the others grew gradually more explicit and clear, as +they ascended in the scale of rank, until it came to the turn of +the captain of marines to speak. There was a trifling exhibition of +professional pride about the soldier, in delivering his sentiments on a +subject that embraced a good deal more of his peculiar sort of duty than +ordinarily occurred in the usual operations of the frigate. + +"It appears to me, sir, that the success of this expedition depends +altogether upon the manner in which it is conducted." After this lucid +opening, the soldier hesitated a moment, as if to collect his ideas +for a charge that should look down all opposition, and proceeded. "The +landing, of course, will be effected on a fair beach, under cover of the +frigate's guns, and could it be possibly done, the schooner should be +anchored in such a manner as to throw in a flanking fire on the point +of debarkation. The arrangements for the order of march must a good +deal depend on the distance to go over; though I should think, sir, an +advanced party of seamen, to act as pioneers for the column of marines, +should be pushed a short distance in front, while the baggage and +baggage-guard might rest upon the frigate, until the enemy was driven +into the interior, when it could advance without danger. There should +be flank-guards, under the orders of two of the oldest midshipmen; and +a light corps might be formed of the topmen to co-operate with the +marines. Of course, sir, Mr. Griffith will lead, in person, the +musket-men and boarders, armed with their long pikes, whom I presume +he will hold in reserve, as I trust my military claims and experience +entitle me to the command of the main body." + +"Well done, field-marshal!" cried Barnstable, with a glee that seldom +regarded time or place; "you should never let salt-water mould your +buttons; but in Washington's camp, ay! and in Washington's tent, you +should swing your hammock in future. Why, sir, do you think we are about +to invade England?" + +"I know that every military movement should be executed with precision, +Captain Barnstable," returned the marine. "I am too much accustomed to +hear the sneers of the sea-officers, to regard what I know proceeds from +ignorance. If Captain Munson is disposed to employ me and my command +in this expedition, I trust he will discover that marines are good +for something more than to mount guard and pay salutes." Then, turning +haughtily from his antagonist, he continued to address himself to their +common superior, as if disdaining further intercourse with one who, from +the nature of the case, must be unable to comprehend the force of what +he said. "It will be prudent, Captain Munson, to send out a party to +reconnoitre, before we march; and as it may be necessary to defend +ourselves in case of a repulse, I would beg leave to recommend that a +corps be provided with entrenching tools, to accompany the expedition. +They would be extremely useful, sir, in assisting to throw up +field-works; though, I doubt not, tools might be found in abundance in +this country, and laborers impressed for the service, on an emergency." + +This was too much for the risibility of Barnstable, who broke forth in +a fit of scornful laughter, which no one saw proper to interrupt; though +Griffith, on turning his head to conceal the smile that was gathering on +his own face, perceived the fierce glance which the pilot threw at the +merry seaman, and wondered at its significance and impatience. When +Captain Munson thought that the mirth of the lieutenant was concluded, +he mildly desired his reasons for amusing himself so exceedingly with +the plans of the marine. + +"'Tis a chart for a campaign!" cried Barnstable, "and should be sent off +express to Congress, before the Frenchmen are brought into the field!" + +"Have you any better plan to propose, Mr. Barnstable?" inquired the +patient commander. + +"Better! ay, one that will take no time, and cause no trouble, to +execute it," cried the other; "'tis a seaman's job, sir, and must be +done with a seaman's means." + +"Pardon me, Captain Barnstable," interrupted the marine, whose jocular +vein was entirely absorbed in his military pride; "if there be service +to be done on shore, I claim it as my right to be employed." + +"Claim what you will, soldier; but how will you carry on the war with +a parcel of fellows who don't know one end of a boat from the other?" +returned the reckless sailor. "Do you think that a barge or a cutter +is to be beached in the same manner you ground firelock, by word of +command? No, no, Captain Manual--I honor your courage, for I have seen +it tried, but d--e if----" + +"You forget, we wait for your project, Mr. Barnstable," said the +veteran. + +"I crave your patience, sir; but no project is necessary. Point out +the bearings and distance of the place where the men you want are to +be found, and I will take the heel of the gale, and run into the +land, always speaking for good water and no rocks. Mr. Pilot, you will +accompany me, for you carry as true a map of the bottom of these seas +in your head as ever was made of dry ground. I will look out for good +anchorage; or if the wind should blow off shore, let the schooner stand +off and on, till we should be ready to take the broad sea again. I would +land, out of my whaleboat, with long Tom and a boat's crew, and finding +out the place you will describe, we shall go up, and take the men you +want, and bring them aboard. It's all plain sailing; though, as it is +a well-peopled country, it may be necessary to do our shore work in the +dark." + +"Mr. Griffith, we only wait for your sentiments," proceeded the captain, +"when, by comparing opinions, we may decide on the most prudent course." + +The first lieutenant had been much absorbed in thought during the +discussion of the subject, and might have been, on that account, better +prepared to give his opinion with effect. Pointing to the man who yet +stood behind him, leaning on a gun, he commenced by asking: + +"Is it your intention that man shall accompany the party?" + +"It is." + +"And from him you expect the necessary information, sir, to guide our +movements?" + +"You are altogether right." + +"If, sir, he has but a moiety of the skill on the land that he possesses +on the water, I will answer for his success," returned the lieutenant, +bowing slightly to the stranger, who received the compliment by a cold +inclination of his head. "I must desire the indulgence of both Mr. +Barnstable and Captain Manual," he continued, "and claim the command as +of right belonging to my rank." + +"It belongs naturally to the schooner," exclaimed the impatient +Barnstable. + +"There may be enough for us all to do," said Griffith, elevating a +finger to the other, in a manner and with an impressive look that was +instantly comprehended. "I neither agree wholly with the one nor the +other of these gentlemen. 'Tis said that, since our appearance on +the coast, the dwellings of many of the gentry are guarded by small +detachments of soldiers from the neighboring towns." + +"Who says it?" asked the pilot, advancing among them with a suddenness +that caused a general silence. + +"I say it, sir," returned the lieutenant, when the momentary surprise +had passed away. + +"Can you vouch for it?" + +"I can." + +"Name a house, or an individual, that is thus protected?" + +Griffith gazed at the man who thus forgot himself in the midst of +a consultation like the present, and yielding to his native pride, +hesitated to reply. But mindful of the declarations of his captain +and the recent services of the pilot, he at length said, with a little +embarrassment of manner: + +"I know it to be the fact, in the dwelling of a Colonel Howard, who +resides but a few leagues to the north of us." + +The stranger started at the name, and then raising his eye keenly to +the face of the young man, appeared to study his thoughts in his varying +countenance. But the action, and the pause that followed, were of +short continuance. His lip slightly curled, whether in scorn or with +a concealed smile, would have been difficult to say, so closely did it +resemble both, and as he dropped quietly back to his place at the gun, +he said: + +"'Tis more than probable you are right, sir; and if I might presume to +advise Captain Munson, it would be to lay great weight on your opinion." + +Griffith turned, to see if he could comprehend more meaning in the +manner of the stranger than his words expressed, but his face was again +shaded by his hand, and his eyes were once more fixed on the chart with +the same vacant abstraction as before. + +"I have said, sir, that I agree wholly neither with Mr. Barnstable nor +Captain Manual," continued the lieutenant, after a short pause. "The +command of this party is mine, as the senior officer, and I must beg +leave to claim it. I certainly do not think the preparation that Captain +Manual advises necessary; neither would I undertake the duty with as +little caution as Mr. Barnstable proposes. If there are soldiers to be +encountered, we should have soldiers to oppose them; but as it must be +sudden boat-work, and regular evolutions must give place to a seaman's +bustle, a sea-officer should command. Is my request granted, Captain +Munson?" + +The veteran replied, without hesitation: + +"It is, sir; it was my intention to offer you the service, and I rejoice +to see you accept it so cheerfully." + +Griffith with difficulty concealed the satisfaction with which he +listened to his commander, and a radiant smile illumined his pale +features, when he observed: + +"With me then, sir, let the responsibility rest. I request that Captain +Manual, with twenty men, may be put under my orders, if that gentleman +does not dislike the duty." The marine bowed, and cast a glance of +triumph at Barnstable. "I will take my own cutter, with her tried crew, +go on board the schooner, and when the wind lulls, we will run in to the +land, and then be governed by circumstances." + +The commander of the schooner threw back the triumphant look of the +marine, and exclaimed, in his joyous manner: + +'"Tis a good plan, and done like a seaman, Mr. Griffith. Ay, ay, let the +schooner be employed; and if it be necessary, you shall see her +anchored in one of their duck-ponds, with her broadside to bear on the +parlor-windows of the best house in the island! But twenty marines! they +will cause a jam in my little craft." + +"Not a man less than twenty would be prudent," returned Griffith. "More +service may offer than that we seek." + +Barnstable well understood his allusion, but still he replied: + +"Make it all seamen, and I will give you room for thirty. But these +soldiers never know how to stow away their arms and legs, unless at a +drill. One will take the room of two sailors; they swing their hammocks +athwart-ships, heads to leeward, and then turn out wrong end uppermost +at the call. Why, damn it, sir, the chalk and rottenstone of twenty +soldiers will choke my hatches!" + +"Give me the launch, Captain Munson!" exclaimed the indignant marine, +"and we will follow Mr. Griffith in an open boat, rather than put +Captain Barnstable to so much inconvenience." + +"No, no, Manual," cried the other, extending his muscular arm across the +table, with an open palm, to the soldier; "you would all become so +many Jonahs in uniform, and I doubt whether the fish could digest your +cartridge-boxes and bayonet-belts. You shall go with me, and learn, with +your own eyes, whether we keep the cat's watch aboard the Ariel that you +joke about." + +The laugh was general, at the expense of the soldier, if we except the +pilot and the commander of the frigate. The former was a silent, and +apparently an abstracted, but in reality a deeply interested listener +to the discourse; and there were moments when he bent his looks on the +speakers, as if he sought more in their characters than was exhibited by +the gay trifling of the moment. Captain Munson seldom allowed a muscle +of his wrinkled features to disturb their repose; and if he had not the +real dignity to repress the untimely mirth of his officers, he had +too much good nature to wish to disturb their harmless enjoyments. He +expressed himself satisfied with the proposed arrangements, and beckoned +to his steward to place before them the usual beverage, with which all +their consultations concluded. + +The sailing-master appeared to think that the same order was to be +observed in their potations as in council, and helping himself to an +allowance which retained its hue even in its diluted state, he first +raised it to the light, and then observed: + +"This ship's water is nearly the color of rum itself; if it only had its +flavor, what a set of hearty dogs we should be! Mr. Griffith, I find you +are willing to haul your land-tacks aboard. Well, it's natural for youth +to love the earth; but there is one man, and he is sailing-master of +this ship, who saw land enough last night, to last him a twelvemonth. +But if you will go, here's a good land-fall, and a better offing to you. +Captain Munson, my respects to you. I say, sir, if we should keep the +ship more to the south'ard, it's my opinion, and that's but one man's, +we should fall in with some of the enemy's homeward bound West-Indiamen, +and find wherewithal to keep the life in us when we see fit to go ashore +ourselves." + +As the tough old sailor made frequent application of the glass to his +mouth with one hand, and kept a firm hold of the decanter with the +other, during this speech, his companions were compelled to listen +to his eloquence, or depart with their thirst unassuaged. Barnstable, +however, quite coolly dispossessed the tar of the bottle, and mixing for +himself a more equal potation, observed, in the act: + +"That is the most remarkable glass of grog you have, Boltrope, that I +ever sailed with; it draws as little water as the Ariel, and is as hard +to find the bottom. If your spirit-room enjoys the same sort of engine +to replenish it, as you pump out your rum, Congress will sail this +frigate cheaply." + +The other officers helped themselves with still greater moderation, +Griffith barely moistening his lips, and the pilot rejecting the offered +glass altogether. Captain Munson continued standing, and his officers, +perceiving that their presence was no longer necessary, bowed, and took +their leave. As Griffith was retiring last, he felt a hand laid lightly +on his shoulder, and turning, perceived that he was detained by the +pilot. + +"Mr. Griffith," he said, when they were quite alone with the commander +of the frigate, "the occurrences of the last night should teach us +confidence in each other; without it, we go on a dangerous and fruitless +errand." + +"Is the hazard equal?" returned the youth. "I am known to all to be the +man I seem--am in the service of my country--belong to a family, +and enjoy a name, that is a pledge for my loyalty to the cause of +America--and yet I trust myself on hostile ground, in the midst of +enemies, with a weak arm, and under circumstances where treachery would +prove my ruin. Who and what is the man who thus enjoys your confidence, +Captain Munson? I ask the question less for myself than for the gallant +men who will fearlessly follow wherever I lead." + +A shade of dark displeasure crossed the features of the stranger, at +one part of this speech, and at its close he sank into deep thought. The +commander, however, replied: + +"There is a show of reason in your question, Mr. Griffith--and yet you +are not the man to be told that implicit obedience is what I have +a right to expect. I have not your pretensions, sir, by birth or +education, and yet Congress have not seen proper to overlook my years +and services. I command this frigate----" + +"Say no more," interrupted the pilot "There is reason in his doubts, and +they shall be appeased. I like the proud and fearless eye of the young +man, and while he dreads a gibbet from my hands, I will show him how to +repose a noble confidence. Read this, sir, and tell me if you distrust +me now?" + +While the stranger spoke, he thrust his hand into the bosom of his +dress, and drew forth a parchment, decorated with ribands, and bearing +a massive seal, which he opened, and laid on the table before the youth. +As he pointed with his finger impressively to different parts of the +writing, his eye kindled with a look of unusual fire, and there was a +faint tinge discernible on his pallid features when he spoke. + +"See!" he said, "royalty itself does not hesitate to bear witness in my +favor, and that is not a name to occasion dread to an American." + +Griffith gazed with wonder at the fair signature of the unfortunate +Louis, which graced the bottom of the parchment; but when his eye obeyed +the signal of the stranger, and rested on the body of the instrument, he +started back from the table, and fixing his animated eyes on the pilot, +he cried, while a glow of fiery courage flitted across his countenance: + +"Lead on! I'll follow you to death!" + +A smile of gratified exultation struggled around the lips of the +stranger, who took the arm of the young man and led him into a +stateroom, leaving the commander of the frigate standing, in his unmoved +and quiet manner, a spectator of, but hardly an actor in, the scene. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + "Fierce bounding, forward sprang the ship + Like a greyhound starting from the slip, + To seize his flying prey." + _Lord of the Isles_. + + +Although the subject of the consultation remained a secret with those +whose opinions were required, yet enough of the result leaked out among +the subordinate officers, to throw the whole crew into a state of eager +excitement. The rumor spread itself along the decks of the frigate, with +the rapidity of an alarm, that an expedition was to attempt the shore +on some hidden service, dictated by the Congress itself; and conjectures +were made respecting its force and destination, with all that interest +which might be imagined would exist among the men whose lives or +liberties were to abide the issue. A gallant and reckless daring, +mingled with the desire of novelty, however, was the prevailing +sentiment among the crew, who would have received with cheers the +intelligence that their vessel was commanded to force the passage of the +united British fleet. A few of the older and more prudent of the sailors +were exceptions to this thoughtless hardihood, and one or two, among +whom the cockswain of the whale-boat was the most conspicuous, ventured +to speak doubtingly of all sorts of land service, as being of a nature +never to be attempted by seamen. + +Captain Manual had his men paraded in the weather-gangway, and after +a short address, calculated to inflame their military ardor and +patriotism, acquainted them that he required twenty volunteers, which +was in truth half their number, for a dangerous service. After a +short pause, the company stepped forward, like one man, and announced +themselves as ready to follow him to the end of the world. The marine +cast a look over his shoulder, at this gratifying declaration, in quest +of Barnstable; but observing that the sailor was occupied with some +papers on a distant part of the quarter-deck, he proceeded to make a +most impartial division among the candidates for glory; taking care at +the same time to cull his company in such a manner as to give himself +the flower of his men, and, consequently, to leave the ship the refuse. + +While this arrangement was taking place, and the crew of the frigate +was in this state of excitement, Griffith ascended to the deck, his +countenance flushed with unusual enthusiasm, and his eyes beaming with a +look of animation and gayety that had long been strangers to the face +of the young man. He was giving forth the few necessary orders to the +seamen he was to take with him from the ship, when Barnstable again +motioned him to follow, and led the way once more to the stateroom. + +"Let the wind blow its pipe out," said the commander of the Ariel, when +they were seated; "there will be no landing on the eastern coast of +England till the sea goes down. But this Kate was made for a sailor's +wife! See, Griffith, what a set of signals she has formed, out of her +own cunning head." + +"I hope your opinion may prove true, and that you may be the happy +sailor who is to wed her," returned the other. "The girl has indeed +discovered surprising art in this business! Where could she have learnt +the method and system so well?" + +"Where! why, where she learnt better things; how to prize a +whole-hearted seaman, for instance. Do you think that my tongue was +jammed in my mouth, all the time we used to sit by the side of the river +in Carolina, and that we found nothing to talk about!" + +"Did you amuse your mistress with treatises on the art of navigation, +and the science of signals?" said Griffith, smiling. + +"I answered her questions, Mr. Griffith, as any civil man would to +a woman he loved. The girl has as much curiosity as one of my own +townswomen who has weathered cape forty without a husband, and her +tongue goes like a dog-vane in a calm, first one way and then another. +But here is her dictionary. Now own, Griff, in spite of your college +learning and sentimentals, that a woman of ingenuity and cleverness is a +very good sort of a helpmate." + +"I never doubted the merits of Miss Plowden," said the other, with a +droll gravity that often mingled with his deeper feelings, the result +of a sailor's habits, blended with native character. "But this indeed +surpasses all my expectations! Why, she has, in truth, made a most +judicious selection of phrases. 'No. 168. **** indelible;' '169. **** +end only with life;' '170. **** I fear yours misleads me;' '171. ----'" + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed Barnstable, snatching the book from before the +laughing eyes of Griffith; "what folly, to throw away our time now on +such nonsense! What think you of this expedition to the land?" + +"That it may be the means of rescuing the ladies, though it fail in +making the prisoners we anticipate." + +"But this pilot! you remember that he holds us by our necks, and can run +us all up to the yard-arm of some English ship, whenever he chooses to +open his throat at their threats or bribes." + +"It would have been better that he should have cast the ship ashore, +when he had her entangled in the shoals; it would have been our last +thought to suspect him of treachery then," returned Griffith, "I follow +him with confidence, and must believe that we are safer with him than we +should be without him." + +"Let him lead to the dwelling of his fox-hunting ministers of state," +cried Barnstable, thrusting his book of signals into his bosom: "but +here is a chart that will show us the way to the port we wish to find. +Let my foot once more touch terra firma, and you may write craven +against my name, if that laughing vixen slips her cable before my eyes, +and shoots into the wind's eye again like a flying-fish chased by a +dolphin. Mr. Griffith, we must have the chaplain with us to the shore." + +"The madness of love is driving you into the errors of the soldier. +Would you lie by to hear sermons, with a flying party like ours?" + +"Nay, nay, we must lay to for nothing that is not unavoidable; but there +are so many tacks in such a chase, when one has time to breathe, that +we might as well spend our leisure in getting that fellow to splice us +together. He has a handy way with a prayer book, and could do the job as +well as a bishop; and I should like to be able to say, that this is the +last time these two saucy names, which are written at the bottom of this +letter, should ever be seen sailing in the company of each other." + +"It will not do," said his friend, shaking his head, and endeavoring to +force a smile which his feelings suppressed; "it will not do, Richard; +we must yield our own inclinations to the service of our country; nor is +this pilot a man who will consent to be led from his purpose." + +"Then let him follow his purpose alone," cried Barnstable. "There is no +human power, always saving my superior officer, that shall keep me from +throwing abroad these tiny signals, and having a private talk with my +dark-eyed Kate. But for a paltry pilot! he may luff and bear away as +he pleases, while I shall steer as true as a magnet for that old ruin, +where I can bring my eyes to bear on that romantic wing and three +smoky vanes. Not that I'll forget my duty? no, I'll help you catch the +Englishman; but when that is done, hey! for Katherine Plowden and my +true love!" + +"Hush, madcap! the wardroom holds long ears, and our bulkheads grow thin +by wear. I must keep you and myself to our duty. This is no children's +game that we play; it seems the commissioners at Paris have thought +proper to employ a frigate in the sport." + +Barnstable's gayety was a little repressed by the grave manner of his +companion; but after reflecting a moment, he started on his feet, and +made the usual movements for departure. + +"Whither?" asked Griffith, gently detaining his impatient friend. + +"To old Moderate; I have a proposal to make that may remove every +difficulty." + +"Name it to me, then; I am in his council, and may save you the trouble +and mortification of a refusal." + +"How many of those gentry does he wish to line his cabin with?" + +"The pilot has named no less than six, all men of rank and consideration +with the enemy. Two of them are peers, two more belong to the commons' +house of parliament, one is a general, and the sixth, like ourselves, is +a sailor, and holds the rank of captain. They muster at a hunting-seat +near the coast, and, believe me, the scheme is not without its +plausibility." + +"Well, then, there are two apiece for us. You follow the pilot, if you +will; but let me sheer off for this dwelling of Colonel Howard, with +my cockswain and boat's crew. I will surprise his house, release the +ladies, and on my way back, lay my hands on two of the first lords I +fall in with. I suppose, for our business, one is as good as another." + +Griffith could not repress a faint laugh, while he replied: + +"Though they are said to be each other's peers, there is, I believe, +some difference even in the quality of lords. England might thank us +for ridding her of some among them. Neither are they to be found like +beggars, under every hedge. No, no, the men we seek must have something +better than their nobility to recommend them to our favor. But let us +examine more closely into this plan and map of Miss Plowden; something +may occur that shall yet bring the place within our circuit, like a +contingent duty of the cruise." + +Barnstable reluctantly relinquished his own wild plan to the more sober +judgment of his friend, and they passed an hour together, inquiring into +the practicability, and consulting on the means, of making their public +duty subserve the purpose of their private feelings. + +The gale continued to blow heavily during the whole of that morning; +but toward noon the usual indications of better weather became apparent. +During these few hours of inaction in the frigate, the marines, who were +drafted for service on the land, moved through the vessel with a busy +and stirring air, as if they were about to participate in the glory and +danger of the campaign their officer had planned, while the few seamen +who were to accompany the expedition steadily paced the deck, with their +hands thrust into the bosoms of their neat blue jackets, or occasionally +stretched toward the horizon, as their fingers traced, for their less +experienced shipmates, the signs of an abatement in the gale among the +driving clouds. The last lagger among the soldiers had appeared, with +his knapsack on his back, in the lee gangway, where his comrades were +collected, armed and accoutered for the strife, when Captain Munson +ascended to the quarter-deck, accompanied by the stranger and his +first lieutenant. A word was spoken by the latter in a low voice to a +midshipman, who skipped gayly along the deck, and presently the shrill +call of the boatswain was beard, preceding the hoarse cry of: + +"Away there, you Tigers, away!" + +A smart roll of the drum followed, and the marines paraded, while the +six seamen who belonged to the cutter that owned so fierce a name made +their preparations for lowering their little bark from the quarter of +the frigate into the troubled sea. Everything was conducted in the most +exact order, and with a coolness and skill that bade defiance to the +turbulence of the angry elements. The marines were safely transported +from the ship to the schooner, under the favoring shelter of the former, +though the boat appeared, at times, to be seeking the cavities of the +ocean, and again to be riding in the clouds, as she passed from one +vessel to the other. + +At length it was announced that the cutter was ready to receive +the officers of the party. The pilot walked aside and held private +discourse, for a few moments, with the commander, who listened to his +sentences with marked and singular attention. When their conference was +ended, the veteran bared his gray head to the blasts, and offered his +hand to the other, with a seaman's frankness, mingled with the deference +of an inferior. The compliment was courteously returned by the stranger, +who turned quickly on his heel, and directed the attention of those who +awaited his movements, by a significant gesture, to the gangway. + +"Come, gentlemen, let us go," said Griffith, starting from a reverie, +and bowing his hasty compliments to his brethren in arms. + +When it appeared that his superiors were ready to enter the boat, the +boy, who, by nautical courtesy, was styled Mr. Merry, and who had been +ordered to be in readiness, sprang over the side of the frigate, and +glided into the cutter, with the activity of a squirrel. But the captain +of marines paused, and cast a meaning glance at the pilot, whose place +it was to precede him. The stranger, as he lingered on the deck, was +examining the aspect of the heavens, and seemed unconscious of the +expectations of the soldier, who gave vent to his impatience, after a +moment's detention, by saying: + +"We wait for you, Mr. Gray." + +Aroused by the sound of his name, the pilot glanced his quick eye on the +speaker, but instead of advancing, he gently bent his body, as he again +signed toward the gangway with his hand. To the astonishment not only +of the soldier, but of all who witnessed this breach of naval etiquette, +Griffith bowed low, and entered the boat with the same promptitude as if +he were preceding an admiral. Whether the stranger became conscious of +his want of courtesy, or was too indifferent to surrounding objects to +note occurrences, he immediately followed himself, leaving to the marine +the post of honor. The latter, who was distinguished for his skill in +all matters of naval or military etiquette, thought proper to apologize, +at a fitting time, to the first lieutenant for suffering his senior +officer to precede him into a boat, but never failed to show a becoming +exultation, when he recounted the circumstance, by dwelling on the +manner in which he had brought down the pride of the haughty pilot. + +Barnstable had been several hours on board his little vessel, which was +every way prepared for their reception; and as soon as the heavy cutter +of the frigate was hoisted on her deck, he announced that the schooner +was ready to sail. It has been already intimated that the Ariel belonged +to the smallest class of sea-vessels; and as the symmetry of her +construction reduced even that size in appearance, she was peculiarly +well adapted to the sort of service in which she was about to be +employed. Notwithstanding her lightness rendered her nearly as buoyant +as a cork, and at times she actually seemed to ride on the foam, her low +decks were perpetually washed by the heavy seas that dashed against her +frail sides, and she tossed and rolled in the hollows of the waves, In +a manner that compelled even the practised seamen who trod her decks to +move with guarded steps. Still she was trimmed and cleared with an air +of nautical neatness and attention that afforded the utmost possible +room for her dimensions; and, though in miniature, she wore the +trappings of war as proudly as if the metal she bore was of a more fatal +and dangerous character. The murderous gun, which, since the period of +which we are writing, has been universally adopted in all vessels of +inferior size, was then in the infancy of its invention, and was known +to the American mariner only by reputation, under the appalling name +of a "smasher." Of a vast calibre, though short and easily managed, its +advantages were even in that early day beginning to be appreciated, and +the largest ships were thought to be unusually well provided with +the means of offence, when they carried two or three cannon of this +formidable invention among their armament. At a later day, this weapon +has been improved and altered, until its use has become general in +vessels of a certain size, taking its appellation from the Carron, +on the banks of which river it was first moulded. In place of these +carronades, six light brass cannon were firmly lashed to the bulwarks +of the Ariel, their brazen throats blackened by the sea-water, which so +often broke harmlessly over these engines of destruction. In the centre +of the vessel, between her two masts, a gun of the same metal, but of +nearly twice the length of the other, was mounted on a carriage of a +new and singular construction, which admitted of its being turned in any +direction, so as to be of service in most of the emergencies that occur +in naval warfare. + +The eye of the pilot examined this armament closely and then turned +to the well-ordered decks, the neat and compact rigging, and the hardy +faces of the fine young crew, with manifest satisfaction. Contrary to +what had been his practice during the short time he had been with them, +he uttered his gratification freely and aloud. + +"You have a tight boat, Mr. Barnstable," he said, "and a gallant-looking +crew. You promise good service, sir, in time of need, and that hour may +not be far distant." + +"The sooner the better," returned the reckless sailor; "I have not had +an opportunity of scaling my guns since we quitted Brest, though we +passed several of the enemy's cutters coming up channel, with whom our +bulldogs longed for a conversation. Mr. Griffith will tell you, pilot, +that my little sixes can speak, on occasion, with a voice nearly as loud +as the frigate's eighteens." + +"But not to as much purpose," observed Griffith; "'vox et praeterea +nihil,' as we said at school." + +"I know nothing of your Greek and Latin, Mr. Griffith," retorted +the commander of the Ariel; "but if you mean that those seven brass +playthings won't throw a round-shot as far as any gun of their size and +height above the water, or won't scatter grape and canister with any +blunderbuss in your ship, you may possibly find an opportunity that will +convince you to the contrary, before we part company." + +"They promise well," said the pilot, who was evidently, ignorant of the +good understanding that existed between the two officers, and wished to +conciliate all under his directions; "and I doubt not they will argue +the leading points of a combat with good discretion. I see that you have +christened them--I suppose for their respective merits. They are indeed +expressive names!" + +"'Tis the freak of an idle moment," said Barnstable, laughing, as he +glanced his eye to the cannon, above which were painted the +several quaint names of "boxer," "plumper," "grinder," "scatterer," +"exterminator" and nail-driver." + +"Why have you thrown the midship gun without the pale of your baptism?" +asked the pilot; "or do you know it by the usual title of the 'old +woman'?" + +"No, no, I have no such petticoat terms on board me," cried the other; +"but move more to starboard, and you will see its style painted on the +cheeks of the carriage; it's a name that need not cause them to blush +either." + +"'Tis a singular epithet, though not without some meaning!" + +"It has more than you, perhaps, dream of, sir. That worthy seaman whom +you see leaning against the foremast, and who would serve, on occasion, +for a spare spar himself, is the captain of that gun, and more than once +has decided some warm disputes with John Bull, by the manner in which +he has wielded it. No marine can trail his musket more easily than my +cockswain can train his nine-pounder on an object; and thus from their +connection, and some resemblance there is between them in length, it has +got the name which you perceive it carries--that of 'long Tom.'" + +The pilot smiled as he listened, but turning away from the speaker, the +deep reflection that crossed his brow but too plainly showed that +he trifled only from momentary indulgence; and Griffith intimated to +Barnstable, that as the gale was sensibly abating they would pursue the +object of their destination. + +Thus recalled to his duty, the commander of the schooner forgot the +delightful theme of expatiating on the merits of his vessel, and issued +the necessary orders to direct their movements. The little schooner +slowly obeyed the impulse of her helm, and fell off before the wind, +when the folds of her square-sail, though limited by a prudent reef, +were opened to the blasts, and she shot away from her consort, like a +meteor dancing across the waves. The black mass of the frigate's hull +soon sunk in distance; and long before the sun had fallen below the +hills of England, her tall masts were barely distinguishable by the +small cloud of sail that held the vessel to her station. As the ship +disappeared, the land seemed to issue out of the bosom of the deep; +and so rapid was their progress, that the dwellings of the gentry, the +humbler cottages, and even the dim lines of the hedges, became gradually +more distinct to the eyes of the bold mariners, until they were beset +with the gloom of evening, when the whole scene faded from their view +in the darkness of the hour, leaving only the faint outline of the land +visible in the tract before them, and the sullen billows of the ocean +raging with appalling violence in their rear. + +Still the little Ariel held on her way, skimming the ocean like a +water-fowl seeking its place of nightly rest, and shooting in towards +the land as fearlessly as if the dangers of the preceding night were +already forgotten. No shoals or rocks appeared to arrest her course, and +we must leave her gliding into the dark streak that was thrown from the +high and rocky cliffs, that lined a basin of bold entrance, where the +mariners often sought and found a refuge from the dangers of the German +Ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + "Sirrah! how dare you leave your barley-broth + To come in armor thus, against your king?" + _Drama_. + + +The large irregular building inhabited by Colonel Howard well +deserved the name it had received from the pen of Katherine Plowden. +Notwithstanding the confusion in its orders, owing to the different +ages in which its several parts had been erected, the interior was +not wanting in that appearance of comfort which forms the great +characteristic of English domestic life. Its dark and intricate mazes +of halls, galleries, and apartments were all well provided with good +and substantial furniture; and whatever might have been the purposes of +their original construction, they were now peacefully appropriated to +the service of a quiet and well-ordered family. + +There were divers portentous traditions of cruel separations and +blighted loves, which always linger, like cobwebs, around the walls of +old houses, to be heard here also, and which, doubtless, in abler hands, +might easily have been wrought up into scenes of high interest and +delectable pathos. But our humbler efforts must be limited by an attempt +to describe man as God has made him, vulgar and unseemly as he may +appear to sublimated faculties, to the possessors of which enviable +qualifications we desire to say, at once, that we are determined to +eschew all things supernaturally refined, as we would the devil. To +all those, then, who are tired of the company of their species we would +bluntly insinuate, that the sooner they throw aside our pages, and seize +upon those of some more highly gifted bard, the sooner will they be in +the way of quitting earth, if not of attaining heaven. Our business is +solely to treat of man, and this fair scene on which he acts, and that +not in his subtleties, and metaphysical contradictions, but in his +palpable nature, that all may understand our meaning as well as +ourselves--whereby we may manifestly reject the prodigious advantage of +being thought a genius, by perhaps foolishly refusing the mighty aid of +incomprehensibility to establish such a character. + +Leaving the gloomy shadows of the cliffs, under which the little Ariel +had been seen to steer, and the sullen roaring of the surf along the +margin of the ocean, we shall endeavor to transport the reader to the +dining parlor of St. Ruth's Abbey, taking the evening of the same day as +the time for introducing another collection of those personages, whose +acts and characters it has become our duty to describe. + +The room was not of very large dimensions, and every part was glittering +with the collected light of half a dozen Candles, aided by the fierce +rays that glanced from the grate, which held a most cheerful fire of +sea-coal. The mouldings of the dark oak wainscoting threw back upon the +massive table of mahogany streaks of strong light, which played among +the rich fluids that were sparkling on the board in mimic haloes. The +outline of this picture of comfort was formed by damask curtains of +a deep red, and enormous oak chairs with leathern backs and cushioned +seats, as if the apartment were hermetically sealed against the world +and its chilling cares. + +Around the table, which still stood in the centre of the floor, were +seated three gentlemen, in the easy enjoyment of their daily repast. The +cloth had been drawn, and the bottle was slowly passing among them, as +if those who partook of its bounty well knew that neither the time nor +the opportunity would be wanting for their deliberate indulgence in its +pleasures. + +At one end of the table an elderly man was seated, who performed +whatever little acts of courtesy the duties of a host would appear to +render necessary, in a company where all seemed to be equally at their +ease and at home. This gentleman was in the decline of life, though his +erect carriage, quick movements, and steady hand, equally denoted that +it was an old age free from the usual infirmities. In his dress, he +belonged to that class whose members always follow the fashions of the +age anterior to the one in which they live, whether from disinclination +to sudden changes of any kind, or from the recollections of a period +which, with them, has been hallowed by scenes and feelings that the +chilling evening of life can neither revive nor equal. Age might +possibly have thrown its blighting frosts on his thin locks, but art had +labored to conceal the ravages with the nicest care. An accurate outline +of powder covered not only the parts where the hair actually remained, +but wherever nature had prescribed that hair should grow. His +countenance was strongly marked in features, if not in expression, +exhibiting, on the whole, a look of noble integrity and high honor, +which was a good deal aided in its effect by the lofty receding +forehead, that rose like a monument above the whole, to record the +character of the aged veteran. A few streaks of branching red mingled +with a swarthiness of complexion, that was rendered more conspicuous by +the outline of unsullied white, which nearly surrounded his prominent +features. + +Opposite to the host, who it will at once be understood was Colonel +Howard, was the thin yellow visage of Mr. Christopher Dillon, that bane +to the happiness of her cousin, already mentioned by Miss Plowden. + +Between these two gentlemen was a middle-aged hard-featured man, attired +in the livery of King George, whose countenance emulated the scarlet +of his coat, and whose principal employment, at the moment, appeared to +consist in doing honor to the cheer of his entertainer. + +Occasionally, a servant entered or left the room in silence, giving +admission, however, through the opened door, to the rushing sounds of +the gale, as the wind murmured amid the angles and high chimneys of the +edifice. + +A man, in the dress of a rustic, was standing near the chair of Colonel +Howard, between whom and the master of the mansion a dialogue had been +maintained which closed as follows. The colonel was the first to speak, +after the curtain is drawn from between the eyes of the reader and the +scene: + +"Said you, farmer, that the Scotchman beheld the vessels with his own +eyes?" + +The answer was a simple negative. + +"Well, well," continued the colonel, "you can withdraw." + +The man made a rude attempt at a bow, which being returned by the old +soldier with formal grace, he left the room. The host turning to his +companions, resumed the subject. + +"If those rash boys have really persuaded the silly dotard who commands +the frigate, to trust himself within the shoals on the eve of such +a gale as this, their case must have been hopeless indeed! Thus may +rebellion and disaffection ever meet with the just indignation of +Providence! It would not surprise me, gentleman, to hear that my native +land had been engulfed by earthquakes, or swallowed by the ocean, so +awful and inexcusable has been the weight of her transgressions! And yet +it was a proud and daring boy who held the second station in that ship! +I knew his father well, and a gallant gentleman he was, who, like my +own brother, the parent of Cecilia, preferred to serve his master on the +ocean rather than on the land. His son inherited the bravery of his high +spirit, without its loyalty. One would not wish to have such a youth +drowned, either." + +This speech, which partook much of the nature of a soliloquy, especially +toward its close, called for no immediate reply; but the soldier, having +held his glass to the candle, to admire the rosy hue of its contents, +and then sipped of the fluid so often that nothing but a clear light +remained to gaze at, quietly replaced the empty vessel on the table, +and, as he extended an arm toward the blushing bottle, he spoke, in the +careless tones of one whose thoughts were dwelling on another theme: + +"Ay, true enough, sir; good men are scarce, and, as you say, one cannot +but mourn his fate, though his death be glorious; quite a loss to his +majesty's service, I dare say, it will prove." + +"A loss to the service of his majesty!" echoed the host--"his death +glorious! no, Captain Borroughcliffe, the death of no rebel can be +glorious; and how he can be a loss to his majesty's service, I myself am +quite at a loss to understand." + +The soldier, whose ideas were in that happy state of confusion that +renders it difficult to command the one most needed, but who still, from +long discipline, had them under a wonderful control for the disorder of +his brain, answered, with great promptitude: + +"I mean the loss of his example, sir. It would have been so appalling to +others to have seen the young man executed instead of shot in battle." + +"He is drowned, sir." + +"Ah! that is the next thing to being hanged; that circumstance had +escaped me." + +"It is by no means certain, sir, that the ship and schooner that the +drover saw are the vessels you take them to have been," said Mr. Dillon, +in a harsh, drawling tone of voice. "I should doubt their daring to +venture so openly on the coast, and in the direct track of our vessels +of war." + +"These people are our countrymen, Christopher, though they are rebels," +exclaimed the colonel. "They are a hardy and brave nation. When I had +the honor of serving his majesty, some twenty years since, it was my +fortune to face the enemies of my king in a few small affairs, Captain +Borroughcliffe; such as the siege of Quebec, and the battle before +its gates, a trifling occasion at Ticonderoga, and that unfortunate +catastrophe of General Braddock--with a few others. I must say, sir, in +favor of the colonists that they played a manful game on the latter day; +and this gentleman who now heads the rebels sustained a gallant name +among us for his conduct in that disastrous business. He was a discreet, +well-behaved young man, and quite a gentleman. I have never denied that +Mr. Washington was very much of a gentleman." + +"Yes!" said the soldier, yawning, "he was educated among his majesty's +troops, and he could hardly be other wise. But I am quite melancholy +about this unfortunate drowning, Colonel Howard. Here will be an end of +my vocation, I suppose; and I am far from denying that your hospitality +has made these quarters most agreeable to me." + +"Then, sir, the obligation is only mutual," returned the host, with a +polite inclination of his head: "but gentlemen who, like ourselves, have +been made free of the camp, need not bandy idle compliments about such +trifles. If it were my kinsman Dillon, now, whose thoughts ran more on +Coke upon Littleton than on the gayeties of a mess-table and a soldier's +life, he might think such formalities as necessary as his hard words are +to a deed. Come, Borroughcliffe, my dear fellow, I believe we have given +an honest glass to each of the royal family (God bless them all!), let +us swallow a bumper to the memory of the immortal Wolfe." + +"An honest proposal, my gallant host, and such a one as a soldier +will never decline," returned the captain, who roused himself with the +occasion. "God bless them all! say I, in echo; and if this gracious +queen of ours ends as famously as she has begun, 'twill be such a family +of princes as no other army of Europe can brag of around a mess-table." + +"Ay, ay, there is some consolation in that thought, in the midst of this +dire rebellion of my countrymen. But I'll vex myself no more with the +unpleasant recollections; the arms of my sovereign will soon purge that +wicked land of the foul stain." + +"Of that there can be no doubt," said Borroughcliffe, whose thoughts +still continued a little obscured by the sparkling Madeira that had +long lain ripening under a Carolinian sun; "these Yankees fly before his +majesty's regulars, like so many dirty clowns in a London mob before a +charge of the horse-guards." + +"Pardon me, Captain Borroughcliffe," said his host, elevating his +person to more than its usually erect attitude; "they may be misguided, +deluded, and betrayed, but the comparison is unjust. Give them arms and +give them discipline, and he who gets an inch of their land from them, +plentiful as it is, will find a bloody day on which to take possession." + +"The veriest coward in Christendom would fight in country where wine +brews itself into such a cordial as this," returned the cool soldier. +"I am a living proof that you mistook my meaning; for had not those +loose-flapped gentlemen they call Vermontese and Hampshire-granters (God +grant them his blessing for the deed) finished two-thirds of my company, +I should not have been at this day under your roof, a recruiting +instead of a marching officer; neither should I have been bound up in a +covenant, like the law of Moses, could Burgoyne have made head against +their long-legged marchings and countermarchings. Sir, I drink their +healths, with all my heart; and with such a bottle of golden sunshine +before me, rather than displease so good a friend, I will go through +Gates' whole army, regiment by regiment, company by company, or, if you +insist on the same, even man by man, in a bumper." + +"On no account would I tax your politeness so far," returned the +colonel, abundantly mollified by this ample concession; "I stand too +much your debtor, Captain Borroughcliffe, for so freely volunteering +to defend my house against the attacks of my piratical, rebellious, and +misguided countrymen, to think of requiring such a concession." + +"Harder duty might be performed, and no favors asked, my respectable +host," returned the soldier. "Country quarters are apt to be dull, and +the liquor is commonly execrable; but in such a dwelling as this, a man +can rock himself in the very cradle of contentment. And yet there is one +subject of complaint, that I should disgrace my regiment did I not speak +of--for it is incumbent on me, both as a man and a soldier, to be no +longer silent." + +"Name it, sir, freely, and its cause shall be as freely redressed," said +the host in some amazement. + +"Here we three sit, from morning to night," continued the soldier; +"bachelors all, well provisioned and better liquored, I grant you, but +like so many well-fed anchorites, while two of the loveliest damsels in +the island pine in solitude within a hundred feet of us, without tasting +the homage of our sighs. This, I will maintain, is a reproach both to +your character, Colonel Howard, as an old soldier and to mine as a young +one. As to our old friend, Coke on top of Littleton here, I leave him to +the quiddities of the law to plead his own cause." + +The brow of the host contracted for a moment, and the sallow cheek of +Dillon, who had sat during the dialogue in a sullen silence, appeared to +grow even livid; but gradually the open brow of the veteran resumed its +frank expression, and the lips of the other relaxed into a Jesuitical +sort of a smile, that was totally disregarded by the captain, who amused +himself with sipping his wine while he waited for an answer, as if he +analyzed each drop that crossed his palate. + +After an embarrassing pause of a moment, Colonel Howard broke the +silence: + +"There is reason in Borroughcliffe's hint, for such I take it to be----" + +"I meant it for a plain, matter-of-fact complaint," interrupted the +soldier. + +"And you have cause for it," continued the colonel. "It is unreasonable, +Christopher, that the ladies should allow their dread of these piratical +countrymen of ours to exclude us from their society, though prudence +may require that they remain secluded in their apartments. We owe the +respect to Captain Borroughcliffe, that at least we admit him to the +sight of the coffee-urn in an evening." + +"That is precisely my meaning," said the captain: "as for dining with +them, why, I am well provided for here; but there is no one knows how +to set hot water a hissing in so professional a manner as a woman. So +forward, my dear and honored colonel, and lay your injunctions on them, +that they command your humble servant and Mr. Coke unto Littleton to +advance and give the countersign of gallantry." + +Dillon contracted his disagreeable features into something that was +intended for a satirical smile, before he spoke as follows: + +"Both the veteran Colonel Howard and the gallant Captain Borroughcliffe +may find it easier to overcome the enemies of his majesty in the field +than to shake a woman's caprice. Not a day has passed these three weeks, +that I have not sent my inquiries to the door of Miss Howard as became +her father's kinsman, with a wish to appease her apprehensions of the +pirates; but little has she deigned me In reply, more than such thanks +as her sex and breeding could not well dispense with." + +"Well, you have been, as fortunate as myself, and why you should be +more so, I see no reason," cried the soldier, throwing a glance of cool +contempt at the other: "fear whitens the cheek, and ladies best love to +be seen when the roses flourish rather than the lilies." + +"A woman is never so interesting, Captain Borroughcliffe," said the +gallant host, "as when she appears to lean on man for support; and he +who does not feel himself honored by the trust is a disgrace to his +species." + +"Bravo! my honored sir, a worthy sentiment, and spoken like a true +soldier; but I have heard much of the loveliness of the ladies of the +abbey since I have been in my present quarters, and I feel a strong +desire to witness beauty encircled by such loyalty as could induce them +to flee their native country, rather than to devote their charms to the +rude keeping of the rebels." + +The colonel looked grave, and for a moment fierce, but the expression of +his displeasure soon passed away in a smile of forced gayety, and, as he +cheerfully rose from his seat, he cried: + +"You shall be admitted this very night, and this instant, Captain +Borroughcliffe, We owe it, sir, to your services here, as well as in the +field, and those forward girls shall be humored no longer. Nay, it is +nearly two weeks since I have seen my ward myself; nor have I laid my +eyes on my niece but twice in all that time, Christopher, I leave +the captain under your good care while I go seek admission into the +cloisters, we call that part of, the building the cloisters, because it +holds our nuns, sir! You will pardon my early absence from the table, +Captain Borroughcliffe." + +"I beg it may not be mentioned; you leave an excellent representative +behind you, sir," cried the soldier, taking in the lank figure of Mr. +Dillon in a sweeping glance, that terminated with a settled gaze on his +decanter. "Make my devoirs to the recluses, and say all that your own +excellent wit shall suggest as an apology for my impatience, Mr. Dillon, +I meet you in a bumper to their healths and in their honor." + +The challenge was coldly accepted; and while these gentlemen still held +their glasses to their lips, Colonel Howard left the apartment, bowing +low, and uttering a thousand excuses to his guest, as he proceeded, +and even offering a very unnecessary apology of the same effect to his +habitual inmate, Mr. Dillon. + +"Is fear so very powerful within these old walls," said the soldier, +when the door closed behind their host, "that your ladies deem it +necessary to conceal themselves before even an enemy is known to have +landed?" + +Dillon coldly replied: + +"The name of Paul Jones is terrific to all on this coast, I believe; nor +are the ladies of St. Ruth singular in their apprehensions." + +"Ah! the pirate has bought himself a desperate name since the affair of +Flamborough Head. But let him look to't, if he trusts himself in another +Whitehaven expedition, while there is a detachment of the ----th in the +neighborhood, though the men should be nothing better than recruits." + +"Our last accounts leave him safe in the court of Louis," returned his +companion; "but there are men as desperate as himself, who sail the +ocean under the rebel flag, and from one or two of them we have had much +reason to apprehend the vengeance of disappointed men. It is they that +we hope we lost in this gale." + +"Hum! I hope they were dastards, or your hopes are a little unchristian, +and----" + +He would have proceeded, but the door opened, and his orderly entered, +and announced that a sentinel had detained three men, who were passing +along the highway, near the abbey, and who, by their dress, appeared to +be seamen. + +"Well, let them pass," cried the captain; "what, have we nothing to do +better than to stop passengers, like footpads on the king's highway! +Give them of your canteens, and let the rascals pass. Your orders were +to give the alarm if any hostile party landed on the coast, not to +detain peaceable subjects on their lawful business." + +"I beg your honor's pardon," returned the sergeant; "but these men +seemed lurking about the grounds for no good, and as they kept carefully +aloof from the place where our sentinel was posted, until to-night, +Downing thought it looked suspiciously and detained them." + +"Downing is a fool, and it may go hard with him for his officiousness. +What have you done with the men?" + +"I took them to the guardroom in the east wings your honor." + +"Then feed them; and hark ye, sirrah! liquor them well, that we hear no +complaints, and let them go." + +"Yes, sir, yes, your honor shall be obeyed; but there is a straight, +soldierly-looking fellow among them, that I think might be persuaded to +enlist, if he were detained till morning. I doubt, sir, by his walk, but +he has served already." + +"Ha! what say you!" cried the captain, pricking up his ears like a hound +who hears a well-known cry; "served, think ye, already?" + +"There are signs about him, your honor, to that effect An old soldier +is seldom deceived in such a thing; and considering his disguise, for it +can be no other, and the place where we took him, there is no danger of +a have-us corpses until he is tied to us by the laws of the kingdom." + +"Peace, you knave!" said Borroughcliffe, rising, and making a devious +route toward the door; "you speak in the presence of my lord chief +justice that is to be, and should not talk lightly of the laws. But +still you say reason: give me your arm, sergeant, and lead the way to +the east wing; my eyesight is good for nothing in such a dark night. A +soldier should always visit his guard before the tattoo beats." + +After emulating the courtesy of their host, Captain Borroughcliffe +retired on this patriotic errand, leaning on his subordinate in a +style of most familiar condescension. Dillon continued at the table, +endeavoring to express the rancorous feelings of his breast by a +satirical smile of contempt, that was necessarily lost on all but +himself, as a large mirror threw back the image of his morose and +unpleasant features. + +But we must precede the veteran colonel in his visits to the +"cloisters." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + ----"And kindness like their own + Inspired those eyes, affectionate and glad, + That seem'd to love whate'er they looked upon; + Whether with Hebe's mirth her features shone, + Or if a shade more pleasing them o'ercast-- + Yet so becomingly th' expression past, + That each succeeding look was lovelier than the last." + _Gertrude of Wyoming_. + + +The western wing of St. Ruth house or abbey, as the building was +indiscriminately called, retained but few vestiges of the uses to which +it had been originally devoted. The upper apartments were small and +numerous, extending on either side of a long, low, and dark gallery, and +might have been the dormitories of the sisterhood who were said to have +once inhabited that portion of the edifice; but the ground-floor had +been modernized, as it was then called, about a century before, and +retained just enough of its ancient character to blend the venerable +with what was thought comfortable in the commencement of the reign of +the third George. As this wing had been appropriated to the mistress of +the mansion, ever since the building had changed its spiritual +character for one of a more carnal nature, Colonel Howard continued the +arrangement, when he became the temporary possessor of St. Ruth, until, +in the course of events, the apartments which had been appropriated for +the accommodation and convenience of his niece were eventually converted +into her prison. But as the severity of the old veteran was as +often marked by an exhibition of his virtues as of his foibles, the +confinement and his displeasure constituted the sole subjects of +complaint that were given to the young lady. That our readers may be +better qualified to judge of the nature of their imprisonment, we shall +transport them, without further circumlocution, into the presence of the +two females, whom they must be already prepared to receive. + +The withdrawing-room of St. Ruth's was an apartment which, tradition +said, had formerly been the refectory of the little bevy of fair sinners +who sought a refuge within its walls from the temptations of the world. +Their number was not large, nor their entertainments very splendid, or +this limited space could not have contained them. The room, however, +was of fair dimensions, and an air of peculiar comfort, mingled with +chastened luxury, was thrown around it, by the voluminous folds of the +blue damask curtains that nearly concealed the sides where the deep +windows were placed, and by the dark leathern hangings, richly stamped +with cunning devices in gold, that ornamented the two others. Massive +couches in carved mahogany, with chairs of a similar material and +fashion, all covered by the same rich fabric that composed the curtains, +together with a Turkey carpet, over the shaggy surface of which all +the colors of the rainbow were scattered in bright confusion, united to +relieve the gloomy splendor of the enormous mantel, deep heavy cornices, +and the complicated carvings of the massive woodwork which cumbered the +walls. A brisk fire of wood was burning on the hearth, in compliment to +the willful prejudice of Miss Plowden, who had maintained, in her most +vivacious manner, that sea-coal was "only tolerable for blacksmiths +and Englishmen." In addition to the cheerful blaze from the hearth, two +waxen lights, in candlesticks of massive silver, were lending their aid +to enliven the apartment. One of these was casting its rays brightly +along the confused colors of the carpet on which it stood, flickering +before the active movements of the form that played around it with light +and animated inflections. The posture of this young lady was infantile +in grace, and, with one ignorant of her motives, her employment would +have been obnoxious to the same construction. Divers small square pieces +of silk, strongly contrasted to each other in color, lay on every side +of her, and were changed, as she kneeled on the floor, by her nimble +hands, into as many different combinations as if she was humoring the +fancies of her sex, or consulting the shades of her own dark but rich +complexion in the shop of a mercer. The close satin dress of this young +female served to display her small figure in its true proportions, +while her dancing eyes of jet black shamed the dyes of the Italian +manufacturer by their superior radiance. A few ribbons of pink, +disposed about her person with an air partly studied, and yet carelessly +coquettish, seemed rather to reflect than lend the rich bloom that +mantled around her laughing countenance, leaving to the eye no cause to +regret that she was not fairer. + +Another female figure, clad in virgin white, was reclining on the end of +a distant couch. The seclusion in which they lived might have rendered +this female a little careless of her appearance, or, what was more +probable, the comb had been found unequal to its burden; for her +tresses, which rivaled the hue and gloss of the raven, had burst from +their confinement, and, dropping over her shoulders, fell along her +dress in rich profusion, finally resting on the damask of the couch, in +dark folds, like glittering silk. A small hand, which seemed to blush at +its own naked beauties, supported her head, embedded in the volumes of +her hair, like the fairest alabaster set in the deepest ebony. Beneath +the dark profusion of her curls, which, notwithstanding the sweeping +train that fell about her person, covered the summit of her head, lay +a low spotless forehead of dazzling whiteness, that was relieved by +two arches so slightly and truly drawn that they appeared to have been +produced by the nicest touches of art. The fallen lids and long silken +lashes concealed the eyes that rested on the floor, as if their mistress +mused in melancholy. The remainder of the features of this maiden were +of a kind that is most difficult to describe, being neither regular nor +perfect in their several parts, yet harmonizing and composing a whole +that formed an exquisite picture of female delicacy and loveliness. +There might or there might not have been a tinge of slight red in her +cheeks, but it varied with each emotion of her bosom, even as she mused +in quiet, now seeming to steal insidiously over her glowing temples, and +then leaving on her face an almost startling paleness. Her stature, +as she reclined, seemed above the medium height of womanhood, and her +figure was rather delicate than full, though the little foot that rested +on the damask cushion before her displayed a rounded outline that any of +her sex might envy. + +"Oh! I'm as expert as if I were signal officer to the lord high admiral +of this realm!" exclaimed the laughing female on the floor, clapping +her hands together in girlish exultation. "I do long, Cecilia, for an +opportunity to exhibit my skill." + +While her cousin was speaking, Miss Howard raised her head, with a faint +smile, and as she turned her eyes toward the other, a spectator might +have been disappointed, but could not have been displeased, by +the unexpected change the action produced in the expression of her +countenance. + +Instead of the piercing black eyes that the deep color of her tresses +would lead him to expect, he would have beheld two large, mild, blue +orbs, that seemed to float in a liquid so pure as to be nearly invisible +and which were more remarkable for their tenderness and persuasion, +than for the vivid flashes that darted from the quick glances of her +companion. + +"The success of your mad excursion to the seaside, my cousin, has +bewildered your brain," returned Cecilia; "but I know not how to conquer +your disease, unless we prescribe salt water for the remedy, as in some +other cases of madness." + +"Ah! I am afraid your nostrum would be useless," cried Katherine; +"it has failed to wash out the disorder from the sedate Mr. Richard +Barnstable, who has had the regimen administered to him through many +a hard gale, but who continues as fair a candidate for Bedlam as ever. +Would you think it, Cicely, the crazy one urged me, in the ten minutes' +conversation we held together on the cliffs, to accept of his schooner +as a shower-bath!" + +"I can think that your hardihood might encourage him to expect much, but +surely he could not have been serious in such a proposal!" + +"Oh! to do the wretch justice, he did say something of a chaplain +to consecrate the measure, but there was boundless impudence in the +thought. I have not, nor shall I forget it, or forgive him for it, these +six-and-twenty years. What a fine time he must have had of it, in his +little Ariel, among the monstrous waves we saw tumbling in upon the +shore to-day, coz! I hope they will wash his impudence out of him! I do +think the man cannot have had a dry thread about him, from sun to sun. +I must believe it as a punishment for his boldness, and, be certain, I +shall tell him of it. I will form half a dozen signals, this instant, to +joke at his moist condition, in very revenge." + +Pleased with her own thoughts, and buoyant with the secret hope that Her +adventurous undertaking would be finally crowned with complete success, +the gay girl shook her black locks, in infinite mirth, and tossed the +mimic flags gaily around her person, as she was busied in forming new +combinations, in order to amuse herself with her lover's disastrous +situation. But the features of her cousin clouded with the thoughts that +were excited by her remarks, and she replied, in a tone that bore some +little of the accents of reproach: + +"Katherine! Katherine! can you jest when there is so much to apprehend? +Forget you what Alice Dunscombe told us of the gale, this morning? and +that she spoke of two vessels, a ship and a schooner, that had been seen +venturing with fearful temerity within the shoals, only six miles from +the abbey, and that unless God in his gracious providence had been kind +to them, there was but little doubt that their fate would be a sad one? +Can you, that know so well who and what these daring mariners are, be +merry about the self-same winds that caused their danger?" + +The thoughtless, laughing girl was recalled to her recollection by this +remonstrance, and every trace of mirth vanished from her countenance, +leaving a momentary death-like paleness crossing her face, as she +clasped her hands before her, and fastened her keen eyes vacantly on +the splendid pieces of silk that now lay unheeded around her. At this +critical moment the door of the room slowly opened, and Colonel Howard +entered the apartment with an air that displayed a droll mixture of +stern indignation, with a chivalric and habitual respect to the sex. + +"I solicit your pardon, young ladies, for the interruption," he said; +"I trust, however, that an old man's presence can never be entirely +unexpected In the drawing-room of his wards." + +As he bowed, the colonel seated himself on the end of the couch, +opposite to the place where his niece had been reclining, for Miss +Howard had risen at his entrance, and continued standing until her uncle +had comfortably disposed of himself. Throwing a glance which was not +entirely free from self-commendation around the comfortable apartment, +the veteran proceeded, in the same tone as before: + +"You are not without the means of making any guest welcome, nor do I see +the necessity of such constant seclusion from the eyes of the world as +you thus rigidly practise." + +Cecilia looked timidly at her uncle, with surprise, before she returned +an answer to his remark. + +"We certainly owe much to your kind attention, dear sir," she at length +uttered; "but is our retirement altogether voluntary?" + +"How can it be otherwise! are you not mistress of this mansion, +madam? In selecting the residence where your and, permit me to add, my +ancestors so long dwelt in credit and honor, I have surely been less +governed by any natural pride that I might have entertained on such +a subject, than by a desire to consult your comfort and happiness. +Everything appears to my aged eyes as if we ought not to be ashamed to +receive our friends within these walls. The cloisters of St. Ruth, Miss +Howard, are not entirely bare, neither are their tenants wholly unworthy +to be seen." + +"Open, then, the portals of the abbey, sir, and your niece will endeavor +to do proper credit to the hospitality of its master." + +"That was spoken like Harry Howard's daughter, frankly and generously!" +cried the old soldier, insensibly edging himself nearer to his niece. +"If my brother had devoted himself to the camp, instead of the sea, +Cecilia, he would have made one of the bravest and ablest generals in +his majesty's service--poor Harry! he might have been living at this +very day, and at this moment leading the victorious troops of his +sovereign through the revolted colonies in triumph. But he is gone, +Cecilia, and has left you behind him, as his dear representative, to +perpetuate our family and to possess what little has been left to us +from the ravages of the times." + +"Surely, dear sir," said Cecilia, taking his hand, which, had +unconsciously approached her person, and pressing it to her lips, "we +have no cause to complain of our lot in respect to fortune, though it +may cause us bitter regret that so few of us are left to enjoy it." + +"No, no, no," said Katherine, in a low, hurried voice; "Alice Dunscombe +is and must be wrong; Providence would never abandon brave men to so +cruel a fate!" + +"Alice Dunscombe is here to atone for her error, if she has fallen into +one," said a quiet, subdued voice, in which the accents of a provincial +dialect, however, were slightly perceptible, and which, in its low +tones, wanted that silvery clearness that gave so much feminine +sweetness to the words of Miss Howard, and which even rang melodiously +in the ordinarily vivacious strains of her cousin. + +The surprise created by these sudden interruptions caused a total +suspension of the discourse. Katherine Plowden, who had continued +kneeling in the attitude before described, arose, and as she looked +about her in momentary confusion, the blood again mantled her face +with the fresh and joyous springs of life. The other speaker advanced +steadily into the middle of the room; and after returning, with studied +civility, the low bow of Colonel Howard, seated herself in silence on +the opposite couch. The manner of her entrance, her reception, and +her attire, sufficiently denoted that the presence of this female was +neither unusual nor unwelcome. She was dressed with marked simplicity, +though with a studied neatness, that more than compensated for the +absence of ornaments. Her age might not have much exceeded thirty, but +there was an adoption of customs in her attire that indicated she was +not unwilling to be thought older. Her fair flaxen hair was closely +confined by a dark bandeau, such as was worn in a nation farther north +by virgins only, over which a few curls strayed, in a manner that showed +the will of their mistress alone restrained their luxuriance. Her light +complexion had lost much of its brilliancy, but enough still remained to +assert its original beauty and clearness. To this description might be +added, fine, mellow, blue eyes; beautifully white, though large teeth; +a regular set of features, and a person that was clad in a dark +lead-colored silk, which fitted her full, but gracefully moulded form +with the closest exactness. + +Colonel Howard paused a moment after this lady was seated, and +then turning himself to Katherine with an air that became stiff and +constrained by attempting to seem extremely easy, he said: + +"You no sooner summon Miss Alice, but she appears, Miss Plowden--ready +and (I am bold to say, Miss Alice) able to defend herself against all +charges that her worst enemies can allege against her." + +"I have no charges to make against Miss Dunscombe," said Katherine, +pettishly, "nor do I wish to have dissensions created between me and my +friends, even by Colonel Howard." + +"Colonel Howard will studiously avoid such offences in future," said the +veteran, bowing; and turning stiffly to the others, he continued: "I was +just conversing with my niece as you entered, Miss Alice, on the subject +of her immuring herself like one of the veriest nuns who ever inhabited +these cloisters. I tell her, madam, that neither her years, nor my +fortune, nor, indeed, her own, for the child of Harry Howard was not +left penniless, require that we should live as if the doors of the world +were closed against us, or there was no other entrance to St. Ruth's but +through those antiquated windows. Miss Plowden, I feel it to be my duty +to inquire why those pieces of silk are provided in such an unusual +abundance, and in so extraordinary a shape?" + +"To make a gala dress for the ball you are about to give, sir," said +Katherine, with a saucy smile that was only checked by the reproachful +glance of her cousin. "You have taste In a lady's attire, Colonel +Howard; will not this bright yellow form a charming relief to my brown +face, while this white and black relieve one another, and this pink +contrasts so sweetly with black eyes? Will not the whole form a turban +fit for an empress to wear?" + +As the arch maiden prattled on in this unmeaning manner, her rapid +fingers entwined the flags in a confused maze, which she threw over her +head in a form not unlike the ornament for which she intimated it was +intended. The veteran was by far too polite to dispute a lady's taste, +and he renewed the dialogue, with his slightly awakened suspicion +completely quieted by her dexterity and artifice. But although it was +not difficult to deceive Colonel Howard in matters of female dress, the +case was very different with Alice Dunscombe, This lady gazed with a +steady eye and reproving countenance on the fantastical turban, +until Katherine threw herself by her side, and endeavored to lead +her attention to other subjects, by her playful motions and whispered +questions. + +"I was observing, Miss Alice," continued the colonel, "that although the +times had certainly inflicted some loss on my estate, yet we were not +so much reduced as to be unable to receive our friends in a manner that +would not disgrace the descendants of the ancient possessors of St. +Ruth. Cecilia, here, my brother Harry's daughter, is a young lady that +any uncle might be proud to exhibit, and I would have her, madam, show +your English dames that we rear no unworthy specimens of the parent +stock on the other side of the Atlantic." + +"You have only to declare your pleasure, my good uncle," said Miss +Howard, "and it shall be executed." + +"Tell us how we can oblige you, sir," continued Katherine, "and if it +be in any manner that will relieve the tedium of this dull residence, I +promise you at least one cheerful assistant to your scheme." + +"You speak fair," cried the colonel, "and like two discreet and worthy +girls! Well, then, our first step shall be to send a message to Dillon +and the captain, and invite them to attend your coffee. I see the hour +approaches." + +Cecilia made no reply, but looked distressed, and dropped her mild eyes +to the carpet; Miss Plowden took it upon herself to answer: + +"Nay, sir, that would be for them to proceed in the matter; as your +proposal was that the first step should be ours, suppose we all adjourn +to your part of the house, and do the honors of the tea-table in your +drawing-room, instead of our own. I understand, sir, that you have had +an apartment fitted up for that purpose in some style; a woman's taste +might aid your designs, however." + +"Miss Plowden, I believe I intimated to you some time since," said the +displeased colonel, "that so long as certain suspicious vessels were +known to hover on this coast, I should desire that you and Miss Howard +would confine yourselves to this wing." + +"Do not say that we confine ourselves," said Katherine, "but let it be +spoken in plain English, that you confine us here." + +"Am I a jailer, madam, that you apply such epithets to my conduct? Miss +Alice must form strange conclusions of our manners, if she receive her +impressions from your very singular remarks. I----" + +"All measures adopted from a dread of the ship and the schooner that +ran within the Devil's Grip, yester-eve, may be dispensed with now," +interrupted Miss Dunscombe, in a melancholy, reflecting tone. "There +are few living who know the dangerous paths that can conduct even the +smallest craft in safety from the land, with daylight and fair winds; +but when darkness and adverse gales oppose them, the chance for safety +lies wholly in God's kindness." + +"There is truly much reason to believe they are lost," returned the +veteran, in a voice in which no exultation was apparent. + +"They are not lost!" exclaimed Katherine, with startling energy, leaving +her seat, and walking across the room to join Cecilia, with an air that +seemed to elevate her little figure to the height of her cousin. "They +are skilful and they are brave, and what gallant sailors can do +will they do, and successfully; besides, in what behalf would a just +Providence sooner exercise its merciful power, than to protect the +daring children of an oppressed country, while contending against +tyranny and countless wrongs?" + +The conciliating disposition of the colonel deserted him, as he +listened. His own black eyes sparkled with a vividness unusual for his +years, and his courtesy barely permitted the lady to conclude, ere he +broke forth: + +"What sin, madam, what damning crime, would sooner call down the just +wrath of heaven on the transgressors, than the act of foul rebellion? It +was this crime, madam, that deluged England in blood in the reign of the +first Charles; it is this crime that has dyed more fields red than all +the rest of man's offences united; it has been visited on our race as +a condign punishment, from the days of the deservedly devoted Absalom, +down to the present time; in short, it lost heaven forever to some of +the most glorious of its angels, and there is much reason to believe +that it is the one unpardonable sin named in the holy gospels." + +"I know that you have authority for believing it to be the heavy +enormity that you mention, Colonel Howard," said Miss Dunscombe, +anticipating the spirited reply of Katherine, and willing to avert it; +she hesitated an instant, and then drawing a heavy shivering sigh, she +continued, in a voice that grew softer as she spoke: "'tis indeed a +crime of magnitude, and one that throws the common blackslidings of +our lives, speaking by comparison, into the sunshine of his favor. Many +there are who sever the dearest ties of this life, by madly rushing into +its sinful vortex; for I fain think the heart grows hard with the +sight of human calamity, and becomes callous to the miseries its owner +inflicts; especially where we act the wrongs on our own kith and kin, +regardless who or how many that are dear to us suffer by our evil deeds. +It is, besides, Colonel Howard, a dangerous temptation, to one little +practiced in the great world, to find himself suddenly elevated into +the seat of power; and if it does not lead to the commission of great +crimes, it surely prepares the way to it, by hardening the heart." + +"I hear you patiently, Miss Alice," said Katherine, dancing her little +foot, in affected coolness; "for you neither know of whom nor to whom +you speak. But Colonel Howard has not that apology. Peace, Cecilia, for +I must speak! Believe them not, dear girl; there is not a wet hair +on their heads. For you, Colonel Howard, who must recollect that the +sister's son of the mothers of both your niece and myself is on board +that frigate, there is an appearance of cruelty in using such language." + +"I pity the boy! from my soul I pity him!" exclaimed the veteran, "he +is a child, and has followed the current that is sweeping our unhappy +colonies down the tide of destruction. There are others in that vessel +who have no excuse of ignorance to offer. There is a son of my old +acquaintance, and the bosom friend of my brother Harry, Cecilia's +father, dashing Hugh Griffith, as we called him. The urchins left home +together and were rated on board one of his majesty's vessels on the +same day. Poor Harry lived to carry a broad pennant in the service, and +Hugh died in command of a frigate. This boy, too! He was a nurtured on +board his father's vessel, and learned, from his majesty's discipline, +how to turn his arms against his king. There is something shockingly +unnatural in that circumstance. Miss Alice, 'tis the child inflicting +a blow on the parent. 'Tis such men as these, with Washington at their +heads, who maintain the bold front this rebellion wears." + +"There are men, who have never won the servile livery of Britain, sir, +whose names are as fondly cherished in America as any that she boasts +of," said Katherine, proudly; "ay, sir, and those who would gladly +oppose the bravest officers in the British fleet." + +"I contend not against your misguided reason," said Colonel Howard, +rising with cool respect. "A young lady who ventures to compare rebels +with gallant gentlemen engaged in their duty to their prince, cannot +escape the imputation of possessing a misguided reason. No man--I speak +not of women, who cannot be supposed so well versed in human nature--but +no man who has reached the time of life that entitles him to be called +by that name, can consort with these disorganizers, who would destroy +everything that is sacred--these levellers, who would pull down the +great, to exalt the little--these jacobins, who--who----" + +"Nay, sir, if you are at a loss for opprobrious epithets," said +Katherine, with provoking coolness, "call on Mr. Christopher Dillon for +assistance; he waits your pleasure at the door." + +Colonel Howard turned in amazement, forgetting his angry declamations at +this unexpected intelligence, and beheld, in reality, the sombre visage +of his kinsman, who stood holding the door in his hand, apparently as +much surprised at finding himself in the presence of the ladies, as they +themselves could be at his unusual visit. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + "Prithee, Kate, let's stand aside, and see the end of this controversy." + _Shakspeare_. + + +During the warm discussions of the preceding chapter, Miss Howard had +bowed her pale face to the arm of the couch, and sat an unwilling and +distressed listener to the controversy; but now that another, and one +whom she thought an unauthorized, intruder on her privacy was announced, +she asserted the dignity of her sex as proudly, though with something +more of discretion, than her cousin could possibly have done. Rising +from her seat, she inquired: + +"To what are we indebted for so unexpected a visit from Mr. Dillon? +Surely he must know that we are prohibited going to the part of the +dwelling where he resides, and I trust Colonel Howard will tell him that +common justice requires we should be permitted to be private." + +The gentleman replied, in a manner in which malignant anger was +sufficiently mingled with calculating humility: + +"Miss Howard will think better of my intrusion, when she knows that I am +come on business of importance to her uncle." + +"Ah! that may alter the case, Kit; but the ladies must have the respect +that is due to their sex. I forgot, somehow, to have myself announced; +but that Borroughcliffe leads me deeper into my Madeira than I have been +accustomed to go, since the time when my poor brother Harry, with his +worthy friend, Hugh Griffith--the devil seize Hugh Griffith, and all +his race--your pardon, Miss Alice--what is your business with me, Mr. +Dillon?" + +"I bear a message from Captain Borroughcliffe. You may remember that, +according to your suggestions, the sentinels were to be changed every +night, sir." + +"Ay! ay! we practised that in our campaign against Montcalm; 'twas +necessary to avoid the murders of their Indians, who were sure, Miss +Alice, to shoot down a man at his post, if he were placed two nights +running in the same place." + +"Well, sir, your prudent precautions have not been thrown away," +continued Dillon, moving farther into the apartment, as if he felt +himself becoming a more welcome guest as he proceeded; "the consequences +are, that we have already made three prisoners." + +"Truly it has been a most politic scheme!" exclaimed Katherine Plowden, +with infinite contempt. "I suppose, as Mr. Christopher Dillon applauds +it so highly, that it has some communion with the law! and that the +redoubtable garrison of St. Ruth are about to reap the high glory of +being most successful thief-takers!" + +The sallow face of Dillon actually became livid as he replied, and his +whole frame shook with the rage he vainly endeavored to suppress. + +"There may be a closer communion with the law, and its ministers, +perhaps, than Miss Plowden can desire," he said; "for rebellion seldom +finds favor in any Christian code." + +"Rebellion!" exclaimed the Colonel; "and what has this detention of +three vagabonds to do with rebellion, Kit? Has the damnable poison found +its way across the Atlantic?--your pardon--Miss Alice--but this is a +subject on which you can feel with me; I know your sentiments on the +allegiance that is due to our anointed sovereign. Speak, Mr. Dillon, are +we surrounded by another set of Demons! if so, we must give ourselves to +the work and rally round our prince; for this island is the main pillar +of his throne." + +"I cannot say that there is any appearance at present, of an intention +to rise in this island," said Dillon, with demure gravity; "though the +riots in London warrant any precautionary measures on the part of his +majesty's ministers, even to a suspension of the habeas corpus. But you +have had your suspicions concerning two certain vessels that have +been threatening the coast, for several days past, in a most piratical +manner?" + +The little foot of Katherine played rapidly on the splendid carpet, +but she contented herself with bestowing a glance of the most sovereign +contempt on the speaker, as if she disdained any further reply. With the +Colonel, however, this was touching a theme that lay nearest his heart, +and he answered, in a manner worthy of the importance of the subject: + +"You speak like a sensible man, and a loyal subject, Mr. Dillon. The +habeas corpus, Miss Alice, was obtained in the reign of King John, along +with Magna Charta, for the security of the throne, by his majesty's +barons; some of my own blood were of the number, which alone would be a +pledge that the dignity of the crown was properly consulted. As to our +piratical countrymen, Christopher, there is much reason to think that +the vengeance of an offended Providence has already reached them. Those +who know the coast well tell me that without a better pilot than an +enemy would be likely to procure, it would be impossible for any vessel +to escape the shoals among which they entered, on a dark night, and with +an adverse gale; the morning has arrived, and they are not to be seen!" + +"But be they friends or be they enemies, sir," continued Dillon, +respectfully, "there is much reason to think that we have now in the +abbey those who can tell us something of their true character; for +the men we have detained carry with them the appearance of having just +landed, and wear not only the dress but the air of seamen." + +"Of seamen!" echoed Katherine, a deadly paleness chasing from her cheeks +the bloom which indignation had heightened. + +"Of seamen, Miss Plowden," repeated Dillon, with malignant satisfaction, +but concealing it under an air of submissive respect. + +"I thank you, sir, for so gentle a term," replied the young lady, +recollecting herself, and recovering her presence of mind in the same +instant; "the imagination of Mr. Dillon is so apt to conjure the worst, +that he is entitled to our praise for so far humoring our weakness, as +not to alarm us with the apprehensions of their being pirates." + +"Nay, madam, they may yet deserve that name," returned the other, +coolly; "but my education has instructed me to hear the testimony before +I pronounce sentence." + +"Ah! that the boy has found in his Coke upon Littleton," cried the +Colonel; "the law is a salutary corrective to human infirmities, +Miss Alice; and among other things, it teaches patience to a hasty +temperament. But for this cursed, unnatural rebellion, madam, the +young man would at this moment have been diffusing its blessings from a +judicial chair in one of the colonies--ay! and I pledge myself, to all +alike, black and white, red and yellow, with such proper distinctions as +nature has made between the officer and the private. Keep a good heart, +kinsman; we shall yet find a time! the royal arms have many hands and +things look better at the last advices. But come, we will proceed to +the guard-room and put these stragglers to the question; runaways, +I'll venture to predict, from one of his majesty's cruisers, or perhaps +honest subjects engaged in supplying the service with men. Come, Kit, +come, let us go, and----" + +"Are we then to lose the company of Colonel Howard so soon?" said +Katherine, advancing to her guardian, with an air of blandishment and +pleasantry. "I know that he too soon forgets the hasty language of our +little disputes, to part in anger, if, indeed, he will even quit us till +he has tasted of our coffee." + +The veteran turned to the speaker of this unexpected address, and +listened with profound attention. When she had done, he replied, with a +good deal of softness in his tones: + +"Ah! provoking one! you know me too well, to doubt my forgiveness; but +duty must be attended to, though even a young lady's smiles tempt me to +remain. Yes, yes, child, you, too, are the daughter of a very brave and +worthy seaman; but you carry your attachment to that profession too far, +Miss Plowden--you do, indeed you do." + +Katherine might have faintly blushed; but the slight smile, which +mingled with the expression of her shame, gave to her countenance a look +of additional archness, and she laid her hand lightly on the sleeve of +her guardian, to detain him, as she replied: + +"Yet why leave us, Colonel Howard? It is long since we have seen you in +the cloisters, and you know you come as a father; tarry, and you may yet +add confessor to the title." + +"I know thy sins already, girl," said the worthy colonel, unconsciously +yielding to her gentle efforts to lead him back to his seat; "they +are, deadly rebellion in your heart to your prince, a most inveterate +propensity to salt water, and a great disrespect to the advice and +wishes of an old fellow whom your father's will and the laws of the +realm have made the guardian of your person and fortune." + +"Nay, say not the last, dear sir," cried Katherine; "for there is not a +syllable you have ever said to me on that foolish subject, that I have +forgotten. Will you resume your seat again? Cecilia, Colonel Howard +consents to take his coffee with us." + +"But you forget the three men, honest Kit there, and our respectable +guest, Captain Borroughcliffe." + +"Let honest Kit stay there, if he please; you may send a request to +Captain Borroughcliffe to join our party; I have a woman's curiosity to +see the soldier; and as for the three men--" she paused, and affected +to muse a moment, when she continued, as if struck by an obvious +thought--"yes, and the men can be brought in and examined here; who +knows but they may have been wrecked in the gale, and need our pity and +assistance, rather than deserve your suspicions." + +"There is a solemn warning in Miss Plowden's conjecture, that should +come home to the breasts of all who live on this wild coast," said Alice +Dunscombe; "I have known many a sad wreck among the hidden shoals, and +when the wind has blown but a gentle gale, compared to last night's +tempest. The wars, and the uncertainties of the times, together with +man's own wicked passions, have made great havoc with those who knew +well the windings of the channels among the 'Ripples.' Some there were +who could pass, as I have often heard, within a fearful distance of the +'Devil's Grip,' the darkest night that ever shadowed England; but all +are now gone of that daring set, either by the hand of death, or, what +is even as mournful, by unnatural banishment from the land of their +fathers." + +"This war has then probably drawn off most of them, for your +recollections must be quite recent, Miss Alice," said the veteran; +"as many of them were engaged in the business of robbing his majesty's +revenue, the country is in some measure requited for the former +depredations, by their present services, and at the same time it +is happily rid of their presence. Ah! madam, ours is a glorious +constitution, where things are so nicely balanced, that, as in the +physical organization of a healthy, vigorous man, the baser parts are +purified in the course of things, by its own wholesome struggles." + +The pale features of Alice Dunscombe became slightly tinged with red, as +the colonel proceeded, nor did the faint glow entirely leave her pallid +face, until she had said: + +"There might have been some who knew not how to respect the laws of the +land, for such are never wanting: but there were others, who, however +guilty they might be in many respects, need not charge themselves with +that mean crime, and yet who could find the passages that lie hid from +common eyes, beneath the rude waves, as well as you could find the way +through the halls and galleries of the Abbey, with a noonday sun shining +upon its vanes and high chimneys." + +"Is it your pleasure, Colonel Howard, that we examine the three men, +and ascertain whether they belong to the number of these gifted +pilots?" said Christopher Dillon, who was growing uneasy at his awkward +situation, and who hardly deemed it necessary to conceal the look of +contempt which he cast at the mild Alice, while he spoke; "perhaps we +may gather information enough from them, to draw a chart of the coast +that may gain us credit with my lords of the Admiralty." + +This unprovoked attack on their unresisting and unoffending guest +brought the rich blood to the very temples of Miss Howard, who rose, and +addressed herself to her kinsman, with a manner that could not easily be +mistaken any more than it could be condemned: + +"If Mr. Dillon will comply with the wishes of Colonel Howard, as my +cousin has expressed them, we shall not, at least, have to accuse +ourselves of unnecessarily detaining men who probably are more +unfortunate than guilty." + +When she concluded, Cecilia walked across the apartment and took a seat +by the side of Alice Dunscombe, with whom she began to converse, in +a low, soothing tone of voice. Mr. Dillon bowed with a deprecating +humility, and having ascertained that Colonel Howard chose to give an +audience, where he sat, to the prisoners, he withdrew to execute his +mission, secretly exulting at any change that promised to lead to a +renewal of an intercourse that might terminate more to his advantage, +than the lofty beauty whose favor he courted was, at present, disposed +to concede. + +"Christopher is a worthy, serviceable, good fellow," said the colonel, +when the door closed, "and I hope to live yet to see him clad in ermine. +I would not be understood literally, but figuratively; for furs would +but ill comport with the climate of the Carolinas. I trust I am to be +consulted by his majesty's ministers when the new appointments shall be +made for the subdued colonies, and he may safely rely on my good +word being spoken in his favor. Would he not make an excellent and +independent ornament of the bench, Miss Plowden?" + +Katherine compressed her lips a little as she replied. + +"I must profit by his own discreet rules, and see testimony to that +effect, before I decide, sir. But listen!" The young lady's color +changed rapidly, and her eyes became fixed in a sort of feverish gaze +on the door. "He has at least been active; I hear the heavy tread of men +already approaching." + +"Ah! it is he certainly; justice ought always to be prompt as well as +certain, to make it perfect; like a drumhead court-martial, which, by +the way, is as summary a sort of government as heart could wish to live +under. If his majesty's ministers could be persuaded to introduce into +the revolted colonies----" + +"Listen!" interrupted Katherine, in a voice which bespoke her deep +anxiety; "they draw near!" + +The sound of footsteps was in fact now so audible as to induce the +colonel to suspend the delivery of his plan for governing the recovered +provinces. The long, low gallery, which was paved with a stone flagging, +soon brought the footsteps of the approaching party more distinctly to +their ears, and presently a low tap at the door announced their arrival. +Colonel Howard arose, with the air of one who was to sustain the +principal character in the ensuing interview, and bade them enter. +Cecilia and Alice Dunscombe merely cast careless looks at the opening +door, indifferent to the scene; but the quick eye of Katherine embraced, +at a glance, every figure in the group. Drawing a long, quivering +breath, she fell back on the couch, and her eyes again lighted with +their playful expression, as she hummed a low rapid air, with a voice in +which even the suppressed tones were liquid melody. + +Dillon entered, preceding the soldier, whose gait had become more +steady, and in whose rigid eye a thoughtful expression had taken the +place of its former vacant gaze. In short, something had manifestly +restored to him a more complete command of his mental powers, although +he might not have been absolutely sobered. The rest of the party +continued in the gallery, while Mr. Dillon presented the renovated +captain to the colonel, when the latter did him the same kind office +with the ladies. + +"Miss Plowden," said the veteran, for she offered first in the circle, +"this is my friend, Captain Borroughcliffe: he has long been ambitious +of this honor, and I have no doubt his reception will be such as to +leave him no cause to repent he has been at last successful." + +Katherine smiled, and answered with ambiguous emphasis: + +"I know not how to thank him sufficiently for the care he has bestowed +on our poor persons." + +The soldier looked steadily at her for a moment, with an eye that seemed +to threaten a retaliation in kind, ere he replied: + +"One of those smiles, madam, would be an ample compensation for services +that are more real than such as exist only in intention." + +Katherine bowed with more complacency than she usually bestowed on those +who wore the British uniform; and they proceeded to the next. + +"This is Miss Alice Dunscombe, Captain Borroughcliffe, daughter of a +very worthy clergyman who was formerly the curate of this parish, and a +lady who does us the pleasure of giving us a good deal of her society, +though far less than we all wish for." + +The captain returned the civil inclination of Alice, and the colonel +proceeded: + +"Miss Howard, allow me to present Captain Borroughcliffe, a gentleman +who, having volunteered to defend St. Ruth in these critical times, +merits all the favor of its mistress." + +Cecilia gracefully rose, and received her guest with sweet complacency. +The soldier made no reply to the customary compliments that she uttered, +but stood an instant gazing at her speaking countenance, and then, +laying his hand involuntarily on his breast, bowed nearly to his +sword-hilt. + +These formalities duly observed, the colonel declared his readiness to +receive the prisoners. As the door was opened by Dillon, Katherine cast +a cool and steady look at the strangers, and beheld the light glancing +along the arms of the soldiers who guarded them. But the seamen entered +alone; while the rattling of arms, and the heavy dash of the muskets on +the stone pavement, announced that it was thought prudent to retain a +force at hand, to watch these secret intruders on the grounds of the +abbey. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + "Food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well as better." +_Falstaff_. + + +The three men who now entered the apartment appeared to be nothing +daunted by the presence into which they were ushered, though clad in the +coarse and weather-beaten vestments of seamen who had been exposed +to recent and severe duty. They silently obeyed the direction of the +soldier's finger, and took their stations in a distant corner of the +room, like men who knew the deference due to rank, at the same time +that the habits of their lives had long accustomed them to encounter the +vicissitudes of the world. With this slight preparation Colonel Howard +began the business of examination. + +"I trust ye are all good and loyal subjects," the veteran commenced, +with a considerate respect for innocence, "but the times are such +that even the most worthy characters become liable to suspicion; and, +consequently, if our apprehensions should prove erroneous, you must +overlook the mistake, and attribute it to the awful condition into which +rebellion has plunged this empire. We have much reason to fear that some +project is about to be undertaken on the coast by the enemy, who has +appeared, we know, with a frigate and schooner; and the audacity of the +rebels is only equaled by their shameless and wicked disrespect for the +rights of the sovereign." + +While Colonel Howard was uttering his apologetic preamble, the prisoners +fastened their eyes on him with much interest; but when he alluded +to the apprehended attack, the gaze of two of them became more keenly +attentive, and, before he concluded, they exchanged furtive glances of +deep meaning. No reply was made, however, and after a short pause, as +if to allow time for his words to make a proper impression, the veteran +continued: + +"We have no evidence, I understand, that you are in the smallest degree +connected with the enemies of this country; but as you have been found +out of the king's highway, or, rather, on a by-path, which I must +confess is frequently used by the people of the neighborhood, but which +is nevertheless nothing but a by-path, it becomes no more than what +self-preservation requires of us, to ask you a few such questions as I +trust will be satisfactorily answered. To use your own nautical phrases, +'From whence came ye, pray?' and 'whither are ye bound?'" + +A low, deep voice replied: + +"From Sunderland, last, and bound, overland, to Whitehaven." + +This simple and direct answer was hardly given, before the attention of +the listeners was called to Alice Dunscombe, who uttered a faint shriek, +and rose from her seat involuntarily, while her eyes seemed to roll +fearfully, and perhaps a little wildly, round the room. + +"Are you ill, Miss Alice?" said the sweet, soothing tones of Cecilia +Howard; "you are, indeed you are: lean on me, that I may lead you to +your apartment." + +"Did you hear it, or was it only fancy?" she answered, her cheek +blanched to the whiteness of death, and her whole frame shuddering as if +in convulsions; "say, did you hear it, too?" + +"I have heard nothing but the voice of my uncle, who is standing near +you, anxious, as we all are, for your recovery from this dreadful +agitation." + +Alice still gazed wildly from face to face. Her eye did not rest +satisfied with dwelling on those who surrounded her, but surveyed, with +a sort of frantic eagerness, the figures and appearance of the three +men, who stood in humble patience, the silent and unmoved witnesses of +this extraordinary scene. At length she veiled her eyes with both her +hands, as if to shut out some horrid vision, and then removing them, she +smiled languidly, as she signed for Cecilia to assist her from the room. +To the polite and assiduous offers of the gentlemen, she returned no +other thanks than those conveyed in her looks and gestures; but when the +sentinels who paced the gallery were passed, and the ladies were alone, +she breathed a long, shivering sigh, and found an utterance. + +"'Twas like a voice from the silent grave!" she said, "but it could be +no more than mockery. No, no, 'tis a just punishment for letting the +image of the creature fill the place that should be occupied only with +the Creator. Ah! Miss Howard, Miss Plowden, ye are both young--in the +pride of your beauty and loveliness--but little do ye know, and less do +ye dread, the temptations and errors of a sinful world." + +"Her thoughts wander!" whispered Katherine, with anxious tenderness, +"some awful calamity has affected her intellect!" + +"Yes, it must be; my sinful thoughts have wandered, and conjured sounds +that it would have been dreadful to hear in truth, and within these +walls," said Alice, more composedly, smiling with a ghastly expression, +as she gazed on the two beautiful, solicitous maidens who supported her +yielding person. "But the moment of weakness is passed, and I am better; +aid me to my room, and return, that you may not interrupt the reviving +harmony between yourselves and Colonel Howard. I am now better--nay, I +am quite restored." + +"Say not so, dear Miss Alice," returned Cecilia; "your face denies what +your kindness to us induces you to utter; ill, very ill, you are, nor +shall even your own commands induce me to leave you." + +"Remain, then," said Miss Dunscombe, bestowing a look of grateful +affection on her lovely supporter; "and while our Katherine returns to +the drawing-room, to give the gentlemen their coffee, you shall continue +with me, as my gentle nurse." + +By this time they had gained the apartment, and Katherine, after +assisting her cousin to place Alice on her bed, returned to do the +honors of the drawing-room. + +Colonel Howard ceased his examination of the prisoners, at her entrance, +to inquire, with courtly solicitude, after the invalid; and, when his +questions were answered, he again proceeded, as follows: + +"This is what the lads would call plain sailing, Borroughcliffe: +they are out of employment in Sunderland, and have acquaintances and +relatives in Whitehaven, to whom they are going for assistance and +labor. All very probable, and perfectly harmless." + +"Nothing more so, my respectable host," returned the jocund soldier; +"but it seemeth a grievous misfortune that a trio of such flesh and +blood should need work wherewithal to exercise their thews and sinews, +while so many of the vessels of his majesty's fleet navigate the ocean +in quest of the enemies of old England." + +"There is truth in that; much truth in your remark," cried the colonel. +"What say you, my lads, will you fight the Frenchmen and the Don----ay! +and even my own rebellious and infatuated countrymen? Nay, by heaven, +it is not a trifle that shall prevent his majesty from possessing the +services of three such heroes. Here are five guineas apiece for you +the moment that you put foot on board the Alacrity cutter; and that can +easily be done, as she lies at anchor this very night, only two short +leagues to the south of this, in a small port, where she is riding out +the gale as snugly as if she were in a corner of this room." + +One of the men affected to gaze at the money with longing eyes, while he +asked, as if weighing the terms of the engagement: + +"Whether the Alacrity was called a good sea-boat, and was thought to +give a comfortable berth to her crew?" + +"Comfortable!" echoed Borroughcliffe; "for that matter, she is called +the bravest cutter in the navy. You have seen much of the world, I dare +say; did you ever see such a place as the marine arsenal at Carthagena, +in old Spain?" + +"Indeed I have, sir," returned the seaman, in a cool, collected tone. + +"Ah! you have! well, did you ever meet with a house in Paris that they +call the Tuileries? because it's a dog-kennel to the Alacrity." + +"I have even fallen in with the place you mention, sir," returned the +sailor; "and must own the berth quite good enough for such as I am, if +it tallies with your description." + +"The deuce take these blue-jackets," muttered Borroughcliffe, addressing +himself unconsciously to Miss Plowden, near whom he happened to be at +the time; "they run their tarry countenances into all the corners of the +earth, and abridge a man most lamentably in his comparisons. Now, who +the devil would have thought that fellow had ever put his sea-green eyes +on the palace of King Louis?" + +Katherine heeded not his speech, but sat eying the prisoners with a +confused and wavering expression of countenance, while Colonel Howard +renewed the discourse, by exclaiming: + +"Come, come, Borroughcliffe, let us give the lads no tales for a +recruit, but good, plain, honest English--God bless the language, and +the land for which it was first made, too! There is no necessity to tell +these men, if they are, what they seem to be, practical seamen, that a +cutter of ten guns contains all the room and accommodation of a palace." + +"Do you allow nothing for English oak and English comfort, mine host?" +said the immovable captain; "do you think, good sir, that I measure +fitness and propriety by square and compass, as if I were planning +Solomon's temple anew? All I mean to say is, that the Alacrity is a +vessel of singular compactness and magical arrangement of room. Like the +tent of that handsome brother of the fairy, in the Arabian Nights, she +is big or she is little, as occasion needeth; and now, hang me, if I +don't think I have uttered more in her favor than her commander would +say to help me to a recruit, though no lad in the three kingdoms should +appear willing to try how a scarlet coat would suit his boorish figure." + +"That time has not yet arrived, and God forbid that it ever should, +while the monarch needs a soldier in the field to protect his rights. +But what say ye, my men? you have heard the recommendation that +Captain Borroughcliffe has given of the Alacrity, which is altogether +true--after making some allowances for language. Will ye serve? shall I +order you a cheering glass a man, and lay by the gold, till I hear +from the cutter that you are enrolled under the banners of the best of +kings?" + +Katherine Plowden, who hardly seemed to breathe, so close and intent was +the interest with which she regarded the seamen, fancied she observed +lurking smiles on their faces; but if her conjectures were true, their +disposition to be merry went no further, and the one who had spoken +hitherto replied, in the same calm manner as before: + +"You will excuse us if we decline shipping in the cutter, sir; we are +used to distant voyages and large vessels, whereas the Alacrity is kept +at coast duty, and is not of a size to lay herself alongside of a Don or +a Frenchman with a double row of teeth." + +"If you prefer that sort of sport, you must to the right about for +Yarmouth; there you will find ships that will meet anything that swims," +said the colonel. + +"Perhaps the gentlemen would prefer abandoning the cares and dangers of +the ocean for a life of ease and gayety," said the captain. "The hand +that has long dallied with a marlinspike may be easily made to feel +a trigger, as gracefully as a lady touches the keys of her piano. In +short, there is and there is not a great resemblance between the life +of a sailor and that of a soldier. There are no gales of wind, nor short +allowances, nor reefing topsails, nor shipwrecks, among soldiers; and, +at the same time, there is just as much, or even more, grog-drinking, +jollifying, care-killing fun around a canteen and an open knapsack, +than there is on the end of a mess-chest, with a full can and a +Saturday-night's breeze. I have crossed the ocean several times, and I +must own that a ship, in good weather, is very much the same as a camp +or comfortable barracks; mind, I say only in very good weather." + +"We have no doubt that all you say is true, sir," observed the spokesman +of the three; "but what to you may seem a hardship, to us is pleasure. +We have faced too many a gale to mind a capful of wind, and should think +ourselves always in the calm latitudes in one of your barracks, where +there is nothing to do but to eat our grub and to march a little fore +and aft a small piece of green earth. We hardly know one end of a musket +from the other." + +"No!" said Borroughcliffe, musing; and then advancing with a quick step +toward them, he cried, in a spirited manner: "Attention! right! dress!" + +The speaker, and the seaman next him, gazed at the captain in silent +wonder; but the third individual of the party, who had drawn himself a +little aside, as if willing to be unnoticed, or perhaps pondering on his +condition, involuntarily started at this unexpected order, and erecting +himself, threw his head to the right as promptly as if he had been on a +parade-ground. + +"Oho! ye are apt scholars, gentlemen, and ye can learn, I see," +continued Borroughcliffe. "I feel it to be proper that I detain these +men till to-morrow morning, Colonel Howard; and yet I would give them +better quarters than the hard benches of the guard-room." + +"Act your pleasure. Captain Borroughcliffe," returned the host, "so you +do but your duty to our royal master. They shall not want for cheer, and +they can have a room over the servants' offices in the south side of the +abbey." + +"Three rooms, my colonel, three rooms must be provided, though I give up +my own." + +"There are several-small empty apartments there, where blankets might +be taken, and the men placed for safe-keeping, if you deem it necessary; +though, to me, they seem like good, loyal tars, whose greatest glory it +would be to serve their prince, and whose chief pleasure would consist +in getting alongside of a Don or a Monsieur." + +"We shall discuss these matters anon," said Borroughcliffe, dryly. "I +see Miss Plowden begins to look grave at our abusing her patience +so long, and I know that cold coffee is, like withered love, but a +tasteless sort of a beverage. Come, gentlemen, _en avant!_ you have +seen the Tuileries, and must have heard a little French. Mr. Christopher +Dillon, know you where these three small apartments are 'situate, lying, +and being,' as your parchments read?" + +"I do, sir," said the complying lawyer, "and shall take much pleasure +in guiding you to them. I think your decision that of a prudent and +sagacious officer, and much doubt whether Durham Castle, or some other +fortress, will be thought too big to hold them, ere long." + +As this speech was uttered while the men were passing from the room, its +effect on them was unnoticed; but Katherine Plowden, who was left for +a few moments by herself, sat and pondered over what she had seen and +heard, with a thoughtfulness of manner that was not usual to her gay +and buoyant spirits. The sounds of the retiring footsteps, however, +gradually grew fainter, and the return of her guardian alone recalled +the recollection of the young lady to the duties of her situation. + +While engaged in the little offices of the tea-table, Katherine threw +many furtive glances at the veteran; but, although he seemed to be +musing, there was nothing austere or suspicious in his frank, open +countenance, "There is much useless trouble taken with these wandering +seamen, sir," said Katherine, at length; "it seems to be the particular +province of Mr. Christopher Dillon to make all that come in contact with +him excessively uncomfortable." + +"And what has Kit to do with the detention of the men?" + +"What! why, has he not undertaken to stand godfather to their +prisons?--by a woman's patience, I think, Colonel Howard, this business +will gain a pretty addition to the names of St. Ruth. It is already +called a house, an abbey, a place, and by some a castle; let Mr. Dillon +have his way for a month, and it will add jail to the number." + +"Kit is not so happy as to possess the favor of Miss Plowden; but still +Kit is a worthy fellow, and a good fellow, and a sensible fellow; ay! +and what is of more value than all these put together, Miss Katherine, +Mr. Christopher Dillon is a faithful and loyal subject to his prince. +His mother was my cousin-german, madam, and I cannot say how soon I +may call him my nephew. The Dillons are of good Irish extraction, and +I believe that even Miss Plowden will admit that the Howards have some +pretensions to a name." + +"Ah! it is those very things called names that I most allude to," said +Katherine, quickly, "But an hour since you were indignant, my dear +guardian, because you suspected that I insinuated you ought to write +jailer behind the name of Howard, and even now you submit to have the +office palmed upon you." + +"You forget, Miss Katherine Plowden, that it is the pleasure of one of +his majesty's officers to detain these men." + +"But I thought that the glorious British constitution, which you so +often mention," interrupted the young lady, spiritedly, "gives liberty +to all who touch these blessed shores; you know, sir, that out of twenty +blacks that you brought with you, how few remain; the rest having fled +on the wings of the spirit of British liberty!" + +This was touching a festering sore in the colonel's feelings, and his +provoking ward well knew the effects her observation was likely to +produce. Her guardian did not break forth in a violent burst of rage, or +furnish those manifestations of his ire that he was wont to do on less +important subjects; but he arose, with all his dignity concentred in a +look, and, after making a violent effort to restrain his feelings within +the bounds necessary to preserve the decorum of his exit, he ventured a +reply: + +"That the British constitution is glorious, madam, is most true. That +this island is the sole refuge where liberty has been able to find a +home, is also true. The tyranny and oppression of the Congress, which +are grinding down the colonies to the powder of desolation and poverty, +are not worthy the sacred name. Rebellion pollutes all that it touches, +madam. Although it often commences under the sanction of holy liberty, +it ever terminates in despotism. The annals of the world, from the time +of the Greeks and Romans down to the present day, abundantly prove it. +There was that Julius Caesar--he was one of your people's men, and he +ended a tyrant. Oliver Cromwell was another--a rebel, a demagogue, and +a tyrant. The gradations, madam, are as inevitable as from childhood +to youth, and from youth to age. As for the little affair that you have +been pleased to mention, of the--of the--of my private concerns, I can +only say that the affairs of nations are not to be judged of by domestic +incidents, any more than domestic occurrences are to be judged of by +national politics." The colonel, like many a better logician, mistook +his antithesis for argument, and paused a moment to admire his own +eloquence; but the current of his thoughts, which always flowed +in torrents on this subject, swept him along in its course, and he +continued: "Yes, madam, here, and here alone, is true liberty to be +found. With this solemn asseveration, which is not lightly made, but +which is the result of sixty years' experience, I leave you. Miss +Plowden; let it be a subject of deep reflection with you, for I too well +understand your treacherous feelings not to know that your political +errors encourage your personal foibles; reflect, for your own sake, +if you love not only your own happiness, but your respectability and +standing in the world. As for the black hounds that you spoke of, they +are a set of rebellious, mutinous, ungrateful rascals; and if ever I +meet one of the damned----" + +The colonel had so far controlled his feelings, as to leave the presence +of the lady before he broke out into the bitter invectives we have +recorded, and Katherine stood a minute, pressing her forefinger on her +lips, listening to his voice as it grumbled along the gallery, until +the sounds were finally excluded by the closing of a distant door. The +willful girl then shook her dark locks, and a smile of arch mischief +blended with an expression of regret in her countenance, as she spoke to +herself, while with hurried hands she threw her tea equipage aside in a +confused pile: + +"It was perhaps a cruel experiment, but it has succeeded. Though +prisoners ourselves, we are at least left free for the remainder of this +night. These mysterious sailors must be examined more closely. If the +proud eye of Edward Griffith was not glaring under the black wig of +one of them, I am no judge of features; and where has Master Barnstable +concealed his charming visage? for neither of the others could be he. +But now for Cecilia." + +Her light form glided from the room, while she was yet speaking; and +flitting along the dimly lighted passages, it disappeared in one of +those turnings that led to the more secret apartments of the abbey. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + "How! Lucia, wouldst them have me sink away + In pleasing dreams, and lose myself in love?" + _Cato_. + + +The reader must not imagine that the world stood still during the +occurrence of the scenes we have related. By the time the three seamen +were placed in as many different rooms, and a sentinel was stationed in +the gallery common to them all, in such a manner as to keep an eye on +his whole charge at once, the hour had run deep into the night. Captain +Borroughcliffe obeyed a summons from the colonel, who made him an +evasive apology for the change in their evening's amusement, and +challenged his guest to a renewal of the attack on the Madeira. This +was too grateful a theme to be lightly discussed by the captain; and the +abbey clock had given forth as many of its mournful remonstrances as the +division of the hours would permit, before they separated. In the mean +time, Mr. Dillon became invisible; though a servant, when questioned by +the host on the subject, announced that "he believed Mr. Christopher had +chosen to ride over to----, to be in readiness to join the hunt, on +the morning, with the dawn." While the gentlemen were thus indulging +themselves in the dining-parlor, and laughing over the tales of other +times and hard campaigns, two very different scenes occurred in other +parts of the building. + +When the quiet of the abbey was only interrupted by the howling of +the wind, or by the loud and prolonged laughs which echoed through the +passages from the joyous pair, who were thus comfortably established by +the side of the bottle, a door was gently opened on one of the galleries +of the "cloisters," and Katherine Plowden issued from it, wrapped in a +close mantle, and holding in her hand a chamber-lamp, which threw its +dim light faintly along the gloomy walls in front, leaving all behind +her obscured in darkness. She was, however, soon followed by two other +female figures, clad in the same manner, and provided with similar +lights. When all were in the gallery, Katherine drew the door softly to, +and proceeded in front to lead the way. + +"Hist!" said the low, tremulous voice of Cecilia, "they are yet up in +the other parts of the house; and if it be as you suspect, our visit +would betray them, and prove the means of their certain destruction." + +"Is the laugh of Colonel Howard in his cups so singular and unknown to +your ear, Cecilia, that you know it not?" said Katherine with a little +spirit; "or do you forget that on such occasions he seldom leaves +himself ears to hear, or eyes to see with? But follow me; it is as I +suspect--it must be as I suspect; and unless we do something to rescue +them, they are lost, unless they have laid a deeper scheme than is +apparent." + +"It is a dangerous road ye both journey," added the placid tones of +Alice Dunscombe; "but ye are young, and ye are credulous." + +"If you disapprove of our visit," said Cecilia, "it cannot be right, and +we had better return." + +"No, no: I have said nought to disapprove of your present errand. If +God has put the lives of those in your custody whom ye have taught +yourselves to look up to with love and reverence, such as woman is bound +to yield to one man, he has done it for no idle purpose. Lead us to +their doors, Katherine; let us relieve our doubts, at least." + +The ardent girl did not wait for a second bidding, but she led them, +with light and quick steps, along the gallery, until they reached its +termination, where they descended to the basement floor by a flight of +narrow steps; and carefully opening a small door, emerged into the open +air. They now stood on a small plat of grass, which lay between the +building and the ornamental garden, across which they moved rapidly, +concealing their lights, and bending their shrinking forms before the +shivering blasts that poured their fury upon them from the ocean. They +soon reached a large but rough addition to the buildings, that concealed +its plain architecture behind the more labored and highly finished parts +of the edifice, into which they entered through a massive door that +stood ajar, as if to admit them. + +"Chloe has been true to my orders," whispered Katherine, as they passed +out of the chilling air; "now, if all the servants are asleep, our +chance to escape unnoticed amounts to certainty." + +It became necessary to go through the servants' hall, which they +effected unobserved, as it had but one occupant, an aged black man, who, +being posted with his ear within two feet of a bell, in this attitude +had committed himself to a deep sleep. Gliding through this hall, they +entered divers long and intricate passages, all of which seemed as +familiar to Katherine as they were unknown to her companions, until they +reached another flight of steps, which they ascended. They were now near +their goal, and stopped to examine whether any or what difficulties were +likely to be opposed to their further progress. + +"Now, indeed, our case seems hopeless," whispered Katherine, as they +stood, concealed by the darkness, in one end of an extremely long, +narrow passage; "here is the sentinel in the building, instead of being, +as I had supposed, under the windows; what is to be done now?" + +"Let us return," said Cecilia, in the same manner; "my influence with +my uncle is great, even though he seems unkind to us at times. In the +morning I will use it to persuade him to free them, on receiving their +promise to abandon all such attempts in future." + +"In the morning it will be too late," returned Katherine; "I saw that +demon, Kit Dillon, mount his horse, under the pretence of riding to the +great hunt of to-morrow, but I know his malicious eye too well to +be deceived in his errand. He is silent that he may be sure; and if +to-morrow comes, and finds Griffith within these walls, he will be +condemned to a scaffold." + +"Say no more," said Alice Dunscombe, with singular emotion; "some lucky +circumstance may aid us with this sentinel." + +As she spoke, she advanced: they had not proceeded far, before the stern +voice of the soldier challenged the party. + +"'Tis no time to hesitate," whispered Katherine: "we are the ladies of +the abbey, looking to our domestic affairs," she continued aloud, "and +think it a little remarkable that we are to encounter armed men, while +going through our own dwelling." + +The soldier respectfully presented his musket, and replied: + +"My orders are to guard the doors of these three rooms, ladies; we have +prisoners in them, and as for anything else, my duty will be to serve +you all in my power." + +"Prisoners!" exclaimed Katherine, in affected surprise; "does Captain +Borroughcliffe make St. Ruth's Abbey a jail! Of what offences are the +poor men guilty?" + +"I know not, my lady; but, as they are sailors, I suppose they have run +from his majesty's service." + +"This is singular, truly! and why are they not sent to the county +prison?" + +"This must be examined into," said Cecilia, dropping the mantle from +before her face. "As mistress of this house, I claim a right to know +whom its walls contain; you will oblige me by opening the doors, for I +see you have the keys suspended from your belt." + +The sentinel hesitated. He was greatly awed by the presence and beauty +of the speakers, but a still voice reminded him of his duty. A lucky +thought, however, interposed to relieve him from his dilemma, and at the +same time to comply with the request, or rather order, of the lady. As +he handed her the keys, he said: + +"Here they are, my lady; my orders are to keep the prisoners in, not to +keep any one out. When you are done with them, you will please to return +them to me, if it be only to save a poor fellow's eye; for unless the +door is kept locked, I shall not dare to look about me for a moment." + +Cecilia promised to return the keys, and she had applied one of them to +a lock with a trembling hand, when Alice Dunscombe arrested her arm, and +addressed the soldier. + +"Say you there are three?--are they men in years?" + +"No, my lady, all good serviceable lads, who couldn't do better than +to serve his majesty, or, as it may prove, worse than to run from their +colors." + +"But are their years and appearance similar? I ask; for I have a friend +who has been guilty of some boyish tricks, and has tried the seas, I +hear, among other foolish hazards." + +"There is no boy here. In the far room on the left is a smart, +soldier-looking chap, of about thirty, who the captain thinks has +carried a musket before now; on him I am charged to keep a particular +eye. Next to him is as pretty a looking youth as eyes could wish to see, +and it makes one feel mournful to think what he must come to, if he +has really deserted his ship. In the room near you, is a smaller, +quiet little body, who might make a better preacher than a sailor, or a +soldier either, he has such a gentle way with him." + +Alice covered her eyes with her hand a moment, and then recovering +herself, proceeded: + +"Gentleness may do more with the unfortunate men than fear; here is a +guinea; withdraw to the far end of the passage, where you can watch them +as well as here, while we enter, and endeavor to make them confess who +and what they really are." + +The soldier took the money, and after looking about him in a little +uncertainty, he at length complied, as it was obviously true they could +only escape by passing him, near the flight of steps. When he was beyond +hearing, Alice Dunscombe turned to her companions, and a slight glow +appeared in feverish spots on her cheeks, as she addressed them: + +"It would be idle to attempt to hide from you, that I expect to meet the +individual whose voice I must have heard in reality to-night, instead +of only imaginary sounds, as I vainly, if not wickedly, supposed. I have +many reasons for changing my opinion, the chief of which is, that he is +leagued with the rebellious Americans in this unnatural war. Nay, chide +me not, Miss Plowden; you will remember that I found my being on this +island. I come here on no vain or weak errand, Miss Howard, but to spare +human blood." She paused, as if struggling to speak calmly. "But no one +can witness the interview except our God." + +"Go, then," said Katherine, secretly rejoicing at her determination, +"while we inquire into the characters of the others." + +Alice Dunscombe turned the key; and gently opening the door, she desired +her companions to tap for her, as they returned, and then instantly +disappeared in the apartment. + +Cecilia and her cousin proceeded to the next door, which they opened in +silence, and entered cautiously into the room. Katherine Plowden had so +far examined into the arrangements of Colonel Howard, as to know that at +the same time he had ordered blankets to be provided for the prisoners, +he had not thought it necessary to administer any further to the +accommodations of men who had apparently made their beds and pillows of +planks for the greater part of their lives. + +The ladies accordingly found the youthful sailor whom they sought, with +his body rolled in the shaggy covering, extended at his length along the +naked boards, and buried in a deep sleep. So timid were the steps of his +visitors, and so noiseless was their entrance, that they approached even +to his side without disturbing his slumbers. The head of the prisoner +lay rudely pillowed on a billet of wood, one hand protecting his face +from its rough surface, and the other thrust in his bosom, where it +rested, with a relaxed grasp, on the handle of a dirk. Although he +slept, and that heavily, yet his rest was unnatural and perturbed. +His breathing was hard and quick, and something like the low, rapid +murmurings of a confused utterance mingled with his respiration. The +moment had now arrived when the character of Cecilia Howard appeared to +undergo an entire change. Hitherto she had been led by her cousin, whose +activity and enterprise seemed to qualify her so well for the office of +guide; but now she advanced before Katherine, and, extending her lamp in +such a manner as to throw the light across the face of the sleeper, she +bent to examine his countenance, with keen and anxious eyes. + +"Am I right?" whispered her cousin. + +"May God, in His infinite compassion, pity and protect him!" murmured +Cecilia, her whole frame involuntarily shuddering, as the conviction +that she beheld Griffith flashed across her mind. "Yes, Katherine, it is +he, and presumptuous madness has driven him here. But time presses; he +must be awakened, and his escape effected at every hazard." + +"Nay, then, delay no longer, but rouse him from his sleep." + +"Griffith! Edward Griffith!" said the soft tones of Cecilia, "Griffith, +awake!" + +"Your call is useless, for they sleep nightly among tempests and +boisterous sounds," said Katherine; "but I have heard it said that the +smallest touch will generally cause one of them to stir." + +"Griffith!" repeated Cecilia, laying her fair hand timidly on his own. + +The flash of lightning is not more nimble than the leap that the young +man made to his feet, which he no sooner gained, than his dirk gleamed +in the light of the lamps, as he brandished it fiercely with one hand, +while with the other he extended a pistol, in a menacing attitude, +towards his disturbers. + +"Stand back!" he exclaimed; "I am your prisoner only as a corpse." + +The fierceness of his front, and the glaring eyeballs, that tolled +wildly around, him, appalled Cecilia, who shrank back in fear, dropping +her mantle from her person, but still keeping her mild eyes fastened on +his countenance with a confiding gaze, that contradicted her shrinking +attitude, as she replied: + +"Edward, it is I; Cecilia Howard, come to save you from destruction; you +are known even through your ingenious disguise." + +The pistol and the dirk fell together on the blanket of the young +sailor, whose looks instantly lost their disturbed expression in a glow +of pleasure. + +"Fortune at length favors me!" he cried. "This is kind, Cecilia; more +than I deserve, and much more than I expected. But you are not alone." + +"'Tis my cousin Kate; to her piercing eyes you owe your detection, +and she has kindly consented to accompany me, that we might urge you +to--nay, that we might, if necessary, assist you to fly. For 'tis cruel +folly, Griffith, thus to tempt your fate." + +"Have I tempted it, then, in vain! Miss Plowden, to you I must appeal +for an answer and a justification." + +Katherine looked displeased; but after a moment's hesitation she +replied: + +"Your servant, Mr. Griffith; I perceive that the erudite Captain +Barnstable has not only succeeded in spelling through my scrawl, but he +has also given it to all hands for perusal." + +"Now you do both him and me injustice," said Griffith; "it surely was +not treachery to show me a plan in which I was to be a principal actor." + +"Ah! doubtless your excuses are as obedient to your calls as your men," +returned the young lady; "but how comes it that the hero of the Ariel +sends a deputy to perform a duty that is so peculiarly his own? Is he +wont to be second in rescues?" + +"Heaven forbid that you should think so meanly of him for a moment! We +owe you much, Miss Plowden; but we may have other duties. You know that +we serve our common country, and have a superior with us, whose beck is +our law." + +"Return, then, Mr. Griffith, while you may, to the service of our +bleeding country," said Cecilia, "and, after the joint efforts of her +brave children have expelled the intruders from her soil, let us hope +there shall come a time when Katherine and myself may be restored to our +native homes." + +"Think you, Miss Howard, to how long a period the mighty arm of the +British king may extend that time? We shall prevail; a nation fighting +for its dearest rights must ever prevail; but 'tis not the work of a +day, for a people, poor, scattered, and impoverished as we have been, +to beat down a power like that of England; surely you forget, that in +bidding me to leave you with such expectations, Miss Howard, you doom me +to an almost hopeless banishment!" + +"We must trust to the will of God," said Cecilia; "if he ordain that +America is to be free only after protracted sufferings, I can aid her +but with my prayers; but you have an arm and an experience, Griffith, +that might do her better service; waste not your usefulness, then, in +visionary schemes for private happiness, but seize the moments as they +offer, and return to your ship, if indeed it is yet in safety, and +endeavor to forget this mad undertaking, and, for a time, the being who +has led you to the adventure." + +"This is a reception that I had not anticipated," returned Griffith; +"for though accident, and not intention, has thrown me into your +presence this evening, I did hope that, when I again saw the frigate, it +would be in your company, Cecilia." + +"You cannot justly reproach me, Mr. Griffith, with your disappointment; +for I have not uttered or authorized a syllable that could induce you or +any one to believe that I would consent to quit my uncle." + +"Miss Howard will not think me presumptuous, if I remind her that there +was a time when she did not think me unworthy to be entrusted with her +person and happiness." + +A rich bloom mantled on the face of Cecilia, as she replied: + +"Nor do I now, Mr. Griffith; but you do well to remind me of my former +weakness, for the recollection of its folly and imprudence only adds to +my present strength." + +"Nay," interrupted her eager lover, "if I intended a reproach, or +harbored a boastful thought, spurn me from you forever, as unworthy of +your favor." + +"I acquit you of both much easier than I can acquit myself of the charge +of weakness and folly," continued Cecilia; "but there are many things +that have occurred, since we last met, to prevent a repetition of such +inconsiderate rashness on my part. One of them is," she added, smiling +sweetly, "that I have numbered twelve additional months to my age, and a +hundred to my experience. Another, and perhaps a more important one, is, +that my uncle then continued among the friends of his youth, surrounded +by those whose blood mingles with his own; but here he lives a stranger; +and, though he finds some consolation in dwelling in a building where +his ancestors have dwelt before him, yet he walks as an alien through +its gloomy passages, and would find the empty honor but a miserable +compensation for the kindness and affection of one whom he has loved and +cherished from her infancy." + +"And yet he is opposed to you in your private wishes, Cecilia, unless +my besotted vanity has led me to believe what it would now be madness to +learn was false; and in your opinions of public things, you are quite +as widely separated. I should think there could be but little happiness +dependent on a connection where there is no one feeling entertained in +common." + +"There is, and an all-important one," said Miss Howard; "'tis our love. +He is my kind, my affectionate, and, unless thwarted by some evil cause, +my indulgent uncle and guardian,--and I am his brother Harry's child. +This tie is not easily to be severed, Mr. Griffith; though, as I do not +wish to see you crazed, I shall not add, that your besotted vanity has +played you false; but surely, Edward, it is possible to feel a double +tie, and so to act as to discharge our duties to both. I never, never +can or will consent to desert my uncle, a stranger as he is in the land +whose rule he upholds so blindly. You know not this England, Griffith; +she receives her children from the colonies with cold and haughty +distrust, like a jealous stepmother, who is wary of the favors that she +bestows on her fictitious offspring." + +"I know her in peace, and I know her in war," said the young sailor, +proudly, "and can add, that she is a haughty friend, and a stubborn foe; +but she grapples now with those who ask no more of her than an open sea +and an enemy's favors. But this determination will be melancholy tidings +for me to convey to Barnstable." + +"Nay," said Cecilia, smiling, "I cannot vouch for others who have no +uncles, and who have an extra quantity of ill humor and spleen against +this country, its people, and its laws, although profoundly ignorant of +them all." + +"Is Miss Howard tired of seeing me under the tiles of St. Ruth?" asked +Katherine. "But hark! are there not footsteps approaching along the +gallery?" + +They listened, in breathless silence, and soon heard distinctly the +approaching tread of more than one person. Voices were quite audible, +and before they had time to consult on what was best to be done, the +words of the speakers were distinctly heard at the door of their own +apartment. + +"Ay! he has a military air about him, Peters, that will make him a +prize; come, open the door." + +"This is not his room, your honor," said the alarmed soldier; "he +quarters in the last room in the gallery." + +"How know you that, fellow? come, produce the key, and open the way for +me; I care not who sleeps here; there is no saying but I may enlist them +all three." + +A single moment of dreadful incertitude succeeded, when the sentinel was +heard saying, in reply to this peremptory order: + +"I thought your honor wanted to see the one with the black stock, and so +left the rest of the keys at the other end of the passage; but----" + +"But nothing, you loon; a sentinel should always carry his keys about +him, like a jailer; follow, then, and let me see the lad who dresses so +well to the right." + +As the heart of Katherine began to beat less vehemently, she said: + +"'Tis Borroughcliffe, and too drunk to see that we have left the key +in the door; but what is to be done? we have but a moment for +consultation." + +"As the day dawns," said Cecilia, "quickly, I shall send here, under the +pretence of conveying you food, my own woman----" + +"There is no need of risking anything for my safety," interrupted +Griffith; "I hardly think we shall be detained, and if we are, +Barnstable is at hand with a force that would scatter these recruits to +the four winds of heaven." + +"Ah! that would lead to bloodshed, and scenes of horror!" exclaimed +Cecilia. + +"Listen!" cried Katherine, "they approach again!" + +A man now stopped, once more, at their door, which was opened softly, +and the face of the sentinel was thrust into the apartment. + +"Captain Borroughcliffe is on his rounds, and for fifty of your guineas +I would not leave you here another minute." + +"But one word more," said Cecilia. + +"Not a syllable, my lady, for my life," returned the man; "the lady from +the next room waits for you, and in mercy to a poor fellow go back where +you came from." + +The appeal was unanswerable, and they complied, Cecilia saying, as they +left the room: + +"I shall send you food in the morning, young man, and directions how to +take the remedy necessary to your safety." + +In the passage they found Alice Dunscombe, with her face concealed in +her mantle; and, it would seem, by the heavy sighs that escaped from +her, deeply agitated by the interview which she had just encountered. + +But as the reader may have some curiosity to know what occurred +to distress this unoffending lady so sensibly, we shall detain the +narrative, to relate the substance of that which passed between her and +the individual whom she sought. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + "As when a lion in his den, + Hath heard the hunters' cries, + And rushes forth to meet his foes, + So did the Douglas rise--" + _Percy_. + + +Alice Dunscombe did not find the second of the prisoners buried, like +Griffith, in sleep, but he was seated on one of the old chairs that +were in the apartment, with his back to the door, and apparently looking +through the small window, on the dark and dreary scenery over which the +tempest was yet sweeping in its fury. Her approach was unheeded, until +the light from her lamp glared across his eyes, when he started from his +musing posture, and advanced to meet her. He was the first to speak. + +"I expected this visit," he said, "when I found that you recognized my +voice; and I felt a deep assurance in my breast, that Alice Dunscombe +would never betray me." + +His listener, though expecting this confirmation of her conjectures, +was unable to make an immediate reply, but she sank into the seat he had +abandoned, and waited a few moments, as if to recover her powers. + +"It was, then, no mysterious warning! no airy voice that mocked my ear; +but a dread reality!" she at length said. "Why have you thus braved the +indignation of the laws of your country? On what errand of fell mischief +has your ruthless temper again urged you to embark?" + +"This is strong and cruel language, coming from you to me, Alice +Dunscombe," returned the stranger, with cool asperity, "and the time +has been when I should have been greeted, after a shorter absence, with +milder terms." + +"I deny it not; I cannot, if I would, conceal my infirmity from myself +or you; I hardly wish it to continue unknown to the world. If I have +once esteemed you, if I have plighted to you my troth, and in my +confiding folly forgot my higher duties, God has amply punished me for +the weakness in your own evil deeds." + +"Nay, let not our meeting be embittered with useless and provoking +recriminations," said the other; "for we have much to say before you +communicate the errand of mercy on which you have come hither. I know +you too well, Alice, not to see that you perceive the peril in which +I am placed, and are willing to venture something for my safety. Your +mother--does she yet live?" + +"She is gone in quest of my blessed father," said Alice, covering her +pale face with her hands; "they have left me alone, truly; for he, who +was to have been all to me, was first false to his faith, and has since +become unworthy of my confidence." + +The stranger became singularly agitated, his usually quiet eye glancing +hastily from the floor to the countenance of his companion, as he paced +the room with hurried steps; at length he replied: + +"There is much, perhaps, to be said in explanation, that you do not +know. I left the country, because I found in it nothing but oppression +and injustice, and I could not invite you to become the bride of a +wanderer, without either name or fortune. But I have now the opportunity +of proving my truth. You say you are alone; be so no longer, and try +how far you were mistaken in believing that I should one day supply the +place to you of both father and mother." + +There is something soothing to a female ear in the offer of even +protracted justice, and Alice spoke with less of acrimony in her tones, +during the remainder of their conference, if not with less of severity +in her language. + +"You talk not like a man whose very life hangs but on a thread that the +next minute may snap asunder. Whither would you lead me? Is it to the +Tower at London?" + +"Think not that I have weakly exposed my person without a sufficient +protection," returned the stranger with cool indifference; "there are +many gallant men who only wait my signal, to crush the paltry force of +this officer like a worm beneath my feet." + +"Then has the conjecture of Colonel Howard been true I and the manner in +which the enemy's vessels have passed the shoals is no longer a mystery! +you have been their pilot!" + +"I have." + +"What! would ye pervert the knowledge gained in the springtime of your +guileless youth to the foul purpose of bringing desolation to the doors +of those you once knew and respected! John! John! is the image of the +maiden whom in her morning of beauty and simplicity I believe you did +love, so faintly impressed, that it cannot soften your hard heart to the +misery of those among whom she has been born, and who compose her little +world?" + +"Not a hair of theirs shall be touched, not a thatch shall blaze, nor +shall a sleepless night befall the vilest among them--and all for your +sake, Alice! England comes to this contest with a seared conscience, +and bloody hands, but all shall be forgotten for the present, when both +opportunity and power offer to make her feel our vengeance, even in her +vitals. I came on no such errand." + +"What, then, has led you blindly into snares, where all your boasted aid +would avail you nothing? for, should I call aloud your name, even here, +in the dark and dreary passages of this obscure edifice, the cry would +echo through the country ere the morning, and a whole people would be +found in arms to punish your audacity." + +"My name has been sounded, and that in no gentle strains," returned the +Pilot, scornfully, "when a whole people have quailed at it, the craven +cowardly wretches flying before the man they had wronged. I have lived +to bear the banners of the new republic proudly in sight of the three +kingdoms, when practised skill and equal arms have in vain struggled to +pluck it down. Ay! Alice, the echoes of my guns are still roaring +among your eastern hills, and would render my name more appalling than +inviting to your sleeping yeomen." + +"Boast not of the momentary success that the arm of God has yielded to +your unhallowed efforts," said Alice; "for a day of severe and heavy +retribution must follow: nor flatter yourself with the idle hope +that your name, terrible as ye have rendered it to the virtuous, is +sufficient, of itself, to drive the thoughts of home, and country, and +kin, from all who hear it.--Nay, I know not that even now, in listening +to you, I am not forgetting a solemn duty, which would teach me to +proclaim your presence, that the land might know that her unnatural son +is a dangerous burden in her bosom." + +The Pilot turned quickly in his short walk; and, after reading her +countenance, with the expression of one who felt his security, he said +in gentler tones: + +"Would that be Alice Dunscombe? would that be like the mild, generous +girl whom I knew in my youth? But I repeat, the threat would fail to +intimidate, even if you were capable of executing it. I have said that +it is only to make the signal, to draw around me a force sufficient to +scatter these dogs of soldiers to the four winds of heaven." + +"Have you calculated your power justly, John?" said Alice, unconsciously +betraying her deep interest in his safety. "Have you reckoned the +probability of Mr. Dillon's arriving, accompanied by an armed band of +horsemen, with the morning's sun? for it's no secret in the abbey that +he is gone in quest of such assistance." + +"Dillon!" exclaimed the Pilot, starting; "who is he? and on what +suspicion does he seek this addition to your guard?" + +"Nay, John, look not at me, as if you would know the secrets of my +heart. It was not I who prompted him to such a step; you cannot for a +moment think that I would betray you! But too surely he has gone; and, +as the night wears rapidly away, you should be using the hour of grace +to effect our own security." + +"Fear not for me, Alice," returned the Pilot proudly, while a faint +smile struggled around his compressed lip: "and yet I like not this +movement either. How call you his name? Dillon! is he a minion of King +George?" + +"He is, John, what you are not, a loyal subject of his sovereign +lord the king; and, though a native of the revolted colonies, he has +preserved his virtue uncontaminated amid the corruptions and temptations +of the times." + +"An American! and disloyal to the liberties of the human race! By +Heaven, he had better not cross me; for if my arm reach him, it shall +hold him forth as a spectacle of treason to the world." + +"And has not the world enough of such a spectacle in yourself? Are ye +not, even now, breathing your native air, though lurking through +the mists of the island, with desperate intent against its peace and +happiness?" + +A dark and fierce expression of angry resentment flashed from the eyes +of the Pilot, and even his iron frame seemed to shake with emotion, as +he answered: + +"Call you his dastardly and selfish treason, aiming, as it does, to +aggrandize a few, at the expense of millions, a parallel case to the +generous ardor that impels a man to fight in the defence of sacred +liberty? I might tell you that I am armed in the common cause of my +fellow-subjects and countrymen; that though an ocean divided us in +distance, yet are we a people of the same blood, and children of the +same parents, and that the hand which oppresses one inflicts an injury +on the other. But I disdain all such narrow apologies. I was born on +this orb, and I claim to be a citizen of it. A man with a soul not to +be limited by the arbitrary boundaries of tyrants and hirelings, but one +who has the right as well as the inclination to grapple with oppression, +in whose name so ever it is exercised, or in whatever hollow and +specious shape it founds its claim to abuse our race." + +"Ah! John, John, though this may sound like reason to rebellious ears, +to mine it seemeth only as the ravings of insanity. It is in vain ye +build up your new and disorganizing systems of rule, or rather misrule, +which are opposed to all that the world has ever yet done, or ever will +see done in peace and happiness. What avail your subtleties and false +reasonings against the heart? It is the heart which tells us where our +home is, and how to love it." + +"You talk like a weak and prejudiced woman, Alice," said the Pilot, more +composedly; "and one who would shackle nations with the ties that bind +the young and feeble of your own sex together." + +"And by what holier or better bond can they be united?" said Alice. "Are +not the relations of domestic life of God's establishing, and have not +the nations grown from families, as branches spread from the stem, till +the tree overshadows the land? 'Tis an ancient and sacred tie that binds +man to his nation; neither can it be severed without infamy." + +The Pilot smiled disdainfully, and throwing open the rough exterior +of his dress, he drew forth, in succession, several articles, while a +glowing pride lighted his countenance, as he offered them singly to her +notice. + +"See, Alice!" he said, "call you this infamy! This broad sheet of +parchment is stamped with a seal of no mean importance, and it bears the +royal name of the princely Louis also! And view this cross! decorated as +it is with jewels, the gift of the same illustrious hand; it is not apt +to be given to the children of infamy, neither is it wise or decorous +to stigmatize a man who has not been thought unworthy to consort with +princes and nobles by the opprobrious name of the 'Scotch Pirate.'" + +"And have ye not earned the title, John, by ruthless deeds and bitter +animosity? I could kiss the baubles ye show me, if they were a thousand +times less splendid, had they been laid upon your breast by the hands +of your lawful prince; but now they appear to my eyes as indelible blots +upon your attainted name. As for your associates, I have heard of them; +and it seemeth that a queen might be better employed than encouraging +by her smiles the disloyal subjects of other monarchs, though even +her enemies. God only knows when His pleasure may suffer a spirit of +disaffection to rise up among the people of her own nation, and then +the thought that she has encouraged rebellion may prove both bitter and +unwelcome." + +"That the royal and lovely Antoinette has deigned to repay my services +with a small portion of her gracious approbation is not among the least +of my boasts," returned the Pilot, in affected humility, while secret +pride was manifested even in his lofty attitude. "But venture not a +syllable in her dispraise, for you know not whom you censure. She is +less distinguished by her illustrious birth and elevated station, +than by her virtues and loveliness. She lives the first of her sex in +Europe--the daughter of an emperor, the consort of the most powerful +king, and the smiling and beloved patroness of a nation who worship at +her feet. Her life is above all reproach, as it is above all earthly +punishment, were she so lost as to merit it; and it has been the will of +Providence to place her far beyond the reach of all human misfortunes." + +"Has it placed her above human errors, John? Punishment is the natural +and inevitable consequence of sin; and unless she can say more than has +ever fallen to the lot of humanity to say truly, she may yet be made +to feel the chastening arm of One, to whose eyes all her pageantry and +power are as vacant as the air she breathes--so insignificant must it +seem when compared to his own just rule! But if you vaunt that you have +been permitted to kiss the hem of the robes of the French queen, and +have been the companion of high-born and flaunting ladies, clad in their +richest array, can ye yet say to yourself, that amid them all ye have +found one whose tongue has been bold to tell you the truth, or whose +heart has sincerely joined in her false professions?" + +"Certainly none have met me with the reproaches that I have this night +received from Alice Dunscombe, after a separation of six long years," +returned the Pilot. + +"If I have spoken to you the words of holy truth, John, let them not +be the less welcome, because they are strangers to your ears. Oh! think +that she who has thus dared to use the language of reproach to one whose +name is terrible to all who live on the border of this island, is led to +the rash act by no other motive than interest in your eternal welfare." + +"Alice! Alice! you madden me with these foolish speeches! Am I a monster +to frighten unprotected women and helpless children? What mean these +epithets, as coupled with my name? Have you, too, lent a credulous ear +to the vile calumnies with which the policy of your rulers has ever +attempted to destroy the fair fame of those who oppose them, and those +chiefly who oppose them with success? My name may be terrible to the +officers of the royal fleet, but where and how have I earned a claim to +be considered formidable to the helpless and unoffending?" + +Alice Dunscombe cast a furtive and timid glance at the Pilot, which +spoke even stronger than her words, as she replied: + +"I know not that all which is said of you and your deeds is true. I have +often prayed, in bitterness and sorrow, that a tenth part of that which +is laid to your charge may not be heaped on your devoted head at the +great and final account. But, John, I have known you long and well, and +Heaven forbid, that on this solemn occasion, which may be the last, the +last of our earthly interviews, I should be found wanting in Christian +duty, through a woman's weakness. I have often thought, when I have +heard the gall of bitter reproach and envenomed language hurled against +your name, that they who spoke so rashly, little understood the man they +vituperated. But, though ye are at times, and I may say almost always, +as mild and even as the smoothest sea over which ye have ever sailed, +yet God has mingled in your nature a fearful mixture of fierce passions, +which, roused, are more like the southern waters when troubled with the +tornado. It is difficult for me to say how far this evil spirit may lead +a man, who has been goaded by fancied wrongs to forget his country and +home, and who is suddenly clothed with power to show his resentments." + +The Pilot listened with rooted attention, and his piercing eye seemed to +reach the seat of those thoughts which she but half expressed; still +he retained the entire command of himself, and answered, more in sorrow +than in anger: + +"If anything could convert me to your own peaceful and unresisting +opinions, Alice, it would be the reflections that offer themselves at +this conviction, that even you have been led by the base tongues of my +dastardly enemies, to doubt my honor and conduct. What is fame, when a +man can be thus traduced to his nearest friends? But no more of these +childish reflections! they are unworthy of myself, my office, and the +sacred cause in which I have enlisted!" + +"Nay, John, shake them not off," said Alice, unconsciously laying her +hand on his arm; "they are as the dew to the parched herbage, and may +freshen the feelings of your youth, and soften the heart that has grown +hard, if hard it be, more by unnatural indulgence than its own base +inclinations." + +"Alice Dunscombe," said the Pilot, approaching her with solemn +earnestness, "I have learnt much this night, though I came not in quest +of such knowledge. You have taught me how powerful is the breath of the +slanderer, and how frail is the tenure by which we hold our good names. +Full twenty times have I met the hirelings of your prince in open +battle, fighting ever manfully under that flag which was first raised to +the breeze by my own hands, and which, I thank my God, I have never yet +seen lowered an inch; but with no one act of cowardice or private wrong +in all that service can I reproach myself; and yet, how am I rewarded! +The tongue of the vile calumniator is keener than the sword of the +warrior, and leaves a more indelible scar!" + +"Never have ye uttered a truer sentiment, John, and God send that ye may +encourage such thoughts to your own eternal advantage," said Alice, with +engaging interest "You say that you have risked your precious life in +twenty combats, and observe how little of Heaven's favor is bestowed +on the abettors of rebellion! They tell me that the world has never +witnessed a more desperate and bloody struggle than this last, for which +your name has been made to sound to the furthermost ends of the isle." + +"'Twill be known wherever naval combats are spoken of!" interrupted the +Pilot, the melancholy which had begun to lower in his countenance giving +place to a look of proud exultation. + +"And yet its fancied glory cannot shield your name from wrong, nor are +the rewards of the victor equal, in a temporal sense, to those which +the vanquished has received. Know you that our gracious monarch, deeming +your adversary's cause so sacred, has extended to him his royal favor?" + +"Ay! he has dubbed him knight!" exclaimed the Pilot with a scornful +and bitter laugh: "let him be again furnished with a ship, and me +with another opportunity, and I promise him an earldom, if being again +vanquished can constitute a claim!" + +"Speak not so rashly, nor vaunt yourself of possessing a protecting +power that may desert you, John, when you most need it, and least expect +the change," returned his companion; "the battle is not always to the +strong, neither is the race to the swift." + +"Forget you, my good Alice, that your words will admit of a double +meaning? Has the battle been to the strong! Though you say not well +in denying the race to the swift. Yes, yes, often and again have the +dastards escaped me by their prudent speed! Alice Dunscombe, you know +not a thousandth part of the torture that I have been made to feel, by +high-born miscreants, who envy the merit they cannot equal, and detract +from the glory of deeds that they dare not attempt to emulate. How +have I been cast upon the ocean, like some unworthy vessel that is +commissioned to do a desperate deed, and then to bury itself in the ruin +it has made! How many malignant hearts have triumphed as they beheld my +canvas open, thinking that it was spread to hasten me to a gibbet, or to +a tomb in the bosom of the ocean! but I have disappointed them!" + +The eyes of the Pilot no longer gazed with their piercing and settled +meaning; but they flashed with a fierce and wild pleasure, as he +continued, in a louder voice: + +"Yes, bitterly have I disappointed them! Oh! the triumph over my fallen +enemies has been tame to this heartfelt exultation which places me +immeasurably above those false and craven hypocrites! I begged, I +implored, the Frenchmen, for the meanest of their craft, which possessed +but the common qualities of a ship of war; I urged the policy and +necessity of giving me such a force, for even then I promised to be +found in harm's way; but envy and jealousy robbed me of my just dues, +and of more than half my glory. They call me pirate! If I have claim to +the name, it was furnished more by the paltry outfit of my friends, than +by any act towards my enemies!" + +"And do not these recollections prompt you to return to your allegiance, +to your prince and native land, John?" said Alice, in a subdued voice. + +"Away with the silly thought!" interrupted the Pilot, recalled to +himself as if by a sudden conviction of the weakness he had betrayed; +"it is ever thus where men are made conspicuous by their works--but to +your visit--I have the power to rescue myself and companions from this +paltry confinement, and yet I would not have it done with violence, for +your sake. Bring you the means of doing it in quiet?" + +"When the morning arrives, you will all be conducted to the apartment +where we first met.--This will be done at the solicitation of Miss +Howard, under the plea of compassion and justice, and with the professed +object of inquiring into your situations. Her request will not be +refused; and while your guard is stationed at the door, you will be +shown, by another entrance, through the private apartments of the wing, +to a window, whence you can easily leap to the ground, where a +thicket is at hand; afterwards we shall trust your safety to your own +discretion." + +"And if this Dillon, of whom you have spoken, should suspect the truth, +how will you answer to the law for aiding our escape?" + +"I believe he little dreams who is among the prisoners," said Alice, +musing, "though he may have detected the character of one of your +companions. But it is private feeling, rather than public spirit, that +urges him on." + +"I have suspected something of this," returned the Pilot, with a smile, +that crossed those features where ungovernable passions that had so +lately been exhibited, with an effect that might be likened to the +last glimmering of an expiring conflagration, serving to render the +surrounding ruin more obvious. "This young Griffith has led me from my +direct path with his idle imprudence, and it is right that his mistress +should incur some risk. But with you, Alice, the case is different; here +you are only a guest, and it is unnecessary that you should be known +in the unfortunate affair. Should my name get abroad, this recreant +American, this Colonel Howard, will find all the favor he has purchased +by advocating the cause of tyranny necessary to protect him from the +displeasure of the ministry." + +"I fear to trust so delicate a measure to the young discretion of my +amiable friend," said Alice, shaking her head. + +"Remember, that she has her attachment to plead in her excuse; but dare +you say to the world that you still remember, with gentle feelings, the +man whom you stigmatize with such opprobrious epithets?" + +A slight color gleamed over the brow of Alice Dunscombe, as she uttered, +in a voice that was barely audible: + +"There is no longer a reason why the world should know of such a +weakness, though it did exist." And, as the faint glow passed away, +leaving her face pale nearly as the hue of death, her eyes kindled with +unusual fire, and she added: "They can but take my life, John; and that +I am ready to lay down in your service!" + +"Alice!" exclaimed the softened Pilot, "my kind, my gentle Alice--" + +The knock of the sentinel at the door was heard at this critical +moment. Without waiting for a reply to his summons, the man entered the +apartment; and, in hurried language, declared the urgent necessity that +existed for the lady to retire. A few brief remonstrances were uttered +by both Alice and the Pilot, who wished to comprehend more clearly each +other's intentions relative to the intended escape: but the fear of +personal punishment rendered the soldier obdurate, and a dread of +exposure at length induced the lady to comply. She arose, and was +leaving the apartment with lingering steps, when the Pilot, touching her +hand, whispered to her impressively: + +"Alice, we meet again before I leave this island forever?" + +"We meet in the morning, John," she returned in the same tone of voice, +"in the apartments of Miss Howard." + +He dropped her hand, and she glided from the room, when the impatient +sentinel closed the door, and silently turned the key on his prisoner. +The Pilot remained in a listening attitude, until the light footsteps +of the retiring pair were no longer audible, when he paced his confined +apartment with perturbed steps, occasionally pausing to look out at the +driving clouds and the groaning oaks that were trembling and rocking +their broad arms in the fitful gusts of the gale. In a few minutes the +tempest in his own passions had gradually subsided to the desperate +and still calmness that made him the man he was; when he again seated +himself where Alice had found him, and began to muse on the events of +the times, from which the transition to projecting schemes of daring +enterprise and mighty consequences was but the usual employment of his +active and restless mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + "_Sir And._. I have no exquisite reason for't, but I've reason + good enough." + _Twelfth Night._ + + +The countenance of Captain Borroughcliffe, when the sentinel admitted +him to the apartment he had selected, was in that state of doubtful +illumination, when looks of peculiar cunning blend so nicely with the +stare of vacancy, that the human face is rendered not unlike an April +day, now smiling and inviting, and at the next moment clouded and +dreary. It was quite apparent that the soldier had an object for his +unexpected visit, by the importance of his air and the solemnity of the +manner with which he entered on the business. He waved his hand for +the sentinel to retire, with lofty dignity, and continued balancing +his body, during the closing of the door, and while a sound continued +audible to his confused faculties, with his eyes fixed in the direction +of the noise, with that certain sort of wise look that in many men +supplies the place of something better. When the captain felt himself +secure from interruption, he moved round with quick military precision, +in order to face the man of whom he was in quest. Griffith had been +sleeping, though uneasily and with watchfulness; and the Pilot had been +calmly awaiting the visit which it seemed he had anticipated; but their +associate, who was no other than Captain Manual, of the marines, was +discovered in a very different condition from either. Though the weather +was cool and the night tempestuous, he had thrown aside his pea-jacket, +with most of his disguise, and was sitting ruefully on his blanket, +wiping, with one hand, the large drops of sweat from his forehead, +and occasionally grasping his throat with the other, with a kind of +convulsed mechanical movement. He stared wildly at his visitor, though +his entrance produced no other alteration in these pursuits than a more +diligent application of his handkerchief and a more frequent grasping +of his naked neck, as if he were willing to ascertain, by actual +experiment, what degree of pressure the part was able to sustain, +without exceeding a given quantity of inconvenience. + +"Comrade, I greet ye!" said Borroughcliffe, staggering to the side +of his prisoner, where he seated himself with an entire absence of +ceremony: "Comrade, I greet ye! Is the kingdom in danger, that gentlemen +traverse the island in the uniform of the regiment of incognitus, +incognitii, 'torum--damme, how I forget my Latin! Say, my fine fellow, +are you one of these 'torums?" + +Manual breathed a little hard, which, considering the manner he had +been using his throat, was a thing to be expected; but, swallowing his +apprehensions, he answered with more spirit than his situation rendered +prudent or the occasion demanded. + +"Say what you will of me, and treat me as you please, I defy any man to +call me Tory with truth." + +"You are no 'torum! Well, then, the war-office has got up a new dress! +Your regiment must have earned their facings in storming some water +battery, or perhaps it has done duty as marines. Am I right?" + +"I'll not deny it," said Manual, more stoutly; "I have served as a +marine for two years, though taken from the line of----" + +"The army," said Borroughcliffe, interrupting a most damning confession +of which "state line" the other had belonged to. "I kept a dog-watch, +myself, once, on board the fleet of my Lord Howe; but it is a service +that I do not envy any man. Our afternoon parades were dreadfully +unsteady, for it's a time, you know, when a man wants solid ground to +stand on. However, I purchased my company with some prize-money that +fell in my way, and I always remember the marine service with gratitude. +But this is dry work. I have put a bottle of sparkling Madeira in my +pocket, with a couple of glasses, which we will discuss while we talk +over more important matters. Thrust your hand into my right pocket; +I have been used to dress to the front so long, that it comes mighty +awkward to me to make this backward motion, as if it were into a +cartridge-box." + +Manual, who had been at a loss how to construe the manner of the other, +perceived at once a good deal of plain English in this request, and he +dislodged one of Colonel Howard's dusty bottles, with a dexterity +that denoted the earnestness of his purpose. Borroughcliffe had made +a suitable provision of glasses; and extracting the cork in a certain +scientific manner, he tendered to his companion a bumper of the liquor, +before another syllable was uttered by either of the expectants. The +gentlemen concluded their draughts with a couple of smacks, that sounded +not unlike the pistols of two practised duellists, though certainly a +much less alarming noise, when the entertainer renewed the discourse. + +"I like one of your musty-looking bottles, that is covered with dust and +cobwebs, with a good southern tan on it," he said. "Such liquor does not +abide in the stomach, but it gets into the heart at once, and becomes +blood in the beating of a pulse. But how soon I knew you! That sort of +knowledge is the freemasonry of our craft. I knew you to be the man you +are, the moment I laid eyes on you in what we call our guard-room; but +I thought I would humor the old soldier who lives here, by letting him +have the formula of an examination, as a sort of deference to his age +and former rank. But I knew you the instant I saw you. I have seen you +before!" + +The theory of Borroughcliffe, in relation to the incorporation of wine +with the blood, might have been true in the case of the marine, +whose whole frame appeared to undergo a kind of magical change by +the experiment of drinking, which, the reader will understand, was +diligently persevered in while a drop remained in the bottle. The +perspiration no longer rolled from his brow, neither did his throat +manifest that uneasiness which had rendered such constant external +applications necessary; but he settled down into an air of cool but +curious interest, which, in some measure, was the necessary concomitant +of his situation. + +"We may have met before, as I have been much in service, and yet I +know not where you could have seen me," said Manual. "Were you ever a +prisoner of war?" + +"Hum! not exactly such an unfortunate devil; but a sort of conventional +non-combatant. I shared the hardships, the glory, the equivocal +victories (where we killed and drove countless numbers of rebels--who +were not), and, woe is me! the capitulation of Burgoyne. But let that +pass-which was more than the Yankees would allow us to do. You know not +where I could have seen you? I have seen you on parade, in the field, in +battle and out of battle, in camp, in barracks; in short, everywhere but +in a drawing-room. No, no; I have never seen you before this night in a +drawing-room!" + +Manual stared in a good deal of wonder and some uneasiness at these +confident assertions, which promised to put his life in no little +jeopardy; and it is to be supposed that the peculiar sensation about the +throat was revived, as he made a heavy draught, before he said: + +"You will swear to this--Can you call me by name?" + +"I will swear to it in any court in Christendom," said the dogmatical +soldier; "and your name is--is--Fugleman!" + +"If it is, I'll be damn'd!" exclaimed the other, with exulting +precipitation. + +"Swear not!" said Borroughcliffe, with a solemn air; "for what mattereth +an empty name! Call thyself by what appellation thou wilt, I know thee. +Soldier is written on thy martial front; thy knee bendeth not; nay, I +even doubt if the rebellious member bow in prayer----" + +"Come, sir," interrupted Manual, a little sternly; "no more of this +trifling, but declare your will at once. Rebellious member, indeed! +These fellows will call the skies of America rebellious heavens +shortly!" + +"I like thy spirit, lad," returned the undisturbed Borroughcliffe; "it +sits as gracefully on a soldier as his sash and gorget; but it is lost +on an old campaigner. I marvel, however, that thou takest such umbrage +at my slight attack on thy orthodoxy. I fear the fortress must be +weak, where the outworks are defended with such a waste of unnecessary +courage!" + +"I know not why or wherefore you have paid me this visit, Captain +Borroughcliffe," said Manual, with a laudable discretion, which prompted +him to reconnoitre the other's views a little, before he laid himself +more open; "if captain be your rank, and Borroughcliffe be your +name. But this I do know, that if it be only to mock me in my present +situation, it is neither soldier like nor manly; and it is what, in +other circumstances, might be attended by some hazard." + +"Hum!" said the other, with his immovable coolness; "I see you set the +wine down as nothing, though the king drinks not as good; for the plain +reason that the sun of England cannot find its way through the walls +of Windsor Castle as easily as the sun of Carolina can warm a garret +covered with cedar shingles. But I like your spirit more and more. So +draw yourself up in battle array, and let us have another charge at this +black bottle, when I shall lay before your military eyes a plan of the +whole campaign." + +Manual first bestowed an inquiring glance on his companion; when, +discovering no other expression than foolish cunning, which was fast +yielding before the encroaching footsteps of stupid inebriety, he +quietly placed himself in the desired position. The wine was drunk, when +Borroughcliffe proceeded to open his communications more unreservedly. + +"You are a soldier, and I am a soldier. That you are a soldier, my +orderly could tell; for the dog has both seen a campaign, and smelt +villanous saltpetre, when compounded according to a wicked invention; +but it required the officer to detect the officer. Privates do not wear +such linen as this, which seemeth to me an unreasonably cool attire for +the season; nor velvet stocks, with silver buckles; nor is there often +the odorous flavor of sweet-scented pomatum to be discovered around +their greasy locks. In short, thou art both soldier and officer." + +"I confess it," said Manual; "I hold the rank of captain, and shall +expect the treatment of one." + +"I think I have furnished you with wine fit for a general," returned +Borroughcliffe; "but have your own way. Now, it would be apparent to +men, whose faculties had not been rendered clear by such cordials as +this dwelling aboundeth with, that when you officers journey through the +island, clad in the uniform incognitorum, which in your case means the +marine corps, that something is in the wind of more than usual moment. +Soldiers owe their allegiance to their prince, and next to him to war, +women, and wine. Of war, there is none in the realm; of women, plenty; +but wine, I regret to say, that is, good wine, grows both scarce and +dear. Do I speak to the purpose, comrade?" + +"Proceed," said Manual, whose eyes were not less attentive than his +ears, in a hope to discover whether his true character were understood. + +"En avant! in plain English, forward march! Well, then, the difficulty +lies between women and wine; which, when the former are pretty, and the +latter rich, is a very agreeable sort of an alternative. That it is not +wine of which you are in quest, I must believe, my comrade captain, or +you would not go on the adventure in such shabby attire. You will excuse +me, but who would think of putting anything better than their +Port before a man in a pair of tarred trousers? No! no! Hollands, +green-and-yellow Hollands, is a potation good enough to set before one +of the present bearing." + +"And yet I have met with him who has treated me to the choicest of the +south-side Madeira!" + +"Know you the very side from which the precious fluid comes! That looks +more in favor of the wine. But, after all, woman, dear capricious woman, +who one moment fancies she sees a hero in regimentals, and the next a +saint in a cassock; and who always sees something admirable in a suitor, +whether he be clad in tow or velvet--woman is at the bottom of this +mysterious masquerading. Am I right, comrade!" + +By this time Manual had discovered that he was safe, and he returned to +the conversation with a revival of all his ready wits, which had been +strangely paralyzed by his previous disorder in the region of the +throat. First bestowing a wicked wink on his companion, and a look that +would have outdone the wisest aspect of Solomon, he replied; + +"Ah! woman has much to answer for!" + +"I knew it," exclaimed Borroughcliffe; "and this confession only +confirms me in the good opinion I have always entertained of myself. If +his majesty has any particular wish to close this American business, let +him have a certain convention burnt, and a nameless person promoted, and +we shall see! But, answer as you love truth; is it a business of holy +matrimony, or a mere dalliance with the sweets of Cupid?" + +"Of honest wedlock," said Manual, with an air as serious as if Hymen +already held him in his fetters. + +"'Tis honest! Is there money?" + +"Is there money?" repeated Manual, with a sort of contemptuous echo. +"Would a soldier part with his liberty, but with his life, unless the +chains were made of gold?" + +"That's the true military doctrine!" cried the other; "faith, you have +some discretion in your amphibious corps, I find! But why this disguise? +are the 'seniors grave,' as well as 'potent and reverend?' Why this +disguise, I again ask?" + +"Why this disguise!" repeated Manual, coolly: "Is there any such thing +as love in your regiment without disguise? With us, it is a regular +symptom of the disease." + +"A most just and discreet description of the passion, my amphibious +comrade!" said the English officer; "and yet the symptoms in your case +are attended by some very malignant tokens. Does your mistress love +tar?" + +"No; but she loveth me; and, of course, whatever attire I choose to +appear in." + +"Still discreet and sagacious! and yet only a most palpable feint to +avoid my direct attack. You have heard of such a place as Gretna Green, +a little to the north of this, I dare say, my aquatic comrade. Am I +right?" + +"Gretna Green!" said Manual, a little embarrassed by his ignorance; +"some parade-ground, I suppose?" + +"Ay, for those who suffer under the fire of Master Cupid. A +parade-ground! well, there is some artful simplicity in that! But all +will not do with an old campaigner. It is a difficult thing to impose on +an old soldier, my water-battery. Now listen and answer; and you shall +see what it is to possess a discernment--therefore deny nothing. You are +in love?" + +"I deny nothing," said Manual, comprehending at once that this was his +safest course. + +"Your mistress is willing, and the money is ready, but the old people +say, halt!" + +"I am still mute!" + +"Tis prudent. You say march--Gretna Green is the object; and your flight +is to be by water!" + +"Unless I can make my escape by water, I shall never make it," said +Manual, with another sympathetic movement with his hand to his throat. + +"Keep mute; you need tell me nothing. I can see into a mystery that is +as deep as a well, to-night. Your companions are hirelings; perhaps your +shipmates; or men to pilot you on this expedition!" + +"One is my shipmate, and the other is our pilot," said Manual, with more +truth than usual. + +"You are well provided. One thing more, and I shall become mute in my +turn. Does she whom you seek lie in this house?" + +"She does not; she lies but a short distance from this place; and I +should be a happy fellow could I but once more put foot----" + +"Eyes on her. Now listen, and you shall have your wish. You possess the +ability to march yet, which, considering the lateness of the hour, is +no trifling privilege; open that window--is it possible to descend from +it?" + +Manual eagerly complied, but he turned from the place in disappointment. + +"It would be certain death to attempt the leap. The devil only could +escape from it." + +"So I should think," returned Borroughcliffe, dryly. "You must be +content to pass for that respectable gentleman for the rest of your +days, in St. Ruth's Abbey. For through that identical hole must you wing +your flight on the pinions of love." + +"But how! The thing is impossible." + +"In imagination only. There is some stir, a good deal of foolish +apprehension, and a great excess of idle curiosity, among certain of the +tenants of this house, on your account. They fear the rebels, who, we +all know, have not soldiers enough to do their work neatly at home, and +who, of course, would never think of sending any here. You wish to be +snug--I wish to serve a brother in distress. Through that window you +must be supposed to fly--no matter how; while by following me you can +pass the sentinel, and retire peaceably, like any other mortal, on your +own two stout legs." + +This was a result that exceeded all that Manual had anticipated from +their amicable but droll dialogue; and the hint was hardly given, +before he threw on the garments that agitation had before rendered such +encumbrances; and in less time than we have taken to relate it, the +marine was completely equipped for his departure. In the mean time, +Captain Borroughcliffe raised himself to an extremely erect posture, +which he maintained with the inflexibility of a rigid martinet. When +he found himself established on his feet, the soldier intimated to his +prisoner that he was ready to proceed. The door was instantly opened by +Manual, and together they entered the gallery. + +"Who comes there?" cried the sentinel, with a vigilance and vigor that +he intended should compensate for his previous neglect of duty. + +"Walk straight, that he may see you," said Borroughcliffe, with much +philosophy. + +"Who goes there?" repeated the sentinel, throwing his musket to a poise, +with a rattling sound that echoed along the naked walls. + +"Walk crooked," added Borroughcliffe, "that if he fire he may miss." + +"We shall be shot at, with this folly," muttered Manual. + +"We are friends, and your officer is one of us." + +"Stand, friends--advance, officer, and give the counter-sign," cried the +sentinel. + +"That is much easier said than done," returned his captain; "forward, +Mr. Amphibious, you can walk like a postman--move to the front, and +proclaim the magical word, 'loyalty;' 'tis a standing countersign, ready +furnished to my hands by mine hosts the colonel; your road is then clear +before you--but hark----" + +Manual made an eager step forward, when, recollecting himself, he +turned, and added: "My assistants, the seamen! I can do nothing without +them." + +"Lo! the keys are in the doors, ready for my admission," said the +Englishman; "turn them, and bring out your forces." + +Quick as thought, Manual was in the room of Griffith, to whom he briefly +communicated the situation of things, when he reappeared in the passage, +and then proceeded on a similar errand to the room of the Pilot. + +"Follow, and behave as usual," he whispered; "say not a word, but trust +all to me." + +The Pilot arose, and obeyed these instructions without asking a +question, with the most admirable coolness. + +"I am now ready to proceed," said Manual, when they had joined +Borroughcliffe. + +During the short time occupied in these arrangements, the sentinel +and his captain had stood looking at each other with great military +exactitude, the former ambitious of manifesting his watchfulness, the +latter awaiting the return of the marine. The captain now beckoned to +Manual to advance and give the countersign. + +"Loyalty," whispered Manual, when he approached the sentinel. But the +soldier had been allowed time to reflect; and as he well understood the +situation of his officer, he hesitated to allow the prisoner to pass, +After a moment's pause, he said: + +"Advance, friends." At this summons the whole party moved to the +point of his bayonet; when the man continued: "The prisoners have the +countersign, Captain Borroughcliffe, but I dare not let them pass." + +"Why not?" asked the captain; "am I not here, sirrah? do you not know +me?" + +"Yes, sir, I know your honor, and respect your honor; but I was posted +here by my sergeant, and ordered not to let these men pass out on any +account." + +"That's what I call good discipline," said Borroughcliffe, with an +exulting laugh; "I knew the lad would not mind me any more than that he +would obey the orders of that lamp. Here are no slaves of the lamp, my +amphibious comrade; drill ye your marines in this consummate style to +niceties?" + +"What means this trifling?" said the Pilot, sternly. + +"Ah! I thought I should turn the laugh on you," cried Manual, affecting +to join in the mirth; "we know all these things well, and we practise +them in our corps; but though the sentinel cannot know you, the sergeant +will; so let him be called and orders be given through him to the man on +post, that we may pass out." + +"Your throat grows uneasy, I see," said Borroughcliffe; "you crave, +another bottle of the generous fluid. Well, it shall be done. Sentinel, +you can throw up yon window, and give a call to the sergeant." + +"The outcry will ruin us," said the Pilot, in a whisper to Griffith. + +"Follow me," said the young sailor. The sentinel was turning to execute +the orders of his captain as Griffith spoke, when springing forward, in +an instant he wrenched the musket from his hands; a heavy blow with +its butt felled the astonished soldier to the floor; then, poising his +weapon, Griffith exclaimed: + +"Forward! we can clear our own way now!" + +"On!" said the Pilot, leaping lightly over the prostrate soldier, a +dagger gleaming in one hand and a pistol presented in the other. + +Manual was by his side in an instant, armed in a similar manner; and +the three rushed together from the building, without meeting any one to +oppose their flight. + +Borroughcliffe was utterly unable to follow; and so astounded was he by +this sudden violence, that several minutes passed before he was restored +to the use of his speech, a faculty which seldom deserted him. The man +had recovered his senses and his feet, however; and the two stood gazing +at each other in mute condolence. At length the sentinel broke the +silence: + +"Shall I give the alarm, your honor?" + +"I rather think not, Peters. I wonder if there be any such thing as +gratitude or good-breeding in the marine corps!" + +"I hope your honor will remember that I did my duty, and that I was +disarmed while executing your orders." + +"I can remember nothing about it, Peters, except that it is rascally +treatment, and such as I shall yet make this amphibious aquatic +gentleman answer for. But lock the door-look as if nothing had happened, +and----" + +"Ah! your honor, that is not so easily done as your honor may please to +think. I have not any doubt but there is the print of the breech of a +musket stamped on my back and shoulders, as plainly to be seen as that +light." + +"Then look as you please; but hold your peace, sirrah. Here is a +crown to buy a plaster. I heard the dog throw away your musket on the +stairs--go seek it, and return to your post; and when you are relieved, +act as if nothing had happened. I take the responsibility on myself." + +The man obeyed; and when he was once more armed, Borroughcliffe, a +good deal sobered by the surprise, made the best of his way to his +own apartment, muttering threats and execrations against the "corps of +marines and the whole race," as he called them, "of aquatic amphibii." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + "Away! away! the covey's fled the cover; + Put forth the dogs, and let the falcon fly-- + I'll spend some leisure in the keen pursuit, + Nor longer waste my hours in sluggish quiet." + + +The soldier passed the remainder of the night in the heavy sleep of a +bacchanalian, and awoke late on the following morning, only when aroused +by the entrance of his servant. When the customary summons had induced +the captain to unclose his eyelids, he arose in his bed, and after +performing the usual operation of a diligent friction on his organs of +vision, he turned sternly to his man, and remarked with an ill-humor +that seemed to implicate the innocent servant in the fault which his +master condemned: + +"I thought, sirrah, that I ordered Sergeant Drill not to let a drumstick +touch a sheepskin while we quartered in the dwelling of this hospitable +old colonel! Does the fellow despise my commands? or does he think the +roll of a drum, echoing through the crooked passages of St. Ruth, a +melody that is fit to disturb the slumbers of its inmates?" + +"I believe, sir," returned the man, "it was the wish of Colonel Howard +himself, that on this occasion the sergeant should turn out the guard by +the roll of the drum." + +"The devil it was!--I see the old fellow loves to tickle the drum of his +own ear now and then with familiar sounds; but have you had a muster of +the cattle from the farmyard too, as well as a parade of the guard? I +hear the trampling of feet, as if the old abbey were a second ark, and +all the beasts of the field were coming aboard of us!" + +"'Tis nothing but the party of dragoons from----, who are wheeling into +the courtyard, sir, where the colonel has gone out to receive them." + +"Courtyard! light dragoons!" repeated Borroughcliffe, in amazement; "and +has it come to this, that twenty stout fellows of the ----th are not +enough to guard such a rookery as this old abbey, against the ghosts and +northeast storms, but we must have horse to reinforce us? Hum! I +suppose some of these booted gentlemen have heard of this South Carolina +Madeira." + +"Oh, no, sir!" cried his man; "it is only the party that Mr. Dillon went +to seek last evening, after you saw fit, sir, to put the three pirates +in irons." + +"Pirates in irons," said Borroughcliffe, again passing his hands over +his eyes, though in a more reflecting manner than before: "ha! oh! I +remember to have put three suspicious looking rascals in the black-hole, +or some such place; but what can Mr. Dillon, or the light dragoons, have +to do with these fellows?" + +"That we do not know, sir; but it is said below, sir, as some suspicions +had fallen on their being conspirators and rebels from the colonies, and +that they were great officers and Tories in disguise; some said that one +was General Washington, and others that it was only three members of the +Yankee parliament, come over to get our good old English fashions to set +themselves up with." + +"Washington! Members of Congress! Go--go, simpleton, and learn how +many these troopers muster, and what halt they make; but stay, place +my clothes near me. Now, do as I bid you, and if the dragoon officer +enquire for me, make my respects, and tell him I shall be with him soon. +Go, fellow; go." + +When the man left the room, the captain, while he proceeded with the +business of the toilet, occasionally gave utterance to the thoughts that +crowded on his recollection, after the manner of a soliloquy. + +"Ay! my commission to a half-pay ensigncy, that some of these lazy +fellows, who must have a four-legged beast to carry them to the wars, +have heard of the 'south side.' South side! I believe I must put an +advertisement in the London Gazette, calling that amphibious soldier +to an account If he be a true man, he will not hide himself under his +incognito, but will give me a meeting. If that should fail, damme, I'll +ride across to Yarmouth, and call out the first of the mongrel breed +that I fall in with. 'Sdeath! Was ever such an insult practised on a +gentleman and a soldier before? Would that I only knew his name! Why, +if the tale should get abroad, I shall be the standing joke of the +mess-table, until some greater fool than myself can be found. It would +cost me at least six duels to get rid of it. No, no; not a trigger will +I pull in my own regiment about the silly affair: but I'll have a crack +at some marine in very revenge; for that is no more than reasonable. +That Peters! if the scoundrel should dare whisper anything of the manner +in which he was stamped with the breech of the musket! I can't flog him +for it; but if I don't make it up to him the first time he gives me a +chance, I am ignorant of the true art of balancing regimental accounts." + +By the time the recruiting officer had concluded this soliloquy, which +affords a very fair exposition of the current of his thoughts, he was +prepared to meet the new comers, and he accordingly descended to the +courtyard, as in duty bound, to receive them in his proper person. +Boroughcliffe encountered his host, in earnest conversation with a young +man in a cavalry uniform, in the principal entrance of the abbey, and +was greeted by the former with: + +"A good morning to you, my worthy guard and protector! here is rare news +for your loyal ears. It seems that our prisoners are enemies to the king +in disguise; and, Cornet Fitzgerald--Captain Borroughcliffe, of the--th, +permit me to make you acquainted with Mr. Fitzgerald of the --th light +dragoons." While the soldiers exchanged their salutations, the old man +continued: "The cornet has been kind enough to lead down a detachment of +his troop to escort the rogues up to London, or some other place, where +they will find enough good and loyal officers to form a court-martial, +that can authorize their execution as spies. Christopher Dillon, my +worthy kinsman, Kit, saw into their real characters at a glance; while +you and I, like two unsuspecting boys, thought the rascals would have +made fit men to serve the king. But Kit has an eye and a head that +few enjoy like him, and I would that he might receive his dues at the +English bar." + +"It is to be desired, sir," said Borroughcliffe, with a grave aspect, +that was produced chiefly by his effort to give effect to his sarcasm, +but a little, also, by the recollection of the occurrences that were yet +to be explained; "but what reason has Mr. Christopher Dillon to believe +that the three seamen are more or less than they seem?" + +"I know not what; but a good and sufficient reason, I will venture my +life," cried the colonel; "Kit is a lad for reasons, which you know is +the foundation of his profession, and knows how to deliver them manfully +in the proper place; but you know, gentlemen, that the members of +the bar cannot assume the open and bold front that becomes a soldier, +without often endangering the cause in which they are concerned. No, no; +trust me, Kit has his reasons, and in good time will he deliver them." + +"I hope, then," said the captain carelessly, "that it may be found that +we have had a proper watch on our charge, Colonel Howard; I think you +told me the windows were too high for an escape in that direction, for I +had no sentinel outside of the building." + +"Fear nothing, my worthy friend," cried his host; "unless your men +have slept, instead of watching, we have them safe; but, as it will be +necessary to convey them away before any of the civil authority can +lay hands on them, let us proceed to the rear, and unkennel the dogs. A +party of the horse might proceed at once with them to----, while we +are breaking our fasts. It would be no very wise thing to allow the +civilians to deal with them, for they seldom have a true idea of the +nature of the crime." + +"Pardon me, sir," said the young officer of horse; "I was led to +believe, by Mr. Dillon, that we might meet with a party of the enemy in +some little force, and that I should find a pleasanter duty than that +of a constable; besides, sir, the laws of the realm guarantee to the +subject a trial by his peers, and it is more than I dare do to carry the +men to the barracks, without first taking them before a magistrate." + +"Ay! you speak of loyal and dutiful subjects," said the colonel; "and, +as respects them, doubtless, you are right; but such privileges are +withheld from enemies and traitors." + +"It must be first proved that they are such, before they can receive the +treatment or the punishment that they merit," returned the young man, +a little positively, who felt the more confidence, because he had only +left the Temple the year before. "If I take charge of the men at all, it +will be only to transfer them safely to the civil authority." + +"Let us go and see the prisoners," cried Borroughcliffe, with a view to +terminate a discussion that was likely to wax warm, and which he knew +to be useless; "perhaps they may quietly enroll themselves under the +banners of our sovereign, when all other interference, save that of +wholesome discipline, will become unnecessary." + +"Nay, if they are of a rank in life to render such a step probable," +returned the cornet, "I am well content that the matter should be thus +settled. I trust, however, that Captain Borroughcliffe will consider +that the --th light dragoons has some merit in this affair, and that we +are far short of our numbers in the second squadron." + +"We shall not be difficult at a compromise," returned the captain; +"there is one apiece for us, and a toss of a guinea shall determine who +has the third man. Sergeant! follow, to deliver over your prisoners, and +relieve your sentry." + +As they proceeded in compliance with this arrangement, to the building +in the rear, Colonel Howard, who made one of the party, observed: + +"I dispute not the penetration of Captain Borroughcliffe, but I +understand Mr. Christopher Dillon that there is reason to believe one of +these men, at least, to be of a class altogether above that of a common +soldier; in which case, your plans may fall to the ground." + +"And who does he deem the gentleman to be?" asked Borroughcliffe--"a +Bourbon in disguise, or a secret representative of the rebel congress?" + +"Nay, nay: he said nothing more; my kinsman Kit keeps a close mouth +whenever Dame Justice is about to balance her scales. There are men who +may be said to have been born to be soldiers; of which number I should +call the Earl Cornwallis, who makes such head against the rebels in the +two Carolinas; others seem to be intended by nature for divines, and +saints on earth, such as their graces of York and Canterbury; while +another class appears as if it were impossible for them to behold things +unless with discriminating, impartial, and disinterested eyes; to which +I should say, belong my Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, and my kinsman, +Mr. Christopher Dillon. I trust, gentlemen, that when the royal arms +have crushed this rebellion, his majesty's ministers will see the +propriety of extending the dignity of the peerage to the colonies, as a +means of reward to the loyal, and a measure of policy to prevent further +disaffection; in which case I hope to see my kinsman decorated with the +ermine of justice bordering the mantle of a peer." + +"Your expectations, my excellent sir, are right reasonable; as I doubt +not your kinsman will become, at some future day, that which he is +not at present, unhappily for his deserts, right honorable," said +Borroughcliffe. "But be of good heart, sir; from what I have seen of +his merits, I doubt not that the law will yet have its revenge in due +season, and that we shall be properly edified and instructed how to +attain elevation in life, by the future exaltation of Mr. Christopher +Dillon; though by what title he is to be then known, I am at a loss to +say." + +Colonel Howard was too much occupied with his own ex-parte views of +the war and things in general, to observe the shrewd looks that were +exchanged between the soldiers; but he answered with perfect simplicity: + +"I have reflected much on that point, and have come to the opinion, +that as he has a small estate on that river, he should, cause his first +barony to be known by the title of 'Pedee.'" + +"Barony!" echoed Borroughcliffe; "I trust the new nobles of a new +world will disdain the old worn-out distinctions of a hackneyed +universe--eschew all baronies, mine host, and cast earldoms and dukedoms +to the shades. The immortal Locke has unlocked his fertile mind +to furnish you with appellations suited to the originality of your +condition and the nature of your country. Ah! here comes the Cacique of +Pedee, in his proper person!" + +As Borroughcliffe spoke, they were ascending the flight of stone steps +which led to the upper apartments, where the prisoners were still +supposed to be confined; and, at the same moment, the sullen, gloomy +features of Dillon were seen as he advanced along the lower passage, +with an expression of malicious exultation hovering above his dark +brow, that denoted his secret satisfaction. As the hours passed away the +period had come round when the man who had been present at the escape +of Griffith and his friends was again posted to perform the duty of +sentinel. As this soldier well knew the situation of his trust, he was +very coolly adjusted, with his back against the wall, endeavoring to +compensate himself for his disturbed slumbers during the night, when the +sounds of the approaching footsteps warned him to assume the appearance +of watchfulness. + +"How, now, fellow!" cried Borroughcliffe; "what have you to say to your +charge!" + +"I believe the men sleep, your honor; for I have heard no noises from +the rooms since I relieved the last sentinel." + +"The lads are weary, and are right to catch what sleep they can in +their comfortable quarters," returned the captain. "Stand to your arms, +sirrah! and throw back your shoulders; and do not move like a crab, or a +train-band corporal; do you not see an officer of horse coming up? Would +you disgrace your regiment?" + +"Ah! your honor, Heaven only knows whether I shall ever get my shoulders +even again." + +"Buy another plaster," said Borroughcliffe, slipping a shilling into his +hand; "observe, you know nothing but your duty." + +"Which is, your honor----" + +"To mind me, and be silent. But here comes the sergeant with his guard: +he will relieve you." + +The rest of the party stopped at the other end of the gallery, to allow +the few files of soldiers who were led by the orderly to pass them, when +they all moved towards the prison in a body. The sentinel was relieved +in due military style; when Dillon placed his hand on one of the doors, +and said, with a malicious sneer: + +"Open here first, Mr. Sergeant; this cage holds the man we most want." + +"Softly, softly, my Lord Chief Justice, and most puissant Cacique," said +the captain; "the hour has not yet come to empanel a jury of fat yeomen, +and no man must interfere with my boys but myself." + +"The rebuke is harsh, I must observe, Captain Borroughcliffe," said the +colonel, "but I pardon it because it is military. No, no, Kit these nice +points must be left to martial usages. Be not impatient, my cousin; I +doubt not the hour will come, when you shall hold the scales of justice +and satisfy your loyal longings on many a traitor. Zounds! I could +almost turn executioner myself in such a cause!" + +"I can curb my impatience, sir," returned Dillon, with hypocritical +meekness, and great self-command, though his eyes were gleaming with +savage exultation. "I beg pardon of Captain Borroughcliffe, if, in my +desire to render the civil authority superior to the military, I have +trespassed on your customs." + +"You see, Borroughcliffe!" exclaimed the colonel, exultingly, "the lad +is ruled by an instinct in all matters of law and justice. I hold it +to be impossible that a man thus endowed can ever become a disloyal +subject. But our breakfast waits, and Mr. Fitzgerald has breathed his +horse this cool morning; let us proceed at once to the examination." + +Borroughcliffe motioned to the sergeant to open the door, when the whole +party entered the vacant room. + +"Your prisoner has escaped!" cried the cornet, after a single moment +employed in making sure of the fact. + +"Never! it must not, shall not be!" cried Dillon, quivering with rage, +as he glanced his eyes furiously around the apartment; "here has been +treachery! and foul treason to the king!" + +"By whom committed, Mr. Christopher Dillon?" said Borroughcliffe, +knitting his brow, and speaking in a suppressed tone: "dare you, or any +man living, charge treason to the --th!" + +A very different feeling from rage appeared now to increase the +shivering propensities of the future judge, who at once perceived it was +necessary to moderate his passion; and he returned, as it were by magic, +to his former plausible and insinuating manner, as he replied: + +"Colonel Howard will understand the cause of my warm feelings, when I +tell him that this very room contained, last night, that disgrace to his +name and country, as well as traitor to his king, Edward Griffith, of +the rebel navy." + +"What!" exclaimed the colonel, starting, "has that recreant youth dared +to pollute the threshold of St. Ruth with his footstep? but you dream, +Kit; there would be too much hardihood in the act." + +"It appears not, sir," returned the other; "for though in this very +apartment he most certainly was, he is here no longer. And yet from this +window, though open, escape would seem to be impossible, even with much +assistance." + +"If I thought that the contumelious boy had dared to be guilty of such +an act of gross impudence," cried the colonel, "I should be tempted to +resume my arms, in my old age, to punish his effrontery. What! is it not +enough that he entered my dwelling in the colony, availing himself of +the distraction of the times, with an intent to rob me of my choicest +jewel--ay! gentlemen, even of my brother Harry's daughter--but that +he must also invade this hallowed island with a like purpose, thus +thrusting his treason, as it were, into the presence of his abused +prince! No, no, Kit, thy loyalty misleads thee; he has never dared to do +the deed!" + +"Listen, sir, and you shall be convinced," returned the pliant +Christopher, "I do not wonder at your unbelief; but as a good testimony +is the soul of justice, I cannot resist its influence. You know, that +two vessels, corresponding in appearance to the two rebel cruisers that +annoyed us so much in the Carolinas, have been seen on the coast +for several days, which induced us to beg the protection of Captain +Borroughcliffe. Three men are found, the day succeeding that on which +we hear that these vessels came within the shoals, stealing through the +grounds of St. Ruth, in sailors' attire. They are arrested, and in the +voice of one of them, sir, I immediately detected that of the traitor +Griffith. He was disguised, it is true, and cunningly so; but when a man +has devoted his whole life to the business of investigating truth," +he added, with an air of much modesty, "it is difficult to palm any +disguise on his senses." + +Colonel Howard was strongly impressed with the probability of these +conjectures, and the closing appeal confirmed him immediately in his +kinsman's opinion, while Borroughcliffe listened with deep interest to +the speakers, and more than once bit his lip with vexation. When Dillon +concluded, the soldier exclaimed: + +"I'll swear there was a man among them who has been used to the drill." + +"Nothing more probable, my worthy friend," said Dillon; "for as the +landing was never made without some evil purpose, rely on it, he came +not unguarded or unprotected. I dare say, the three were all officers, +and one of them might have been of the marines. That they had assistance +is certain, and it was because I felt assured they had a force secreted +at hand, that I went in quest of the reinforcement." + +There was so much plausibility, and, in fact, so much truth in all this, +that conviction was unwillingly admitted by Borroughcliffe, who walked +aside a moment to conceal the confusion which, in spite of his ordinary +inflexibility of countenance, he felt was manifesting itself in his +rubric visage, while he muttered: + +"The amphibious dog! he was a soldier, but a traitor and an enemy. No +doubt he will have a marvelous satisfaction in delighting the rebellious +ears of his messmates, by rehearsing the manner in which he poured cold +water down the back of one Borroughcliffe, of the --th, who was amusing +him, at the same time, by pouring good, rich, south-side Madeira down +his own rebellious throat. I have a good mind to exchange my scarlet +coat for a blue jacket, on purpose to meet the sly rascal on the other +element, where we can discuss the matter over again. Well, sergeant, do +you find the other two?" + +"They are gone together, your honor," returned the orderly, who just +then re-entered from an examination of the other apartments; "and unless +the evil one helped them off, it's a mysterious business to me." + +"Colonel Howard," said Borroughcliffe, gravely, "your precious +south-side cordial must be banished from the board, regularly with the +cloth, until I have my revenge; for satisfaction of this insult is mine +to claim, and I seek it this instant Go, Drill; detail a guard for the +protection of the house, and feed the rest of your command, then beat +the general, and we will take the field. Ay! my worthy veteran host, for +the first time since the days of the unlucky Charles Stuart, there shall +be a campaign in the heart of England." + +"Ah! rebellion, rebellion! accursed, unnatural, unholy rebellion, caused +the calamity then and now!" exclaimed the colonel. + +"Had I not better take a hasty refreshment for my men and their horses?" +asked the cornet; "and then make a sweep for a few miles along the +coast? It may be my luck to encounter the fugitives, or some part of +their force." + +"You have anticipated my very thoughts," returned Borroughcliffe. "The +Cacique of Pedee may close the gates of St. Ruth, and, by barring +the windows, and arming the servants, he can make a very good defence +against an attack, should they think proper to assail our fortress; +after he has repulsed them, leave it to me to cut off their retreat." + +Dillon but little relished this proposal; for he thought an attempt to +storm the abbey would be the most probable course adopted by Griffith, +in order to rescue his mistress; and the jurist had none of the spirit +of a soldier in his composition. In truth, it was this deficiency that +had induced him to depart in person, the preceding night, in quest of +the reinforcement, instead of sending an express on the errand, But +the necessity of devising an excuse for a change in this dangerous +arrangement was obviated by Colonel Howard, who exclaimed, as soon as +Borroughcliffe concluded his plan: + +"To me, Captain Borroughcliffe, belongs, of right, the duty of defending +St. Ruth, and it shall be no boy's play to force my works; but Kit would +rather try his chance in the open field, I know, Come, let us to our +breakfast, and then he shall mount, and act as a guide to the horse, +along the difficult passes of the seashore." + +"To breakfast then let it be," cried the captain; "I distrust not my +new commander of the fortress; and in the field the Cacique forever! We +follow you, my worthy host." + +This arrangement was hastily executed in all its parts. The gentlemen +swallowed their meal in the manner of men who ate only to sustain +nature, and as a duty; after which the whole house became a scene of +bustling activity. The troops were mustered and paraded; Borroughcliffe, +setting apart a guard for the building, placed himself at the head of +the remainder of his little party, and they moved out of the courtyard +in open order, and at quick time. Dillon joyfully beheld himself mounted +on one of the best of Colonel Howard's hunters, where he knew that +he had the control, in a great measure, of his own destiny; his +bosom throbbing with a powerful desire to destroy Griffith, while he +entertained a lively wish to effect his object without incurring any +personal risk. At his side was the young cornet, seated with +practised grace in his saddle, who, after giving time for the party of +foot-soldiers to clear the premises, glanced his eye along the few files +he led, and then gave the word to move. The little division of horse +wheeled briskly into open column, and the officer touching his cap to +Colonel Howard, they dashed through the gateway together, and pursued +their route towards the seaside at a hand-gallop. + +The veteran lingered a few minutes, while the clattering of hoofs was to +be heard, or the gleam of arms was visible, to hear and gaze at sounds +and sights that he still loved; after which, he proceeded, in person, +and not without a secret enjoyment of the excitement, to barricade the +doors and windows, with an undaunted determination of making, in case of +need, a stout defence. + +St. Ruth lay but a short two miles from the ocean; to which numerous +roads led, through the grounds of the abbey, which extended to the +shore. Along one of these paths Dillon conducted his party, until, after +a few minutes of hard riding, they approached the cliffs, when, posting +his troopers under cover of a little copse, the cornet rode in advance +with his guide, to the verge of the perpendicular rocks, whose bases +were washed by the foam that still whitened the waters from the surges +of the subsiding sea. + +The gale had broken before the escape of the prisoners; and as the power +of the eastern tempest had gradually diminished, a light current from +the south, that blew directly along the land, prevailed; and, though the +ocean still rolled in fearful billows, their surfaces were smooth, and +they were becoming, at each moment, less precipitous and more regular. +The eyes of the horsemen were cast in vain over the immense expanse of +water that was glistening brightly under the rays of the sun, which had +just risen from its bosom, in quest of some object or distant sail that +might confirm their suspicions, or relieve their doubts. But everything +of that description appeared to have avoided the dangerous navigation +during the violence of the late tempest, and Dillon, was withdrawing his +eyes in disappointment from the vacant view, when, as they fell towards +the shore, he beheld that which caused him to exclaim: + +"There they go! and, by heaven, they will escape!" + +The cornet looked in the direction of the other's finger, when he +beheld, at a short distance from the land, and apparently immediately +under his feet, a little boat that looked like a dark shell upon the +water, rising and sinking amid the waves, as if the men it obviously +contained were resting on their oars in idle expectation. + +"'Tis they!" continued Dillon; "or, what is more probable, it is their +boat waiting to convey them to their vessel; no common business would +induce seamen to lie in this careless manner, within such a narrow +distance of the surf." + +"And what is to be done? They cannot be made to feel horse where +they are; nor would the muskets of the foot be of any use. A light +three-pounder would do its work handsomely on them!" + +The strong desire which Dillon entertained to intercept, or rather to +destroy, the party, rendered him prompt at expedients. After a moment of +musing, he replied: + +"The runaways must yet be on the land; and by scouring the coast, and +posting men at proper intervals, their retreat can easily be prevented; +in the mean time I will ride under the spur to----bay, where one of his +majesty's cutters now lies at anchor. It is but half an hour of hard +riding, and I can be on board of her. The wind blows directly in her +favor; and if we can once bring her down behind that headland, we shall +infallibly cut off or sink these midnight depredators." + +"Off, then!" cried the cornet, whose young blood was boiling for a +skirmish; "you will at least drive them to the shore, where I can deal +with them." + +The words were hardly uttered, before Dillon, after galloping furiously +along the cliffs, and turning short into a thick wood that lay in his +route, was out of sight. The loyalty of this gentleman was altogether +of a calculating nature, and was intimately connected with what he +considered his fealty to himself. He believed that the possession of +Miss Howard's person and fortune were advantages that would much more +than counterbalance any elevation that he was likely to obtain by the +revolution of affairs in his native colony. He considered Griffith as +the only natural obstacle to his success; and he urged his horse forward +with a desperate determination to work the ruin of the young sailor +before another sun had set. When a man labors in an evil cause, with +such feelings, and with such incentives, he seldom slights or neglects +his work; and Mr. Dillon, accordingly, was on board the Alacrity several +minutes short of the time in which he had promised to perform the +distance. + +The plain old seaman, who commanded the cutter, listened to his tale +with cautious ears; and examined into the state of the weather, and +other matters connected with his duty, with the slow and deliberate +decision of one who had never done much to acquire a confidence in +himself, and who had been but niggardly rewarded for the little he had +actually performed. + +As Dillon was urgent, however, and the day seemed propitious, he at +length decided to act as he was desired, and the cutter was accordingly +gotten under way. + +A crew of something less than fifty men moved with no little of their +commander's deliberation; but as the little vessel rounded the point +behind which she had been anchored, her guns were cleared, and the usual +preparations were completed for immediate and actual service. + +Dillon, sorely against his will, was compelled to continue on board, in +order to point out the place where the suspecting boatmen were expected, +to be entrapped. Everything being ready, when they had gained a safe +distance from the land, the Alacrity was kept away before the wind, and +glided along the shore with a swift and easy progress that promised a +speedy execution of the business in which her commander had embarked. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + "_Pol_. Very like a whale." + _Shakespeare._ + + +Notwithstanding the object of their expedition was of a public nature, +the feelings which had induced both Griffith and Barnstable to accompany +the Pilot with so much willingness, it will easily be seen, were +entirely personal. The short intercourse that he had maintained with his +associates enabled the mysterious leader of their party to understand +the characters of his two principal officers so thoroughly, as to induce +him, when he landed, with the purpose of reconnoitering to ascertain +whether the objects of his pursuit still held their determination to +assemble at the appointed hour, to choose Griffith and Manual as his +only associates, leaving Barnstable in command of his own vessel, to +await their return, and to cover their retreat. A good deal of argument, +and some little of the authority of his superior officer, was necessary +to make Barnstable quietly acquiesce in this arrangement; but as his +good sense told him that nothing should be unnecessarily hazarded, until +the moment to strike the final blow had arrived, he became gradually +more resigned; taking care, however, to caution Griffith to reconnoiter +the abbey while his companion was reconnoitering ---- house. It was the +strong desire of Griffith to comply with this injunction, which carried +them a little out of their proper path, and led to the consequences that +we have partly related. The evening of that day was the time when the +Pilot intended to complete his enterprise, thinking to entrap his game +while enjoying the festivities that usually succeed their sports; and an +early hour in the morning was appointed, when Barnstable should appear +at the nearest point to the abbey, to take off his countrymen, in order +that they might be as little as possible subjected to the gaze of their +enemies by daylight. If they failed to arrive at the appointed time, his +instructions were to return to his schooner, which lay snugly embayed in +a secret and retired haven, that but few ever approached, either by land +or water. + +While the young cornet still continued gazing at the whale-boat (for it +was the party from the schooner that he saw), the hour expired for the +appearance of Griffith and his companions; and Barnstable reluctantly +determined to comply with the letter of his instructions, and leave them +to their own sagacity and skill to regain the Ariel. The boat had been +suffered to ride in the edge of the surf, since the appearance of the +sun; and the eyes of her crew were kept anxiously fixed on the cliffs, +though in vain, to discover the signal that was to call them to the +place of landing. After looking at his watch for the twentieth time, and +as often casting glances of uneasy dissatisfaction towards the shore, +the lieutenant exclaimed: + +"A charming prospect, this, Master Coffin, but rather too much poetry +in it for your taste; I believe you relish no land that is of a harder +consistency than mud!" + +"I was born on the waters, sir," returned the cockswain, from his snug +abode, where he was bestowed with his usual economy of room, "and it's +according to all things for a man to love his native soil. I'll not +deny, Captain Barnstable, but I would rather drop my anchor on a bottom +that won't broom a keel, though, at the same time, I harbor no great +malice against dry land." + +"I shall never forgive it, myself, if any accident has befallen Griffith +in this excursion," rejoined the lieutenant; "his Pilot may be a better +man on the water than on terra firma, long Tom." + +The cockswain turned his solemn visage, with an extraordinary meaning, +towards his commander, before he replied: + +"For as long a time as I have followed the waters, sir, and that has +been ever since I've drawn my rations, seeing that I was born while the +boat was crossing Nantucket shoals, I've never known a pilot come off in +greater need, than the one we fell in with, when we made that stretch of +two on the land, in the dog-watch of yesterday." + +"Ay! the fellow has played his part like a man; the occasion was great, +and it seems that he was quite equal to his work." + +"The frigate's people tell me, sir, that he handled the ship like a +top," continued the cockswain; "but she is a ship that is a nateral +inimy of the bottom!" + +"Can you say as much for this boat, Master Coffin?" cried Barnstable: +"keep her out of the surf, or you'll have us rolling in upon the beach, +presently, like an empty water-cask; you must remember that we cannot +all wade, like yourself in two-fathom water." + +The cockswain cast a cool glance at the crests of foam that were +breaking over the tops of the billows, within a few yards of where their +boat was riding, and called aloud to his men: + +"Pull a stroke or two; away with her into dark water." + +The drop of the oars resembled the movements of a nice machine, and the +light boat skimmed along the water like a duck that approaches to the +very brink of some imminent danger, and then avoids it, at the most +critical moment, apparently without an effort. While this necessary +movement was making, Barnstable arose, and surveyed the cliffs with keen +eyes, and then turning once more in disappointment from his search, he +said: + +"Pull more from the land, and let her run down at an easy stroke to the +schooner. Keep a lookout at the cliffs, boys; it is possible that they +are stowed in some of the holes in the rocks, for it's no daylight +business they are on." + +The order was promptly obeyed, and they had glided along for nearly a +mile in this manner, in the most profound silence, when suddenly the +stillness was broken by a heavy rush of air, and a dash of the water, +seemingly at no great distance from them. + +"By heaven, Tom," cried Barnstable, starting, "there is the blow of a +whale!" + +"Ay, ay, sir," returned the cockswain with undisturbed composure; "here +is his spout not half a mile to seaward; the easterly gale has driven +the creatur to leeward, and he begins to find himself in shoal water. +He's been sleeping, while he should have been working to windward!" + +"The fellow takes it coolly, too! he's in no hurry to get an offing!" + +"I rather conclude, sir," said the cockswain, rolling over his tobacco +in his mouth very composedly, while his little sunken eyes began +to twinkle with pleasure at the sight, "the gentleman has lost his +reckoning, and don't know which way to head to take himself back into +blue water." + +"Tis a finback!" exclaimed the lieutenant; "he will soon make headway, +and be off." + +"No, sir, 'tis a right-whale," answered Tom; "I saw his spout; he threw +up a pair of as pretty rainbows as a Christian would wish to look at. +He's a raal oil-butt, that fellow!" + +Barnstable laughed, turned himself away from the tempting sight, and +tried to look at the cliffs; and then unconsciously bent his longing +eyes again on the sluggish animal, who was throwing his huge carcass, at +times, for many feet from the water, in idle gambols. The temptation +for sport, and the recollection of his early habits, at length prevailed +over his anxiety in behalf of his friends, and the young officer +inquired of his cockswain: + +"Is there any whale-line in the boat, to make fast to that harpoon which +you bear about with you in fair weather or foul?" + +"I never trust the boat from the schooner without part of a shot, sir," +returned the cockswain; "there if something nateral in the sight of a +tub to my old eyes." + +Barnstable looked at his watch, and again at the cliffs, when he +exclaimed, in joyous tones: + +"Give strong way, my hearties! There seems nothing better to be done; +let us have a stroke of a harpoon at that impudent rascal." + +The men shouted spontaneously, and the old cockswain suffered his solemn +visage to relax into a small laugh, while the whale-boat sprang forward +like a courser for the goal. During the few minutes they were pulling +towards their game, long Tom arose from his crouching attitude in the +stern-sheets, and transferred his huge form to the bows of the boat, +where he made such preparations to strike the whale as the occasion +required. The tub, containing about half of a whale-line, was placed at +the feet of Barnstabie, who had been preparing an oar to steer with in +place of the rudder, which was unshipped, in order that, if necessary, +the boat might be whirled round when not advancing. + +Their approach was utterly unnoticed by the monster of the deep, who +continued to amuse himself with throwing the water in two circular +spouts high into the air, occasionally flourishing the broad flukes of +his tail with a graceful but terrific force, until the hardy seamen +were within a few hundred feet of him, when he suddenly cast his head +downward and, without an apparent effort, reared his immense body for +many feet above the water, waving his tail violently, and producing a +whizzing noise, that sounded like the rushing of winds. + +The cockswain stood erect, poising his harpoon, ready for the blow; but +when he beheld the creature assume this formidable attitude, he waved +his hand to his commander, who instantly signed to his men to cease +rowing. In this situation the sportsmen rested a few moments, while the +whale, struck several blows on the water in rapid succession, the noise +of which re-echoed along the cliffs, like the hollow reports of so +many cannon. After this wanton exhibition of his terrible strength, the +monster sank again into his native element, and slowly disappeared from +the eyes of his pursuers. + +"Which way did he head, Tom?" cried Barnstable, the moment the whale was +out of sight. + +"Pretty much up and down, sir," returned the cockswain, whose eye was +gradually brightened with the excitement of the sport; "he'll soon run +his nose against the bottom if he stands long on that course, and will +be glad to get another snuff of pure air; send her a few fathoms to +starboard, sir, and I promise we shall not be out of his track." + +The conjecture of the experienced old seaman proved true; for in a few +moments the water broke near them, and another spout was cast into +the air, when the huge animal rushed for half his length in the same +direction, and fell on the sea with a turbulence and foam equal to that +which is produced by the launching of a vessel, for the first time, into +its proper element. After this evolution the whale rolled heavily, and +seemed to rest for further efforts. + +His slightest movements were closely watched by Barnstable and his +cockswain, and when he was in a state of comparative rest, the former +gave a signal to his crew to ply their oars once more. A few long and +vigorous strokes sent the boat directly up to the broadside of the +whale, with its bows pointing towards one of the fins, which was, at +times, as the animal yielded sluggishly to the action of the waves, +exposed to view. The cockswain poised his harpoon with much precision, +and then darted it from him with a violence that buried the iron in the +blubber of their foe. The instant the blow was made, long Tom shouted, +with singular earnestness: + +"Starn all!" + +"Stern all!" echoed Barnstable; when the obedient seamen, by united +efforts, forced the boat in a backward direction beyond the reach of +any blow from their formidable antagonist. The alarmed animal, however, +meditated no such resistance; ignorant of his own power, and of the +insignificance of his enemies, he sought refuge in flight. One moment +of stupid surprise succeeded the entrance of the iron, when he cast his +huge tail into the air, with a violence that threw the sea around him +into increased commotion, and then disappeared with the quickness of +lightning, amid a cloud of foam. + +"Snub him!" shouted Barnstable; "hold on, Tom; he rises already." + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied the composed cockswain, seizing the line, +which was running out of the boat with a velocity that rendered such a +manoeuvre rather hazardous, and causing it to yield more gradually round +the large loggerhead that was placed in the bows of the boat for that +purpose. Presently the line stretched forward, and rising to the surface +with tremulous vibrations, it indicated the direction in which the +animal might be expected to reappear. Barnstable had cast the bows of +the boat towards that point, before the terrified and wounded victim +rose once more to the surface, whose time was, however, no longer wasted +in his sports, but who cast the waters aside as he forced his way, with +prodigious velocity, along the surface. The boat was dragged violently +in his wake, and cut through the billows with a terrific rapidity, that +at moments appeared to bury the slight fabric in the ocean. When long +Tom beheld his victim throwing his spouts on high again, he pointed with +exultation to the jetting fluid, which was streaked with the deep red of +blood, and cried: + +"Ay! I've touched the fellow's life! it must be more than two foot of +blubber that stops my iron from reaching the life of any whale that ever +sculled the ocean!" + +"I believe you have saved yourself the trouble of using the bayonet you +have rigged for a lance," said his commander, who entered into the sport +with all the ardor of one whose youth had been chiefly passed in such +pursuits: "feel your line, Master Coffin; can we haul alongside of our +enemy? I like not the course he is steering, as he tows us from the +schooner." + +"'Tis the creatur's way, sir," said the cockswain; "you know they need +the air in their nostrils, when they run, the same as a man; but lay +hold, boys, and let's haul up to him." + +The seamen now seized the whale-line, and slowly drew their boat +to within a few feet of the tail of the fish, whose progress became +sensibly less rapid, as he grew weak with the loss of blood. In a few +minutes he stopped running, and appeared to roll uneasily on the water, +as if suffering the agony of death. + +"Shall we pull in, and finish him, Tom?" cried Barnstable; "a few sets +from your bayonet would do it." + +The cockswain stood examining his game with cool discretion, and replied +to this interrogatory: + +"No, sir, no--he's going into his flurry; there's no occasion for +disgracing ourselves by using a soldier's weapon in taking a whale. +Starn off, sir, starn off! the creater's in his flurry!" + +The warning of the prudent cockswain was promptly obeyed, and the boat +cautiously drew off to a distance, leaving to the animal a clear +space, while under its dying agonies. From a state of perfect rest, the +terrible monster threw its tail on high, as when in sport, but its blows +were trebled in rapidity and violence, till all was hid from view by a +pyramid of foam, that was deeply dyed with blood. The roarings of the +fish were like the bellowing of a herd of bulls; and to one who was +ignorant of the fact, it would have appeared as if a thousand monsters +were engaged in deadly combat behind the bloody mist that obscured the +view. Gradually, these effects subsided, and when the discolored water +again settled down to the long and regular swell of the ocean, the +fish was seen, exhausted, and yielding passively to its fate. As life +departed, the enormous black mass rolled to one side; and when the white +and glistening skin of the belly became apparent, the seamen well knew +that their victory was achieved. + +"What's to be done now?" said Barnstable, as he stood and gazed with a +diminished excitement at their victim; "he will yield no food, and his +carcass will probably drift to land, and furnish our enemies with the +oil." + +"If I had but that creatur in Boston Bay," said the cockswain, "it would +prove the making of me; but such is my luck forever! Pull up, at any +rate, and let me get my harpoon and line--the English shall never get +them while old Tom Coffin can blow." + +"Don't speak too fast," said the strokesman of the boat; "whether he get +your iron or not, here he comes in chase!" + +"What mean you, fellow?" cried Barnstable. + +"Captain Barnstable can look for himself," returned the seaman, "and +tell whether I speak truth." + +The young sailor turned, and saw the Alacrity bearing down before the +wind, with all her sails set, as she rounded a headland, but a short +half-league to windward of the place where the boat lay. + +"Pass that glass to me," said the captain, with steady composure. "This +promises us work in one of two ways: if she be armed, it has become our +turn to run; if not, we are strong enough to carry her." + +A very brief survey made the experienced officer acquainted with the +true character of the vessel in sight; and, replacing the glass with +much coolness, he said: + +"That fellow shows long arms, and ten teeth, besides King George's +pennant from his topmast-head. Now, my lads, you are to pull for your +lives; for whatever may be the notions of Master Coffin on the subject +of his harpoon, I have no inclination to have my arms pinioned by John +Bull, though his majesty himself put on the irons." + +The men well understood the manner and meaning of their commander; and, +throwing aside their coats, they applied themselves in earnest to their +task. For half an hour a profound silence reigned in the boat, which +made an amazing progress. But many circumstances conspired to aid the +cutter; she had a fine breeze, with smooth water, and a strong tide in +her favor; and, at the expiration of the time we have mentioned, it was +but too apparent that the distance between the pursued and the +pursuers was lessened nearly by half. Barnstable preserved his steady +countenance, but there was an expression of care gathering around his +dark brow, which indicated that he saw the increasing danger of their +situation. + +"That fellow has long legs, Master Coffin," he said, in a cheerful tone; +"your whale-line must go overboard, and the fifth oar must be handled by +your delicate hands." + +Tom arose from his seat, and proceeding forward, he cast the tub and its +contents together into the sea, when he seated himself at the bow oar, +and, bent his athletic frame with amazing vigor to the task. + +"Ah! there is much of your philosophy in that stroke, long Tom," cried +his commander; "keep it up, boys; and if we gain nothing else, we shall +at least gain time for deliberation. Come, Master Coffin, what think +you! We have three resources before us, let us hear which is jour +choice; first, we can turn and fight and be sunk; secondly, we can pull +to the land, and endeavor to make good our retreat to the schooner in +that manner; and thirdly, we can head to the shore, and possibly, by +running under the guns of that fellow, get the wind of him, and keep the +air in our nostrils, after the manner of the whale. Damn the whale! but +for the tow the black rascal gave us, we should have been out of sight +of this rover!" + +"If we fight," said Tom, with quite as much composure as his commander +manifested, "we shall be taken or sunk; if we land, sir, I shall be +taken for one man, as I never could make any headway on dry ground; and +if we try to get the wind of him by pulling under the cliffs, we shall +be cut off by a parcel of lubbers that I can see running along their +edges, hoping, I dare say, that they shall be able to get a skulking +shot at a boat's crew of honest seafaring men." + +"You speak with as much truth as philosophy, Tom," said Barnstable, who +saw his slender hopes of success curtailed by the open appearance of the +horse and foot on the cliffs. "These Englishmen have not slept the last +night, and I fear Griffith and Manual will fare but badly. That fellow +brings a capful of wind down with him--'tis just his play, and he walks +like a race-horse. Ha! he begins to be in earnest!" + +While Barnstable was speaking, a column of white smoke was seen issuing +from the bows of the cutter; and as the report of a cannon was wafted +to their ears, the shot was seen skipping from wave to wave, tossing the +water in spray, and flying to a considerable distance beyond them. The +seamen cast cursory glances in the direction of the passing ball, but it +produced no manifest effect in either their conduct or appearance. The +cockswain, who scanned its range with an eye of more practice than the +rest, observed, "That's a lively piece for its metal, and it speaks with +a good clear voice; but if they hear it aboard the Ariel, the man who +fired it will be sorry it wasn't born dumb." + +"You are the prince of philosophers, Master Coffin!" cried Barnstable; +"there is some hope in that; let the Englishmen talk away, and, my life +on it, the Ariels don't believe it is thunder; hand me a musket--I'll +draw another shot." + +The piece was given to Barnstable, who discharged it several times, as +if to taunt their enemies; and the scheme was completely successful. +Goaded by the insults, the cutter discharged gun after gun at the little +boat, throwing the shot frequently so near as to wet her crew with the +spray, but without injuring them in the least. The failure of these +attempts of the enemy excited the mirth of the reckless seamen, instead +of creating any alarm; and whenever a shot came nearer than common, the +cockswain would utter some such expression as: + +"A ground swell, a long shot, and a small object, make a clean target;" +or, "A man must squint straight to hit a boat." + +As, notwithstanding their unsuccessful gunnery, the cutter was +constantly gaining on the whale-boat, there was a prospect of a speedy +termination of the chase, when the report of a cannon was thrown back +like an echo from one of the Englishman's discharges, and Barnstable and +his companions had the pleasure of seeing the Ariel stretching slowly +out of the little bay where she had passed the night, with the smoke of +the gun of defiance curling above her taper masts. + +A loud and simultaneous shout of rapture was given by the lieutenant and +all his boat's crew, at this cheering sight, while the cutter took in +all her light sails, and, as she hauled up on a wind, she fired a +whole broadside at the successful fugitives. Many stands of grape, with +several round shot, flew by the boat and fell upon the water near them, +raising a cloud of foam, but without doing any injury. + +"She dies in a flurry," said Tom, casting his eyes at the little vortex +into which the boat was then entering. + +"If her commander be a true man," cried Barnstable, "he'll not leave us +on so short an acquaintance. Give way, my souls! give way! I would see +more of this loquacious cruiser." + +The temptation for exertion was great, and it was not disregarded by the +men; in a few minutes the whale-boat reached the schooner, when the crew +of the latter received their commander and his companions with shouts +and cheers that rang across the waters, and reached the ears of the +disappointed spectators on the verge of the cliffs. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + "Thus guided on their course they bore, + Until they near'd the mainland shore; + When frequent on the hollow blast, + Wild shouts of merriment were cast." + _Lord of the Isles_. + + +The joyful shouts and hearty cheers of the Ariel's crew continued for +some time after her commander had reached her deck. Barnstable answered +the congratulations of his officers by cordial shakes of the hand; and +after waiting for the ebullition of delight among the seamen to subside +a little, he beckoned with an air of authority for silence. + +"I thank you, my lads, for your good-will," he said, when all were +gathered around him in deep attention; "they have given us a tough +chase, and if you had left us another mile to go, we had been lost. That +fellow is a king's cutter; and though his disposition to run to leeward +is a good deal mollified, yet he shows signs of fight. At any rate, he +is stripping off some of his clothes, which looks as if he were game. +Luckily for us, Captain Manual has taken all the marines ashore with +him, (though what he has done with them, or himself, is a mystery,) or +we should have had our decks lumbered with live cattle; but, as it is, +we have a good working breeze, tolerably smooth water, and a dead match! +There is a sort of national obligation on us to whip that fellow; and +therefore, without more words about the matter, let us turn to and do +it, that we may get our breakfasts." + +To this specimen of marine eloquence the crew cheered as usual, the +young men burning for the combat, and the few old sailors who belonged +to the schooner shaking their heads with infinite satisfaction, and +swearing by sundry strange oaths that their captain "could talk, when +there was need of such thing, like the best dictionary that ever was +launched." + +During this short harangue and the subsequent comments, the Ariel had +been kept, under a cloud of canvas, as near to the wind as she could +lie; and as this was her best sailing, she had stretched swiftly out +from the land, to a distance whence the cliffs and the soldiers, who +were spread along their summits, became plainly visible. Barnstable +turned his glass repeatedly from the cutter to the shore, as different +feelings predominated in his breast, before he again spoke. + +"If Mr. Griffith is stowed away among those rocks," he at length said, +"he shall see as pretty an argument discussed, in as few words, as +he ever listened to, provided the gentlemen in yonder cutter have not +changed their minds as to the road they intend to journey--what think +you, Mr. Merry?" + +"I wish with all my heart and soul, sir," returned the fearless boy, +"that Mr. Griffith was safe aboard us; it seems the country is alarmed, +and God knows what will happen if he is taken! As to the fellow to +windward, he'll find it easier to deal with the Ariel's boat than with +her mother; but he carries a broad sail; I question if he means to show +play." + +"Never doubt him, boy," said Barnstable, "he is working off the shore, +like a man of sense, and besides, he has his spectacles on, trying to +make out what tribe of Yankee Indians we belong to. You'll see him come +to the wind presently, and send a few pieces of iron down this way, +by way of letting us know where to find him. Much as I like your first +lieutenant, Mr. Merry, I would rather leave him on the land this day, +than see him on my decks. I want no fighting captain to work this boat +for me! But tell the drummer, sir, to beat to quarters." + +The boy, who was staggering under the weight of his melodious +instrument, had been expecting this command, and, without waiting +for the midshipman to communicate the order, he commenced that short +rub-a-dub air, that will at any time rouse a thousand men from the +deepest sleep, and cause them to fly to their means of offence with a +common soul. The crew of the Ariel had been collected in groups studying +the appearance of the enemy, cracking their jokes, and waiting only +for this usual order to repair to the guns; and at the first tap of the +drum, they spread with steadiness to the different parts of the +little vessel, where their various duties called them. The cannon were +surrounded by small parties of vigorous and athletic young men; the few +marines were drawn up in array with muskets; the officers appeared in +their boarding-caps, with pistols stuck in their belts, and naked sabres +in their hands. Barnstable paced his little quarter-deck with a firm +tread, dangling a speaking-trumpet by its lanyard on his forefinger, or +occasionally applying the glass to his eye, which, when not in use, was +placed under one arm, while his sword was resting against the foot of +the mainmast; a pair of heavy ship's pistols were thrust into his belt +also; and piles of muskets, boarding-pikes, and naked sabres were placed +on different parts of the deck. The laugh of the seamen was heard no +longer, and those who spoke uttered their thoughts only in low and +indistinct whispers. + +The English cutter held her way from the land, until she got an offing +of more than two miles, when she reduced her sails to a yet smaller +number; and, heaving into the wind, she fired a gun in a direction +opposite to that which pointed to the Ariel. + +"Now I would wager a quintal of codfish, Master Coffin," said +Barnstable, "against the best cask of porter that was ever brewed in +England, that fellow believes a Yankee schooner can fly in the wind's +eye! If he wishes to speak to us, why don't he give his cutter a little +sheet, and come down?" + +The cockswain had made his arrangements for the combat, with much more +method and philosophy than any other man in the vessel. When the drum +beat to quarters, he threw aside his jacket, vest, and shirt, with as +little hesitation as if he stood under an American sun, and with all the +discretion of a man who had engaged in an undertaking that required +the free use of his utmost powers. As he was known to be a privileged +individual in the Ariel, and one whose opinions, in all matters of +seamanship, were regarded as oracles by the crew, and were listened to +by his commander with no little demonstration of respect, the question +excited no surprise. He was standing at the breech of his long gun, with +his brawny arms folded on a breast that had been turned to the color of +blood by long exposure, his grizzled locks fluttering in the breeze, and +his tall form towering far above the heads of all near him. + +"He hugs the wind, sir, as if it was his sweetheart," was his answer; +"but he'll let go his hold soon; and if he don't, we can find a way to +make him fall to leeward." + +"Keep a good full!" cried the commander, in a stern voice; "and let the +vessel go through the water. That fellow walks well, long Tom; but we +are too much for him on a bowline; though, if he continue to draw ahead +in this manner, it will be night before we can get alongside him." + +"Ay, ay, sir," returned the cockswain; "them cutters carries a press of +canvas when they seem to have but little; their gafts are all the same +as young booms, and spread a broad head to their mainsails. But it's no +hard matter to knock a few cloths out of their bolt-ropes, when she will +both drop astarn and to leeward." + +"I believe there is good sense in your scheme, this time," said +Barnstable; "for I am anxious about the frigate's people--though I hate +a noisy chase; speak to him, Tom, and let us see if he will answer." + +"Ay, ay, sir," cried the cockswain, sinking his body in such a manner +as to let his head fall to a level with the cannon that he controlled, +when, after divers orders and sundry movements to govern the direction +of the piece, he applied a match, with a rapid motion, to the priming. +An immense body of white smoke rushed from the muzzle of the cannon, +followed by a sheet of vivid fire, until, losing its power, it yielded +to the wind, and, as it rose from the water, spread like a cloud, and, +passing through the masts of the schooner, was driven far to leeward, +and soon blended in the mists which were swiftly scudding before the +fresh breezes of the ocean. + +Although many curious eyes were watching this beautiful sight from the +cliffs, there was too little of novelty in the exhibition to attract +a single look of the crew of the schooner from the more important +examination of the effect of the shot on their enemy. Barnstable sprang +lightly on a gun, and watched the instant when the ball would strike, +with keen interest, while long Tom threw himself aside from the line +of the smoke with a similar intention; holding one of his long arms +extended toward his namesake, with a finger on the vent, and supporting +his frame by placing the hand of the other on the deck, as his eyes +glanced through an opposite port-hole, in an attitude that most men +might have despaired of imitating with success. + +"There go the chips!" cried Barnstable. "Bravo! Master Coffin, you never +planted iron in the ribs of an English man with more judgment. Let him +have another piece of it; and if he like the sport, we'll play a game of +long bowls with him!" + +"Ay, ay, sir," returned the cockswain, who, the instant he witnessed the +effects of his shot, had returned to superintend the reloading of his +gun; "if he holds on half an hour longer, I'll dub him down to our own +size, when we can close, and make an even fight of it." + +The drum of the Englishman was now, for the first time, heard rattling +across the waters, and echoing the call to quarters, that had already +proceeded from the Ariel. + +"Ay! you have sent him to his guns!" said Barnstable; "we shall now hear +more of it; wake him up, Tom--wake him up." + +"We shall start him on end, or put him to sleep altogether, shortly," +said the deliberate cockswain, who never allowed himself to be at all +hurried, even by his commander. My shot are pretty much like a shoal of +porpoises, and commonly sail in each other's wake. Stand by--heave her +breech forward--so; get out of that, you damned young reprobate, and let +my harpoon alone!" + +"What are you at, there, Master Coffin?" cried Barnstable; "are you +tongue-tied?" + +"Here's one of the boys skylarking with my harpoon in the lee-scuppers, +and by and by, when I shall want it most, there'll be a no-man's land to +hunt for it in." + +"Never mind the boy, Tom; send him aft here to me, and I'll polish his +behavior; give the Englishman some more iron." + +"I want the little villain to pass up my cartridges," returned the angry +old seaman; "but if you'll be so good, sir, as to hit him a crack or +two, now and then, as he goes by you to the magazine, the monkey will +learn his manners, and the schooner's work will be all the better done +for it. A young herring-faced monkey! to meddle with a tool ye don't +know the use of. If your parents had spent more of their money on your +edication, and less on your outfit, you'd ha' been a gentleman to what +ye are now." + +"Hurrah! Tom, hurrah!" cried Barnstable, a little impatiently; "is your +namesake never to open his throat again!" + +"Ay, ay, sir; all ready," grumbled the cockswain; "depress a little; +so--so; a damned young baboon-behaved curmudgeon; overhaul that forward +fall more; stand by with your match--but I'll pay him!--fire!" This +was the actual commencement of the fight; for as the shot of Tom Coffin +traveled, as he had intimated, very much in the same direction, their +enemy found the sport becoming too hot to be endured in silence, and the +report of the second gun from the Ariel was instantly followed by that +of the whole broadside of the Alacrity. The shot of the cutter flew in a +very good direction, but her guns were too light to give them efficiency +at that distance; and as one or two were heard to strike against the +bends of the schooner, and fall back, innocuously, into the water, the +cockswain, whose good-humor became gradually restored as the combat +thickened, remarked with his customary apathy: + +"Them count for no more than love-taps--does the Englishman think that +we are firing salutes!" + +"Stir him up, Tom! every blow you give him will help to open his eyes," +cried Barnstable, rubbing his hands with glee, as he witnessed the +success of his efforts to close. + +Thus far the cockswain and his crew had the fight, on the part of the +Ariel, altogether to themselves, the men who were stationed at the +smaller and shorter guns standing in perfect idleness by their sides; +but in ten or fifteen minutes the commander of the Alacrity, who had +been staggered by the weight of the shot that had struck him, found +that it was no longer in his power to retreat, if he wished it; when he +decided on the only course that was left for a brave man to pursue, and +steered boldly in such a direction as would soonest bring him in contact +with his enemy, without exposing his vessel to be raked by his fire. +Barnstable watched each movement of his foe with eagle eyes, and when +the vessel had got within a lessened distance, he gave the order for a +general fire to be opened. The action now grew warm and spirited on both +sides. The power of the wind was counteracted by the constant explosion +of the cannon; and, instead of driving rapidly to leeward, a white +canopy of curling smoke hung above the Ariel, or rested on the +water, lingering in her wake, so as to mark the path by which she was +approaching to a closer and still deadlier struggle. The shouts of the +young sailors, as they handled their instruments of death, became more +animated and fierce, while the cockswain pursued his occupation with the +silence and skill of one who labored in a regular vocation. Barnstable +was unusually composed and quiet, maintaining the grave deportment of a +commander on whom rested the fortunes of the contest, at the same time +that his dark eyes were dancing with the fire of suppressed animation. + +"Give it them!" he occasionally cried, in a voice that might be heard +amid the bellowing of the cannon; "never mind their cordage, my lads; +drive home their bolts, and make your marks below their ridge-ropes." + +In the mean time the Englishman played a manful game. + +He had suffered a heavy loss by the distant cannonade, which no metal he +possessed could retort upon his enemy; but he struggled nobly to repair +the error in judgment with which he had begun the contest. The two +vessels gradually drew nigher to each other, until they both entered +into the common cloud created by their fire, which thickened and spread +around them in such a manner as to conceal their dark hulls from the +gaze of the curious and interested spectators on the cliffs. The heavy +reports of the cannon were now mingled with the rattling of muskets +and pistols, and streaks of fire might be seen glancing like flashes of +lightning through the white cloud which enshrouded the combatants; +and many minutes of painful uncertainty followed, before the deeply +interested soldiers, who were gazing at the scene, discovered on whose +banners victory had alighted. + +We shall follow the combatants into their misty wreath, and display to +the reader the events as they occurred. + +The fire of the Ariel was much the most quick and deadly, both because +she had suffered less, and her men were less exhausted; and the cutter +stood desperately on to decide the combat, after grappling, hand to +hand. Barnstable anticipated her intention and well understood her +commander's reason for adopting this course; but he was not a man to +calculate coolly his advantages, when pride and daring invited him to a +more severe trial. Accordingly, he met the enemy half-way, and, as the +vessels rushed together, the stern of the schooner was secured to the +bows of the cutter, by the joint efforts of both parties. The voice +of the English commander was now plainly to be heard, in the uproar, +calling to his men to follow him. + +"Away there, boarders! repel boarders on the starboard quarter!" shouted +Barnstable, through his trumpet. + +This was the last order that the gallant young sailor gave with this +instrument; for, as he spoke, he cast it from him, and, seizing his +sabre, flew to the spot where the enemy was about to make his most +desperate effort. The shouts, execrations, and tauntings of the +combatants, now succeeded to the roar of the cannon, which could be +used no longer with effect, though the fight was still maintained with +spirited discharges of the small-arms. + +"Sweep him from his decks!" cried the English commander, as he appeared +on his own bulwarks, surrounded by a dozen of his bravest men; "drive +the rebellious dogs into the sea!" + +"Away there, marines!" retorted Barnstable, firing his pistol at the +advancing enemy; "leave not a man of them to sup his grog again." + +The tremendous and close volley that succeeded this order nearly +accomplished the command of Barnstable to the letter, and the commander +of the Alacrity, perceiving that he stood alone, reluctantly fell back +on the deck of his own vessel, in order to bring on his men once more. + +"Board her! graybeards and boys, idlers and all!" shouted Barnstable, +springing in advance of his crew--a powerful arm arrested the movement +of the dauntless seaman, and before he had time to recover himself, he +was drawn violently back to his own vessel by the irresistible grasp of +his cockswain. + +"The fellow's in his flurry," said Tom, "and it wouldn't be wise to go +within reach of his flukes; but I'll just step ahead and give him a set +with my harpoon." + +Without waiting for a reply, the cockswain reared his tall frame on the +bulwarks, and was in the attitude of stepping on board of his enemy, +when a sea separated the vessels, and he fell with a heavy dash of the +waters into the ocean. As twenty muskets and pistols were discharged at +the instant he appeared, the crew of the Ariel supposed his fall to be +occasioned by his wounds, and were rendered doubly fierce by the sight, +and the cry of their commander to: + +"Revenge long Tom! board her! long Tom or death!" + +They threw themselves forward in irresistible numbers, and forced a +passage, with much bloodshed, to the forecastle of the Alacrity. The +Englishman was overpowered, but still remained undaunted--he rallied his +crew, and bore up most gallantly to the fray. Thrusts of pikes and blows +of sabres were becoming close and deadly, while muskets and pistols +were constantly discharged by those who were kept at a distance by the +pressure of the throng of closer combatants. + +Barnstable led his men in advance, and became a mark of peculiar +vengeance to his enemies, as they slowly yielded before his vigorous +assaults. Chance had placed the two commanders on opposite sides of the +cutter's deck, and the victory seemed to incline towards either party, +whenever these daring officers directed the struggle in person. But the +Englishman, perceiving that the ground he maintained in person was +lost elsewhere, made an effort to restore the battle, by changing his +position, followed by one or two of his best men. A marine, who preceded +him, leveled his musket within a few feet of the head of the American +commander, and was about to fire, when Merry glided among the +combatants, and passed his dirk into the body of the man, who fell +at the blow; shaking his piece, with horrid imprecations, the wounded +soldier prepared to deal his vengeance on his youthful assailant, when +the fearless boy leaped within its muzzle, and buried his own keen +weapon in his heart. + +"Hurrah!" shouted the unconscious Barnstable, from the edge of the +quarter-deck, where, attended by a few men, he was driving all before +him. "Revenge!--long Tom and victory!" + +"We have them!" exclaimed the Englishman; "handle your pikes! we have +them between two fires." + +The battle would probably have terminated very differently from what +previous circumstances had indicated, had not a wild-looking figure +appeared in the cutter's channels at that moment, issuing from the sea, +and gaining the deck at the same instant. It was long Tom, with his iron +visage rendered fierce by his previous discomfiture, and his grizzled +locks drenched with the briny element from which he had risen, looking +like Neptune with his trident. Without speaking, he poised his harpoon, +and, with a powerful effort, pinned the unfortunate Englishman to the +mast of his own vessel. + +"Starn all!" cried Tom by a sort of instinct, when the blow was struck; +and catching up the musket of the fallen marine, he dealt out terrible +and fatal blows with its butt on all who approached him, utterly +disregarding the use of the bayonet on its muzzle. The unfortunate +commander of the Alacrity brandished his sword with frantic gestures, +while his eyes rolled in horrid wildness, when he writhed for an instant +in his passing agonies, and then, as his head dropped lifeless upon his +gored breast, he hung against the spar, a spectacle of dismay to his +crew, A few of the Englishmen stood chained to the spot in silent horror +at the sight, but most of them fled to their lower deck, or hastened +to conceal themselves in the secret parts of the vessel, leaving to the +Americans the undisputed possession of the Alacrity. + +Two-thirds of the cutter's crew suffered either in life or limbs, by +this short struggle; nor was the victory obtained by Barnstable without +paying the price of several valuable lives. The first burst of conquest +was not, however, the moment to appreciate the sacrifice, and loud and +reiterated shouts proclaimed the exultation of the conquerors. As +the flush of victory subsided, however, recollection returned, and +Barnstable issued such orders as humanity and his duty rendered +necessary. While the vessels were separating, and the bodies of the dead +and wounded were removing, the conqueror paced the deck of his prize, as +if lost in deep reflection. He passed his hand, frequently, across his +blackened and blood-stained brow, while his eyes would rise to examine +the vast canopy of smoke that was hovering above the vessels, like a +dense fog exhaling from the ocean. The result of his deliberations was +soon announced to the crew. + +"Haul down all your flags," he cried; "set the Englishman's colors +again, and show the enemy's jack above our ensign in the Ariel." + +The appearance of the whole channel-fleet within half gunshot would +not have occasioned more astonishment among the victors than this +extraordinary mandate. The wondering seamen suspended their several +employments, to gaze at the singular change that was making in the +flags, those symbols that were viewed with a sort of reverence; but none +presumed to comment openly on the procedure except long Tom, who stood +on the quarter-deck of the prize, straightening the pliable iron of the +harpoon which he had recovered with as much care and diligence as if it +were necessary to the maintenance of their conquest. Like the others, +however, he suspended his employment when he heard this order, and +manifested no reluctance to express his dissatisfaction at the measure. + +"If the Englishmen grumble at the fight, and think it not fair play," +muttered the old cockswain, "let us try it over again, sir; as they are +somewhat short of hands, they can send a boat to the land, and get off a +gang of them lazy riptyles, the soldiers, who stand looking at us, like +so many red lizards crawling on a beach, and we'll give them another +chance; but damme, if I see the use of whipping them, if this is to be +the better end of the matter." + +"What's that you're grumbling there, like a dead northeaster, you +horse-mackerel?" said Barnstable; "where are our friends and countrymen +who are on the land? Are we to leave them to swing on gibbets or rot in +dungeons?" + +The cockswain listened with great earnestness, and when his commander +had spoken, he struck the palm of his broad hand against his brawny +thigh, with a report like a pistol, and answered: + +"I see how it is, sir; you reckon the red-coats have Mr. Griffith in +tow. Just run the schooner into shoal water, Captain Barnstable, and +drop an anchor, where we can get the long gun to bear on them, and give +me the whale-boat and five or six men to back me--they must have long +legs if they get an offing before I run them aboard!" + +"Fool! do you think a boat's crew could contend with fifty armed +soldiers?" + +"Soldiers!" echoed Tom, whose spirits had been strongly excited by the +conflict, snapping his fingers with ineffable disdain; "that for all the +soldiers that were ever rigged: one whale could kill a thousand of them! +and here stands the man that has killed his round hundred of whales!" + +"Pshaw, you grampus, do you turn braggart in your old age?" + +"It's no bragging, sir, to speak a log-book truth! but if Captain +Barnstable thinks that old Tom Coffin carries a speaking-trumpet for a +figure-head, let him pass the word forrard to man the boats." + +"No, no, my old master at the marlinspike," said Barnstable, kindly, "I +know thee too well, thou brother of Neptune! but shall we not throw the +bread-room dust in those Englishmen's eyes, by wearing their bunting a +while, till something may offer to help our captured countrymen." + +The cockswain shook his head and cogitated a moment, as if struck with +sundry new ideas, when he answered: + +"Ay, ay, sir; that's blue-water philosophy: as deep as the sea! Let the +riptyles clew up the corners of their mouths to their eyebrows, now! +when they come to hear the ra'al Yankee truth of the matter, they will +sheet them down to their leather neckcloths!" + +With this reflection the cockswain was much consoled, and the business +of repairing damages and securing the prize proceeded without further +interruption on his part. The few prisoners who were unhurt were rapidly +transferred to the Ariel. While Barnstable was attending to this duty, +an unusual bustle drew his eyes to one of the hatchways, where he beheld +a couple of his marines dragging forward a gentleman, whose demeanor +and appearance indicated the most abject terror. After examining the +extraordinary appearance of this individual, for a moment, in silent +amazement, the lieutenant exclaimed: + +"Who have we here? some amateur in fights! an inquisitive, +wonder-seeking non-combatant, who has volunteered to serve his king, and +perhaps draw a picture, or write a book, to serve himself! Pray, sir, in +what capacity did you serve in this vessel?" + +The captive ventured a sidelong glance at his interrogator, in whom he +expected to encounter Griffith, but perceiving that it was a face he did +not know, he felt a revival of confidence that enabled him to reply: + +"I came here by accident; being on board the cutter at the time her late +commander determined to engage you. It was not in his power to land me, +as I trust you will not hesitate to do; your conjecture of my being a +non-combatant--" + +"Is perfectly true," interrupted Barnstable; "it requires no spyglass +to read that name written on you from stem to stern: but for certain +weighty reasons--" + +He paused to turn at a signal given him by young Merry, who whispered +eagerly, in his ear: + +"'Tis Mr. Dillon, kinsman of Colonel Howard; I've seen him often, +sailing in the wake of my cousin Cicely." + +"Dillon!" exclaimed Barnstable, rubbing his hands with pleasure; "what, +Kit of that name! he with 'the Savannah face, eyes of black, and skin of +the same color?' he's grown a little whiter with fear; but he's a prize, +at this moment, worth twenty Alacrities!" + +These exclamations were made in a low voice, and at some little distance +from the prisoner, whom he now approached and addressed: + +"Policy, and consequently duty, require that I should detain you for a +short time, sir; but you shall have a sailor's welcome to whatever we +possess, to lessen the weight of captivity." + +Barnstable precluded any reply, by bowing to his captive, and turning +away to superintend the management of his vessels. In a short time it +was announced that they were ready to make sail, when the Ariel and her +prize were brought close to the wind, and commenced beating slowly along +the land, as if intending to return to the bay whence the latter had +sailed that morning. As they stretched in to the shore on the first +tack, the soldiers on the cliffs rent the air with their shouts and +acclamations, to which Barnstable, pointing to the assumed symbols +that were fluttering in the breeze from his masts, directed his crew +to respond in the most cordial manner. As the distance, and the want of +boats, prevented any further communication, the soldiers, after gazing +at the receding vessels for a time, disappeared from the cliffs, and +were soon lost from the sight of the adventurous mariners. Hour after +hour was consumed in the tedious navigation, against an adverse tide, +and the short day was drawing to a close, before they approached the +mouth of their destined haven. While making one of their numerous +stretches to and from the land, the cutter, in which Barnstable +continued, passed the victim of their morning's sport, riding on the +water, the waves curling over his huge carcass as on some rounded +rock, and already surrounded by the sharks, who were preying on his +defenceless body. + +"See! Master Coffin," cried the lieutenant, pointing out the object +to his cockswain as they glided by it, "the shovel-nosed gentlemen are +regaling daintily: you have neglected the Christian's duty of burying +your dead." + +The old seaman cast a melancholy look at the dead whale and replied: + +"If I had the creatur in Boston Bay, or on the Sandy Point of Munny-Moy, +'twould be the making of me! But riches and honor are for the great and +the larned, and there's nothing left for poor Tom Coffin to do but to +veer and haul on his own rolling-tackle, that he may ride out on the +rest of the gale of life without springing any of his old spars." + +"How now, long Tom!" cried his officer, "these rocks and cliffs will +shipwreck you on the shoals of poetry yet; you grow sentimental!" + +"Them rocks might wrack any vessel that struck them," said the literal +cockswain; "and as for poetry, I wants none better than the good old +song of Captain Kidd; but it's enough to raise solemn thoughts in a Cape +Poge Indian, to see an eighty-barrel whale devoured by shirks--'tis +an awful waste of property! I've seen the death of two hundred of the +creaturs, though it seems to keep the rations of poor old Tom as short +as ever." + +The cockswain walked aft, while the vessel was passing the whale, and +seating himself on the taffrail, with his face resting gloomily on his +bony hand, he fastened his eyes on the object of his solicitude, and +continued to gaze at it with melancholy regret, while it was to be seen +glistening in the sunbeams, as it rolled its glittering side of white +into the air, or the rays fell unreflected on the black and rougher coat +of the back of the monster. In the mean time, the navigators diligently +pursued their way for the haven we have mentioned, into which they +steered with every appearance of the fearlessness of friends, and the +exultation of conquerors. + +A few eager and gratified spectators lined the edges of the small bay, +and Barnstable concluded his arrangement for deceiving the enemy, by +admonishing his crew that they were now about to enter on a service that +would require their utmost intrepidity and sagacity. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + "Our trumpet called you to this gentle parle." + _King John._ + + +As Griffith and his companions rushed from the offices of St. Ruth into +the open air, they encountered no one to intercept their flight, or +communicate the alarm. Warned by the experience of the earlier part of +the same night, they avoided the points where they knew the sentinels +were posted, though fully prepared to bear down all resistance, and were +soon beyond the probability of immediate detection. They proceeded, for +the distance of half a mile, with rapid strides, and with the stern +and sullen silence of men who expected to encounter immediate danger, +resolved to breast it with desperate resolution; but, as they plunged +into a copse that clustered around the ruin which has been already +mentioned, they lessened their exertions to a more deliberate pace, and +a short but guarded dialogue ensued "We have had a timely escape," said +Griffith; "I would much rather have endured captivity, than have +been the cause of introducing confusion and bloodshed in the peaceful +residence of Colonel Howard." + +"I would, sir, that you had been of this opinion some hours earlier," +returned the Pilot, with a severity in his tones that even conveyed more +meaning than his words. + +"I may have forgotten my duty, sir, in my anxiety to enquire into the +condition of a family in whom I feel a particular interest," returned +Griffith, in a manner in which pride evidently struggled with respect; +"but this is not a time for regrets; I apprehend that we follow you on +an errand of some moment, where actions would be more acceptable than +any words of apology. What is your pleasure now?" + +"I much fear that our project will be defeated," said the Pilot, +gloomily; "the alarm will spread with the morning fogs, and there will +be musterings of the yeomen, and consultations of the gentry, that will +drive all thoughts of amusement from their minds. The rumor of a descent +will, at any time, force sleep from the shores of this island, to at +least ten leagues inland." + +"Ay, you have probably passed some pleasant nights, with your eyes open, +among them, yourself, Master Pilot," said Manual; "they may thank the +Frenchman, Thurot, in the old business of '56, and our own daredevil, +the bloody Scotchman, as the causes of their quarters being so often +beaten up. After all, Thurot, with his fleet, did no more than bully +them a little, and the poor fellow was finally extinguished by a few +small cruisers, like a drummer's boy under a grenadier's cap; but honest +Paul sang a different tune for his countrymen to dance to, and--" + +"I believe you will shortly dance yourself, Manual," interrupted +Griffith, quickly, "and in very pleasure that you have escaped an +English prison." + +"Say, rather, an English gibbet," continued the elated marine; "for had +a court-martial or a court-civil discussed the manner of our entrance +into this island, I doubt whether we should have fared better than the +daredevil himself, honest----" + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed the impatient Griffith; "enough of this nonsense, +Captain Manual: we have other matters to discuss now. What course have +you determined to pursue, Mr. Gray?" + +The Pilot started, like a man aroused from a deep musing, at this +question, and after a pause of a moment he spoke in a low tone of voice, +as if still under the influence of deep and melancholy feeling: + +"The night has already run into the morning watch, but the sun is +backward to show himself in this latitude in the heart of winter.--I +must depart, my friends, to rejoin you some ten hours hence: it will be +necessary to look deeper into our scheme before we hazard anything, and +no one can do the service but myself: where shall we meet again?" + +"I have reason to think that there is an unfrequented ruin at no great +distance from us," said Griffith; "perhaps we might find both shelter +and privacy among its deserted walls." + +"The thought is good," returned the Pilot, "and 'twill answer a double +purpose. Could you find the place where you put the marines in ambush, +Captain Manual?" + +"Has a dog a nose? and can he follow a clean scent?" exclaimed the +marine; "do you think, Signor Pilota, that a general ever puts his +forces in an ambuscade where he can't find them himself? 'Fore God! I +knew well enough where the rascals lay snoring on their knapsacks, +some half an hour ago, and I would have given the oldest majority in +Washington's army to have had them where a small intimation from myself +could have brought them in line ready dressed for a charge. I know +not how you fared, gentlemen, but, with me, the sight of twenty such +vagabonds would have been a joyous spectacle; we would have tossed that +Captain Borroughcliffe and his recruits on the point of our bayonets, as +the devil would pitch----" + +"Come, come, Manual," said Griffith, a little angrily, "you constantly +forget our situation and our errand; can you lead your men hither +without discovery, before the day dawns?" + +"I want but the shortest half-hour that a bad watch ever traveled over +to do it in." + +"Then follow, and I will appoint a place of secret rendezvous," rejoined +Griffith; "Mr. Gray can learn our situation at the same time." + +The Pilot was seen to beckon, through the gloom of the night, for his +companions to come forward; when they proceeded, with cautious steps, +in quest of the desired shelter. A short search brought them in contact +with a part of the ruinous walls, which spread over a large surface, and +which, in places, reared their black fragments against the sky, casting +a deeper obscurity across the secret recesses of the wood. + +"This will do," said Griffith, when they had skirted for some distance +the outline of the crumbling fabric; "bring up your men to this point, +where I will meet you, and conduct them to some more secret place, for +which I shall search during your absence." + +"A perfect paradise, after the cable-tiers of the Ariel!" exclaimed +Manual; "I doubt not but a good spot might be selected among these +trees for a steady drill,--a thing my soul has pined after for six long +months." + +"Away, away!" cried Griffith; "here is no place for idle parades; if we +find shelter from discovery and capture until you shall be needed in a +deadly struggle, 'twill be well." + +Manual was slowly retracing his steps to the skirts of the wood, when he +suddenly turned, and asked: + +"Shall I post a small picket, a mere corporal's guard, in the open +ground in front, and make a chain of sentinels to our works?" + +"We have no works--we want no sentinels," returned his impatient +commander; "our security is only to be found in secrecy. Lead up your +men under the cover of the trees, and let those three bright stars be +your landmarks--bring them in a range with the northern corner of the +wood----" + +"Enough, Mr. Griffith," interrupted Manual; "a column of troops is +not to be steered like a ship, by compass, and bearings and +distances;--trust me, sir, the march shall be conducted with proper +discretion, though in a military manner." + +Any reply or expostulation was prevented by the sudden disappearance of +the marine, whose retreating footsteps were heard for several moments, +as he moved at a deliberate pace through the underwood. During this +short interval, the Pilot stood reclining against the corner of the +ruins in profound silence; but when the sounds of Manual's march were no +longer audible, he advanced from under the deeper shadows of the wall, +and approached his youthful companion. + +"We are indebted to the marine for our escape," he said; "I hope we are +not to suffer by his folly." + +"He is what Barnstable calls a rectangular man," returned Griffith, +"and will have his way in matters of his profession, though a daring +companion in a hazardous expedition. If we can keep him from exposing us +by his silly parade, we shall find him a man who will do his work like a +soldier, sir, when need happens." + +"'Tis all I ask; until the last moment, he and his command must be +torpid; for if we are discovered, any attempt of ours, with some twenty +bayonets and a half-pike or two, would be useless against the force that +would be brought to crush us." + +"The truth of your opinion is too obvious," returned Griffith; "these +fellows will sleep a week at a time in a gale at sea, but the smell of +the land wakes them up, and I fear 'twill be hard to keep them close +during the day." + +"It must be done, sir, by the strong hand of force," said the Pilot +sternly, "if it cannot be done by admonition; if we had no more than the +recruits of that drunken martinet to cope with, it would be no hard task +to drive them into the sea; but I learned in my prison that horse are +expected on the shore with the dawn; there is one they call Dillon, who +is on the alert to do us mischief." + +"The miscreant!" muttered Griffith; "then you also have had communion, +sir, with some of the inmates of St. Ruth?" + +"It behooves a man who is embarked in a perilous enterprise to seize all +opportunities to learn his hazard," said the Pilot, evasively: "if the +report be true, I fear we have but little hopes of succeeding in our +plans." + +"Nay, then, let us take the advantage of the darkness to regain the +schooner; the coasts of England swarm with hostile cruisers, and a rich +trade is flowing into the bosom of this island from the four quarters of +the world; we shall not seek long for a foe worthy to contend with, nor +for the opportunities to cut up the Englishman in his sinews of war--his +wealth." + +"Griffith," returned the Pilot, in his still, low tones, that seemed to +belong to a man who never knew ambition, nor felt human passion, "I grow +sick of this struggle between merit and privileged rank. It is in vain +that I scour the waters which the King of England boastingly calls his +own, and capture his vessels in the very mouths of his harbors, if my +reward is to consist only of isolated promises, and hollow professions: +but your proposition is useless to me; I have at length obtained a +ship of a size sufficient to convey my person to the shores of honest, +plain-dealing America; and I would enter the hall of Congress, on my +return, attended by a few of the legislators of this learned isle, who +think they possess the exclusive privilege to be wise, and virtuous, and +great." + +"Such a retinue might doubtless be grateful both to your own feelings +and those who would receive you," said Griffith, modestly; "but would +it effect the great purposes of our struggle? or is it an exploit, when +achieved, worth the hazard you incur?" + +Griffith felt the hand of the Pilot on his own, pressing it with a +convulsive grasp, as he replied, in a voice, if possible, even more +desperately calm than his former tones: + +"There is a glory in it, young man; if it be purchased with danger, it +shall be rewarded by fame! It is true, I wear your republican livery, +and call the Americans my brothers; but it is because you combat in +behalf of human nature. Were your cause less holy, I would not shed +the meanest drop that flows in English veins to serve it; but now, it +hallows every exploit that is undertaken in its favor, and the names of +all who contend for it shall belong to posterity. Is there no merit in +teaching these proud islanders that the arm of liberty can pluck them +from the very empire of their corruption and oppression?" + +"Then let me go and ascertain what we most wish to know; you have been +seen there, and might attract--" + +"You little know me," interrupted the Pilot; "the deed is my own. If +I succeed, I shall claim the honor, and it is proper that I incur the +hazard; if I fail, it will be buried in oblivion, like fifty others +of my schemes, which, had I power to back me, would have thrown this +kingdom in consternation, from the lookouts on the boldest of its +headlands, to those on the turrets of Windsor Castle. But I was born +without nobility of twenty generations to corrupt my blood and deaden my +soul, and am not trusted by the degenerate wretches who rule the French +marine." + +"'Tis said that ships of two decks are building from our own oak," +said Griffith, "and you have only to present yourself in America, to be +employed most honorably." + +"Ay! the republics cannot doubt the man who has supported their flag, +without lowering it an inch, in so many bloody conflicts! I do go there, +Griffith, but my way lies on this path; my pretended friends have bound +my hands often, but my enemies, never--neither shall they now. Ten hours +will determine all I wish to know, and with you I trust the safety of +the party till my return: be vigilant, but be prudent" + +"If you should not appear at the appointed hour," exclaimed Griffith, +as he beheld the Pilot turning to depart, "where am I to seek, and how +serve you?" + +"Seek me not, but return to your vessel; my earliest years were passed +on this coast,--and I can leave the island, should it be necessary, as +I entered it, aided by this disguise and my own knowledge: in such an +event, look to your charge, and forget me entirely." + +Griffith could distinguish the silent wave of his hand when the Pilot +concluded, and the next instant he was left alone. For several minutes +the young man continued where he had been standing, musing on the +singular endowments and restless enterprise of the being with whom +chance had thus unexpectedly brought him in contact, and with whose fate +and fortune his own prospects had, by the intervention of unlooked-for +circumstances, become intimately connected. When the reflections excited +by recent occurrences had passed away, he entered within the sweeping +circle of the ruinous walls, and, after a very cursory survey of the +state of the dilapidated building, he was satisfied that it contained +enough secret places to conceal his men, until the return of the Pilot +should warn them that the hour had come when they must attempt the +seizure of the devoted sportsmen, or darkness should again facilitate +their return to the Ariel. It was now about the commencement of that +period of deep night which seamen distinguish as the morning watch, +and Griffith ventured to the edge of the little wood, to listen if any +sounds or tumult indicated that they were pursued. On reaching a point +where his eye could faintly distinguish distant objects, the young man +paused, and bestowed a close and wary investigation on the surrounding +scene. + +The fury of the gale had sensibly abated, but a steady current of sea +air was rushing through the naked branches of the oaks, lending a dreary +and mournful sound to the gloom of the dim prospect. At the distance +of a short half mile, the confused outline of the pile of St. Ruth rose +proudly against the streak of light which was gradually increasing above +the ocean, and there were moments when the young seaman even fancied he +could discern the bright caps that topped the waves of his own disturbed +element. The long, dull roar of the surf, as it tumbled heavily on the +beach or dashed with unbroken violence against the hard boundary of +rocks, was borne along by the blasts distinctly to his ears. It was a +time and a situation to cause the young seaman to ponder deeply on the +changes and chances of his hazardous profession. Only a few short hours +had passed since he was striving with his utmost skill, and with all his +collected energy, to guide the enormous fabric, in which so many of his +comrades were now quietly sleeping on the broad ocean, from that very +shore on which he now stood in cool indifference to the danger. The +recollection of home, America, his youthful and enduring passion, and +the character and charms of his mistress, blended in a sort of wild and +feverish confusion, which was not, however, without its pleasures, in +the ardent fancy of the young man; and he was slowly approaching, step +by step, toward the Abbey, when the sound of footsteps, proceeding +evidently from the measured tread of disciplined men, reached his ears. +He was instantly recalled to his recollection by this noise, which +increased as the party deliberately approached; and in a few moments +he was able to distinguish a line of men, marching in order towards the +edge of the wood, from which he had himself so recently issued. Retiring +rapidly under the deeper shadow of the trees, he waited until it was +apparent the party intended to enter under its cover also, when he +ventured to speak. + +"Who comes? and on what errand?" he cried, "A skulker, and to burrow +like a rabbit, or jump from hole to hole, like a wharf-rat!" said +Manual, sulkily; "here have I been marching, within half musket shot +of the enemy, without daring to pull a trigger even on their outposts, +because our muzzles are plugged with that universal extinguisher of +gunpowder, called prudence. 'Fore God! Mr. Griffith, I hope you may +never feel the temptation to do an evil deed, which I felt just now, to +throw a volley of small shot into that dog-kennel of a place, if it were +only to break its windows and let in the night air upon the sleeping +sot, who is dozing away the fumes of some as good, old south-side--hark +ye, Mr. Griffith, one word in your ear." + +A short conference took place between he two officers, apart from the +men, at the close of which, as they rejoined the party, Manual might +be heard urging his plans on the reluctant ears of Griffith in the +following words: + +"I could carry the old dungeon without waking one of the snorers; and +consider, sir, we might get a stock of as rich cordial from its cellars +as ever oiled the throat of a gentleman!" + +"'Tis idle, 'tis idle," said Griffith impatiently; "we are not robbers +of hen-roosts, nor wine-gaugers, to be prying into the vaults of the +English gentry, Captain Manual; but honorable men, employed in the +sacred cause of liberty and our country. Lead your party into the ruin, +and let them seek their rest; we may have work for them with the dawn." + +"Evil was the hour when I quitted the line of the army, to place a +soldier under the orders of an awkward squad of tarry jackets!" muttered +Manual, as he proceeded to execute an order that was delivered with an +air of authority that he knew must be obeyed. "As pretty an opportunity +for a surprise and a forage thrown away, as ever crossed the path of a +partisan! but, by all the rights of man! I'll have an encampment in some +order. Here, you sergeant, detail a corporal and three men for a picket, +and station them ii the skirts of this wood. We shall have a sentinel in +advance of our position, and things shall be conducted with some air of +discipline." + +Griffith heard this order with great inward disgust; but as he +anticipated the return of the Pilot before the light could arrive +to render his weak exposure of their situation apparent, he forbore +exercising his power to alter the arrangement. Manual had, therefore, +the satisfaction of seeing his little party quartered, as he thought, in +military manner, before he retired with Griffith and his men into one of +the vaulted apartments of the ruin, which, by its open and broken doors, +invited their entrance. Here the marines disposed themselves to rest, +while the two officers succeeded in passing the tedious hours, without +losing their characters for watchfulness by conversing with each other, +or, at whiles, suffering their thoughts to roam in the very different +fields which fancy would exhibit to men of such differing characters. +In this manner hour after hour passed, in listless quiet or sullen +expectation, until the day had gradually advanced, and it became +dangerous to keep the sentinels and picket in a situation where they +were liable to be seen by any straggler who might be passing near the +wood. Manual remonstrated against any alteration, as being entirely +unmilitary, for he was apt to carry his notions of tactics to extremes +whenever he came in collision with a sea officer: but in this instance +his superior was firm, and the only concession the captain could obtain +was the permission to place a solitary sentinel within a few feet of +the vault, though under the cover of the crumbling walls of the building +itself. With this slight deviation in their arrangements, the uneasy +party remained for several hours longer, impatiently awaiting the period +when they should be required to move. + +The guns first fired from the Alacrity had been distinctly audible and +were pronounced by Griffith, whose practised ear detected the metal of +the piece that was used, as not proceeding from the schooner. When the +rapid though distant rumbling of the spirited cannonade became audible, +it was with difficulty that Griffith could restrain either his own +feelings or the conduct of his companions within those bounds that +prudence and their situation required. The last gun was, however, fired, +and not a man had left the vault, and conjectures as to the result of +the fight succeeded to those which had been made on the character of +the combatants during the action. Some of the marines would raise their +heads from the fragments which served them as the pillows on which they +were seeking disturbed and stolen slumbers, and after listening to the +cannon would again compose themselves to sleep, like men who felt no +concern in a contest in which they did not participate. Others, more +alive to events and less drowsy, lavishly expended their rude jokes +on those who were engaged in the struggle, or listened with a curious +interest to mark the progress of the battle, by the uncertain index of +its noise. When the fight had been some time concluded, Manual indulged +his ill-humor more at length: + +"There has been a party of pleasure within a league of us, Mr. +Griffith," he said, "at which, but for our present subterraneous +quarters, we might have been guests, and thus laid some claim to the +honor of sharing in the victory. But it is not too late to push the +party on as far as the cliffs, where we shall be in sight of the +vessels, and we may possibly establish a claim to our share of the +prize-money." + +"There is but little wealth to be gleaned from the capture of a +king's cutter," returned Griffith; "and there would be less honor were +Barnstable encumbered with our additional and useless numbers." + +"Useless!" repeated Manual; "there is much good service to be got out +of twenty-three well-drilled and well-chosen marines: look at those +fellows, Mr. Griffith, and then tell me if you think them an encumbrance +in the hour of need." + +Griffith smiled, and glanced his eye over the sleeping group,--for +when the firing had ceased the whole party had again sought their +repose,--and he could not help admiring the athletic and sinewy limbs +that lay scattered around the gloomy vault, in every posture that ease +or whim dictated. From the stout frames of the men, his glance was +directed to the stack of firearms, from whose glittering tubes and +polished bayonets strong rays of light were reflected, even in that dark +apartment. Manual followed the direction of his eyes, and watched the +expression of his countenance with inward exultation; but he had the +forbearance to await his reply before he manifested his feeling more +openly. + +"I know them to be true men," said Griffith, "when needed, but--hark! +what says he?" + +"Who goes there? what noise is that?" repeated the sentinel who was +placed at the entrance of the vault. + +Manual and Griffith sprang at the same instant from their places of +rest, and stood, unwilling to create the slightest sounds, listening +with the most intense anxiety to catch the next indications of the +cause of their guardian's alarm. A short stillness, like that of death, +succeeded, during which Griffith whispered: + +"'Tis the Pilot! his hour has been long passed." + +The words were hardly spoken, when the clashing of steel in fierce +and sudden contact was heard, and at the next instant the body of the +sentinel fell heavily along the stone steps that led to the open air, +and rolled lifelessly to their feet, with the bayonet that had caused +his death projecting from a deep wound in his breast. + +"Away, away! sleepers away!" shouted Griffith. + +"To arms!" cried Manual in a voice of thunder. + +The alarmed marines, suddenly aroused from their slumbers at these +thrilling cries, sprang on their feet in a confused cluster, and at +that fatal moment a body of living fire darted into the vault, which +re-echoed with the reports of twenty muskets. The uproar, the smoke, +and the groans which escaped from many of his party, could not restrain +Griffith another instant: his pistol was fired through the cloud +which concealed the entrance of the vault, and he followed the leaden +messenger, trailing a half-pike, and shouting to his men: + +"Come on! follow, my lads; they are nothing but soldiers." + +Even while he spoke, the ardent young seaman was rushing up the narrow +passage; but as he gained the open space, his foot struck the writhing +body of the victim of his shot, and he was precipitated headlong into a +group of armed men. + +"Fire! Manual, fire!" shouted the infuriated prisoner; "fire, while you +have them in a cluster." + +"Ay, fire, Mr. Manual," said Borroughcliffe, with great coolness, "and +shoot your own officer: hold him up, boys! hold him up in front; the +safest place is nighest to him." + +"Fire!" repeated Griffith, making desperate efforts to release himself +from the grasp of five or six men; "fire, and disregard me." + +"If he do, he deserves to be hung," said Borroughcliffe; "such fine +fellows are not sufficiently plenty to be shot at like wild beasts in +chains. Take him from before the mouth of the vault, boys, and spread +yourselves to your duty." + +At the time Griffith issued from the cover, Manual was mechanically +employed in placing his men in order; and the marines, accustomed to +do everything in concert and array, lost the moment to advance. The +soldiers of Borroughcliffe reloaded their muskets, and fell back behind +different portions of the wall, where they could command the entrance +to the vault with their fire, without much exposure to themselves. This +disposition was very coolly reconnoitered by Manual in person, through +some of the crevices in the wall, and he hesitated to advance against +the force he beheld while so advantageously posted. In this situation +several shots were fired by either party, without effect, until +Borroughcliffe, perceiving the inefficacy of that mode of attack, +summoned the garrison of the vault to a parley. + +"Surrender to the forces of his majesty, King George the Third," he +cried, "and I promise you quarter." + +"Will you release your prisoner, and give us free passage to our +vessels?" asked Manual; "the garrison to march out with all the honors +of war, and officers to retain their side-arms?" + +"Inadmissible," returned Borroughcliffe, with great gravity; "the honor +of his majesty's arms, and the welfare of the realm, forbid such a +treaty: but I offer you safe quarters and honorable treatment." + +"Officers to retain their side-arms, your prisoner to be released, and +the whole party to return to America, on parole, not to serve until +exchanged?" + +"Not granted," said Borroughcliffe. "The most that I can yield is a good +potation of the generous south-side; and if you are the man I take you +for, you will know how to prize such an offer." + +"In what capacity do you summon us to yield? as men entitled to the +benefit of the laws of arms, or as rebels to your king?" + +"Ye are rebels all, gentlemen," returned the deliberate Borroughcliffe, +"and as such ye must yield; though so far as good treatment and good +fare goes, you are sure of it while in my power; in all other respects +you lie at the mercy of his most gracious majesty." + +"Then let his majesty show his gracious face, and come and take us, for +I'll be----" + +The asseveration of the marine was interrupted by Griffith, whose blood +had sensibly cooled, and whose generous feelings were awakened in behalf +of his comrades, now that his own fate seemed decided. + +"Hold, Manual," he cried, "make no rash oaths: Captain Borroughcliffe, +I am Edward Griffith, a lieutenant in the navy of the United American +States, and I pledge you my honor to a parole----" + +"Release him," said Borroughcliffe. + +Griffith advanced between the two parties, and spoke so as to be heard +by both: + +"I propose to descend to the vault, and ascertain the loss and present +strength of Captain Manual's party: if the latter be not greater than I +apprehend, I shall advise him to a surrender on the usual conditions of +civilized nations." + +"Go," said the soldier; "but stay; is he a half-and-half--an +amphibious--pshaw! I mean a marine?" + +"He is, sir, a captain in that corps----" + +"The very man," interrupted Borroughcliffe; "I thought I recollected the +liquid sounds of his voice. It will be well to speak to him of the good +fare of St. Ruth; and you may add, that I know my man: I shall besiege, +instead of storming him, with the certainty of a surrender when his +canteen is empty. The vault he is in holds no such beverage as the +cellars of the Abbey." + +Griffith smiled, in spite of the occasion and his vexation; and making +a slight inclination of his head he passed into the vault, giving notice +to his friends, by his voice, in order to apprise them who approached. + +He found six of the marines, including the sentinel, lying dead on the +ragged pavement, and four others wounded, but stifling their groans, by +the order of their commander, that they might not inform the enemy of +his weakness. With the remainder of his command Manual had entrenched +himself behind the fragment of a wall that intersected the vault, and, +regardless of the dismaying objects before him, maintained as bold a +front, and as momentous an air, as if the fate of a walled town depended +on his resolution and ingenuity. + +"You see, Mr. Griffith," he cried, when the young sailor approached +this gloomy but really formidable arrangement, "that nothing short of +artillery can dislodge me: as for that drinking Englishman above, let +him send down his men by platoons of eight or ten, and I'll pile them up +on those steps, four and five deep." + +"But artillery can and will be brought, if it should be necessary," said +Griffith; "and there is not the least chance of your eventual escape: it +may be possible for you to destroy a few of the enemy, but you are too +humane to wish to do it unnecessarily." + +"No doubt," returned Manual with a grim smile; "and yet methinks I could +find present pleasure in shooting seven of them--yes, just seven, which +is one more than they have struck off my roster." + +"Remember your own wounded," added Griffith; "they suffer for want of +aid, while you protract a useless defence." + +A few smothered groans from the sufferers seconded this appeal, and +Manual yielded, though with a very ill grace, to the necessity of the +case. + +"Go, then, and tell him that we will surrender as prisoners of war," +he said, "on the conditions that he grants me my side-arms, and that +suitable care shall be taken of the sick--be particular to call them +sick--for some lucky accident may yet occur before the compact is +ratified, and I would not have him learn our loss." + +Griffith, without waiting for a second bidding, hastened to +Borroughcliffe with his intelligence. + +"His side-arms!" repeated the soldier, when the other had done; "what +are they, I pray thee--a marlinespike! For if his equipments be no +better than thine own, my worthy prisoner, there is little need to +quarrel about their ownership." + +"Had I but ten of my meanest men, armed with such half-pikes, and +Captain Borroughcliffe and his party were put at deadly strife with us," +retorted Griffith, "he might find occasion to value our weapons more +highly." + +"Four such fiery gentlemen as yourself would have routed my command," +returned Borroughcliffe, with undisturbed composure. "I trembled for my +ranks when I saw you coming out of the smoke like a blazing comet from +behind a cloud! and I shall never think of somersets without returning +inward thanks to their inventor. But our treaty is made; let your +comrades come forth and pile their arms." + +Griffith communicated the result to the captain of marines, when the +latter led the remnant of his party out of his sunken fortress into the +open air. + +The men, who had manifested throughout the whole business that cool +subordination and unyielding front, mixed with the dauntless spirit that +to this day distinguishes the corps of which they were members, followed +their commander in sullen silence, and stacked their arms with as +much regularity and precision as if they had been ordered to relieve +themselves after a march. When this necessary preliminary had been +observed, Borroughcliffe unmasked his forces, and our adventurers found +themselves once more in the power of the enemy, and under circumstances +which rendered the prospect of a speedy release from their captivity +nearly hopeless. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + If your father will do me any honor, so; + If not, let him kill the next Percy himself: + I look to be either earl or duke, I can assure you. + Falstaff. + + +Manual cast sundry discontented and sullen looks from his captors to the +remnant of his own command, while the process of pinioning the latter +was conducted, with much discretion, under the directions of Sergeant +Drill, when meeting, in one of his dissatisfied glances, with the pale +and disturbed features of Griffith, he gave vent to his ill-humor, by +saying: + +"This results from neglecting the precautions of military discipline. +Had the command been with men, who, I may say, without boasting, have +been accustomed to the duties of the field, proper pickets would have +been posted, and instead of being caught like so many rabbits in a +burrow, to be smoked out with brimstone, we should have had an open +field for the struggle; or we might have possessed ourselves of these +walls, which I could have made good for two hours at least, against the +best regiment that ever wore King George's facings." + +"Defend the outworks before retreating to the citadel!" cried +Borroughcliffe; "'tis the game of war, and shows science: but had you +kept closer to your burrow, the rabbits might now have all been frisking +about in that pleasant abode. The eyes of a timid hind were greeted this +morning, while journeying near this wood, with a passing sight of armed +men in strange attire; and as he fled, with an intent of casting himself +into the sea, as fear will sometimes urge one of his kind to do, he +luckily encountered me on the cliffs, who humanely saved his life, by +compelling him to conduct us hither. There is often wisdom in science, +my worthy contemporary in arms; but there is sometimes safety in +ignorance." + +"You have succeeded, sir, and have a right to be pleasant," said Manual, +seating himself gloomily on a fragment of the ruin, and fastening his +looks on the melancholy spectacle of the lifeless bodies, as they were +successively brought from the vault and placed at his feet; "but these +men have been my own children, and you will excuse me if I cannot retort +your pleasantries. Ah! Captain Borroughcliffe, you are a soldier, and +know how to value merit. I took those very fellows, who sleep on these +stones so quietly, from the hands of nature, and made them the pride +of our art. They were no longer men, but brave lads, who ate and drank, +wheeled and marched, loaded and fired, laughed or were sorrowful, spoke +or were silent, only at my will. As for soul, there was but one among +them all, and that was in my keeping! Groan, my children, groan freely +now; there is no longer a reason to be silent. I have known a single +musket-bullet cut the buttons from the coats of five of them in a +row, without raising the skin of a man! I could ever calculate, with +certainty, how many it would be necessary to expend in all regular +service; but this accursed banditti business has robbed me of the +choicest of my treasures. You stand at ease now, my children; groan, it +will soften your anguish." + +Borroughcliffe appeared to participate, in some degree, in the feelings +of his captive, and he made a few appropriate remarks in the way of +condolence, while he watched the preparations that were making by his +own men to move. At length his orderly announced that substitutes for +barrows were provided to sustain the wounded, and inquired if it were +his pleasure to return to their quarters. + +"Who has seen the horse?" demanded the captain; "which way did they +march? Have they gained any tidings of the discovery of this party of +the enemy?" + +"Not from us, your honor," returned the sergeant; "they had ridden +along the coast before we left the cliffs, and it was said their officer +intended to scour the shore for several miles, and spread the alarm." + +"Let him; it is all such gay gallants are good for. Drill, honor is +almost as scarce an article with our arms just now as promotion. We seem +but the degenerate children of the heroes of Poictiers;--you understand +me, sergeant?" + +"Some battle fou't by his majesty's troops against the French, your +honor," returned the orderly, a little at a loss to comprehend the +expression of his officer's eye. + +"Fellow, you grow dull on victory," exclaimed Borroughcliffe: "come +hither, I would give you orders. Do you think, Mister Drill, there +is more honor, or likely to be more profit, in this little morning's +amusement than you and I can stand under?" + +"I should not, your honor: we have both pretty broad shoulders----" + +"That are not weakened by undue burdens of this nature," Interrupted +his captain, significantly: "if we let the news of this affair reach the +ears of those hungry dragoons, they would charge upon us open-mouthed, +like a pack of famished beagles, and claim at least half the credit, and +certainly all the profit." + +"But, your honor, there was not a man of them even----" + +"No matter, Drill; I've known troops that have been engaged, and +have suffered, cheated out of their share of victory by a well-worded +despatch. You know, fellow, that in the smoke and confusion of a battle, +a man can only see what passes near him, and common prudence requires +that he only mention in his official letters what he knows can't be +easily contradicted. Thus your Indians, and, indeed, all allies, are not +entitled to the right of a general order, any more than to the right +of a parade. Now, I dare say, you have heard of a certain battle of +Blenheim?" + +"Lord! your honor, 'tis the pride of the British army, that and the +Culloden! 'Twas when the great Corporal John beat the French king, and +all his lords and nobility, with half his nation in arms to back him." + +"Ay! there is a little of the barrack readings in the account, but it is +substantially true; know you how many French were in the field that day, +Mister Drill?" + +"I have never seen the totals of their muster, sir, in print; but, +judging by the difference betwixt the nations, I should suppose some +hundreds of thousands." + +"And yet, to oppose this vast army, the duke had only ten or twelve +thousand well-fed Englishmen! You look astounded, sergeant!" + +"Why, your honor, that does seem rather an over-match for an old soldier +to swallow; the random shot would sweep away so small a force." + +"And yet the battle was fought, and the victory won! but the Duke of +Marlborough had a certain Mr. Eugene, with some fifty or sixty thousand +High-Dutchers, to back him. You never heard of Mr. Eugene?" + +"Not a syllable, your honor; I always thought that Corporal John----" + +"Was a gallant and great general; you thought right, Mister Drill. So +would a certain nameless gentleman be also, if his majesty would sign a +commission to that effect. However, a majority is on the high road to +a regiment, and with even a regiment a man is comfortable! In plain +English, Mister Drill, we must get our prisoners into the abbey with +as little noise as possible, in order that the horse may continue their +gambols along the coast, without coming to devour our meal. All the +fuss must be made at the war-office: for that trifle you may trust me; +I think I know who holds a quill that is as good in its way as the sword +he wears. Drill is a short name, and can easily be written within the +folds of a letter." + +"Lord, your honor!" said the gratified halberdier, "I'm sure such an +honor is more--but your honor can ever command me!" + +"I do; and it is to be close, and to make your men keep close, until +it shall be time to speak, when I pledge myself there shall be noise +enough." Borroughcliffe shook his head, with a grave air, as he +continued: "It has been a devil of a bloody fight, sergeant! look at +the dead and wounded; a wood on each flank--supported by a ruin in the +centre. Oh! ink--ink can be spilt on the details with great effect. Go, +fellow, and prepare to march." + +Thus enlightened on the subject of his commander's ulterior views, +the non-commissioned agent of the captain's wishes proceeded to give +suitable instructions to the rest of the party, and to make the +more immediate preparations for a march. The arrangements were soon +completed. The bodies of the slain were left unsheltered, the seclusion +of the ruin being deemed a sufficient security against the danger of any +discovery, until darkness should favor their removal, In conformity with +Borroughcliffe's plan to monopolize the glory. The wounded were placed +on rude litters composed of the muskets and blankets of the prisoners, +when the conquerors and vanquished moved together in a compact body +from the ruin, in such a manner as to make the former serve as a mask to +conceal the latter from the curious gaze of any casual passenger. There +was but little, indeed, to apprehend on this head, for the alarm and +terror, consequent on the exaggerated reports that flew through the +country, effectually prevented any intruders on the usually quiet and +retired domains of St. Ruth. + +The party was emerging from the wood, when the cracking of branches, and +rustling of dried leaves, announced, however, that an interruption of +some sort was about to occur. + +"If it should be one of their rascally patrols!" exclaimed +Borroughcliffe, with very obvious displeasure; "they trample like a +regiment of cavalry! but, gentlemen, you will acknowledge yourselves, +that we were retiring from the field of battle when we met the +reinforcement, if it should prove to be such." + +"We are not disposed, sir, to deny you the glory of having achieved your +victory single-handed," said Griffith, glancing his eyes uneasily in the +direction of the approaching sounds, expecting to see the Pilot issue +from the thicket in which he seemed to be entangled, instead of any +detachment of his enemies. + +"Clear the way, Caesar!" cried a voice at no great distance from them; +"break through the accursed vines on my right, Pompey!--press forward, +my fine fellows, or we may be too late to smell even the smoke of the +fight." + +"Hum!" ejaculated the captain, with his philosophic indifference of +manner entirely re-established, "this must be a Roman legion just awoke +from a trance of some seventeen centuries, and that the voice of a +centurion. We will halt, Mister Drill, and view the manner of an ancient +march!" + +While the captain was yet speaking, a violent effort disengaged the +advancing party from the thicket of brambles in which they had been +entangled, when two blacks, each bending under a load of firearms, +preceded Colonel Howard, into the clear space where Borroughcliffe had +halted his detachment. Some little time was necessary to enable the +veteran to arrange his disordered dress, and to remove the perspiring +effects of the unusual toil from his features, before he could observe +the addition to the captain's numbers. + +"We heard you fire," cried the old soldier, making, at the same time, +the most diligent application of his bandana, "and I determined to aid +you with a sortie, which, when judiciously timed, has been the means +of raising many a siege; though, had Montcalm rested quietly within his +walls, the plains of Abr'am might never have drunk his blood." + +"Oh! his decision was soldierly, and according to all rules of war," +exclaimed Manual; "and had I followed his example, this day might have +produced a different tale!" + +"Why, who have we here!" cried the colonel, in astonishment; "who is it +that pretends to criticise battles and sieges, dressed in such a garb?" + +"Tis a dux incognitorum, my worthy host," said Borroughcliffe; "which +means, in our English language, a captain of marines in the service of +the American Congress." + +"What! have you then met the enemy? ay! and by the fame of the immortal +Wolfe, you have captured them!" cried the delighted veteran. "I was +pressing on with a part of my garrison to your assistance, for I had +seen that you were marching in this direction, and even the report of a +few muskets was heard." + +"A few!" interrupted the conqueror; "I know not what you call a few, my +gallant and ancient friend: you may possibly have shot at each other by +the week in the days of Wolfe, and Abercrombie, and Braddock; but I too +have seen smart firing, and can hazard an opinion in such matters There +was as pretty a roll made by firearms at the battles on the Hudson as +ever rattled from a drum; it is all over, and many live to talk of it, +but this has been the most desperate affair, for the numbers, I ever was +engaged in! I speak always with a reference to the numbers. The wood is +pretty well sprinkled with dead; and we have contrived to bring off a +few of the desperately wounded with us, as you may perceive." + +"Bless me!" exclaimed the surprised veteran, "that such an engagement +should happen within musket-shot of the abbey, and I know so little of +it! My faculties are on the wane, I fear, for the time has been when a +single discharge would rouse me from the deepest sleep." + +"The bayonet is a silent weapon," returned the composed captain, with +a significant wave of his hand; "'tis the Englishman's pride, and every +experienced officer knows that one thrust from it is worth the fire of a +whole platoon." + +"What, did you come to the charge!" cried the colonel; "by the Lord, +Borroughcliffe, my gallant young friend, I would have given twenty +tierces of rice, and two able-bodied negroes, to have seen the fray!" + +"It would have been a pleasant spectacle to witness, sans disputation," +returned the captain; "but victory is ours without the presence of +Achilles, this time. I have them, all that survive the affair; at least, +all that have put foot on English soil." + +"Ay! and the king's cutter has brought in the schooner!" added Colonel +Howard. "Thus perish all rebellion for ever more! Where's Kit? my +kinsman, Mr. Christopher Dillon; I would ask him what the laws of the +realm next prescribe to loyal subjects. Here will be work for the jurors +of Middlesex, Captain Borroughcliffe, if not for a secretary of state's +warrant. Where is Kit, my kinsman; the ductile, the sagacious, the loyal +Christopher?" + +"The Cacique 'non est,' as more than one bailiff has said of sundry +clever fellows in our regiment, when there has been a pressing occasion +for their appearance," said the soldier; "but the cornet of horse has +given me reason to believe that his provincial lordship, who repaired +on board the cutter to give intelligence of the position of the enemy, +continued there to share the dangers and honors of naval combat." + +"Ay, 'tis like him!" cried the colonel, rubbing his hands with glee; +"'tis like him! he has forgotten the law and his peaceful occupations, +at the sounds of military preparation, and has carried the head of a +statesman into the fight, with the ardor and thoughtlessness of a boy." + +"The Cacique is a man of discretion," observed the captain, with all his +usual dryness of manner, "and will, doubtless, recollect his obligations +to posterity and himself, though he be found entangled in the mazes of +a combat. But I marvel that he does not return, for some time has +now elapsed since the schooner struck her flag, as my own eyes have +witnessed." + +"You will pardon me, gentlemen," said Griffith, advancing towards them +with uncontrollable interest; "but I have unavoidably heard part of your +discourse, and cannot think you will find it necessary to withhold the +whole truth from a disarmed captive: say you that a schooner has been +captured this morning?" + +"It is assuredly true," said Borroughcliffe, with a display of nature +and delicacy in his manner that did his heart infinite credit; "but I +forbore to tell you, because I thought your own misfortunes would be +enough for one time. Mr. Griffith, this gentleman is Colonel Howard, +to whose hospitality you will be indebted for some favors before we +separate." + +"Griffith!" echoed the colonel, in quick reply, "Griffith! what a sight +for my old eyes to witness!--the child of worthy, gallant, loyal Hugh +Griffith a captive, and taken in arms against his prince! Young man, +young man, what would thy honest father, what would his bosom friend, +my own poor brother Harry, have said, had it pleased God that they +had survived to witness this burning shame and lasting stigma on thy +respectable name?" + +"Had my father lived, he would now have been upholding the independence +of his native land," said the young man, proudly. "I wish to respect +even the prejudices of Colonel Howard, and beg he will forbear urging a +subject on which I fear we never shall agree." + +"Never, while thou art to be found in the ranks of rebellion!" cried the +colonel. "Oh! boy! boy! how I could have loved and cherished thee, if +the skill and knowledge obtained in the service of thy prince were +now devoted to the maintenance of his unalienable rights! I loved thy +father, worthy Hugh, even as I loved my own brother Harry." + +"And his son should still be dear to you," interrupted Griffith, taking +the reluctant hand of the colonel into both his own. + +"Ah, Edward, Edward!" continued the softened veteran, "how many of my +day-dreams have been destroyed by thy perversity! nay, I know not that +Kit, discreet and loyal as he is, could have found such a favor in my +eyes as thyself; there is a cast of thy father in that face and smile, +Ned, that might have won me to anything short of treason--and then +Cicely, provoking, tender, mutinous, kind affectionate, good Cicely, +would have been a link to unite us forever." + +The youth cast a hasty glance at the deliberate Borroughcliffe, who, if +he had obeyed the impatient expression of his eye, would have followed +the party that was slowly bearing the wounded towards the abbey, before +he yielded to his feelings, and answered: + +"Nay, sir; let this then be the termination of our +misunderstanding--your lovely niece shall be that link, and you shall be +to me as your friend Hugh would have been had he lived, and to Cecilia +twice a parent." + +"Boy, boy," said the veteran, averting his face to conceal the working +of his muscles, "you talk idly; my word is now plighted to my kinsman +Kit, and thy scheme is impracticable." + +"Nothing is impracticable, sir, to youth and enterprise, when aided by +age and experience like yours," returned Griffith; "this war must soon +terminate." + +"This war!" echoed the colonel, shaking loose the grasp which Griffith +held on his arm; "ay! what of this war, young man? Is it not an accursed +attempt to deny the rights of our gracious sovereign, and to place +tyrants, reared in kennels, on the throne of princes! a scheme to +elevate the wicked at the expense of the good! a project to aid +unrighteous ambition, under the mask of sacred liberty and the popular +cry of equality! as if there could be liberty without order! or equality +of rights, where the privileges of the sovereign are not as sacred as +those of the people!" + +"You judge us harshly, Colonel Howard," said Griffith. + +"I judge you!" interrupted the old soldier, who, by this time, thought +the youth resembled any one rather than his friend Hugh; "it is not my +province to judge you at all; if it were!--but the time will come, the +time will come. I am a patient man, and can wait the course of things; +yes, yes, age cools the blood, and we learn to suppress the passions +and impatience of youth: but if the ministry would issue a commission of +justice for the colonies, and put the name of old George Howard in it, +I am a dog, if there should be a rebel alive in twelve months. Sir," +turning sternly to Borroughcliffe, "in such a case, I could prove a +Roman, and hang--hang--yes, I do think, sir, I could hang my kinsman, +Mr. Christopher Dillon!" + +"Spare the Cacique such unnatural elevation before his time," returned +the captain with a grave wave of the hand: "behold," pointing towards +the wood, "there is a more befitting subject for the gallows! Mr. +Griffith, yonder man calls himself your comrade?" + +The eyes of Colonel Howard and Griffith followed the direction of his +finger, and the latter instantly recognized the Pilot, standing in +the skirts of the wood, with his arms folded, apparently surveying the +condition of his friends. + +"That man," said Griffith, in confusion, and hesitating to utter even +the equivocal truth that suggested itself, "that man does not belong to +our ship's company." + +"And yet he has been seen in _your_ company," returned the incredulous +Borroughcliffe; "he was the spokesman in last night's examination, +Colonel Howard, and, doubtless, commands the rear-guard of the rebels." + +"You say true," cried the veteran; "Pompey! Caesar! present! fire!" + +The blacks started at the sudden orders of their master, of whom they +stood in the deepest awe; and, presenting their muskets, they averted +their faces, and, shutting their eyes, obeyed the bloody mandate. + +"Charge!" shouted the colonel, flourishing the ancient sword with which +he had armed himself, and pressing forward with all the activity that +a recent fit of the gout would allow, "charge, and exterminate the dogs +with the bayonet! push on, Pompey--dress, boys, dress." + +"If your friend stands this charge," said Borroughcliffe to Griffith, +with unmoved composure, "his nerves are made of iron; such a charge +would break the Coldstreams; with Pompey in the ranks!" + +"I trust in God," cried Griffith, "he will have forbearance enough to +respect the weakness of Colonel Howard!--he presents a pistol!" + +"But he will not fire; the Romans deem it prudent to halt; nay, by +heaven, they countermarch to the rear. Holla! Colonel Howard, my worthy +host, fall back on your reinforcements; the wood is full of armed +men; they cannot escape us; I only wait for the horse to cut off the +retreat." + +The veteran, who had advanced within a short distance of the single man +who thus deliberately awaited the attack, halted at this summons; and +by a glance of his eye, ascertained that he stood alone. Believing the +words of Borroughcliffe to be true, he slowly retired, keeping his face +manfully towards his enemy, until he gained the support of the captain. + +"Recall the troops, Borroughcliffe!" he cried, "and let us charge +into the wood; they will fly before his majesty's arms like guilty +scoundrels, as they are. As for the negroes, I'll teach the black +rascals to desert their master at such a moment. They say Fear is pale, +but, damme, Borroughcliffe, if I don't believe his skin is black." + +"I have seen him of all colors; blue, white, black, and particolored," +said the captain. "I must take the command of matters on myself, +however, my excellent host; let us retire into the abbey, and trust me +to cut off the remainder of the rebels." + +In this arrangement the colonel reluctantly acquiesced, and the three +followed the soldier to the dwelling, at a pace that was adapted to the +infirmities of its master. The excitement of the onset, and the current +of his ideas, had united, however, to banish every amicable thought +from the breast of the colonel, and he entered the abbey with a resolute +determination of seeing justice dealt to Griffith and his companions, +even though it should push them to the foot of the gallows. + +As the gentlemen disappeared from his view, among the shrubbery of the +grounds, the Pilot replaced the weapon that was hanging from his hand, +in his bosom, and, turning with a saddened and thoughtful brow, he +slowly re-entered the wood. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + ----"When these prodigies + Do so conjointly meet, let not men say. + These are their reasons,--They are natural, + For, I believe they are portentous things + Unto the climate that they point upon." + _Casca._ + + +The reader will discover, by referring to the time consumed in the +foregoing events, that the Ariel, with her prize, did not anchor in the +bay already mentioned, until Griffith and his party had been for several +hours in the custody of their enemies. The supposed capture of the +rebel schooner was an incident that excited but little interest, and no +surprise, among a people who were accustomed to consider their seamen as +invincible; and Barnstable had not found it a difficult task to practise +his deception on the few rustics whom curiosity induced to venture +alongside the vessels during the short continuance of daylight. When, +however, the fogs of evening began to rise along the narrow basin, and +the curvatures of its margin were lost in the single outline of its dark +and gloomy border, the young seaman thought it time to apply himself in +earnest to his duty. The Alacrity, containing all his own crew, together +with the Ariel's wounded, was gotten silently under way; and driving +easily before the heavy air that swept from the land, she drifted from +the harbor, until the open sea lay before her, when her sails were +spread, and she continued to make the best of her way in quest of the +frigate. Barnstable had watched this movement with breathless anxiety; +for on an eminence that completely commanded the waters to some +distance, a small but rude battery had been erected for the purpose +of protecting the harbor against the depredations and insults of the +smaller vessels of the enemy; and a guard of sufficient force to manage +the two heavy guns it contained was maintained in the work at all times. +He was ignorant how far his stratagem had been successful, and it was +only when he heard the fluttering of the Alacrity's canvas, as she +opened it to the breeze, he felt that he was yet secure. + +"'Twill reach the Englishmen's ears," said the boy Merry, who stood on +the forecastle of the schooner, by the side of his commander, listening +with breathless interest to the sounds; "they set a sentinel on the +point, as the sun went down, and if he is a trifle better than a dead +man, or a marine asleep, he will suspect something is wrong." + +"Never!" returned Barnstable, with a long breath, that announced all +his apprehensions were removed; "he will be more likely to believe it +a mermaid fanning herself this cool evening, than to suspect the real +fact. What say you, Master Coffin? will the soldier smell the truth?" + +"They're a dumb race," said the cockswain, casting his eyes over his +shoulders, to ascertain that none of their own marine guard was near +him; "now, there was our sergeant, who ought to know something, seeing +that he has been afloat these four years, maintained, dead in the face +and eyes of what every man, who has ever doubled Good Hope, knows to be +true, that there was no such vessel to be fallen in with in them seas, +as the Flying Dutchman! and then, again, when I told him that he was a +'know-nothing,' and asked him if the Dutchman was a more unlikely thing +than that there should be places where the inhabitants split the year +into two watches, and had day for six months, and night the rest of the +time, the greenhorn laughed in my face, and I do believe he would have +told me I lied, but for one thing." + +"And what might that be?" asked Barnstable, gravely. + +"Why, sir," returned Tom, stretching his bony fingers, as he surveyed +his broad palm, by the little light that remained, "though I am a +peaceable man, I can be roused." + +"And you have seen the Flying Dutchman?" + +"I never doubled the east cape; though I can find my way through Le +Maire in the darkest night that ever fell from the heavens; but I have +seen them that have seen her, and spoken her, too." + +"Well, be it so; you must turn flying Yankee, yourself, to-night, Master +Coffin. Man your boat at once, sir, and arm your crew." + +The cockswain paused a moment before he proceeded to obey this +unexpected order, and, pointing towards the battery, he inquired, with +infinite phlegm: + +"For shore-work, sir? Shall we take the cutlashes and pistols? or shall +we want the pikes?" + +"There may be soldiers in our way, with their bayonets," said +Barnstable, musing; "arm as usual, but throw a few long pikes into the +boat; and harkye, Master Coffin, out with your tub and whale-line: for I +see you have rigged yourself anew in that way." + +The cockswain, who was moving from the forecastle, turned short at this +new mandate, and with an air of remonstrance, ventured to say: + +"Trust an old whaler, Captain Barnstable, who has been used to these +craft all his life. A whale-boat is made to pull with a tub and line in +it, as naturally as a ship is made to sail with ballast, and----" + +"Out with it, out with it," interrupted the other, with an impatient +gesture, that his cockswain knew signified a positive determination. +Heaving a sigh at what he deemed his commander's prejudice, Tom applied +himself without further delay to the execution of the orders. Barnstable +laid his hand familiarly on the shoulder of the boy, and led him to the +stern of his little vessel, in profound silence. The canvas hood that +covered the entrance to the cabin was thrown partly aside; and by the +light of the lamp that was burning in the small apartment, it was easy +to overlook, from the deck, what was passing beneath them. Dillon sat +supporting his head with his two hands, in a manner that shaded his +face, but in an attitude that denoted deep and abstracted musing. + +"I would that I could see the face of my prisoner," said Barnstable, in +an undertone, that was audible only to his companion. "The eye of a man +is a sort of lighthouse, to tell one how to steer into the haven of his +confidence, boy." + +"And sometimes a beacon, sir, to warn you there is no safe anchorage +near him," returned the ready boy. + +"Rogue!" muttered Barnstable, "your cousin Kate spoke there." + +"If my cousin Plowden were here, Mr. Barnstable, I know that her opinion +of yon gentleman would not be at all more favorable." + +"And yet, I have determined to trust him! Listen, boy, and tell me if I +am wrong; you have a quick wit, like some others of your family, and may +suggest something advantageous." The gratified midshipman swelled with +the conscious pleasure of possessing his commander's confidence, +and followed to the taffrail, over which Barnstable leaned, while he +delivered the remainder of his communication. "I have gathered from the +'longshoremen who have come off this evening, to stare at the vessel +which the rebels have been able to build, that a party of seamen and +marines have been captured in an old ruin near the Abbey of St. Ruth, +this very day." + +"'Tis Mr. Griffith!" exclaimed the boy. + +"Ay! the wit of your cousin Katherine was not necessary to discover +that. Now, I have proposed to this gentleman with the Savannah face, +that he should go into the abbey, and negotiate an exchange. I will give +him for Griffith, and the crew of the Alacrity for Manual's command and +the Tigers." + +"The Tigers!" cried the lad, with emotion; "have they got my Tigers, +too? Would to God that Mr. Griffith had permitted me to land!" + +"It was no boy's work they were about, and room was scarcer in their +boat than live lumber. But this Mr. Dillon has accepted my proposition, +and has pledged himself that Griffith shall return within an hour after +he is permitted to enter the Abbey; will he redeem his honor from the +pledge?" + +"He may," said Merry, musing a moment; "for I believe he thinks the +presence of Mr. Griffith under the same roof with Miss Howard a thing +to be prevented, if possible; he may be true in this instance, though he +has a hollow look." + +"He has bad-looking lighthouses, I will own," said Barnstable; "and yet +he is a gentleman, and promises fair; 'tis unmanly to suspect him in +such a matter, and I will have faith! Now listen, sir. The absence of +older heads must throw great responsibility on your young shoulders; +watch that battery as closely as if you were at the mast-head of your +frigate, on the lookout for an enemy; the instant you see lights moving +in it, cut, and run into the offing; you will find me somewhere under +the cliffs, and you will stand off and on, keeping the abbey in sight, +until you fall in with us." + +Merry gave an attentive ear to these and divers other solemn injunctions +that he received from his commander, who, having sent the officer next +to himself in authority in charge of the prize (the third in command +being included in the list of the wounded), was compelled to entrust his +beloved schooner to the vigilance of a lad whose years gave no promise +of the experience and skill that he actually possessed. + +When his admonitory instructions were ended, Barnstable stepped again to +the opening in the cabin-hood, and, for a single moment before he spoke, +once more examined the countenance of his prisoner, with a keen eye. +Dillon had removed his hands from before his sallow features; and, as +if conscious of the scrutiny his looks were to undergo, had concentrated +the whole expression of his forbidding aspect in a settled gaze of +hopeless submission to his fate. At least, so thought his captor, and +the idea touched some of the finer feelings in the bosom of the generous +young seaman. Discarding, instantly, every suspicion of his prisoner's +honor, as alike unworthy of them both, Barnstable summoned him, in a +cheerful voice, to the boat. There was a flashing of the features +of Dillon, at this call, which gave an indefinable expression to +his countenance, that again startled the sailor; but it was so very +transient, and could so easily be mistaken for a smile of pleasure +at his promised liberation, that the doubts it engendered passed away +almost as speedily as the equivocal expression itself. Barnstable was in +the act of following his companion into the boat, when he felt himself +detained by a slight hold of his arm. + +"What would you have?" he asked of the midshipman, who had given him the +signal. + +"Do not trust too much to that Dillon, sir," returned the anxious boy, +in a whisper; "if you had seen his face, as I did, when the binnacle +light fell upon it, as he came up the cabin ladder, you would put no +faith in him." + +"I should have seen no beauty," said the generous lieutenant, laughing; +"but there is long Tom, as hard-featured a youth of two score and ten as +ever washed in brine, who has a heart as big, ay, bigger than that of +a kraaken. A bright watch to you, boy, and remember a keen eye on the +battery." As he was yet speaking, Barnstable crossed the gunwale of his +little vessel, and it was not until he was seated by the side of his +prisoner that he continued, aloud: "Cast the stops off your sails, Mr. +Merry, and see all clear to make a run of everything; recollect, you are +short-handed, sir. God bless ye! and d'ye hear? if there is a man among +you who shuts more than one eye at a time, I'll make him, when I get +back, open both wider than if Tom Coffin's friend, the Flying Dutchman, +was booming down upon him. God bless ye, Merry, my boy; give 'em the +square-sail, if this breeze off-shore holds on till morning:--shove +off." + +As Barnstable gave the last order, he fell back on his seat, and, +drawing back his boat-cloak around him maintained a profound silence, +until they had passed the two small headlands that fanned the mouth +of the harbor. The men pulled, with muffled oars, their long, vigorous +strokes, and the boat glided with amazing rapidity past the objects that +could be yet indistinctly seen along the dim shore. When, however, they +had gained the open ocean, and the direction of their little bark was +changed to one that led them in a line with the coast, and within the +shadows of the cliffs, the cockswain, deeming that the silence was no +longer necessary to their safety, ventured to break it, as follows: + +"A square-sail is a good sail to carry on a craft, dead afore it, and +in a heavy sea; but if fifty years can teach a man to know the weather, +it's my judgment that should the Ariel break ground after the night +turns at eight bells, she'll need her mainsail to hold her up to her +course." + +The lieutenant started at this sudden interruption, and casting his +cloak from his shoulders, he looked abroad on the waters, as if seeking +those portentous omens which disturbed the imagination of his cockswain. + +"How now, Tom," he said, sharply, "have ye turned croaker in your old +age? what see you, to cause such an old woman's ditty?" + +"'Tis no song of an old woman," returned the cockswain with solemn +earnestness, "but the warning of an old man; and one who has spent +his days where there were no hills to prevent the winds of heaven from +blowing on him, unless they were hills of salt water and foam. I judge, +sir, there'll be a heavy northeaster setting in upon us afore the +morning watch is called." + +Barnstable knew the experience of his old messmate too well not to feel +uneasiness at such an opinion, delivered in so confident a manner; but +after again surveying the horizon, the heavens, and the ocean, he said, +with a continued severity of manner: + +"Your prophecy is idle, this time, Master Coffin; everything looks like +a dead calm. This swell is what is left from the last blow; the mist +overhead is nothing but the nightly fog, and you can see, with own eyes, +that it is driving seaward; even this land-breeze is nothing but the air +of the ground mixing with that of the ocean; it is heavy with dew and +fog, but it's as sluggish as a Dutch galliot." + +"Ay, sir, it is damp, and there is little of it," rejoined Tom; "but as +it comes only from the shore, so it never goes far on the water, It is +hard to learn the true signs of the weather, Captain Barnstable, and +none get to know them well, but such as study little else or feel but +little else. There is only One who can see the winds of heaven, or who +can tell when a hurricane is to begin, or where it will end. Still, +a man isn't like a whale or a porpoise, that takes the air in his +nostrils, and never knows whether it is a southeaster or a northwester +that he feeds upon. Look, broad-off to leeward, sir; see the streak of +clear sky shining under the mists; take an old seafaring man's word +for it, Captain Barnstable, that whenever the light shines out of the +heavens in that fashion, 'tis never done for nothing; besides, the sun +set in a dark bank of clouds, and the little moon we had was dry and +windy." + +Barnstable listened attentively, and with increasing concern, for he +well knew that his cockswain possessed a quick and almost unerring +judgment of the weather, notwithstanding the confused medley of +superstitious omens and signs with which it was blended; but again +throwing himself back in his boat, he muttered: + +"Then let it blow; Griffith is worth a heavier risk, and if the battery +can't be cheated, it can be carried." + +Nothing further passed on the state of the weather. Dillon had not +ventured a single remark since he entered the boat, and the cockswain +had the discretion to understand that his officer was willing to be +left to his own thoughts. For nearly an hour they pursued their way with +diligence; the sinewy seamen, who wielded the oars, urging their light +boat along the edge of the surf with unabated velocity, and apparently +with untired exertions. Occasionally, Barnstable would cast an inquiring +glance at the little inlets that they passed, or would note, with a +seaman's eye, the small portions of sandy beach that were scattered here +and there along the rocky boundaries of the coast. One in particular, a +deeper inlet than common, where a run of fresh water was heard gurgling +as it met the tide, he pointed out to his cockswain, by significant but +silent gestures, as a place to be especially noted. Tom, who understood +the signal as intended for his own eye alone, made his observations on +the spot with equal taciturnity, but with all the minuteness that would +distinguish one long accustomed to find his way, whether by land or +water, by landmarks and the bearings of different objects. Soon after +this silent communication between the lieutenant and his cockswain, the +boat was suddenly turned, and was in the act of dashing upon the spit of +sand before it, when Barnstable checked the movement by his voice: + +"Hold water!" he said; "'tis the sound of oars!" + +The seamen held their boat at rest, while a deep attention was given to +the noise that had alarmed the ears of their commander. + +"See, sir," said the cockswain, pointing towards the eastern horizon; +"it is just rising into the streak of light to seaward of us--now it +settles in the trough--ah! here you have it again!" + +"By heavens!" cried Barnstable, "'tis a man-of-war's stroke it pulls; I +saw the oar-blades as they fell! and, listen to the sound! neither your +fisherman nor your smuggler pulls such a regular oar." + +Tom had bowed his head nearly to the water, in the act of listening, and +now raising himself, he spoke with confidence: + +"That is the Tiger; I know the stroke of her crew as well as I do of my +own. Mr. Merry has made them learn the new-fashioned jerk, as they dip +their blades, and they feather with such a roll in their rullocks! I +could swear to the stroke." + +"Hand me the night-glass," said his commander, impatiently. "I can catch +them, as they are lifted into the streak. You are right, by every star +in our flag, Tom!--but there is only one man in her stern-sheets. By my +good eyes, I believe it is that accursed Pilot, sneaking from the land, +and leaving Griffith and Manual to die in English prisons. To shore with +you--beach her at once!" + +The order was no sooner given than it was obeyed, and in less than +two minutes the impatient Barnstable, Dillon, and the cockswain, were +standing together on the sands. + +The impression he had received, that his friends were abandoned to +their fate by the Pilot, urged the generous young seaman to hasten +the departure of his prisoner, as he was fearful every moment might +interpose some new obstacle to the success of his plans. + +"Mr. Dillon," he said, the instant they were landed, "I exact no new +promise--your honor is already plighted----" + +"If oaths can make it stronger," interrupted Dillon, "I will take them." + +"Oaths cannot--the honor of a gentleman is, at all times, enough. I +shall send my cockswain with you to the abbey, and you will either +return with him, in person, within two hours, or give Mr. Griffith and +Captain Manual to his guidance. Proceed, sir, you are conditionally +free; there is an easy opening by which to ascend the cliffs." + +Dillon once more thanked his generous captor, and then proceeded to +force his way up the rough eminence. + +"Follow, and obey his instructions," said Barnstable to his cockswain, +aloud. + +Tom, long accustomed to implicit obedience, handled his harpoon, and was +quietly following in the footsteps of his new leader, when he felt the +hand of the lieutenant on his shoulder. + +"You saw where the brook emptied over the hillock of sand?" said +Barnstable, in an undertone. + +Tom nodded assent. + +"You will find us there riding without the surf--'Twill not do to trust +too much to an enemy." + +The cockswain made a gesture of great significance with his weapon, that +was intended to indicate the danger their prisoner would incur should he +prove false; when, applying the wooden end of the harpoon to the rocks, +he ascended the ravine at a rate that soon brought him to the side of +his companion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + "Ay marry, let me have him to sit under; + He's like to be a cold soldier." + _Falstaff_. + + +Barnstable lingered on the sands for a few minutes, until the footsteps +of Dillon and the cockswain were no longer audible, when he ordered +his men to launch their boat once more into the surf. While the seamen +pulled leisurely towards the place he had designated as the point +where he would await the return of Tom, the lieutenant first began +to entertain serious apprehensions concerning the good faith of his +prisoner. Now that Dillon was beyond his control, his imagination +presented, in very vivid colors, several little circumstances in the +other's conduct, which might readily excuse some doubts of his good +faith; and, by the time they had reached the place of rendezvous, +and had cast a light grapnel into the sea, his fears had rendered him +excessively uncomfortable. Leaving the lieutenant to his reflections +on this unpleasant subject, we shall follow Dillon and his fearless and +unsuspecting companion in their progress towards St. Ruth. + +The mists to which Tom had alluded in his discussion with his commander +on the state of the weather appeared to be settling nearer to the earth, +and assuming more decidedly the appearance of a fog, hanging above them +in sluggish volumes, but little agitated by the air. The consequent +obscurity added deeply to the gloom of the night, and it would have +been difficult for one less acquainted than Dillon with the surrounding +localities to find the path which led to the dwelling of Colonel Howard. +After some little search, this desirable object was effected; and the +civilian led the way, with rapid strides, towards the abbey. + +"Ay, ay!" said Tom, who followed his steps, and equaled his paces, +without any apparent effort, "you shore people have an easy way to find +your course and distance, when you get into the track. I was once left +by the craft I belonged to, in Boston, to find my way to Plymouth, which +is a matter of fifteen leagues, or thereaway; and so, finding nothing +was bound up the bay, after lying-by for a week, I concluded to haul +aboard my land tacks. I spent the better part of another week in a +search for some hooker, on board which I might work my passage across +the country, for money was as scarce then with old Tom Coffin as it is +now, and is likely to be, unless the fisheries get a good luff soon; +but it seems that nothing but your horse-flesh, and horned cattle, +and jackasses, are privileged to do the pulling and hauling in your +shore-hookers; and I was forced to pay a week's wages for a berth, +besides keeping a banyan on a mouthful of bread and cheese, from the +time we hove up in Boston, till we came to in Plymouth town." + +"It was certainly an unreasonable exaction on the part of the wagoners, +from a man in your situation," said Dillon, in a friendly, soothing tone +of voice, that denoted a willingness to pursue the conversation. + +"My situation was that of a cabin passenger," returned the +cockswain; "for there was but one hand forward, besides the cattle I +mentioned--that was he who steered--and an easy berth he had of it; for +there his course lay atween walls of stone and fences: and, as for his +reckoning, why, they had stuck up bits of stone on an end, with his +day's work footed up, ready to his hand, every half league or so. +Besides, the landmarks were so plenty, that a man with half an eye might +steer her, and no fear of getting to leeward." + +"You must have found yourself as it were in a new world," observed +Dillon. + +"Why, to me it was pretty much the same as if I had been set afloat in +a strange country, though I may be said to be a native of those parts, +being born on the coast. I had often heard shoremen say, that there was +as much 'arth as water in the world, which I always set down as a rank +lie, for I've sailed with a flowing sheet months an-end without falling +in with as much land or rock as would answer a gull to lay its eggs on; +but I will own, that atween Boston and Plymouth, we were out of sight of +water for as much as two full watches!" + +Dillon pursued this interesting subject with great diligence; and by +the time they reached the wall, which enclosed the large paddock that +surrounded the abbey, the cockswain was deeply involved in a discussion +of the comparative magnitude of the Atlantic Ocean and the continent of +America. + +Avoiding the principal entrance to the building, through the great gates +which communicated with the court in front, Dillon followed the windings +of the wall until it led them to a wicket, which he knew was seldom +closed for the night until the hour for general rest had arrived. Their +way now lay in the rear of the principal edifice, and soon conducted +them to the confused pile which contained the offices. The cockswain +followed his companion with a confiding reliance on his knowledge and +good faith, that was somewhat increased by the freedom of communication +that had been maintained during their walk from the cliffs. He did not +perceive anything extraordinary in the other's stopping at the room, +which had been provided as a sort of barracks for the soldiers of +Captain Borroughcliffe. A conference which took place between Dillon and +the sergeant was soon ended, when the former beckoned to the cockswain +to follow, and taking a circuit round the whole of the offices, they +entered the abbey together, by the door through which the ladies +had issued when in quest of the three prisoners, as has been already +related.--After a turn or two among the narrow passages of that part of +the edifice, Tom, whose faith in the facilities of land navigation began +to be a little shaken, found himself following his guide through a long, +dark gallery, that was terminated at the end toward which they were +approaching, by a half-open door, that admitted a glimpse into a +well-lighted and comfortable apartment. To this door Dillon hastily +advanced, and, throwing it open, the cockswain enjoyed a full view of +the very scene that we described in introducing Colonel Howard to the +acquaintance of the reader, and under circumstances of great similitude. +The cheerful fire of coal, the strong and glaring lights, the tables +of polished mahogany, and the blushing fluids, were still the same in +appearance, while the only perceptible change was in the number of those +who partook of the cheer. The master of the mansion and Borroughcliffe +were seated opposite to each other, employed in discussing the events of +the day, and diligently pushing to and fro the glittering vessel, that +contained a portion of the generous liquor they both loved so well; a +task which each moment rendered lighter. + +"If Kit would but return," exclaimed the veteran, whose back was to the +opening door, "bringing with, him his honest brows encircled, as they +will be or ought to be, with laurel, I should be the happiest old fool, +Borroughcliffe, in his majesty's realm of Great Britain!" + +The captain, who felt the necessity for the unnatural restraint he +had imposed on his thirst to be removed by the capture of his enemies, +pointed towards the door with one hand, while he grasped the sparkling +reservoir of the "south side" with the other, and answered: + +"Lo! the Cacique himself! his brow inviting the diadem--ha! who have we +in his highness' train? By the Lord, sir Cacique, if you travel with +a body-guard of such grenadiers, old Frederick of Prussia himself will +have occasion to envy you the corps! a clear six-footer in nature's +stockings! and the arms as unique as the armed!" + +The colonel did not, however, attend to half of his companion's +exclamations, but turning, he beheld the individual he had so +much desired, and received him with a delight proportioned to the +unexpectedness of the pleasure. For several minutes, Dillon was +compelled to listen to the rapid questions of his venerable relative, +to all of which he answered with a prudent reserve, that might, in some +measure, have been governed by the presence of the cockswain. Tom stood +with infinite composure, leaning on his harpoon, and surveying, with +a countenance where wonder was singularly blended with contempt, the +furniture and arrangements of an apartment that was far more splendid +than any he had before seen. In the mean time, Borroughcliffe entirely +disregarded the private communications that passed between his host and +Dillon, which gradually became more deeply interesting, and finally +drew them to a distant corner of the apartment, but taking a most undue +advantage of the absence of the gentleman, who had so lately been his +boon companion, he swallowed one potation after another, as if a +double duty had devolved on him, in consequence of the desertion of the +veteran. Whenever his eye did wander from the ruby tints of his +glass, it was to survey with unrepressed admiration the inches of the +cockswain, about whose stature and frame there were numberless excellent +points to attract the gaze of a recruiting officer. From this double +pleasure, the captain was, however, at last summoned, to participate in +the councils of his friends. + +Dillon was spared the disagreeable duty of repeating the artful tale +he had found it necessary to palm on the colonel, by the ardor of the +veteran himself, who executed the task in a manner that gave to the +treachery of his kinsman every appearance of a justifiable artifice and +of unshaken zeal in the cause of his prince. In substance, Tom was to +be detained as a prisoner, and the party of Barnstable were to be +entrapped, and of course to share a similar fate. The sunken eye of +Dillon cowered before the steady gaze which Borroughcliffe fastened on +him, as the latter listened to the plaudits the colonel lavished on his +cousin's ingenuity; but the hesitation that lingered in the soldier's +manner vanished when he turned to examine their unsuspecting prisoner, +who was continuing his survey of the apartment, while he innocently +imagined the consultations he witnessed were merely the proper and +preparatory steps to his admission into the presence of Mr. Griffith. + +"Drill," said Borroughcliffe, aloud, "advance, and receive your orders." +The cockswain turned quickly at this sudden mandate, and, for the +first time, perceived that he had been followed into the gallery by +the orderly and two files of the recruits, armed. "Take this man to the +guard-room, and feed him, and see that he dies not of thirst." + +There was nothing alarming in this order; and Tom was following the +soldiers, in obedience to a gesture from their captain, when their steps +were arrested in the gallery, by the cry of "Halt!" + +"On recollection, Drill," said Borroughcliffe, in a tone from which all +dictatorial sounds were banished, "show the gentleman into my own room, +and see him properly supplied." + +The orderly gave such an intimation of his comprehending the meaning +of his officer, as the latter was accustomed to receive, when +Borroughcliffe returned to his bottle, and the cockswain followed his +guide, with an alacrity and good will that were not a little increased +by the repeated mention of the cheer that awaited him. + +Luckily for the impatience of Tom, the quarters of the captain were +at hand, and the promised entertainment by no means slow in making +its appearance. The former was an apartment that opened from a +lesser gallery, which communicated with the principal passage already +mentioned; and the latter was a bountiful but ungarnished supply of that +staple of the British Isles, called roast beef; of which the kitchen +of Colonel Howard was never without a due and loyal provision,--The +sergeant, who certainly understood one of the signs of his captain to +imply an attack on the citadel of the cockswain's brain, mingled, with +his own hands, a potation that he styled a rummer of grog, and which he +thought would have felled the animal itself that Tom was so diligently +masticating, had it been alive and in its vigor. Every calculation +that was made on the infirmity of the cockswain's intellect, under the +stimulus of Jamaica, was, however, futile. He swallowed glass after +glass, with prodigious relish, but, at the same time, with immovable +steadiness; and the eyes of the sergeant, who felt it incumbent to +do honor to his own cheer, were already glistening in his head, when, +happily for the credit of his heart, a tap at the door announced the +presence of his captain, and relieved him from the impending disgrace of +being drunk blind by a recruit. + +As Borroughcliffe entered the apartment, he commanded his orderly to +retire, adding: + +"Mr. Dillon will give you instructions, which you are implicitly to +obey." + +Drill, who had sense enough remaining to apprehend the displeasure of +his officer, should the latter discover his condition, quickened his +departure, and the cockswain soon found himself alone with the captain. +The vigor of Tom's attacks on the remnant of the sirloin was now much +abated, leaving in its stead that placid quiet which is apt to linger +about the palate long after the cravings of the appetite have been +appeased. He had seated himself on one of the trunks of Borroughcliffe, +utterly disdaining the use of a chair; and, with the trencher in his +lap, was using his own jack-knife on the dilapidated fragment of the ox, +with something of that nicety with which the female ghoul of the Arabian +Tales might be supposed to pick her rice with the point of her bodkin. +The captain drew a seat nigh the cockswain; and, with a familiarity and +kindness infinitely condescending, when the difference in their several +conditions is considered, he commenced the following dialogue: + +"I hope you have found your entertainment to your liking, Mr. a-a-I must +own my ignorance of your name." + +"Tom," said the cockswain, keeping his eyes roaming over the contents of +the trencher; "commonly called long Tom, by my shipmates." + +"You have sailed with discreet men, and able navigators, it will seem, +as they understood longitude so well," rejoined the captain; "but you +have a patronymic--I would say another name?" + +"Coffin," returned the cockswain; "I'm called Tom, when there is any +hurry, such as letting go the haulyards, or a sheet; long Tom, when they +want to get to windward of an old seaman, by fair weather; and long Tom +Coffin, when they wish to hail me, so that none of my cousins of the +same name, about the islands, shall answer; for I believe the best +man among them can't measure much over a fathom, taking him from his +headworks to his heel." + +"You are a most deserving fellow," cried Borroughcliffe, "and it +is painful to think to what a fate the treachery of Mr. Dillon has +consigned you." + +The suspicions of Tom, if he ever entertained any, were lulled to rest +too effectually by the kindness he had received, to be awakened by this +equivocal lament; he therefore, after renewing his intimacy with the +rummer, contented himself by saying, with a satisfied simplicity: + +"I am consigned to no one, carrying no cargo but this Mr. Dillon, who is +to give me Mr. Griffith in exchange, or go back to the Ariel himself, as +my prisoner." + +"Ah! my good friend, I fear you will find, when the time comes to make +this exchange, that he will refuse to do either." + +"But, I'll be d----d if he don't do one of them! My orders are to see +it done, and back he goes; or Mr. Griffith, who is as good a seaman, +for his years, as ever trod a deck, slips his cable from this here +anchorage." + +Borroughcliffe affected to eye his companion with great commiseration; +an exhibition of compassion that was, however, completely lost on the +cockswain, whose nerves were strung to their happiest tension by his +repeated libations, while his wit was, if anything, quickened by the +same cause, though his own want of guile rendered him slow to comprehend +its existence in others. Perceiving it necessary to speak plainly, the +captain renewed the attack in a more direct manner: + +"I am sorry to say that you will not be permitted to return to the +Ariel; and that your commander, Mr. Barnstable, will be a prisoner +within the hour; and, in fact, that your schooner will be taken before +the morning breaks." + +"Who'll take her?" asked the cockswain with a grim smile, on whose +feelings, however, this combination of threatened calamities was +beginning to make some impression. + +"You must remember that she lies immediately under the heavy guns of a +battery that can sink her in a few minutes; an express has already +been sent to acquaint the commander of the work with the Ariel's true +character; and as the wind has already begun to blow from the ocean, her +escape is impossible." + +The truth, together with its portentous consequences, now began to glare +across the faculties of the cockswain. He remembered his own prognostics +on the weather, and the helpless situation of the schooner, deprived +of more than half her crew, and left to the keeping of a boy, while her +commander himself was on the eve of captivity. The trencher fell from +his lap to the floor, his head sunk on his knees, his face was concealed +between his broad palms, and, in spite of every effort the old seaman +could make to conceal his emotion, he fairly groaned aloud. + +For a moment, the better feelings of Borroughcliffe prevailed, and he +paused as he witnessed this exhibition of suffering in one whose head +was already sprinkled with the marks of time; but his habits, and the +impressions left by many years passed in collecting victims for +the wars, soon resumed their ascendency, and the recruiting officer +diligently addressed himself to an improvement of his advantage. + +"I pity from my heart the poor lads whom artifice or mistaken notions +of duty may have led astray, and who will thus be taken in arms against +their sovereign; but as they are found in the very island of Britain, +they must be made examples to deter others. I fear that, unless they can +make their peace with government, they will all be condemned to death." + +"Let them make their peace with God, then; your government can do but +little to clear the log-account of a man whose watch is up for this +world." + +"But, by making their peace with those who have the power, their lives +may be spared," said the captain, watching, with keen eyes, the effect +his words produced on the cockswain. + +"It matters but little, when a man hears the messenger pipe his hammock +down for the last time; he keeps his watch in another world, though he +goes below in this. But to see wood and iron, that has been put together +after such moulds as the Ariel's, go into strange hands, is a blow +that a man may remember long after the purser's books have been squared +against his name for ever! I would rather that twenty shot should strike +my old carcass, than one should hull the schooner that didn't pass out +above her water-line." + +Borroughcliffe replied, somewhat carelessly, "I may be mistaken, after +all; and, instead of putting any of you to death, they may place you +all on board the prison-ships, where you may yet have a merry time of it +these ten or fifteen years to come." + +"How's that, shipmate!" cried the cockswain, with a start; "a +prison-ship, d'ye say? you may tell them they can save the expense of +one man's rations by hanging him, if they please, and that is old Tom +Coffin." + +"There is no answering for their caprice: to-day they may order a dozen +of you to be shot for rebels; to-morrow they may choose to consider you +as prisoners of war, and send you to the hulks for a dozen years." + +"Tell them, brother, that I'm a rebel, will ye? and ye'll tell 'em no +lie--one that has fou't them since Manly's time, in Boston Bay, to this +hour. I hope the boy will blow her up! it would be the death of poor +Richard Barnstable to see her in the hands of the English!" + +"I know of one way," said Borroughcliffe, affecting to muse, "and but +one, that will certainly avert the prison-ship; for, on second thoughts, +they will hardly put you to death." + +"Name it, friend," cried the cockswain, rising from his seat in evident +perturbation, "and if it lies in the power of man, it shall be done." + +"Nay," said the captain, dropping his hand familiarly on the shoulder +of the other, who listened with the most eager attention, "'tis easily +done, and no dreadful thing in itself; you are used to gunpowder, and +know its smell from otto of roses!" + +"Ay, ay," cried the impatient old seaman; "I have had it flashing under +my nose by the hour; what then?" + +"Why, then, what I have to propose will be nothing to a man like +you--you found the beef wholesome, and the grog mellow!" + +"Ay, ay, all well enough; but what is that to an old sailor?" asked the +cockswain, unconsciously grasping the collar of Borroughcliffe's coat, +in his agitation; "what then?" + +The captain manifested no displeasure at this unexpected familiarity, +but with suavity as he unmasked the battery, from behind which he had +hitherto carried on his attacks. + +"Why, then, you have only to serve your king as you have before served +the Congress--and let me be the man to show you your colors." + +The cockswain stared at the speaker intently, but it was evident he did +not clearly comprehend the nature of the proposition, and the captain +pursued the subject: + +"In plain English, enlist in my company, my fine fellow, and your life +and liberty are both safe." + +Tom did not laugh aloud, for that was a burst of feeling in which he was +seldom known to indulge; but every feature of his weatherbeaten +visage contracted into an expression of bitter, ironical contempt. +Borroughcliffe felt the iron fingers, that still grasped his collar, +gradually tightening about his throat, like a vice; and, as the arm +slowly contracted, his body was drawn, by a power that it was in vain +to resist, close to that of the cockswain, who, when their faces were +within a foot of each other, gave vent to his emotions in words: + +"A messmate, before a shipmate; a shipmate, before a stranger; a +stranger, before a dog--but a dog before a soldier!" + +As Tom concluded, his nervous arm was suddenly extended to the utmost, +the fingers relinquishing their grasp at the same time; and, when +Borroughcliffe recovered his disordered faculties, he found himself in +a distant corner of the apartment, prostrate among a confused pile of +chairs, tables, and wearing-apparel. In endeavoring to rise from this +humble posture, the hand of the captain fell on the hilt of his sword, +which had been included in the confused assemblage of articles produced +by his overthrow. + +"How now, scoundrel!" he cried, baring the glittering weapon, and +springing on his feet; "you must be taught your distance, I perceive." + +The cockswain seized the harpoon which leaned against the wall, +and dropped its barbed extremity within a foot of the breast of his +assailant, with an expression of the eye that denoted the danger of a +nearer approach. The captain, however, wanted not for courage, and stung +to the quick by the insult he had received, he made a desperate parry, +and attempted to pass within the point of the novel weapon of his +adversary. The slight shock was followed by a sweeping whirl of the +harpoon, and Borroughchffe found himself without arms, completely at +the mercy of his foe. The bloody intentions of Tom vanished with his +success; for, laying aside his weapon, he advanced upon his antagonist, +and seized him with an open palm. One more struggle, in which the +captain discovered his incompetency to make any defence against the +strength of a man who managed him as if he had been a child, decided +the matter. When the captain was passive in the hands of his foe, the +cockswain produced sundry pieces of sennit, marline, and ratlin-stuff, +from his pockets, which appeared to contain as great a variety of small +cordage as a boatswain's storeroom, and proceeded to lash the arms of +the conquered soldier to the posts of his bed, with a coolness that had +not been disturbed since the commencement of hostilities, a silence that +seemed inflexible, and a dexterity that none but a seaman could equal. +When this part of his plan was executed, Tom paused a moment, and gazed +around him as if in quest of something. The naked sword caught his +eye, and, with this weapon in his hand, he deliberately approached his +captive, whose alarm prevented his observing that the cockswain had +snapped the blade asunder from the handle, and that he had already +encircled the latter with marline. + +"For God's sake," exclaimed Borroughcliffe, "murder me not in cold +blood!" + +The silver hilt entered his mouth as the words issued from it, and +the captain found, while the line was passed and repassed in repeated +involutions across the back of his neck, that he was in a condition +to which he often subjected his own men, when unruly, and which is +universally called being "gagged." The cockswain now appeared to think +himself entitled to all the privileges of a conqueror; for, taking the +light in his hand, he commenced a scrutiny into the nature and quality +of the worldly effects that lay at his mercy. Sundry articles, that +belonged to the equipments of a soldier, were examined, and cast aside +with great contempt, and divers garments of plainer exterior were +rejected as unsuited to the frame of the victor. He, however, soon +encountered two articles, of a metal that is universally understood. +But uncertainty as to their use appeared greatly to embarrass him. The +circular prongs of these curiosities were applied to either hand, to the +wrists, and even to the nose, and the little wheels at their opposite +extremity were turned and examined with as much curiosity and care as a +savage would expend on a watch, until the idea seemed to cross the mind +of the honest seaman, that they formed part of the useless trappings +of a military man; and he cast them aside also, as utterly worthless. +Borroughcliffe, who watched every movement of his conqueror, with a +good-humor that would have restored perfect harmony between them, could +he but have expressed half what he felt, witnessed the safety of a +favorite pair of spurs with much pleasure, though nearly suffocated by +the mirth that was unnaturally repressed. At length, the cockswain found +a pair of handsomely mounted pistols, a sort of weapon with which he +seemed quite familiar. They were loaded, and the knowledge of that fact +appeared to remind Tom of the necessity of departing, by bringing to his +recollection the danger of his commander and of the Ariel. He thrust the +weapons into the canvas belt that encircled his body, and, grasping his +harpoon, approached the bed, where Borroughcliffe was seated in duresse. + +"Harkye, friend," said the cockswain, "may the Lord forgive you, as I +do, for wishing to make a soldier of a seafaring man, and one who has +followed the waters since he was an hour old, and one who hopes to die +off soundings, and to be buried in brine. I wish you no harm, friend; +but you'll have to keep a stopper on your conversation till such time +as some of your messmates call in this way, which I hope will be as soon +after I get an offing as may be." + +With these amicable wishes, the cockswain departed, leaving +Borroughcliffe the light, and the undisturbed possession of his +apartment, though not in the most easy or the most enviable situation +imaginable. The captain heard the bolt of his lock turn, and the key +rattle as the cockswain withdrew it from the door--two precautionary +steps, which clearly indicated that the vanquisher deemed it prudent to +secure his retreat, by insuring the detention of the vanquished for at +least a time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + "Whilst vengeance, in the lurid air, + Lifts her red arm, exposed and bare-- + Who, Fear, this ghastly train can see; + And look not madly wild, like thee!" + _Collins_. + + +It is certain that Tom Coffin had devised no settled plan of operations, +when he issued from the apartment of Borroughcliffe, if we except a most +resolute determination to make the best of his way to the Ariel, and +to share her fate, let it be either to sink or swim. But this was a +resolution much easier formed by the honest seaman than executed, in his +present situation. He would have found it less difficult to extricate a +vessel from the dangerous shoals of the "Devil's Grip," than to thread +the mazes of the labyrinth of passages, galleries, and apartments, in +which he found himself involved. He remembered, as he expressed it to +himself, in a low soliloquy, "to have run into a narrow passage from the +main channel, but whether he had sheered to the starboard or larboard +hand" was a material fact that had entirely escaped his memory. Tom was +in that part of the building that Colonel Howard had designated as the +"cloisters," and in which, luckily for him, he was but little liable to +encounter any foe, the room occupied by Borroughcliffe being the only +one in the entire wing that was not exclusively devoted to the service +of the ladies. The circumstance of the soldier's being permitted to +invade this sanctuary was owing to the necessity, on the part of Colonel +Howard, of placing either Griffith, Manual, or the recruiting officer, +in the vicinity of his wards, or of subjecting his prisoners to a +treatment that the veteran would have thought unworthy of his name and +character. This recent change in the quarters of Borroughcliffe operated +doubly to the advantage of Tom, by lessening the chance of the speedy +release of his uneasy captive, as well as by diminishing his own +danger. Of the former circumstance he was, however, not aware: and +the consideration of the latter was a sort of reflection to which the +cockswain was, in no degree, addicted. + +Following, necessarily, the line of the wall, he soon emerged from the +dark and narrow passage in which he had first found himself, and entered +the principal gallery, that communicated with all the lower apartments +of that wing, as well as with the main body of the edifice. An open +door, through which a strong light was glaring, at a distant end of this +gallery, instantly caught his eye, and the old seaman had not advanced +many steps towards it, before he discovered that he was approaching the +very room which had so much excited his curiosity, and by the identical +passage through which he had entered the abbey. To turn, and retrace his +steps, was the most obvious course for any man to take who felt anxious +to escape; but the sounds of high conviviality, bursting from the +cheerful apartment, among which the cockswain thought he distinguished +the name of Griffith, determined Tom to advance and reconnoitre the +scene more closely. The reader will anticipate that when he paused in +the shadow, the doubting old seaman stood once more near the threshold +which he had so lately crossed, when conducted to the room of +Borroughcliffe. The seat of that gentleman was now occupied by Dillon, +and Colonel Howard had resumed his wonted station at the foot of the +table. The noise was chiefly made by the latter, who had evidently been +enjoying a more minute relation of the means by which his kinsman had +entrapped his unwary enemy. + +"A noble ruse!" cried the veteran, as Tom assumed his post, in ambush; +"a most noble and ingenious ruse, and such a one as would have baffled +Caesar! He must have been a cunning dog, that Caesar; but I do think, +Kit, you would have been too much for him; hang me, if I don't think +you would have puzzled Wolfe himself, had you held Quebec, instead of +Montcalm! Ah, boy, we want you in the colonies, with the ermine over +your shoulders; such men as you, cousin Christopher, are sadly, sadly +wanted there to defend his majesty's rights." + +"Indeed, dear sir, your partiality gives me credit for qualities I do +not possess," said Dillon, dropping his eyes, perhaps with a feeling of +conscious unworthiness, but with an air of much humility; "the little +justifiable artifice----" + +"Ay! there lies the beauty of the transaction," interrupted the colonel, +shoving the bottle from him, with the free, open air of a man who never +harbored disguise; "you told no lie; no mean deception, that any dog, +however base and unworthy, might invent; but you practised a neat, a +military, a--a--yes, a classical deception on your enemy; a classical +deception, that is the very term for it! such a deception as Pompey, or +Mark Antony, or--or--you know those old fellows' names, better than +I do, Kit; but name the cleverest fellow that ever lived in Greece +or Rome, and I shall say he is a dunce compared to you. 'Twas a real +Spartan trick, both simple and honest." + +It was extremely fortunate for Dillon, that the animation of his aged +kinsman kept his head and body in such constant motion, during this +apostrophe, as to intercept the aim that the cockswain was deliberately +taking at his head with one of Borroughcliffe's pistols; and perhaps +the sense of shame which induced him to sink his face on his hands was +another means of saving his life, by giving the indignant old seaman +time for reflection. + +"But you have not spoken of the ladies," said Dillon, after a moment's +pause; "I should hope they have borne the alarm of the day like +kinswomen of the family of Howard." + +The colonel glanced his eyes around him, as if to assure himself they +were alone, and dropped his voice, as he answered: + +"Ah, Kit! they have come to, since this rebel scoundrel, Griffith, has +been brought into the abbey; we were favored with the company of even +Miss Howard, in the dining-room, to-day. There was a good deal of 'dear +uncleing,' and 'fears that my life might be exposed by the quarrels and +skirmishes of these desperadoes who have landed;' as if an old fellow, +who served through the whole war, from '56 to '63, was afraid to let his +nose smell gunpowder any more than if it were snuff! But it will be +a hard matter to wheedle an old soldier out of his allegiance! This +Griffith goes to the Tower, at least, Mr. Dillon." + +"It would be advisable to commit his person to the civil authority, +without delay." + +"To the constable of the Tower, the Earl Cornwallis, a good and loyal +nobleman, who is, at this moment, fighting the rebels in my own native +province, Christopher," interrupted the colonel; "that will be what I +call retributive justice; but," continued the veteran, rising with an +air of gentlemanly dignity, "it will not do to permit even the constable +of the Tower of London to surpass the master of St. Ruth in hospitality +and kindness to his prisoners. I have ordered suitable refreshments to +their apartments, and it is incumbent on me to see that my commands have +been properly obeyed. Arrangements must also be made for the reception +of this Captain Barnstable, who will, doubtless, soon be here." + +"Within the hour, at farthest," said Dillon, looking uneasily at his +watch. + +"We must be stirring, boy," continued the colonel, moving towards +the door that led to the apartments of his prisoners; "but there is a +courtesy due to the ladies, as well as to those unfortunate violators +of the laws--go, Christopher, convey my kindest wishes to Cecilia; she +don't deserve them, the obstinate vixen, but then she is my brother +Harry's child! and while there, you arch dog, plead your own cause. +Mark Antony was a fool to you at a 'ruse,' and yet Mark was one of your +successful suitors, too; there was that Queen of the Pyramids--" + +The door closed on the excited veteran, at these words, and Dillon was +left standing by himself, at the side of the table, musing, as if in +doubt, whether to venture on the step that his kinsman had proposed, or +not. + +The greater part of the preceding discourse was unintelligible to the +cockswain, who had waited its termination with extraordinary patience, +in hopes he might obtain some information that he could render of +service to the captives. Before he had time to decide on what was now +best for him to do, Dillon suddenly determined to venture himself in the +cloisters; and, swallowing a couple of glasses of wine in a breath, he +passed the hesitating cockswain, who was concealed by the opening door, +so closely as to brush his person, and moved down the gallery with those +rapid strides which men who act under the impulse of forced resolutions +are very apt to assume, as if to conceal their weakness from +themselves.--Tom hesitated no longer; but aiding the impulse given +to the door by Dillon, as he passed, so as to darken the passage, he +followed the sounds of the other's footsteps, while he trod in the +manner already described, the stone pavement of the gallery. Dillon +paused an instant at the turning that led to the room of Borroughcliffe, +but whether irresolute which way to urge his steps, or listening to +the incautious and heavy tread of the cockswain, is not known; if the +latter, he mistook them for the echoes of his own footsteps, and moved +forward again without making any discovery. + +The light tap which Dillon gave on the door of the withdrawing-room of +the cloisters was answered by the soft voice of Cecilia Howard herself, +who bid the applicant enter. There was a slight confusion evident in +the manner of the gentleman as he complied with the bidding, and in its +hesitancy, the door was, for an instant, neglected. + +"I come, Miss Howard," said Dillon, "by the commands of your uncle, and, +permit me to add, by my own--" + +"May Heaven shield us!" exclaimed Cecilia, clasping her hands in +affright, and rising involuntarily from her couch, "are we, too, to be +imprisoned and murdered?" + +"Surely Miss Howard will not impute to me--" Dillon paused, observing +that the wild looks, not only of Cecilia, but of Katherine and Alice +Dunscombe, also, were directed at some other object, and turning, to +his manifest terror he beheld the gigantic frame of the cockswain, +surmounted by an iron visage fixed in settled hostility, in possession +of the only passage from the apartment. + +"If there's murder to be done," said Tom, after surveying the astonished +group with a stern eye, "it's as likely this here liar will be the one +to do it, as another; but you have nothing to fear from a man who has +followed the seas too long, and has grappled with too many monsters, +both fish and flesh, not to know how to treat a helpless woman. None, +who know him, will say that Thomas Coffin ever used uncivil language, or +unseamanlike conduct, to any of his mother's kind." + +"Coffin!" exclaimed Katherine, advancing with a more confident air, from +the corner into which terror had driven her with her companions. + +"Ay, Coffin," continued the old sailor, his grim features gradually +relaxing, as he gazed on her bright looks; "'tis a solemn word, but it's +a word that passes over the shoals, among the islands, and along the +cape, oftener than any other. My father was a Coffin, and my mother was +a Joy; and the two names can count more flukes than all the rest in the +island together; though the Worths, and the Gar'ners, and the Swaines, +dart better harpoons, and set truer lances, than any men who come from +the weather-side of the Atlantic." + +Katherine listened to this digression in honor of the whalers of +Nantucket, with marked complacency; and, when he concluded, she repeated +slowly: + +"Coffin! this, then, is long Tom!" + +"Ay, ay, long Tom, and no sham in the name either," returned the +cockswain, suffering the stern indignation that had lowered around +his hard visage to relax into a low laugh as he gazed on her animated +features; "the Lord bless your smiling face and bright black eyes, +young madam! you have heard of old long Tom, then? Most likely, 'twas +something about the blow he strikes at the fish--ah! I'm old and I'm +stiff, now, young madam, but afore I was nineteen, I stood at the head +of the dance, at a ball on the cape, and that with a partner almost as +handsome as yourself--ay! and this was after I had three broad flukes +logg'd against my name." + +"No," said Katherine, advancing in her eagerness a step or two nigher to +the old tar, her cheeks flushing while she spoke, "I had heard of you as +an instructor in a seaman's duty, as the faithful cockswain, nay, I +may say, as the devoted companion and friend, of Mr. Richard +Barnstable--but, perhaps, you come now as the bearer of some message or +letter from that gentleman." + +The sound of his commander's name suddenly revived the recollection of +Coffin, and with it all the fierce sternness of his manner returned. +Bending his eyes keenly on the cowering form of Dillon, he said, in +those deep, harsh tones, that seem peculiar to men who have braved +the elements, until they appear to have imbided some of their roughest +qualities: + +"Liar! how now? what brought old Tom Coffin into these shoals and narrow +channels? was it a letter? Ha! but by the Lord that maketh the winds to +blow, and teacheth the lost mariner how to steer over the wide waters, +you shall sleep this night, villain, on the planks of the Ariel; and if +it be the will of God that beautiful piece of handicraft is to sink at +her moorings, like a worthless hulk, ye shall still sleep in her; ay, +and a sleep that shall not end, till they call all hands, to foot up the +day's work of this life, at the close of man's longest voyage." + +The extraordinary vehemence, the language, the attitude of the old +seaman, commanding in its energy, and the honest indignation that shone +in every look of his keen eyes, together with the nature of the address, +and its paralyzing effect on Dillon, who quailed before it like the +stricken deer, united to keep the female listeners, for many moments, +silent through amazement. During this brief period, Tom advanced upon +his nerveless victim, and lashing his arms together behind his back, +he fastened him, by a strong cord, to the broad canvas belt that +he constantly wore around his own body, leaving to himself, by this +arrangement, the free use of his arms and weapons of offence, while he +secured his captive. + +"Surely," said Cecilia, recovering her recollection the first of the +astonished group, "Mr. Barnstable has not commissioned you to offer this +violence to my uncle's kinsman, under the roof of Colonel Howard?--Miss +Plowden, your friend has strangely forgotten himself in this +transaction, if this man acts in obedience to his order!" + +"My friend, my cousin Howard," returned Katharine, "would never +commission his cockswain, or any one, to do an unworthy deed. Speak, +honest sailor; why do you commit this outrage on the worthy Mr. Dillon, +Colonel Howard's kinsman, and a cupboard cousin of St. Ruth's Abbey?" + +"Nay, Katherine--" + +"Nay, Cecilia, be patient, and let the stranger have utterance; he may +solve the difficulty altogether." + +The cockswain, understanding that an explanation was expected from his +lips, addressed himself to the task with an energy suitable both to the +subject and to his own feelings. In a very few words, though a little +obscured by his peculiar diction, he made his listeners understand the +confidence that Barnstable had reposed in Dillon, and the treachery +of the latter. They heard him with increased astonishment, and Cecilia +hardly allowed him time to conclude, before she exclaimed: + +"And did Colonel Howard, could Colonel Howard listen to this treacherous +project!" + +"Ay, they spliced it together among them," returned Tom; "though one +part of this cruise will turn out but badly." + +"Even Borroughcliffe, cold and hardened as he appears to be by habit, +would spurn at such dishonor," added Miss Howard. + +"But Mr. Barnstable?" at length Katherine succeeded in saying, when her +feelings permitted her utterance, "said you not that soldiers were in +quest of him?" + +"Ay, ay, young madam," the cockswain replied, smiling with grim +ferocity, "they are in chase, but he has shifted his anchorage, and even +if they should find him, his long pikes would make short work of a dozen +redcoats. The Lord of tempests and calms have mercy, though, on the +schooner! Ah, young madam she, is as lovely to the eyes of an old +seafaring man as any of your kind can be to human nature!" + +"But why this delay?--away then, honest Tom, and reveal the treachery to +your commander; you may not yet be too late--why delay a moment?" + +"The ship tarries for want of a pilot.--I could carry three fathom over +the shoals of Nantucket, the darkest night that ever shut the windows of +heaven, but I should be likely to run upon breakers in this navigation. +As it was, I was near getting into company that I should have had to +fight my way out of." + +"If that be all, follow me," cried the ardent Katherine; "I will +conduct you to a path that leads to the ocean, without approaching the +sentinels." + +Until this moment, Dillon had entertained a secret expectation of a +rescue, but when he heard this proposal he felt his blood retreating +to his heart, from every part of his agitated frame, and his last hope +seemed wrested from him. Raising himself from the abject shrinking +attitude, in which both shame and dread had conspired to keep him as +though he had been fettered to the spot, he approached Cecilia, and +cried, in tones of horror: + +"Do not, do not consent, Miss Howard, to abandon me to the fury of this +man! Your uncle, your honorable uncle, even now applauded and united +with me in my enterprise, which is no more than a common artifice in +war." + +"My uncle would unite, Mr. Dillon, in no project of deliberate treachery +like this," said Cecilia, coldly. + +"He did, I swear by----" + +"Liar!" interrupted the deep tones of the cockswain. + +Dillon shivered with agony and terror, while the sounds of this +appalling voice sunk into his inmost soul; but as the gloom of the +night, the secret ravines of the cliffs, and the turbulence of the +ocean flashed across his imagination, he again yielded to a dread of the +horrors to which he should be exposed, in encountering them at the mercy +of his powerful enemy, and he continued his solicitations: + +"Hear me, once more hear me--Miss Howard, I beseech you, hear me! Am +I not of your own blood and country? will you see me abandoned to the +wild, merciless, malignant fury of this man, who will transfix me +with that--oh, God! if you had but seen the sight I beheld in the +Alacrity!--hear me. Miss Howard; for the love you bear your Maker, +intercede for me! Mr. Griffith shall be released----" + +"Liar!" again interrupted the cockswain. + +"What promises he?" asked Cecilia, turning her averted face once more at +the miserable captive. + +"Nothing at all that will be fulfilled," said Katherine; "follow, honest +Tom, and I, at least, will conduct you in good faith." + +"Cruel, obdurate Miss Plowden; gentle, kind Miss Alice, you will not +refuse to raise your voice in my favor; your heart is not hardened by +any imaginary dangers to those you love." + +"Nay, address not me," said Alice, bending her meek eyes to the floor; +"I trust your life is in no danger; and I pray that he who has the power +will have the mercy to see you unharmed." + +"Away," said Tom, grasping the collar of the helpless Dillon, and rather +carrying than leading him into the gallery: "if a sound, one-quarter +as loud as a young porpoise makes when he draws his first breath, comes +from you, villain, you shall see the sight of the Alacrity over again. +My harpoon keeps its edge well, and the old arm can yet drive it to the +seizing." + +This menace effectually silenced even the hard, perturbed breathings +of the captive, who, with his conductor, followed the light steps of +Katherine through some of the secret mazes of the building, until, in a +few minutes, they issued through a small door into the open air. Without +pausing to deliberate, Miss Plowden led the cockswain through the +grounds, to a different wicket from the one by which he had entered the +paddock, and pointing to the path, which might be dimly traced along the +faded herbage, she bade God bless him, in a voice that discovered her +interest in his safety, and vanished from his sight like an aerial +being. + +Tom needed no incentive to his speed, now that his course lay so plainly +before him, but loosening his pistols in his belt, and poising his +harpoon, he crossed the fields at a gait that compelled his companion to +exert his utmost powers, in the way of walking, to equal. Once or twice, +Dillon ventured to utter a word or two; but a stern "silence" from +the cockswain warned him to cease, until perceiving that they were +approaching the cliffs, he made a final effort to obtain his liberty, by +hurriedly promising a large bribe. The cockswain made no reply, and the +captive was secretly hoping that his scheme was producing its wonted +effects, when he unexpectedly felt the keen cold edge of the barbed iron +of the harpoon pressing against his breast, through the opening of his +ruffles, and even raising the skin. + +"Liar!" said Tom; "another word, and I'll drive it through your heart!" + +From that moment, Dillon was as silent as the grave. They reached the +edge of the cliffs, without encountering the party that had been sent in +quest of Barnstable, and at a point near where they had landed. The old +seaman paused an instant on the verge of the precipice, and cast his +experienced eyes along the wide expanse of water that lay before him. +The sea was no longer sleeping, but already in heavy motion, and +rolling its surly waves against the base of the rocks on which he stood, +scattering their white crests high in foam. The cockswain, after bending +his looks along the whole line of the eastern horizon, gave utterance +to a low and stifled groan; and then, striking the staff of his harpoon +violently against the earth, he pursued his way along the very edge +of the cliffs, muttering certain dreadful denunciations, which the +conscience of his appalled listener did not fail to apply to himself. +It appeared to the latter, that his angry and excited leader sought +the giddy verge of the precipice with a sort of wanton recklessness, so +daring were the steps that he took along its brow, notwithstanding the +darkness of the hour, and the violence of the blasts that occasionally +rushed by them, leaving behind a kind of reaction, that more than once +brought the life of the manacled captive in imminent jeopardy. But +it would seem the wary cockswain had a motive for this apparently +inconsiderate desperation. When they had made good quite half the +distance between the point where Barnstable had landed and that where he +had appointed to meet his cockswain, the sounds of voices were brought +indistinctly to their ears, in one of the momentary pauses of the +rushing winds, and caused the cockswain to make a dead stand in his +progress. He listened intently for a single minute, when his resolution +appeared to be taken. He turned to Dillon and spoke; though his voice +was suppressed and low, it was deep and resolute. + +"One word, and you die; over the cliffs! You must take a seaman's +ladder: there is footing on the rocks, and crags for your hands. Over +the cliff, I bid ye, or I'll cast ye into the sea, as I would a dead +enemy!" + +"Mercy, mercy!" implored Dillon; "I could not do it in the day; by this +light I shall surely perish." + +"Over with ye!" said Tom, "or----" + +Dillon waited for no more, but descended, with trembling steps, +the dangerous precipice that lay before him. He was followed by the +cockswain, with a haste that unavoidably dislodged his captive from +the trembling stand he had taken on the shelf of a rock, who, to his +increased horror found himself dangling in the air, his body impending +over the sullen surf, that was tumbling in with violence upon the rocks +beneath him. An involuntary shriek burst from Dillon, as he felt his +person thrust from the narrow shelf; and his cry sounded amidst the +tempest, like the screechings of the spirit of the storm. + +"Another such a call, and I cut your tow-line, villain," said the +determined seaman, "when nothing short of eternity will bring you up." + +The sounds of footsteps and voices were now distinctly audible, and +presently a party of armed men appeared on the edges of the rocks, +directly above them. + +"It was a human voice," said one of them, "and like a man in distress." + +"It cannot be the men we are sent in search of," returned Sergeant +Drill; "for no watchword that I ever heard sounded like that cry." + +"They say that such cries are often heard in storms along this coast," +said a voice that was uttered with less of military confidence than the +two others: "and they are thought to come from drowned seamen." + +A feeble laugh arose among the listeners, and one or two forced jokes +were made at the expense of their superstitious comrade; but the scene +did not fail to produce its effect on even the most sturdy among the +unbelievers in the marvelous; for, after a few more similar remarks, +the whole party retired from the cliffs, at a pace that might have been +accelerated by the nature of their discourse. The cockswain, who had +stood all this time, firm as the rock which supported him, bearing up +not only his own weight, but the person of Dillon also, raised his head +above the brow of the precipice, as they withdrew, to reconnoitre, +and then, drawing up the nearly insensible captive, and placing him +in safety on the bank, he followed himself. Not a moment was wasted in +unnecessary explanations, but Dillon found himself again urged forward, +with the same velocity as before. In a few minutes they gained the +desired ravine, down which Tom plunged with a seaman's nerve, dragging +his prisoner after him, and directly they stood where the waves rose +to their feet, as they flowed far and foaming across the sands.--The +cockswain stooped so low as to bring the crest of the billows in a line +with the horizon, when he discovered the dark boat, playing in the outer +edge of the surf. + +"What hoa! Ariels there!" shouted Tom, in a voice that the growing +tempest carried to the ears of the retreating soldiers, who quickened +their footsteps, as they listened to sounds which their fears taught +them to believe supernatural. + +"Who hails?" cried the well-known voice of Barnstable. + +"Once your master, now your servant," answered the cockswain with a +watchword of his own invention. + +"'Tis he," returned the lieutenant; "veer away, boys, veer away. You +must wade into the surf." + +Tom caught Dillon in his arms; and throwing him, like a cork, across his +shoulder, he dashed into the streak of foam that was bearing the boat +on its crest, and before his companion had time for remonstrance or +entreaty, he found himself once more by the side of Barnstable. + +"Who have we here?" asked the lieutenant; "this is not Griffith!" + +"Haul out and weigh your grapnel," said the excited cockswain; "and +then, boys, if you love the Ariel, pull while the life and the will is +left in you." + +Barnstable knew his man, and not another question was asked, until the +boat was without the breakers, now skimming the rounded summits of the +waves, or settling into the hollows of the seas, but always cutting the +waters asunder, as she urged her course, with amazing velocity, towards +the haven where the schooner had been left at anchor. Then, in a few but +bitter sentences, the cockswain explained to his commander the treachery +of Dillon, and the danger of the schooner. + +"The soldiers are slow at a night muster," Tom concluded; "and from what +I overheard, the express will have to make a crooked course, to double +the head of the bay, so that, but for this northeaster, we might weather +upon them yet; but it's a matter that lies altogether in the will of +Providence. Pull, my hearties, pull--everything depends on your oars +to-night." + +Barnstable listened in deep silence to this unexpected narration, which +sounded in the ears of Dillon like his funeral knell. At length, the +suppressed voice of the lieutenant was heard, also, uttering: + +"Wretch! if I should cast you into the sea, as food for the fishes, who +could blame me? But if my schooner goes to the bottom, she shall prove +your coffin!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + "Had I been any god of power, I would + Have sunk the sea within the earth, ere + It should the good ship so have swallowed." + _Tempest_. + + +The arms of Dillon were released from their confinement by the +cockswain, as a measure of humane caution against accidents, when +they entered the surf; and the captive now availed himself of the +circumstance to bury his features in the folds of his attire, when +he brooded over the events of the last few hours with that mixture of +malignant passion and pusillanimous dread of the future, that formed the +chief ingredients in his character. From this state of apparent quietude +neither Barnstable nor Tom seemed disposed to rouse him by their +remarks, for both were too much engaged with their own gloomy +forebodings, to indulge in any unnecessary words. An occasional +ejaculation from the former, as if to propitiate the spirit of the +storm, as he gazed on the troubled appearance of the elements, or a +cheering cry from the latter to animate his crew, alone were heard amid +the sullen roaring of the waters, and the mournful whistling of the +winds that swept heavily across the broad waste of the German Ocean. +There might have been an hour consumed thus, in a vigorous struggle +between the seamen and the growing billows, when the boat doubled the +northern headland of the desired haven, and shot, at once, from its +boisterous passage along the margin of the breakers into the placid +waters of the sequestered bay, The passing blasts were still heard +rushing above the high lands that surrounded, and, in fact, formed, the +estuary; but the profound stillness of deep night pervaded the secret +recesses, along the unruffled surface of its waters. The shadows of the +hills seemed to have accumulated, like a mass of gloom, in the centre of +the basin, and though every eye involuntarily turned to search, it was +in vain that the anxious seamen endeavored to discover their little +vessel through its density. While the boat glided into this quiet scene, +Barnstable anxiously observed: + +"Everything is as still as death." + +"God send it is not the stillness of death!" ejaculated the cockswain. +"Here, here," he continued, speaking in a lower tone, as if fearful of +being overheard, "here she lies, sir, more to port; look into the streak +of clear sky above the marsh, on the starboard hand of the wood, there; +that long black line is her maintopmast; I know it by the rake; and +there is her night-pennant fluttering about that bright star; ay, ay, +sir, there go our own stars aloft yet, dancing among the stars in the +heavens! God bless her! God bless her! she rides as easy and as quiet as +a gull asleep!" + +"I believe all in her sleep too," returned his commander. "Ha! by +heaven, we have arrived in good time: the soldiers are moving!" + +The quick eye of Barnstable had detected the glimmering of passing +lanterns, as they flitted across the embrasures of the battery, and at +the next moment the guarded but distinct sounds of an active bustle +on the decks of the schooner were plainly audible. The lieutenant was +rubbing his hands together, with a sort of ecstasy, that probably will +not be understood by the great majority of our readers, while long Tom +was actually indulging in a paroxysm of his low spiritless laughter, +as these certain intimations of the safety of the Ariel, and of the +vigilance of her crew, were conveyed to their ears; when the whole hull +and taper spars of their floating home became unexpectedly visible, and +the sky, the placid basin, and the adjacent hills, were illuminated by +a flash as sudden and as vivid as the keenest lightning. Both Barnstable +and his cockswain seemed instinctively to strain their eyes towards the +schooner, with an effort to surpass human vision; but ere the rolling +reverberations of the report of a heavy piece of ordnance from the +heights had commenced, the dull, whistling rush of the shot swept over +their heads, like the moaning of a hurricane, and was succeeded by the +plash of the waters, which was followed, in a breath, by the rattling +of the mass of iron, as it bounded with violent fury from rock to rock, +shivering and tearing the fragments that lined the margin of the bay. + +"A bad aim with the first gun generally leaves your enemy clean decks," +said the cockswain, with his deliberate sort of philosophy; "smoke makes +but dim spectacles; besides, the night always grows darkest as you call +off the morning watch." + +"That boy is a miracle for his years!" rejoined the delighted +lieutenant. "See, Tom, the younker has shifted his berth in the dark, +and the Englishmen have fired by the day-range they must have taken, for +we left him in a direct line between the battery and yon hummock! What +would have become of us, if that heavy fellow had plunged upon our +decks, and gone out below the water-line?" + +"We should have sunk into English mud, for eternity, as sure as our +metal and kentledge would have taken us down," responded Tom; "such a +point-blanker would have torn off a streak of our wales, outboard, and +not even left the marines time to say a prayer!--tend bow there!" + +It is not to be supposed that the crew of the whale-boat continued +idle during this interchange of opinions between the lieutenant and his +cockswain; on the contrary, the sight of their vessel acted on them like +a charm, and, believing that all necessity for caution was now over, +they had expended their utmost strength in efforts that had already +brought them, as the last words of Tom indicated, to the side of +the Ariel. Though every nerve of Barnstable was thrilling with the +excitement produced by his feelings passing from a state of the most +doubtful apprehension to that of a revived and almost confident hope of +effecting his escape, he assumed the command of his vessel with all that +stern but calm authority, that seamen find is most necessary to exert +in the moments of extremest danger. Any one of the heavy shot that their +enemies continued to hurl from their heights into the darkness of the +haven he well knew must prove fatal to them, as it would, unavoidably, +pass through the slight fabric of the Ariel, and open a passage to +the water that no means he possessed could remedy.--His mandates were, +therefore, issued with a full perception of the critical nature of the +emergency, but with that collectedness of manner, and intonation of +voice, that were best adapted to enforce a ready and animated obedience. +Under this impulse, the crew of the schooner soon got their anchor freed +from the bottom, and, seizing their sweeps, they forced her by their +united efforts directly in the face of the battery, under that shore +whose summit was now crowned with a canopy of smoke, that every +discharge of the ordnance tinged with dim colors, like the faintest +tints that are reflected from the clouds towards a setting sun. So long +as the seamen were enabled to keep their little bark under the cover of +the hill, they were, of course, safe; but Barnstable perceived, as they +emerged from its shadow, and were drawing nigh the passage which led +into the ocean, that the action of his sweeps would no longer avail them +against the currents of air they encountered, neither would the darkness +conceal their movements from his enemy, who had already employed men on +the shore to discern the position of the schooner. Throwing off at once, +therefore, all appearance of disguise, he gave forth the word to spread +the canvas of his vessel, in his ordinary cheerful manner. + +"Let them do their worst now, Merry," he added; "we have brought them to +a distance that I think will keep their iron above water, and we have no +dodge about us, younker!" + +"It must be keener marksmen than the militia, or volunteers, or +fencibles, or whatever they call themselves, behind yon grass-bank, to +frighten the saucy Ariel from the wind," returned the reckless boy; +"but why have you brought Jonah aboard us again, sir? Look at him by the +light of the cabin lamp; he winks at every gun, as if he expected the +shot would hull his own ugly yellow physiognomy. And what tidings have +we, sir, from Mr. Griffith and the marine?" + +"Name him not," said Barnstable, pressing the shoulder on which he +lightly leaned, with a convulsive grasp, that caused the boy to yield +with pain; "name him not, Merry; I want my temper and my faculties at +this moment undisturbed, and thinking of the wretch unfits me for my +duty. But, there will come a time! Go forward, sir; we feel the wind, +and have a narrow passage to work through." + +The boy obeyed a mandate which was given in the usual prompt manner +of their profession, and which, he well understood, was intended to +intimate that the distance which years and rank had created between +them, but which Barnstable often chose to forget while communing with +Merry, was now to be resumed. The sails had been loosened and set; and, +as the vessel approached the throat of the passage, the gale, which +was blowing with increasing violence, began to make a very sensible +impression on the light bark. The cockswain, who, in the absence of most +of the inferior officers, had been acting, on the forecastle, the part +of one who felt, from his years and experience, that he had some right +to advise, if not to command, at such a juncture, now walked to the +station which his commander had taken, near the helmsman, as if willing +to place himself in the way of being seen. + +"Well, Master Coffin," said Barnstable, who well understood the +propensity his old shipmate had to commune with him on all important +occasions, "what think you of the cruise now? Those gentlemen on the +hill make a great noise, but I have lost even the whistling of their +shot; one would think they could see our sails against the broad band of +light which is opening to seaward." + +"Ay, ay, sir, they see us, and mean to hit us too; but we are running +across their fire, and that with a ten-knot breeze; but, when we heave +in stays, and get in a line with their guns, we shall see, and it may +be feel, more of their work than we do now; a thirty-two an't trained as +easily as a fowling-piece or a ducking-gun." + +Barnstable was struck with the truth of this observation; but as there +existed an immediate necessity for placing the schooner in the very +situation to which the other alluded, he gave his orders at once, and +the vessel came about, and ran with her head pointing towards the sea, +in as short a time as we have taken to record it. + +"There, they have us now, or never," cried the lieutenant, when the +evolution was completed. "If we fetch to windward off the northern +point, we shall lay out into the offing, and in ten minutes we might +laugh at Queen Anne's pocket-piece, which, you know, old boy, sent a +ball from Dover to Calais." + +"Ay, sir, I've heard of the gun," returned the grave seaman, "and a +lively piece it must have been, if the straits were always of the same +width they are now. But I see that, Captain Barnstable, which is more +dangerous than a dozen of the heaviest cannon that were ever cast can +be, at half a league's distance. The water is bubbling through our lee +scuppers, already, sir." + +"And what of that? hav'n't I buried her guns often, and yet kept every +spar in her without crack or splinter?" + +"Ay, ay, sir, you have done it, and can do it again, where there is +sea-room, which is all that a man wants for comfort in this life. +But when we are out of these chops, we shall be embayed, with a heavy +northeaster setting dead into the bight; it is that which I fear, +Captain Barnstable, more than all the powder and ball in the whole +island." + +"And yet, Tom, the balls are not to be despised, either; those fellows +have found out their range, and send their iron within hail again: we +walk pretty fast, Mr. Coffin; but a thirty-two can cut-travel us, with +the best wind that ever blew." + +Tom threw a cursory glance towards the battery, which had renewed its +fire with a spirit that denoted they saw their object, as he answered: + +"It is never worth a man's while to strive to dodge a shot; for they are +all commissioned to do their work, the same as a ship is commissioned to +cruise in certain latitudes: but for the winds and the weather, they +are given for a seafaring man to guard against, by making or shortening +sail, as the case may be. Now, the headland to the southward stretches +full three leagues to windward, and the shoals lie to the north; among +which God keep us from ever running this craft again!" + +"We will beat her out of the bight, old fellow," cried the lieutenant; +"we shall have a leg of three leagues in length to do it in." + +"I have known longer legs too short," returned the cockswain, shaking +his head; "a tumbling sea, with a lee-tide, on a lee-shore, makes a sad +lee-way." + +The lieutenant was in the act of replying to this saying with a cheerful +laugh, when the whistling of a passing shot was instantly succeeded by +a crash of splintered wood; and at the next moment the head of the +mainmast, after tottering for an instant in the gale, fell towards the +deck, bringing with it the mainsail, and the long line of topmast, that +had been bearing the emblems of America, as the cockswain had expressed +it, among the stars of the heavens. + +"That was a most unlucky hit!" Barnstable suffered to escape him in the +concern of the moment; but, instantly resuming all his collectedness of +manner and voice, he gave his orders to clear the wreck, and secure the +fluttering canvas. + +The mournful forebodings of Tom seemed to vanish with the appearance +of a necessity for his exertions, and he was foremost among the crew in +executing the orders of their commander. The loss of all the sail on +the mainmast forced the Ariel so much from her course, as to render it +difficult to weather the point, that jutted, under her lee, for some +distance into the ocean. This desirable object was, however, effected +by the skill of Barnstable, aided by the excellent properties of his +vessel; and the schooner, borne down by the power of the gale, from +whose fury she had now no protection, passed heavily along the land, +heading as far as possible from the breakers, while the seamen were +engaged in making their preparations to display as much of their +mainsail as the stump of the mast would allow them to spread. The firing +from the battery ceased, as the Ariel rounded the little promontory; +but Barnstable, whose gaze was now bent intently on the ocean, soon +perceived that, as his cockswain had predicted, he had a much more +threatening danger to encounter, in the elements. When their damages +were repaired, so far as circumstances would permit, the cockswain +returned to his wonted station near the lieutenant; and after a +momentary pause, during which his eyes roved over the rigging with a +seaman's scrutiny, he resumed the discourse. + +"It would have been better for us that the best man in the schooner +should have been dubb'd of a limb, by that shot, than that the Ariel +should have lost her best leg; a mainsail close-reefed may be prudent +canvas as the wind blows, but it holds a poor luff to keep a craft to +windward." + +"What would you have, Tom Coffin?" retorted his commander. "You see she +draws ahead, and off-shore; do you expect a vessel to fly in the very +teeth of the gale? or would you have me ware and beach her at once?" + +"I would have nothing, nothing, Captain Barnstable," returned the old +seaman, sensibly touched at his commander's displeasure; "you are as +able as any man that ever trod a plank to work her into an offing; but, +sir, when that soldier-officer told me of the scheme to sink the Ariel +at her anchor, there were such feelings come athwart my philosophy as +never crossed it afore. I thought I saw her a wrack, as plainly, ay, as +plainly as you may see the stump of that mast; and, I will own it, for +it's as natural to love the craft you sail in as it is to love one's +self, I will own that my manhood fetched a heavy lee-lurch at the +sight." + +"Away with ye, ye old sea-croaker! forward with ye, and see that the +head-sheets are trimmed flat. But hold! Come hither, Tom; if you have +sights of wrecks, and sharks, and other beautiful objects, keep +them stowed in your own silly brain; don't make a ghost-parlor of my +forecastle. The lads begin to look to leeward, now, oftener than I +would have them. Go, sirrah, go, and take example from Mr. Merry, who is +seated on your namesake there, and is singing as if he were a chorister +in his father's church." + +"Ah, Captain Barnstable, Mr. Merry is a boy, and knows nothing, so fears +nothing. But I shall obey your orders, sir; and if the men fall astarn +this gale, it sha'n't be for anything they'll hear from old Tom Coffin." + +The cockswain lingered a moment, notwithstanding his promised obedience, +and then ventured to request that: + +"Captain Barnstable would please call Mr. Merry from the gun; for I +know, from having followed the seas my natural life, that singing in a +gale is sure to bring the wind down upon a vessel the heavier; for He +who rules the tempests is displeased that man's voice shall be heard +when he chooses to send his own breath on the water." + +Barnstable was at a loss whether to laugh at his cockswain's infirmity, +or to yield to the impression which his earnest and solemn manner had a +powerful tendency to produce, amid such a scene. But making an effort +to shake off the superstitious awe that he felt creeping around his own +heart, the lieutenant relieved the mind of the worthy old seaman so +far as to call the careless boy from his perch, to his own side; where +respect for the sacred character of the quarter-deck instantly put an +end to the lively air he had been humming. Tom walked slowly forward, +apparently much relieved by the reflection that he had effected so +important an object. + +The Ariel continued to struggle against the winds and ocean for several +hours longer, before the day broke on the tempestuous scene, and the +anxious mariners were enabled to form a more accurate estimate of their +real danger. As the violence of the gale increased, the canvas of the +schooner had been gradually reduced, until she was unable to show more +than was absolutely necessary to prevent her driving helplessly on the +land. Barnstable watched the appearance of the weather, as the light +slowly opened upon them, with an intense anxiety, which denoted that the +presentiments of the cockswain were no longer deemed idle. On looking +to windward, he beheld the green masses of water that were rolling in +towards the land, with a violence that seemed irresistible, crowned with +ridges of foam; and there were moments when the air appeared filled with +sparkling gems, as the rays of the rising sun fell upon the spray that +was swept from wave to wave. Towards the land the view was still more +appalling. The cliffs, but a short half-league under the lee of the +schooner, were, at all times, nearly hid from the eye by the pyramids +of water, which the furious element, so suddenly restrained in its +violence, cast high into the air, as if seeking to overleap the +boundaries that nature had fixed to its dominion. The whole coast, +from the distant headland at the south to the well-known shoals that +stretched far beyond their course in the opposite direction, displayed +a broad belt of foam, into which it would have been certain destruction +for the proudest ship that ever swam to enter. Still the Ariel floated +on the billows, lightly and in safety, though yielding to the impulses +of the waters, and, at times, appearing to be engulfed in the yawning +chasm which apparently opened beneath her to receive the little fabric. +The low rumor of acknowledged danger had found its way through the +schooner, and the seamen, after fastening their hopeless looks on the +small spot of canvas that they were still able to show to the tempest, +would turn to view the dreary line of coast, that seemed to offer so +gloomy an alternative. Even Dillon, to whom the report of their danger +had found its way, crept from his place of concealment in the cabin, +and moved about the decks unheeded, devouring, with greedy ears, such +opinions as fell from the lips of the sullen mariners. + +At this moment of appalling apprehension, the cockswain exhibited the +calmest resignation. He knew all had been done that lay in the power +of man, to urge their little vessel from the land, and it was now too +evident to his experienced eyes that it had been done in vain; but, +considering himself as a sort of fixture in the schooner, he was quite +prepared to abide her fate, be it for better or for worse. The settled +look of gloom that gathered around the frank brow of Barnstable was in +no degree connected with any considerations of himself; but proceeded +from that sort of parental responsibility, from which the sea-commander +is never exempt. The discipline of the crew, however, still continued +perfect and unyielding. There had, it is true, been a slight movement +made by one or two of the older seamen, which indicated an intention to +drown the apprehensions of death in ebriety; but Barnstable had called +for his pistols, in a tone that checked the procedure instantly, and, +although the fatal weapons were, untouched by him, left to lie exposed +on the capstan, where they had been placed by his servant, not another +symptom of insubordination appeared among the devoted crew. There was +even what to a landsman might seem an appalling affectation of attention +to the most trifling duties of the vessel; and the men who, it should +seem, ought to be devoting the brief moments of their existence to the +mighty business of the hour, were constantly called to attend to the +most trivial details of their profession. Ropes were coiled, and the +slightest damages occasioned by the waves, which, at short intervals, +swept across the low decks of the Ariel, were repaired, with the same +precision and order as if she yet lay embayed in the haven from which +she had just been driven. In this manner the arm of authority was kept +extended over the silent crew, not with the vain desire to preserve a +lingering though useless exercise of power, but with a view to maintain +that unity of action that now could alone afford them even a ray of +hope. + +"She can make no head against this sea, under that rag of canvas," said +Barnstable, gloomily, addressing the cockswain, who, with folded arms +and an air of cool resignation, was balancing his body on the verge of +the quarter-deck, while the schooner was plunging madly into waves that +nearly buried her in their bosom: "the poor little thing trembles like a +frightened child, as she meets the water." + +Tom sighed heavily, and shook his head, before he answered: + +"If we could have kept the head of the mainmast an hour longer, we might +have got an offing, and fetched to windward of the shoals; but as it is, +sir, mortal man can't drive a craft to windward--she sets bodily in to +land, and will be in the breakers in less than an hour, unless God wills +that the wind shall cease to blow." + +"We have no hope left us, but to anchor; our ground tackle may yet bring +her up." + +Tom turned to his commander, and replied, solemnly, and with that +assurance of manner that long experience only can give a man in moments +of great danger: + +"If our sheet-cable was bent to our heaviest anchor, this sea would +bring it home, though nothing but her launch was riding by it. A +northeaster in the German Ocean must and will blow itself out; nor shall +we get the crown of the gale until the sun falls over the land. Then, +indeed, it may lull; for the winds do often seem to reverence the glory +of the heavens too much to blow their might in its very face!" + +"We must do our duty to ourselves and the country," returned Barnstable. +"Go, get the two bowers spliced, and have a kedge bent to a hawser: +we'll back our two anchors together, and veer to the better end of two +hundred and forty fathoms; it may yet bring her up. See all clear there +for anchoring and cutting away the mast! we'll leave the wind nothing +but a naked hull to whistle over." + +"Ay, if there was nothing but the wind, we might yet live to see the sun +sink behind them hills," said the cockswain; "but what hemp can stand +the strain of a craft that is buried, half the time, to her foremast in +the water?" + +The order was, however, executed by the crew, with a sort of desperate +submission to the will of their commander; and when the preparations +were completed, the anchors and kedge were dropped to the bottom, and +the instant that the Ariel tended to the wind, the axe was applied to +the little that was left of her long, raking masts. The crash of the +falling spars, as they came, in succession, across the decks of the +vessel, appeared to produce no sensation amid that scene of complicated +danger; but the seamen proceeded in silence to their hopeless duty of +clearing the wrecks. Every eye followed the floating timbers, as +the waves swept them away from the vessel, with a sort of feverish +curiosity, to witness the effect produced by their collision with those +rocks that lay so fearfully near them; but long before the spars entered +the wide border of foam, they were hid from view by the furious element +in which they floated. It was now felt by the whole crew of the Ariel, +that their last means of safety had been adopted; and, at each desperate +and headlong plunge the vessel took into the bosom of the seas that +rolled upon her forecastle, the anxious seamen thought that they could +perceive the yielding of the iron that yet clung to the bottom, or could +hear the violent surge of the parting strands of the cable, that still +held them to their anchors. While the minds of the sailors were agitated +with the faint hopes that had been excited by the movements of their +schooner, Dillon had been permitted to wander about the deck unnoticed: +his rolling eyes, hard breathing, and clenched hands excited no +observation among the men, whose thoughts were yet dwelling on the means +of safety. But now, when, with a sort of frenzied desperation, he would +follow the retiring waters along the decks, and venture his person nigh +the group that had collected around and on the gun of the cockswain, +glances of fierce or of sullen vengeance were cast at him, that conveyed +threats of a nature that he was too much agitated to understand. + +"If ye are tired of this world, though your time, like my own, is +probably but short in it," said Tom to him, as he passed the cockswain +in one of his turns, "you can go forward among the men; but if ye have +need of the moments to foot up the reck'ning of your doings among men, +afore ye're brought to face your Maker, and hear the log-book of Heaven, +I would advise you to keep as nigh as possible to Captain Barnstable or +myself." + +"Will you promise to save me if the vessel is wrecked?" exclaimed +Dillon, catching at the first sounds of friendly interest that had +reached his ears since he had been recaptured; "Oh! If you will, I can +secure your future ease, yes, wealth, for the remainder of your days!" + +"Your promises have been too ill kept afore this, for the peace of your +soul," returned the cockswain, without bitterness, though sternly; "but +it is not in me to strike even a whale that is already spouting blood." + +The intercessions of Dillon were interrupted by a dreadful cry, that +arose among the men forward, and which sounded with increased horror, +amid the roarings of the tempest. The schooner rose on the breast of +a wave at the same instant, and, falling off with her broadside to the +sea, she drove in towards the cliffs, like a bubble on the rapids of a +cataract. + +"Our ground-tackle has parted," said Tom, with his resigned patience of +manner undisturbed; "she shall die as easy as man can make her!"--While +he yet spoke, he seized the tiller, and gave to the vessel such a +direction as would be most likely to cause her to strike the rocks with +her bows foremost. + +There was, for one moment, an expression of exquisite anguish betrayed +in the dark countenance of Barnstable; but, at the next, it passed away, +and he spoke cheerfully to his men: + +"Be steady, my lads, be calm; there is yet a hope of life for _you_--our +light draught will let us run in close to the cliffs, and it is still +falling water--see your boats clear, and be steady." + +The crew of the whale-boat, aroused by this speech from a sort of +stupor, sprang into their light vessel, which was quickly lowered +into the sea, and kept riding on the foam, free from the sides of +the schooner, by the powerful exertions of the men. The cry for the +cockswain was earnest and repeated, but Tom shook his head, without +replying, still grasping the tiller, and keeping his eyes steadily bent +on the chaos of waters into which they were driving. The launch, the +largest boat of the two, was cut loose from the "gripes," and the bustle +and exertion of the moment rendered the crew insensible to the horror +of the scene that surrounded them. But the loud hoarse call of the +cockswain, to "look out--secure yourselves!" suspended even their +efforts, and at that instant the Ariel settled on a wave that melted +from under her, heavily on the rocks. The shock was so violent, as +to throw all who disregarded the warning cry from their feet, and the +universal quiver that pervaded the vessel was like the last shudder +of animated nature. For a time long enough to breathe, the least +experienced among the men supposed the danger to be past; but a wave of +great height followed the one that had deserted them, and raising the +vessel again, threw her roughly still farther on the bed of rocks, and +at the same time its crest broke over her quarter, sweeping the length +of her decks with a fury that was almost resistless. The shuddering +seamen beheld their loosened boat driven from their grasp, and dashed +against the base of the cliffs, where no fragment of her wreck could be +traced, at the receding of the waters. But the passing billow had thrown +the vessel into a position which, in some measure, protected her decks +from the violence of those that succeeded it. + +"Go, my boys, go," said Barnstable, as the moment of dreadful +uncertainty passed; "you have still the whale-boat, and she, at least, +will take you nigh the shore. Go into her, my boys. God bless you, God +bless you all! You have been faithful and honest fellows, and I believe +he will not yet desert you; go, my friends, while there is a lull." + +The seamen threw themselves, in a mass, into the light vessel, which +nearly sank under the unusual burden; but when they looked around them, +Barnstable and Merry, Dillon and the cockswain, were yet to be seen +on the decks of the Ariel. The former was pacing, in deep and perhaps +bitter melancholy, the wet planks of the schooner, while the boy hung, +unheeded, on his arm, uttering disregarded petitions to his commander to +desert the wreck. Dillon approached the side where the boat lay, again +and again, but the threatening countenances of the seamen as often drove +him back in despair. Tom had seated himself on the heel of the bowsprit, +where he continued, in an attitude of quiet resignation, returning no +other answers to the loud and repeated calls of his shipmates, than by +waving his hand towards the shore. + +"Now hear me," said the boy, urging his request, to tears; "if not for +my sake, or for your own sake, Mr. Barnstable, or for the hope of God's +mercy, go into the boat, for the love of my cousin Katherine." + +The young lieutenant paused in his troubled walk, and for a moment he +cast a glance of hesitation at the cliffs; but, at the next instant, his +eyes fell on the ruin of his vessel, and he answered: + +"Never, boy, never; if my hour has come, I will not shrink from my +fate." + +"Listen to the men, dear sir; the boat will be swamped, alongside the +wreck, and their cry is, that without you they will not let her go." + +Barnstable motioned to the boat, to bid the boy enter it, and turned +away in silence. + +"Well," said Merry, with firmness, "if it be right that a lieutenant +shall stay by the wreck, it must also be right for a midshipman; shove +off; neither Mr. Barnstable nor myself will quit the vessel." + +"Boy, your life has been entrusted to my keeping, and at my hands will +it be required," said his commander, lifting the struggling youth, and +tossing him into the arms of the seamen. "Away with ye, and God be with +you; there is more weight in you now than can go safe to land." + +Still the seamen hesitated, for they perceived the cockswain moving, +with a steady tread, along the deck, and they hoped he had relented, and +would yet persuade the lieutenant to join his crew. But Tom, imitating +the example of his commander, seized the latter suddenly in his powerful +grasp, and threw him over the bulwarks with an irresistible force. At +the same moment he cast the fast of the boat from the pin that held it, +and, lifting his broad hands high into the air, his voice was heard in +the tempest: + +"God's will be done with me," he cried. "I saw the first timber of the +Ariel laid, and shall live just long enough to see it turn out of her +bottom; after which I wish to live no longer." + +But his shipmates were swept far beyond the sounds of his voice, before +half these words were uttered. All command of the boat was rendered +impossible, by the numbers it contained, as well as the raging of the +surf; and, as it rose on the white crest of a wave, Tom saw his beloved +little craft for the last time. It fell into a trough of the sea, and +in a few moments more its fragments were ground into splinters on the +adjacent rocks. The cockswain still remained where he had cast off the +rope, and beheld the numerous heads and arms that appeared rising, at +short intervals, on the waves; some making powerful and well-directed +efforts to gain the sands, that were becoming visible as the tide fell, +and others wildly tossed in the frantic movements of helpless despair. +The honest old seaman gave a cry of joy, as he saw Barnstable issue from +the surf, bearing the form of Merry in safety to the sands, where, one +by one, several seamen soon appeared also, dripping and exhausted. +Many others of the crew were carried, in a similar manner, to places of +safety; though, as Tom returned to his seat on the bowsprit, he could +not conceal from his reluctant eyes the lifeless forms that were, in +other spots, driven against the rocks with a fury that soon left them +but few of the outward vestiges of humanity. + +Dillon and the cockswain were now the sole occupants of their dreadful +station. The former stood in a kind of stupid despair, a witness of the +scene we have related; but as his curdled blood began again to flow more +warmly through his heart, he crept close to the side of Tom, with that +sort of selfish feeling that makes even hopeless misery more tolerable, +when endured in participation with another. + +"When the tide falls," he said, in a voice that betrayed the agony of +fear, though his words expressed the renewal of hope, "we shall be able +to walk to land." + +"There was One and only One to whose feet the waters were the same as a +dry dock," returned the cockswain; "and none but such as have his power +will ever be able to walk from these rocks to the sands." The old seaman +paused, and turning his eyes, which exhibited a mingled expression of +disgust and compassion, on his companion, he added, with reverence: "Had +you thought more of Him in fair weather, your case would be less to be +pitied in this tempest." + +"Do you still think there is much danger?" asked Dillon. + +"To them that have reason to fear death. Listen! do you hear that hollow +noise beneath ye?" + +"'Tis the wind driving by the vessel!" + +"'Tis the poor thing herself," said the affected cockswain, "giving her +last groans. The water is breaking up her decks, and, in a few minutes +more, the handsomest model that ever cut a wave will be like the chips +that fell from her timbers in framing!" + +"Why then did you remain here!" cried Dillon, wildly. + +"To die in my coffin, if it should be the will of God," returned Tom. +"These waves, to me, are what the land is to you; I was born on them, +and I have always meant that they should be my grave." + +"But I--I," shrieked Dillon, "I am not ready to die!--I cannot die!--I +will not die!" + +"Poor wretch!" muttered his companion; "you must go, like the rest of +us; when the death-watch is called, none can skulk from the muster." + +"I can swim," Dillon continued, rushing with frantic eagerness to the +side of the wreck. "Is there no billet of wood, no rope, that I can take +with me?" + +"None; everything has been cut away, or carried off by the sea. If ye +are about to strive for your life, take with ye a stout heart and a +clean conscience, and trust the rest to God!" + +"God!" echoed Dillon, in the madness of his frenzy; "I know no God! +there is no God that knows me!" + +"Peace!" said the deep tones of the cockswain, in a voice that seemed to +speak in the elements; "blasphemer, peace!" + +The heavy groaning, produced by the water in the timbers of the Ariel, +at that moment added its impulse to the raging feelings of Dillon, and +he cast himself headlong into the sea. + +The water, thrown by the rolling of the surf on the beach, was +necessarily returned to the ocean, in eddies, in different places +favorable to such an action of the element. Into the edge of one of +these countercurrents, that was produced by the very rocks on which the +schooner lay, and which the watermen call the "undertow," Dillon had, +unknowingly, thrown his person; and when the waves had driven him a +short distance from the wreck, he was met by a stream that his most +desperate efforts could not overcome. He was a light and powerful +swimmer, and the struggle was hard and protracted. With the shore +immediately before his eyes, and at no great distance, he was led, as by +a false phantom, to continue his efforts, although they did not advance +him a foot. The old seaman, who at first had watched his motions with +careless indifference, understood the danger of his situation at a +glance; and, forgetful of his own fate, he shouted aloud, in a voice +that was driven over the struggling victim to the ears of his shipmates +on the sands: + +"Sheer to port, and clear the undertow! Sheer to the southward!" + +Dillon heard the sounds, but his faculties were too much obscured by +terror to distinguish their object; he, however, blindly yielded to the +call, and gradually changed his direction, until his face was once +more turned towards the vessel. The current swept him diagonally by the +rocks, and he was forced into an eddy, where he had nothing to contend +against but the waves, whose violence was much broken by the wreck. In +this state, he continued still to struggle, but with a force that was +too much weakened to overcome the resistance he met. Tom looked around +him for a rope, but all had gone over with the spars, or been swept away +by the waves. At this moment of disappointment, his eyes met those of +the desperate Dillon. Calm and inured to horrors as was the veteran +seaman, he involuntarily passed his hand before his brow, to exclude +the look of despair he encountered; and when, a moment afterwards, he +removed the rigid member, he beheld the sinking form of the victim as +it gradually settled in the ocean, still struggling, with regular +but impotent strokes of the arms and feet, to gain the wreck, and +to preserve an existence that had been so much abused in its hour of +allotted probation. + +"He will soon know his God, and learn that his God knows him!" murmured +the cockswain to himself. As he yet spoke, the wreck of the Ariel +yielded to an overwhelming sea, and, after an universal shudder, her +timbers and planks gave way, and were swept towards the cliffs, bearing +the body of the simple-hearted cockswain among the ruins. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + "Let us think of them that sleep + Full many a fathom deep, + By the wild and stormy steep, + Elsinore!" + _Campbell_. + + +Long and dreary did the hours appear to Barnstable, before the falling +tide had so far receded as to leave the sands entirely exposed to his +search for the bodies of his lost shipmates. Several had been rescued +from the wild fury of the waves themselves; and one by one, as the +melancholy conviction that life had ceased was forced on the survivors, +they had been decently interred in graves dug on the very margin of that +element on which they had passed their lives. But still the form longest +known and most beloved was missing, and the lieutenant paced the broad +space that was now left between the foot of the cliffs and the raging +ocean, with hurried strides and a feverish eye, watching and following +those fragments of the wreck that the sea still continued to cast on the +beach. Living and dead, he now found that of those who had lately been +in the Ariel, only two were missing. Of the former he could muster but +twelve, besides Merry and himself, and his men had already interred more +than half that number of the latter, which, together, embraced all who +had trusted their lives to the frail keeping of the whale-boat. + +"Tell me not, boy, of the impossibility of his being safe," said +Barnstable, in deep agitation, which he in vain struggled to conceal +from the anxious youth, who thought it unnecessary to follow the uneasy +motions of his commander, as he strode along the sands. "How often have +men been found floating on pieces of wreck, days after the loss of their +vessel? and you can see, with your own eyes, that the falling water has +swept the planks this distance; ay, a good half-league from where she +struck. Does the lookout from the top of the cliffs make no signal of +seeing him yet?" + +"None, sir, none; we shall never see him again. The men say that he +always thought it sinful to desert a wreck, and that he did not even +strike out once for his life, though he has been known to swim an hour, +when a whale has stove his boat. God knows, sir," added the boy, hastily +dashing a tear from his eye, by a stolen movement of his hand, "I loved +Tom Coffin better than any foremast man in either vessel. You seldom +came aboard the frigate but we had him in the steerage among us reefers, +to hear his long yarns, and share our cheer. We all loved him, Mr. +Barnstable; but love cannot bring the dead to life again." + +"I know it, I know it," said Barnstable, with a huskiness in his voice +that betrayed the depth of his emotion. "I am not so foolish as to +believe in impossibilities; but while there is a hope of his living, I +will never abandon poor Tom Coffin to such a dreadful fate. Think, boy, +he may, at this moment, be looking at us, and praying to his Maker that +he would turn our eyes upon him; ay, praying to his God, for Tom often +prayed, though he did it in his watch, standing, and in silence." + +"If he had clung to life so strongly," returned the midshipman, "he +would have struggled harder to preserve it." + +Barnstable stopped short in his hurried walk, and fastened a look of +opening conviction on his companion; but, as he was about to speak in +reply, the shouts of the seamen reached his ears, and, turning, they +saw the whole party running along the beach, and motioning, with violent +gestures, to an intermediate point in the ocean. The lieutenant and +Merry hurried back, and, as they approached the men, they distinctly +observed a human figure, borne along by the waves, at moments seeming to +rise above them, and already floating in the last of the breakers. They +had hardly ascertained so much, when a heavy swell carried the inanimate +body far upon the sands, where it was left by the retiring waters. + +"'Tis my cockswain!" cried Barnstable, rushing to the spot. He stopped +suddenly, however, as he came within view of the features, and it was +some little time before he appeared to have collected his faculties +sufficiently to add, in tones of deep horror: "What wretch is this, boy! +His form is unmutilated, and yet observe the eyes! they seem as if the +sockets would not contain them, and they gaze as wildly as if their +owner yet had life--the hands are open and spread, as though they would +still buffet the waves!" + +"The Jonah! the Jonah!" shouted the seamen, with savage exultation, as +they successively approached the corpse; "away with his carrion into the +sea again! give him to the sharks! let him tell his lies in the claws of +the lobsters!" + +Barnstable had turned away from the revolting sight, in disgust; but +when he discovered these indications of impotent revenge in the remnant +of his crew, he said, in that voice which all respected and still +obeyed: + +"Stand back! back with ye, fellows! Would you disgrace your manhood and +seamanship, by wreaking your vengeance on him whom God has already +in judgment!" A silent, but significant, gesture towards the earth +succeeded his words, and he walked slowly away. + +"Bury him in the sands, boys," said Merry, when his commander was at +some little distance; "the next tide will unearth him." + +The seamen obeyed his orders, while the midshipman rejoined his +commander, who continued to pace along the beach, occasionally halting +to throw his uneasy glances over the water, and then hurrying onward, at +a rate that caused his youthful companion to exert his greatest power to +maintain the post he had taken at his side. Every effort to discover the +lost cockswain was, however, after two hours' more search, abandoned as +fruitless; and with reason, for the sea was never known to give up the +body of the man who might be emphatically called its own dead. + +"There goes the sun, already dropping behind the cliffs," said the +lieutenant, throwing himself on a rock; "and the hour will soon arrive +to set the dog-watches; but we have nothing left to watch over, boy; the +surf and rocks have not even left us a whole plank that we may lay our +heads on for the night." + +"The men have gathered many articles on yon beach, sir," returned the +lad; "they have found arms to defend ourselves with, and food to give us +strength to use them." + +"And who shall be our enemy?" asked Barnstable, bitterly; "shall we +shoulder our dozen pikes, and carry England by boarding?" + +"We may not lay the whole island under contribution," continued the boy, +anxiously, watching the expression of his commander's eye; "but we may +still keep ourselves in work until the cutter returns from the frigate. +I hope, sir, you do not think our case so desperate, as to intend +yielding as prisoners." + +"Prisoners!" exclaimed the lieutenant; "no, no, lad, it has not got to +that, yet! England has been able to wreck my craft, I must concede; but +she has, as yet, obtained no other advantage over us. She was a precious +model, Merry! the cleanest run, and the neatest entrance, that art ever +united on the stem and stern of the same vessel! Do you remember the +time, younker, when I gave the frigate my top-sails, in beating out of +the Chesapeake? I could always do it, in smooth water, with a whole-sail +breeze. But she was a frail thing! a frail thing, boy, and could bear +but little." + +"A mortar-ketch would have thumped to pieces where she lay," returned +the midshipman. + +"Ay, it was asking too much of her, to expect she could hold together +on a bed of rocks. Merry, I loved her; dearly did I love her; she was +my first command, and I knew and loved every timber and bolt in her +beautiful frame!" + +"I believe it is as natural, sir, for a seaman to love the wood and iron +in which he has floated over the depths of the ocean for so many days +and nights," rejoined the boy, "as it is for a father to love the +members of his own family." + +"Quite, quite, ay, more so," said Barnstable, speaking as if he were +choked by emotion. Merry felt the heavy grasp of the lieutenant on his +slight arm, while his commander continued, in a voice that gradually +increased in power, as his feelings predominated; "and yet, boy, a human +being cannot love the creature of his own formation as he does the works +of God. A man can never regard his ship as he does his shipmates. I +sailed with him, boy, when everything seemed bright and happy, as at +your age; when, as he often expressed it, I knew nothing and feared +nothing. I was then a truant from an old father and a kind mother, and +he did that for me which no parents could have done in my situation--he +was my father and mother on the deep!--hours, days, even months, has he +passed in teaching me the art of our profession; and now, in my manhood, +he has followed me from ship to ship, from sea to sea, and has only +quitted me to die, where I should have died--as if he felt the disgrace +of abandoning the poor Ariel to her fate, by herself!" + +"No--no--no--'twas his superstitious pride!" interrupted Merry, but +perceiving that the head of Barnstable had sunk between his hands, as +if he would conceal his emotion, the boy added no more; but he sat +respectfully watching the display of feeling that his officer in vain +endeavored to suppress. Merry felt his own form quiver with sympathy at +the shuddering which passed through Barnstable's frame; and the relief +experienced by the lieutenant himself was not greater than that which +the midshipman felt, as the latter beheld large tears forcing their way +through the other's fingers, and falling on the sands at his feet. They +were followed by a violent burst of emotion, such as is seldom exhibited +in the meridian of life; but which, when it conquers the nature of one +who has buffeted the chances of the world with the loftiness of his sex +and character, breaks down every barrier, and seems to sweep before +it, like a rushing torrent, all the factitious defences which habit and +education have created to protect the pride of manhood. Merry had often +beheld the commanding severity of the lieutenant's manner in moments of +danger, with deep respect; he had been drawn towards him by kindness and +affection, in times of gayety and recklessness: but he now sat for many +minutes profoundly silent, regarding his officer with sensations that +were nearly allied to awe. The struggle with himself was long and +severe in the bosom of Barnstable; but, at length, the calm of relieved +passions succeeded to his emotion. When he arose from the rock, and +removed his hands from his features, his eye was hard and proud, his +brow lightly contracted, and he spoke in a voice so harsh, that it +startled his companion: + +"Come, sir; why are we here and idle? are not yon poor fellows looking +up to us for advice and orders how to proceed in this exigency? Away, +away, Mr. Merry; it is not a time to be drawing figures, in the sand +with your dirk; the flood-tide will soon be in, and we may be glad to +hide our heads in some cavern among these rocks. Let us be stirring, +sir, while we have the sun, and muster enough food and arms to keep life +in us, and our enemies off us, until we can once more get afloat." + +The wondering boy, whose experience had not yet taught him to appreciate +the reaction of the passions, started at this unexpected summons to his +duty, and followed Barnstable towards the group of distant seamen. The +lieutenant, who was instantly conscious how far pride had rendered him +unjust, soon moderated his long strides, and continued in milder tones, +which were quickly converted into his usual frank communications, though +they still remained tinged with a melancholy, that time only could +entirely remove: + +"We have been unlucky, Mr. Merry, but we need not despair--these lads +have gotten together abundance of supplies, I see; and, with our arms, +we can easily make ourselves masters of some of the enemy's smaller +craft, and find our way back to the frigate, when this gale has blown +itself out. We must keep ourselves close, though, or we shall have the +redcoats coming down upon us, like so many sharks around a wreck. Ah! +God bless her, Merry! There is not such a sight to be seen on the whole +beach as two of her planks holding together." + +The midshipman, without adverting to this sudden allusion to their +vessel, prudently pursued the train of ideas in which his commander had +started. + +"There is an opening into the country, but a short distance south of us, +where a brook empties into the sea," he said. "We might find a cover +in it, or in the wood above, into which it leads, until we can have a +survey of the coast, or can seize some vessel to carry us off." + +"There would be a satisfaction in waiting till the morning watch, and +then carrying that accursed battery, which took off the better leg of +the poor Ariel!" said the lieutenant--"the thing might be done, boy, and +we could hold the work, too, until the Alacrity and the frigate draw in +to land." + +"If you prefer storming works to boarding vessels, there is a fortress +of stone, Mr. Barnstable, which lies directly on our beam. I could +see it through the haze, when I was on the cliffs, stationing the +lookout--and---- + +"And what, boy? speak without a fear; this is a time for free +consultation." + +"Why, sir, the garrison might not all be hostile--we should liberate Mr. +Griffith and the marines; besides----" + +"Besides what, sir?" + +"I should have an opportunity, perhaps, of seeing my cousin Cecilia and +my cousin Katherine." + +The countenance of Barnstable grew animated as he listened, and he +answered with something of his usual cheerful manner: + +"Ay, that, indeed, would be a work worth carrying! And the rescuing +of our shipmates, and the marines, would read like a thing of military +discretion--ha! boy! all the rest would be incidental, younker; like the +capture of the fleet, after you have whipped the convoy." + +"I do suppose, sir, that if the abbey be taken, Colonel Howard will own +himself a prisoner of war." + +"And Colonel Howard's wards! now there is good sense in this scheme of +thine, Master Merry, and I will give it proper reflection. But here are +our poor fellows; speak cheeringly to them, sir, that we may hold them +in temper for our enterprise." + +Barnstable and the midshipman joined their shipwrecked companions, with +that air of authority which is seldom wanting between the superior +and the inferior, in nautical intercourse, but at the same time with a +kindness of speech and looks, that might have been a little increased +by their critical situation. After partaking of the food which had been +selected from among the fragments that still lay scattered, for more +than a mile, along the beach, the lieutenant directed the seamen to arm +themselves with such weapons as offered, and also to make sufficient +provision, from the schooner's stores, to last them for four-and-twenty +hours longer. These orders were soon executed; and the whole party, +led by Barnstable and Merry, proceeded along the foot of the cliffs, +in quest of the opening in the rocks, through which the little rivulet +found a passage to the ocean. The weather contributed, as much as the +seclusion of the spot to prevent any discovery of the small party, which +pursued its object with a disregard of caution that might, under other +circumstances, have proved fatal to its safety. Barnstable paused in his +march when they had all entered the deep ravine, and ascended nearly to +the brow of the precipice, that formed one of its sides, to take a last +and more scrutinizing survey of the sea. His countenance exhibited the +abandonment of all hope, as his eye moved slowly from the northern to +the southern boundary of the horizon, and he prepared to pursue his +march, by moving, reluctantly, up the stream, when the boy, who still +clung to his side, exclaimed joyously: + +"Sail ho!--It must be the frigate in the offing!" + +"A sail!" repeated his commander; "where away do you see a sail in this +tempest? Can there be another as hardy and unfortunate as ourselves!" + +"Look to the starboard hand of the point of rock to windward!" cried the +boy; "now you lose it--ah! now the sun falls upon it! 'tis a sail, sir, +as sure as canvas can be spread in such a gale!" + +"I see what you mean," returned the other, "but it seems a gull, +skimming the sea! nay, now it rises, indeed, and shows itself like a +bellying topsail: pass up that glass, lads; here is a fellow in the +offing who may prove a friend." + +Merry waited the result of the lieutenant's examination with youthful +impatience, and did not fail to ask immediately: + +"Can you make it out, sir? is it the ship or the cutter?" + +"Come, there seemeth yet some hope left for us, boy," returned +Barnstable, closing the glass; "'tis a ship lying-to under her +maintopsail. If one might but dare to show himself on these heights, he +would raise her hull, and make sure of her character! But I think I know +her spars, though even her topsail dips, at times, when there is +nothing to be seen but her bare poles; and they shortened by her +top-gallantmasts." + +"One would swear," said Merry, laughing, as much through the excitement +produced by this intelligence, as at his conceit, "that Captain Munson +would never carry wood aloft, when he can't carry canvas. I remember, +one night, Mr. Griffith was a little vexed, and said, around the +capstan, he believed the next order would be to rig in the bowsprit, and +house lowermasts!" + +"Ay, ay, Griffith is a lazy dog, and sometimes gets lost in the fogs of +his own thoughts," said Barnstable; "and I suppose old Moderate was in a +breeze. However, this looks as if he were in earnest; he must have kept +the ship away, or she would never have been where she is; I do verily +believe the old gentleman remembers that he has a few of his officers +and men on this accursed island. This is well, Merry; for should we take +the abbey, we have a place at hand in which to put our prisoners." + +"We must have patience till the morning," added the boy, "for no boat +would attempt to land in such a sea." + +"No boat could land! The best boat that ever floated, boy, has sunk in +these breakers! But the wind lessens, and before morning the sea will +fall. Let us on, and find a berth for our poor lads, where they can be +made more comfortable." + +The two officers now descended from their elevation, and led the way +still farther up the deep and narrow dell, until, as the ground rose +gradually before them, they found themselves in a dense wood, on a level +with the adjacent country. + +"Here should be a ruin at hand, if I have a true reckoning, and know my +courses and distances," said Barnstable; "I have a chart about me that +speaks of such a landmark." + +The lieutenant turned away from the laughing expression of the boy's +eye, as the latter archly inquired: + +"Was it made by one who knows the coast well, sir? Of was it done by +some schoolboy, to learn his maps, as the girls work samplers?" + +"Come, younker, no sampler of your impudence. But look ahead; can you +see any habitation that has been deserted?" + +"Ay, sir, here is a pile of stones before us, that looks as dirty and +ragged as if it was a soldier's barrack; can this be what you seek?" + +"Faith, this has been a whole town in its day! we should call it a city +in America, and furnish it with a mayor, aldermen, and recorder--you +might stow old Faneuil Hall in one of its lockers." + +With this sort of careless dialogue, which Barnstable engaged in, that +his men might discover no alteration in his manner, they approached +the mouldering walls that had proved so frail a protection to the party +under Griffith. + +A short time was passed in examining the premises, when the wearied +seamen took possession of one of the dilapidated apartments, and +disposed themselves to seek that rest of which they had been deprived by +the momentous occurrences of the past night. + +Barnstable waited until the loud breathing of the seamen assured him +that they slept, when he aroused the drowsy boy, who was fast losing his +senses in the same sort of oblivion, and motioned him to follow. Merry +arose, and they stole together from the apartment, with guarded steps, +and penetrated more deeply into the gloomy recesses of the place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + _Mercury_. "I permit thee to be Sosia again." + _Dryden,_ + + +We must leave the two adventurers winding their way among the broken +piles, and venturing boldly beneath the tottering arches of the ruin, +to accompany the reader, at the same hour, within the more comfortable +walls of the abbey; where, it will be remembered, Borroughcliffe was +left in a condition of very equivocal ease. As the earth had, however, +in the interval, nearly run its daily round, circumstances had +intervened to release the soldier from his confinement--and no one, +ignorant of the fact, would suppose that the gentleman who was now +seated at the hospitable board of Colonel Howard, directing, with so +much discretion, the energies of his masticators to the delicacies of +the feast, could read, in his careless air and smiling visage, that +those foragers of nature had been so recently condemned, for four long +hours, to the mortification of discussing the barren subject of his own +sword-hilt. Borroughcliffe, however, maintained not only his usual post, +but his well-earned reputation at the table, with his ordinary coolness +of demeanor; though at times there were fleeting smiles that crossed +his military aspect, which sufficiently indicated that he considered the +matter of his reflection to be of a particularly ludicrous character. In +the young man who sat by his side, dressed in the deep-blue jacket of +a seaman, with the fine white linen of his collar contrasting strongly +with the black silk handkerchief that was tied with studied negligence +around his neck, and whose easy air and manner contrasted still more +strongly with this attire, the reader will discover Griffith. The +captive paid much less devotion to the viands than his neighbor, though +he affected more attention to the business of the table than he actually +be stowed, with a sort of consciousness that it would relieve the +blushing maiden who presided. The laughing eyes of Katherine Plowden +were glittering by the side of the mild countenance of Alice Dunscombe, +and, at times, were fastened in droll interest on the rigid and upright +exterior that Captain Manual maintained, directly opposite to where she +was seated. A chair had, also, been placed for Dillon--of course it was +vacant. + +"And so, Borroughcliffe," cried Colonel Howard, with a freedom of voice, +and a vivacity in his air, that announced the increasing harmony of +the repast, "the sea-dog left you nothing to chew but the cud of your +resentment!" + +"That and my sword-hilt," returned the immovable recruiting officer. +"Gentlemen, I know not how your Congress rewards military achievements; +but if that worthy fellow were in my company, he should have a halberd +within a week--spurs I would not offer him, for he affects to spurn +their use." + +Griffith smiled, and bowed in silence to the liberal compliment of +Borroughcliffe; but Manual took on himself the task of replying: + +"Considering the drilling the man has received, the conduct has been +well enough, sir; though a well-trained soldier would not only have made +prisoners, but he would have secured them." + +"I perceive, my good comrade, that your thoughts are running on the +exchange," said Borroughcliffe, good-humoredly; "we will fill, sir, and, +by permission of the ladies, drink to a speedy restoration of rights to +both parties--the status quo ante bellum!" + +"With all my heart!" cried the colonel; "and Cicely and Miss Katherine +will pledge the sentiment in a woman's sip; will ye not, my fair +wards?--Mr. Griffith, I honor this proposition of yours, which will not +only liberate yourself, but restore to us my kinsman, Mr. Christopher +Dillon. Kit had imagined the thing well; ha! Borroughcliffe! 'twas +ingeniously contrived, but the fortune of war interposed itself to his +success; and yet it is a deep and inexplicable mystery to me, how Kit +should have been conveyed from the abbey with so little noise, and +without raising the alarm." + +"Christopher is a man who understands the philosophy of silence, as well +as that of rhetoric," returned Borroughcliffe, "and must have learned in +his legal studies, that it is sometimes necessary to conduct matters sub +silentio. You smile at my Latin, Miss Plowden; but really, since I +have become an inhabitant of this monkish abode, my little learning +is stimulated to unwonted efforts--nay, you are pleased to be yet more +merry! I used the language, because silence is a theme in which you +ladies take but little pleasure." + +Katherine, however, disregarded the slight pique that was apparent in +the soldier's manner; but, after following the train of her own thoughts +in silent enjoyment for a moment longer, she seemed to yield to their +drollery, and laughed until her dark eyes flashed with merriment. +Cecilia did not assume the severe gravity with which she sometimes +endeavored to repress, what she thought, the unseasonable mirth of her +cousin; and the wondering Griffith fancied, as he glanced his eye from +one to the other, that he could discern a suppressed smile playing +among the composed features of Alice Dunscombe. Katherine, however, soon +succeeded in repressing the paroxysm, and, with an air of infinitely +comic gravity, she replied to the remark of the soldier: + +"I think I have heard of such a process in nautical affairs as towing; +but I must appeal to Mr. Griffith for the correctness of the term." + +"You could not speak with more accuracy," returned the young sailor, +with a look that sent the conscious blood to the temples of the lady, +"though you had made marine terms your study." + +"The profession requires less thought, perhaps, than you imagine, sir; +but is this towing often done, as Captain Borroughcliffe--I beg his +pardon--as the monks have it, sub silentio?" + +"Spare me, fair lady," cried the captain, "and we will establish a +compact of mutual grace; you to forgive my learning, and I to suppress +my suspicions." + +"Suspicions, sir, is a word that a lady must defy." + +"And defiance a challenge that a soldier can never receive; so I +must submit to talk English, though the fathers of the church were my +companions. I suspect that Miss Plowden has it in her power to explain +the manner of Mr. Christopher Dillon's departure." + +The lady did not reply, but a second burst of merriment succeeded, of a +liveliness and duration quite equal to the former. + +"How's this?" exclaimed the colonel; "permit me to say, Miss Plowden, +your mirth is very extraordinary! I trust no disrespect has been offered +to my kinsman? Mr. Griffith, our terms are, that the exchange shall only +be made on condition that equally good treatment has been extended to +the parties!" + +"If Mr. Dillon can complain of no greater evil than that of being +laughed at by Miss Plowden, sir, he has reason to call himself a happy +fellow." + +"I know not, sir; God forbid that I should forget what is due to my +guests, gentlemen!--but ye have entered my dwelling as foes to my +prince." + +"But not to Colonel Howard, sir." + +"I know no difference, Mr. Griffith. King George or Colonel +Howard--Colonel Howard or King George. Our feelings, our fortunes, +and our fate, are as one; with the mighty odds that Providence has +established between the prince and his people! I wish no other fortune +than to share, at an humble distance, the weal or woe of my sovereign!" + +"You are not called upon, dear sir, to do either, by the thoughtlessness +of us ladies," said Cecilia, rising; "but here comes one who should turn +our thoughts to a more important subject--our dress." + +Politeness induced Colonel Howard, who both loved and respected his +niece, to defer his remarks to another time: and Katherine, springing +from her chair with childish eagerness, flew to the side of her cousin, +who was directing a servant that had announced the arrival of one of +those erratic venders of small articles, who supply, in remote districts +of the country, the places of more regular traders, to show the lad +into the dining-parlor. The repast was so far ended as to render this +interruption less objectionable; and as all felt the object of Cecilia +to be the restoration of harmony, the boy was ushered into the room +without further delay. The contents of his small basket, consisting +chiefly of essences, and the smaller articles of female economy, were +playfully displayed on the table by Katherine, who declared herself the +patroness of the itinerant youth, and who laughingly appealed to the +liberality of the gentlemen in behalf of her protégé. + +"You perceive, my dear guardian, that the boy must be loyal; for he +offers, here, perfume, that is patronized by no less than two royal +dukes: do suffer me to place a box aside, for your especial use: you +consent; I see it in your eye. And, Captain Borroughcliffe, as you +appear to be forgetting the use of your own language, here is even a +hornbook for you! How admirably provided he seems to be. You must have +had St. Ruth in view, when you laid in your stock, child?" + +"Yes, my lady," the boy replied, with a bow that was studiously awkward; +"I have often heard of the grand ladies that dwell in the old abbey, and +I have journeyed a few miles beyond my rounds, to gain their custom." + +"And surely they cannot disappoint you. Miss Howard, that is a palpable +hint to your purse; and I know not that even Miss Alice can escape +contribution, in these troublesome times. Come, aid me, child; what have +you to recommend, in particular, to the favor of these ladies?" + +The lad approached the basket, and rummaged its contents, for a moment, +with the appearance of deep mercenary interest; and then, without +lifting his hand from the confusion he had caused, he said, while +he exhibited something within the basket to the view of his smiling +observer: + +"This, my lady." + +Katharine started, and glanced her eyes, with a piercing look, at the +countenance of the boy, and then turned them uneasily from face to +face, with conscious timidity. Cecilia had effected her object, and +had resumed her seat in silent abstraction--Alice was listening to the +remarks of Captain Manual and the host, as they discussed the propriety +of certain military usages--Griffith seemed to hold communion with +his mistress, by imitating her silence; but Katharine, in her stolen +glances, met the keen look of Borroughcliffe, fastened on her face, in a +manner that did not fail instantly to suspend the scrutiny. + +"Come, Cecilia," she cried, after a pause of a moment, "we trespass too +long on the patience of the gentlemen; not only to keep possession +of our seats, ten minutes after the cloth has been drawn! but even +to introduce our essences, and tapes, and needles, among the Madeira, +and--shall I add, cigars, colonel?" + +"Not while we are favored with the company of Miss Plowden, certainly." + +"Come, my coz; I perceive the colonel is growing particularly polite, +which is a never-failing sign that he tires of our presence." + +Cecilia rose, and was leading the way to the door, when Katherine turned +to the lad, and added: + +"You can follow us to the drawing-room, child, where we can make our +purchases, without exposing the mystery of our toilets." + +"Miss Plowden has forgotten my hornbook, I believe," said +Borroughcliffe, advancing from the standing group who surrounded the +table; "possibly I can find some work in the basket of the boy, better +fitted for the improvement of a grown-up young gentleman than this +elementary treatise." + +Cecilia, observing him to take the basket from the lad, resumed her +seat, and her example was necessarily followed by Katherine; though not +without some manifest indications of vexation. + +"Come hither, boy, and explain the uses of your wares. This is soap, and +this a penknife, I know; but what name do you affix to this?" + +"That? that is tape," returned the lad, with an impatience that might +very naturally be attributed to the interruption that was thus given to +his trade. + +"And this?" + +"That?" repeated the stripling, pausing, with a hesitation between +sulkiness and doubt; "that?--" + +"Come, this is a little ungallant!" cried Katherine; "to keep three +ladies dying with impatience to possess themselves of their finery, +while you detain the boy, to ask the name of a tambouring-needle!" + +"I should apologize for asking questions that are so easily answered; +but perhaps he will find the next more difficult to solve," returned +Borroughcliffe, placing the subject of his inquiries in the palm of +his hand, in such a manner as to conceal it from all but the boy and +himself, "This has a name too; what is it?" + +"That?--that--is sometimes called--white-line." + +"Perhaps you mean a white lie?" + +"How, sir!" exclaimed the lad, a little fiercely, "a lie!" + +"Only a white one," returned the captain. "What do you call this. Miss +Dunscombe?" + +"We call it bobbin, sir, generally, in the north," said the placid +Alice. + +"Ay, bobbin, or white-line; they are the same thing," added the young +trader. + +"They are? I think, now, for a professional man, you know but little of +the terms of your art," observed Borroughcliffe, with an affectation +of irony; "I never have seen a youth of your years who knew less. What +names, now, would you affix to this, and this, and this?" + +While the captain was speaking he drew from his pockets the several +instruments that the cockswain had made use of the preceding night to +secure his prisoner. + +"That," exclaimed the lad, with the eagerness of one who would vindicate +his reputation, "is rattlin-stuff; and this is marline; and that is +sennit." + +"Enough, enough," said Borroughcliffe; "you have exhibited sufficient +knowledge to convince me that you _do_ know something of your _trade_, +and nothing of these articles. Mr. Griffith, do you claim this boy?" + +"I believe I must, sir," said the young sea-officer, who had been +intently listening to the examination. "On whatever errand you have now +ventured here, Mr. Merry, it is useless to affect further concealment." + +"Merry!" exclaimed Cecilia Howard; "is it you, then, my cousin? Are you, +too, fallen into the power of your enemies! was it not enough that--" + +The young lady recovered her recollection in time to suppress the +remainder of the sentence, though the grateful expression of Griffith's +eye sufficiently indicated that he had, in his thoughts, filled the +sentence with expressions abundantly flattering to his own feelings. + +"How's this, again!" cried the colonel; "my two wards embracing and +fondling a vagrant, vagabond peddler, before my eyes! Is this treason, +Mr. Griffith? Or what means the extraordinary visit of this young +gentleman?" + +"Is it extraordinary, sir," said Merry himself, losing his assumed +awkwardness in the ease and confidence of one whose faculties had +been early exercised, "that a boy like myself, destitute of mother +and sisters, should take a like risk on himself, to visit the only two +female relatives he has in the world?" + +"Why this disguise, then? surely, young gentleman, it was unnecessary to +enter the dwelling of old George Howard on such an errand clandestinely, +even though your tender years have been practised on, to lead you astray +from your allegiance. Mr. Griffith and Captain Manual must pardon me, +if I express sentiments, at my own table, that they may find unpleasant; +but this business requires us to be explicit." + +"The hospitality of Colonel Howard is unquestionable," returned the boy; +"but he has a great reputation for his loyalty to the crown." + +"Ay, young gentleman; and, I trust, with some justice." + +"Would it, then, be safe, to entrust my person in the hands of one who +might think it his duty to detain me?" + +"This is plausible enough, Captain Borroughcliffe, and I doubt not the +boy speaks with candor. I would, now, that my kinsman, Mr. Christopher +Dillon, were here, that I might learn if it would be misprision +of treason to permit this youth to depart, unmolested, and without +exchange?" + +"Inquire of the young gentleman, after the Cacique," returned the +recruiting officer, who, apparently satisfied in producing the exposure +of Merry, had resumed his seat at the table; "perhaps he is, in verity, +an ambassador, empowered to treat on behalf of his highness." + +"How say you?" demanded the colonel; "do you know anything of my +kinsman?" + +The anxious eyes of the whole party were fastened on the boy for many +moments, witnessing the sudden change from careless freedom to deep +horror expressed in his countenance. At length he uttered in an +undertone the secret of Dillon's fate. + +"He is dead." + +"Dead!" repeated every voice in the room. + +"Yes, dead!" said the boy, gazing at the pallid faces of those who +surrounded him. + +A long and fearful silence succeeded the announcement of this +intelligence, which was only interrupted by Griffith, who said: + +"Explain the manner of his death, sir, and where his body lies." + +"His body lies interred in the sands," returned Merry, with a +deliberation that proceeded from an opening perception that, if +he uttered too much, he might betray the loss of the Ariel, and, +consequently, endanger the liberty of Barnstable. + +"In the sands?" was echoed from every part of the room. + +"Ay, in the sands; but how he died, I cannot explain." + +"He has been murdered!" exclaimed Colonel Howard, whose command of +utterance was now amply restored to him; "he has been treacherously, and +dastardly, and basely murdered!" + +"He has _not_ been murdered," said the boy, firmly; "nor did he meet +his death among those who deserve the name either of traitors or of +dastards." + +"Said you not that he was dead? that my kinsman was buried in the sands +of the seashore?" + +"Both are true, sir--" + +"And you refuse to explain how he met his death, and why he has been +thus ignominiously interred?" + +"He received his interment by my orders, sir; and if there be ignominy +about his grave, his own acts have heaped it on him. As to the manner of +his death, I cannot, and will not speak." + +"Be calm, my cousin," said Cecilia, in an imploring voice; "respect the +age of my uncle, and remember his strong attachment to Mr. Dillon." + +The veteran had, however, so far mastered his feelings, as to continue +the dialogue with more recollection. + +"Mr. Griffith," he said, "I shall not act hastily--you and your +companions will be pleased to retire to your several apartments. I will +so far respect the son of my brother Harry's friend as to believe your +parole will be sacred. Go, gentlemen; you are unguarded." + +The two prisoners bowed low to the ladies and their host, and retired. +Griffith, however, lingered a moment on the threshold, to say: + +"Colonel Howard, I leave the boy to your kindness and consideration. I +know you will not forget that his blood mingles with that of one who is +most dear to you." + +"Enough, enough, sir," said the veteran, waving his hand to him to +retire: "and you, ladies; this is not a place for you, either." + +"Never will I quit this child," said Katherine, "while such a horrid +imputation lies on him. Colonel Howard, act your pleasure on us both, +for I suppose you have the power; but his fate shall be my fate." + +"There is, I trust, some misconception in this melancholy affair," said +Borroughcliffe, advancing into the centre of the agitated group; "and I +should hope, by calmness and moderation, all may yet be explained; young +gentleman, you have borne arms, and must know, notwithstanding your +youth, what it is to be in the power of your enemies?" + +"Never," returned the proud boy; "I am a captive for the first time." + +"I speak, sir, in reference to our power." + +"You may order me to a dungeon; or, as I have entered the abbey in +disguise, possibly to a gibbet." + +"And is that a fate to be met so calmly by one so young?" + +"You dare not do it, Captain Borroughcliffe," cried Katherine, +involuntarily throwing an arm around the boy, as if to shield him from +harm; "you would blush to think of such a cold-blooded act of vengeance, +Colonel Howard." + +"If we could examine the young man, where the warmth of feeling which +these ladies exhibit might not be excited," said the captain, apart to +his host, "we should gain important intelligence." + +"Miss Howard, and you, Miss Plowden," said the veteran, in a manner that +long habit had taught his wards to respect, "your young kinsman is not +in the keeping of savages, and you can safely confide him to my custody. +I am sorry that we have so long kept Miss Alice standing, but she will +find relief on the couches of your drawing-room, Cecilia." + +Cecilia and Katherine permitted themselves to be conducted to the +door by their polite but determined guardian, where he bowed to their +retiring persons, with the exceeding courtesy that he never failed to +use, when in the least excited. + +"You appear to know your danger, Mr. Merry," said Borroughcliffe, after +the door was closed; "I trust you also know what duty would dictate to +one in my situation." + +"Do it, sir," returned the boy; "you have a king to render an account +to, and I have a country." + +"I may have a country also," said Borroughcliffe, with a calmness that +was not in the least disturbed by the taunting air with which the youth +delivered himself. "It is possible for me, however, to be lenient, even +merciful, when the interests of that prince, to whom you allude, are +served--you came not on this enterprise alone, sir?" + +"Had I come better attended, Captain Borroughcliffe might have heard +these questions, instead of putting them." + +"I am happy, sir, that your retinue has been so small: and yet even the +rebel schooner called the Ariel might have furnished you with a more +becoming attendance. I cannot but think that you are not far distant +from your friends." + +"He is near his enemies, your honor," said Sergeant Drill, who had +entered the room unobserved; "for here is a boy who says he has been +seized in the old ruin, and robbed of his goods and clothes; and, by his +description, this lad should be the thief." + +Borroughcliffe signed to the boy, who stood in the background, to +advance; and he was instantly obeyed, with all that eagerness which a +sense of injury on the part of the sufferer could excite. The tale of +this unexpected intruder was soon told, and was briefly this: + +He had been assaulted by a man and a boy (the latter was in presence), +while arranging his effects, in the ruin, preparatory to exhibiting +them to the ladies of the abbey, and had been robbed of such part of his +attire as the boy had found necessary for his disguise, together with +his basket of valuables. He had been put into an apartment of an old +tower, by the man, for safe keeping; but as the latter frequently +ascended to its turret, to survey the country, he had availed himself of +this remissness, to escape; and, to conclude, he demanded a restoration +of his property, and vengeance for his wrongs. + +Merry heard his loud and angry details with scornful composure, and +before the offended peddler was through his narrative, he had divested +himself of the borrowed garments, which he threw to the other with +singular disdain. + +"We are beleaguered, mine host! beset! besieged!" cried Borroughcliffe, +when the other had ended. "Here is a rare plan to rob us of our laurels! +ay, and of our rewards! but, hark ye, Drill! they have old soldiers to +deal with, and we shall look into the matter. One would wish to triumph +on foot; you understand me?--there was no horse in the battle. Go, +fellow, I see you grow wiser; take this young gentleman--and remember +_he is_ a young gentleman--put him in safe keeping, but see him supplied +with all he wants." + +Borroughcliffe bowed politely to the haughty bend of the body with which +Merry, who now began to think himself a martyr to his country, followed +the orderly from the room. + +"There is mettle in the lad!" exclaimed the captain; "and if he live to +get a beard, 'twill be a hardy dog who ventures to pluck it. I am glad, +mine host, that this 'wandering Jew' has arrived, to save the poor +fellow's feelings, for I detest tampering with such a noble spirit. I +saw, by his eye, that he had squinted oftener over a gun than through a +needle!" + +"But they have murdered my kinsman!--the loyal, the learned, the +ingenious Mr. Christopher Dillon!" + +"If they have done so, they shall be made to answer it," said +Borroughcliffe, reseating himself at the table, with a coolness that +furnished an ample pledge of the impartiality of his judgment; "but let +us learn the facts, before we do aught hastily." + +Colonel Howard was fain to comply with so reasonable a proposition, and +he resumed his chair, while his companion proceeded to institute a close +examination of the peddler boy. + +We shall defer, until the proper time may arrive, recording the result +of his inquiries; but shall so satisfy the curiosity of our readers, as +to tell them that the captain learned sufficient to convince him a very +serious attempt was meditated on the abbey; and, as he thought, enough +also to enable him to avert the danger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + --"I have not seen + So likely an ambassador of love." + _Merchant of Venice._ + + +Cecilia and Katherine separated from Alice Dunscombe in the lower +gallery of the cloisters; and the cousins ascended to the apartment +which was assigned them as a dressing-room. The intensity of feeling +that was gradually accumulating in the breasts of the ladies, as +circumstances brought those in whom their deepest interests were centred +into situations of extreme delicacy, if not of actual danger, perhaps, +in some measure, prevented them from experiencing all that concern which +the detection and arrest of Merry might be supposed to excite. The boy, +like themselves, was an only child of one of those three sisters, who +caused the close connection of so many of our characters; and his tender +years had led his cousins to regard him with an affection that exceeded +the ordinary interest of such an affinity; but they knew that in the +hands of Colonel Howard his person was safe, though his liberty might +be endangered. When the first emotions, therefore, which were created +by his sudden appearance after so long an absence had subsided, their +thoughts were rather occupied by the consideration of what consequences, +to others, might proceed from his arrest, than by any reflections on +the midshipman's actual condition. Secluded from the observations of +any strange eyes, the two maidens indulged their feelings, without +restraint, according to their several temperaments. Katherine moved to +and fro in the apartment, with feverish anxiety, while Miss Howard, +by concealing her countenance under the ringlets of her luxuriant dark +hair, and shading her eyes with a fair hand, seemed to be willing to +commune with her thoughts more quietly. + +"Barnstable cannot be far distant," said the former, after a few minutes +had passed; "for he never would have sent that child on such an errand, +by himself!" + +Cecilia raised her mild blue eyes to the countenance of her cousin, as +she answered: + +"All thoughts of an exchange must now be abandoned; and perhaps the +persons of the prisoners will be held as pledges, to answer for the life +of Dillon." + +"Can the wretch be dead? or is it merely a threat, or some device of +that urchin? He is a forward child, and would not hesitate to speak and +act boldly, on emergency." + +"He is dead!" returned Cecilia, veiling her face again in horror; "the +eyes of the boy, his whole countenance, confirmed his words! I fear, +Katherine, that Mr. Barnstable has suffered his resentment to overcome +his discretion, when he learned the treachery of Dillon; surely, surely, +through the hard usages of war may justify so dreadful a revenge on an +enemy, it was unkind to forget the condition of his own friends!" + +"Mr. Barnstable has done neither, Miss Howard," said Katherine, +checking her uneasy footsteps, her light form swelling with pride; "Mr. +Barnstable is equally incapable of murdering an enemy or of deserting a +friend!" + +"But retaliation is neither deemed nor called murder, by men in arms." + +"Think it what you will, call it what you will, Cecilia Howard, I will +pledge my life, that Richard Barnstable has to answer for the blood of +none but the open enemies of his country." + +"The miserable man may have fallen a sacrifice to the anger of that +terrific seaman, who led him hence as a captive!" + +"That terrific seaman, Miss Howard, has a heart as tender as your own. +He is----" + +"Nay, Katherine," interrupted Cecilia, "you chide me unkindly; let us +not add to our unavoidable misery, by such harsh contention." + +"I do not contend with you, Cecilia; I merely defend the absent and the +innocent from your unkind suspicions, my cousin." + +"Say, rather, your sister," returned Miss Howard, their hands +involuntarily closing upon each other, "for we are surely sisters! But +let us strive to think of something less horrible. Poor, poor Dillon! +now that he has met a fate so terrible, I can even fancy him less artful +and more upright than we had thought him! You agree with me, Katherine, +I see by your countenance, and we will dwell no longer on the +subject.--Katherine! my cousin Kate, what see you?" + +Miss Plowden, as she relinquished her pressure of the hand of Cecilia, +had renewed her walk with a more regulated step; but she was yet making +her first turn across the room, when her eyes became keenly set on the +opposite window, and her whole frame was held in an attitude of absorbed +attention. The rays of the setting sun fell bright upon her dark +glances, which seemed fastened on some distant object, and gave an +additional glow to the mantling color that was slowly stealing, across +her cheeks, to her temples. Such a sudden alteration in the manner and +appearance of her companion had not failed to catch the attention +of Cecilia, who, in consequence, interrupted herself by the agitated +question we have related. Katherine slowly beckoned her companion to her +side, and, pointing in the direction of the wood that lay in view, she +said: + +"See yon tower, in the ruin! Do you observe those small spots of pink +and yellow that are fluttering above its walls?" + +"I do. They are the lingering remnants of the foliage of some tree; +but they want the vivid tints which grace the autumn of our own dear +America!" + +"One is the work of God, and the other has been produced by the art of +man. Cecilia, those are no leaves, but they are my own childish signals, +and without doubt Barnstable himself is on that ruined tower. Merry +cannot, will not, betray him!" + +"My life should be a pledge for the honor of our little cousin," said +Cecilia. "But you have the telescope of my uncle at hand, ready for such +an event! one look through it will ascertain the truth--" + +Katherine sprang to the spot where the instrument stood, and with eager +hands she prepared it for the necessary observation. + +"It is he!" she cried, the instant her eye was put to the glass. "I +even see his head above the stones. How unthinking to expose himself so +unnecessarily!" + +"But what says he, Katherine?" exclaimed Cecilia; "you alone can +interpret his meaning." + +The little book which contained the explanations of Miss Plowden's +signals was now hastily produced, and its leaves rapidly run over in +quest of the necessary number. + +"Tis only a question to gain my attention. I must let him know he is +observed." + +When Katherine, as much to indulge her secret propensities as with any +hope of its usefulness, had devised this plan for communicating with +Barnstable, she had, luckily, not forgotten to arrange the necessary +means to reply to his interrogatories. A very simple arrangement of some +of the ornamental cords of the window-curtains enabled her to effect +this purpose; and her nimble fingers soon fastened the pieces of silk +to the lines, which were now thrown into the air, when these signals in +miniature were instantly displayed in the breeze. + +"He sees them!" cried Cecilia, "and is preparing to change his flags." + +"Keep then your eye on him, my cousin, and tell me the colors that he +shows, with their order, and I will endeavor to read his meaning." + +"He is as expert as yourself! There are two more of them fluttering +above the stones again: the upper is white, and the lower black." + +"White over black," repeated Katherine, rapidly, to herself, as she +turned the leaves of her book.--"'_My messenger: has he been seen?_'--To +that we must answer the unhappy truth. Here it is--yellow, white, and +red--'_He is a prisoner._' How fortunate that I should have prepared +such a question and answer. What says he, Cecilia, to this news?" + +"He is busy making his changes, dear. Nay, Katherine, you shake so +violently as to move the glass! Now he is done; 'tis yellow over black, +this time." + +"'_Griffith, or who?_' He does not understand us; but I had thought of +the poor boy, in making out the numbers--ah! here it is; yellow, green, +and red--'_My cousin Merry_'--he cannot fail to understand us now." + +"He has already taken in his flags. The news seems to alarm him, for he +is less expert than before. He shows them now--they are green, red, and +yellow." + +"The question is, '_Am I safe?_' 'Tis that which made him tardy, Miss +Howard," continued Katherine. "Barnstable is ever slow to consult his +safety. But how shall I answer him? should we mislead him now, how could +we ever forgive ourselves!" + +"Of Andrew Merry there is no fear," returned Cecilia; "and I think +if Captain Borroughcliffe had any intimation of the proximity of his +enemies, he would not continue at the table." + +"He will stay there while wine will sparkle, and man can swallow," said +Katherine; "but we know, by sad experience, that he is a soldier on an +emergency; and yet, I'll trust to his ignorance this time--here, I have +an answer: '_You are yet safe, but be wary_.'" + +"He reads your meaning with a quick eye, Katherine; and he is ready with +his answer too: he shows green over white, this time. Well! do you not +hear me? 'tis green over white. Why, you are dumb--what says he, dear?" + +Still Katherine answered not, and her cousin raised her eyes from the +glass, and beheld her companion gazing earnestly at the open page, while +the glow which excitement had before brought to her cheek was increased +to a still deeper bloom. + +"I hope your blushes and his signals are not ominous, Kate," added +Cecilia; "can green imply his jealousy, as white does your purity? what +says he, coz?" + +"He talks, like yourself, much nonsense," said Katherine, turning to +her flags, with a pettish air, that was singularly contradicted by her +gratified countenance; "but the situation of things requires that I +should talk to Barnstable more freely." + +"I can retire," said Cecilia, rising from her chair with a grave manner. + +"Nay, Cecilia, I do not deserve these looks--'tis you who exhibit levity +now! But you can perceive for yourself that evening is closing in, +and that some other medium for conversation, besides the eyes, may be +adopted.--Here is a signal, which will answer: _'When the abbey clock +strikes nine, come with care to the wicket, which opens, at the east +side of the paddock, on the road: until then, keep secret.'_ I had +prepared this very signal, in case an interview should be necessary." + +"Well, he sees it," returned Cecilia, who had resumed her place by the +telescope, "and seems disposed to obey you, for I no longer discern his +flags or his person." + +Miss Howard now arose from before the glass, her observations being +ended; but Katherine did not return the instrument to its corner, +without fastening one long and anxious look through it, on what now +appeared to be the deserted tower. The interest and anxiety produced +by this short and imperfect communication between Miss Plowden and +her lover did not fail to excite reflections in both the ladies, +that furnished materials to hold them in earnest discourse, until the +entrance of Alice Dunscombe announced that their presence was expected +below. Even the unsuspecting Alice, on entering, observed a change in +the countenances and demeanor of the two cousins, which betrayed that +their secret conference had not been entirely without contention. The +features of Cecilia were disturbed and anxious, and their expression was +not unlike melancholy; while the dark flashing eye, flushed temples, +and proud, determined step of Katherine exhibited in an equal, if not a +greater degree, a very different emotion. As no reference to the subject +of their conversation was, however, made by either of the young ladies +after the entrance of Alice, she led the way, in silence, to the +drawing-room. + +The ladies were received, by Colonel Howard and Borroughcliffe, with +marked attention. In the former there were moments when a deep gloom +would, in spite of his very obvious exertions to the contrary, steal +over his open, generous countenance; but the recruiting officer +maintained an air of immovable coolness and composure. Twenty times +did he detect the piercing looks of Katherine fastened on him, with an +intentness that a less deliberative man might have had the vanity to +misinterpret; but even this flattering testimonial of his power to +attract failed to disturb his self-possession. It was in vain that +Katherine endeavored to read his countenance, where everything was fixed +in military rigidity, though his deportment appeared more than usually +easy and natural. Tired at length with her fruitless scrutiny, the +excited girl turned her gaze upon the clock: to her amazement, she +discovered that it was on the stroke of nine, and, disregarding a +deprecating glance from her cousin, she arose and quitted the apartment. +Borroughcliffe opened the door for her exit, and, while the lady civilly +bowed her head in acknowledgment of his attention, their eyes once +more met; but she glided quickly by him, and found herself alone in the +gallery. Katherine hesitated, more than a minute, to proceed, for she +thought she had detected in that glance a lurking expression, that +manifested conscious security mingled with secret design. It was not +her nature, however, to hesitate, when circumstances required that she +should be both prompt and alert; and, throwing over her slight person +a large cloak, that was in readiness for the occasion, she stole warily +from the building. + +Although Katherine suspected most painfully that Borroughcliffe had +received intelligence that might prove dangerous to her lover, she +looked around her in vain, on gaining the open air, to discover any +alteration in the arrangements for the defence of the abbey, which might +confirm her suspicions, or the knowledge of which might enable her to +instruct Barnstable how to avoid the secret danger. Every disposition +remained as it had been since the capture of Griffith and his companion. +She heard the heavy, quick steps of the sentinel, who was posted beneath +their windows, endeavoring to warm himself on his confined post; and as +she paused to listen, she also detected the rattling of arms from the +soldier who, as usual, guarded the approach of that part of the building +where his comrades were quartered. The night had set in cloudy and dark, +although the gale had greatly subsided towards the close of the day; +still the wind swept heavily, and, at moments, with a rushing noise, +among the irregular walls of the edifice; and it required the utmost +nicety of ear to distinguish even these well-known sounds, among such +accompaniments. When Katherine, however, was satisfied that her organs +had not deceived her, she turned an anxious eye in the direction of +what Borroughcliffe called his "barracks." Everything in that direction +appeared so dark and still as to create a sensation of uneasiness, by +its very quiet. It might be the silence of sleep that now pervaded the +ordinarily gay and mirthful apartment! or it might be the stillness of a +fearful preparation! There was no time, however, for further hesitation, +and Katherine drew her cloak more closely about her form, and proceeded +with light and guarded steps to the appointed spot. As she approached +the wicket the clock struck the hour, and she again paused, while the +mournful sounds were borne by her on the wind, as if expecting that each +stroke on the bell would prove a signal to unmask some secret design of +Borroughcliffe. As the last vibration melted away, she opened the little +gate, and issued on the highway. The figure of a man sprang forward from +behind an angle of the wall, as she appeared; and while her heart was +still throbbing with the suddenness of the alarm, she found herself in +the arms of Barnstable. After the first few words of recognition and +pleasure which the young sailor uttered, he acquainted his mistress with +the loss of his schooner, and the situation of the survivors. + +"And now, Katherine," he concluded, "you have come, I trust, never to +quit me; or, at most, to return no more to that old abbey, unless it be +to aid in liberating Griffith, and then to join me again forever." + +"Why, truly, there is so much to tempt a young woman to renounce +her home and friends, in the description you have just given of your +condition, that I hardly know how to refuse your request, Barnstable. +You are very tolerably provided with a dwelling in the ruin; and +I suppose certain predatory schemes are to be adopted to make it +habitable! St. Ruth is certainly well supplied with the necessary +articles, but whether we should not be shortly removed to the Castle +at York, or the jail at Newcastle, is a question that I put to your +discretion." + +"Why yield your thoughts to such silly subjects, lovely trifler!" +said Barnstable, "when the time and the occasion both urge us to be in +earnest?" + +"It is a woman's province to be thrifty, and to look after the comforts +of domestic life," returned his mistress; "and I would discharge my +functions with credit. But I feel you are vexed, for to see your dark +countenance is out of the question, on such a night. When do you propose +to commence housekeeping, if I should yield to your proposals?" + +"I have not concluded relating my plans, and your provoking wit annoys +me! The vessel I have taken will unquestionably come into the land, as +the gale dies; and I intend making my escape in her, after beating this +Englishman, and securing the liberty of Miss Howard and yourself. I +could see the frigate in the offing, even before we left the cliffs." + +"This certainly sounds better!" rejoined Katherine, in a manner that +indicated she was musing on their prospects; "and yet there may exist +some difficulties in the way that you little suspect." + +"Difficulties there are none--there can be none." + +"Speak not irreverently of the mazes of love, Mr. Barnstable. When +was it ever known to exist unfettered or unembarrassed? Even I have an +explanation to ask of you, that I would much rather let alone. + +"Of me! ask what you will, or how you will; I am a careless, unthinking +fellow, Miss Plowden; but to you I have little to answer for--unless a +foolish sort of adoration be an offence against your merits." + +Barnstable felt the little hand that was supported on his arm, pressing +the limb, as Katharine replied, in a tone so changed from its former +forced levity, that he started as the first sounds reached his ears. +"Merry has brought in a horrid report!" she said; "I would I could +believe it untrue! but the looks of the boy, and the absence of Dillon, +both confirm it." + +"Poor Merry! he too has fallen into the trap! but they shall yet find +one who is too cunning for them. Is it to the fate of that wretched +Dillon that you allude?" + +"He _was_ a wretch," continued Katherine, in the same voice, "and he +deserved much punishment at your hands, Barnstable; but life is the gift +of God, and is not to be taken whenever human vengeance would appear to +require a victim." + +"His life was taken by Him who bestowed it," said the sailor. "Is it +Katherine Plowden who would suspect me of the deed of a dastard!" + +"I do not suspect you--I did not suspect you," cried Katherine; "I will +never suspect any evil of you again. You are not, you cannot be angry +with me, Barnstable? Had you heard the cruel suspicions of my cousin +Cecilia, and had your imagination been busy in portraying your wrongs +and the temptations to forget mercy, like mine, even while my tongue +denied your agency in the suspected deed, you would--you would at least +have learned how much easier it is to defend those we love against the +open attacks of others, than against our own jealous feelings." + +"Those words, love and jealousy, will obtain your acquittal," cried +Barnstable, in his natural voice; and, after uttering a few more +consoling assurances to Katherine, whose excited feelings found vent in +tears, he briefly related the manner of Dillon's death. + +"I had hoped I stood higher in the estimation of Miss Howard than to +be subjected to even her suspicions," he said, when he had ended his +explanation. "Griffith has been but a sorry representative of our trade, +if he has left such an opinion of its pursuits." + +"I do not know that Mr. Griffith would altogether have escaped my +conjectures, had he been the disappointed commander, and you the +prisoner," returned Katherine; "you know not how much we have both +studied the usages of war, and with what dreadful pictures of hostages, +retaliations, and military executions our minds are stored! but a +mountain is raised off my spirits, and I could almost say that I am now +ready to descend the valley of life in your company." + +"It is a discreet determination, my good Katherine, and God bless you +for it; the companion may not be so good as you deserve, but you will +find him ambitious of your praise. Now let us devise means to effect our +object." + +"Therein lies another of my difficulties. Griffith, I much fear, will +not urge Cecilia to another flight, against her--her--what shall I call +it, Barnstable--her caprice, or her judgment? Cecilia will never consent +to desert her uncle, and I cannot muster the courage to abandon my poor +cousin, in the face of the world, in order to take shelter with even Mr. +Richard Barnstable!" + +"Speak you from the heart now, Katherine?" + +"Very nearly--if not exactly." + +"Then have I been cruelly deceived! It is easier to find a path in the +trackless ocean, without chart or compass, than to know the windings of +a woman's heart!" + +"Nay, nay, foolish man; you forget that I am but small, and how very +near my head is to my heart; too nigh, I fear, for the discretion of +their mistress! but is there no method of forcing Griffith and Cecilia +to their own good, without undue violence?" + +"It cannot be done; he is my senior in rank, and the instant I release +him he will claim the command. A question might be raised, at a leisure +moment, on the merits of such a claim--but even my own men are, as you +know, nothing but a draft from the frigate, and they would not hesitate +to obey the orders of the first lieutenant, who is not a man to trifle +on matters of duty." + +"Tis vexatious, truly," said Katherine, "that all my well-concerted +schemes in behalf of this wayward pair should be frustrated by their own +willful conduct! But after all, have you justly estimated your strength, +Barnstable? are you certain that you would be successful, and that +without hazard, too, if you should make the attempt?" + +"Morally, and what is better, physically certain. My men are closely +hid, where no one suspects an enemy to lie; they are anxious for the +enterprise, and the suddenness of the attack will not only make the +victory sure, but it will be rendered bloodless. You will aid us in our +entrance, Katherine; I shall first secure this recruiting officer, and +his command will then surrender without striking a blow. Perhaps, +after all, Griffith will hear reason; if he do not, I will not yield my +authority to a released captive, without a struggle." + +"God send that there shall be no fighting!" murmured his companion, +a little appalled at the images his language had raised before her +imagination; "and, Barnstable, I enjoin you, most solemnly, by all your +affection for me, and by everything you deem most sacred, to protect the +person of Colonel Howard at every hazard. There must be no excuse, no +pretence, for even an insult to my passionate, good, obstinate, but kind +old guardian. I believe I have given him already more trouble than I am +entitled to give any one, and Heaven forbid that I should cause him any +serious misfortune!" + +"He shall be safe, and not only he, but all that are with him, as you +will perceive, Katherine, when you hear my plan. Three hours shall +not pass over my head before you will see me master of that old abbey. +Griffith, ay, Griffith, must be content to be my inferior, until we get +afloat again." + +"Attempt nothing unless you feel certain of being able to maintain +your advantage, not only against your enemies, but also against your +friends," said the anxious Katherine. "Rely on it, both Cecilia and +Griffith are refining so much on their feelings, that neither will be +your ally." + +"This comes of passing the four best years of his life within walls of +brick, poring over Latin grammars and syntaxes, and such other nonsense, +when he should have been rolling them away in a good box of live-oak, +and studying, at most, how to sum up his day's work, and tell where his +ship lies after a blow. Your college learning may answer well enough for +a man who has to live by his wits, but it can be of little use to +one who is never afraid to read human nature, by looking his +fellow-creatures full in the face, and whose hand is as ready as his +tongue. I have generally found the eye that was good at Latin was dull +at a compass, or in a night squall: and yet, Griff is a seaman; though +I have heard him even read the Testament in Greek! Thank God, I had the +wisdom to run away from school the second day they undertook to teach me +a strange tongue, and I believe I am the more honest man, and the better +seaman, for my ignorance!" + +"There is no telling what you might have been, Barnstable, under other +circumstances," retorted his mistress, with a playfulness of manner that +she could not always repress, though it was indulged at the expense of +him she most loved; "I doubt not but, under proper training, you would +have made a reasonably good priest." + +"If you talk of priests, Katherine, I shall remind you that we carry one +in the ship. But listen to my plan: we may talk further of priestcraft +when an opportunity may offer." + +Barnstable then proceeded to lay before his mistress a project he had +formed for surprising the abbey that night, which was so feasible that +Katharine, notwithstanding her recent suspicions of Borroughcliffe's +designs, came gradually to believe it would succeed. The young seaman +answered her objections with the readiness of an ardent mind, bent on +executing its purposes, and with a fertility of resources that proved he +was no contemptible enemy, in matters that required spirited action. +Of Merry's remaining firm and faithful he had no doubt; and although he +acknowledged the escape of the peddler boy, he urged that the lad had +seen no other of his party besides himself, whom he mistook for a common +marauder. + +As the disclosure of these plans was frequently interrupted by little +digressions, connected with the peculiar motions of the lovers, more +than an hour flew by, before they separated. But Katherine at length +reminded him how swiftly the time was passing, and how much remained to +be done, when he reluctantly consented to see her once more through the +wicket, where they parted. + +Miss Plowden adopted the same precaution in returning to the house +she had used on leaving it; and she was congratulating herself on its +success, when her eye caught a glimpse of the figure of a man, who was +apparently following at some little distance, in her footsteps, and +dogging her motions. As the obscure form, however, paused also when she +stopped to give it an alarmed, though inquiring look, and then slowly +retired towards the boundary of the paddock, Katherine, believing it to +be Barnstable watching over her safety, entered the abbey, with every +idea of alarm entirely lost in the pleasing reflection of her lover's +solicitude. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + "He looks abroad, and soon appears, + O'er Horncliffe-hill, a plump of spears, + Beneath a pennon gay." + _Marmion._ + + +The sharp sounds of the supper-bell were ringing along the gallery, as +Miss Plowden gained the gloomy passage; and she quickened her steps to +join the ladies, in order that no further suspicions might be excited +by her absence.--Alice Dunscombe was already proceeding to the dining +parlor, as Katherine passed through the door of the drawing-room; but +Miss Howard had loitered behind, and was met by her cousin alone. + +"You have then been so daring as to venture, Katherine!" exclaimed +Cecilia. + +"I have," returned the other, throwing herself into a chair, to recover +her agitation--"I have, Cecilia; and I have met Barnstable, who will +soon be in the abbey, and its master." + +The blood which had rushed to the face of Cecilia on first seeing +her cousin now retreated to her heart, leaving every part of her fine +countenance of the whiteness of her polished temples, as she said: + +"And we are to have a night of blood!" + +"We are to have a night of freedom, Miss Howard; freedom to you, and to +me: to Andrew Merry, to Griffith and to his companion!" + +"What freedom more than we now enjoy Katherine, is needed by two young +women? Think you I can remain silent, and see my uncle betrayed before +my eyes? his life perhaps endangered!" + +"Your own life and person will not be held more sacred, Cecilia Howard, +than that of your uncle. If you will condemn Griffith to a prison, +and perhaps to a gibbet, betray Barnstable, as you have threatened--an +opportunity will not be wanting at the supper-table, whither I shall +lead the way, since the mistress of the house appears to forget her +duty." + +Katharine arose, and with a firm step and proud eye she moved along the +gallery to the room where their presence was expected by the rest of +the family. Cecilia followed in silence, and the whole party immediately +took their several places at the board. + +The first few minutes were passed in the usual attentions of the +gentlemen to the ladies, and the ordinary civilities of the table; +during which Katherine had so far regained the equanimity of her +feelings, as to commence a watchful scrutiny of the manners and looks +of her guardian and Borroughcliffe, in which she determined to persevere +until the eventful hour when she was to expect Barnstable should arrive. +Colonel Howard had, however, so far got the command of himself, as no +longer to betray his former abstraction. In its place Katherine +fancied, at moments, that she could discover a settled look of conscious +security, mingled a little with an expression of severe determination; +such as, in her earlier days, she had learned to dread as sure +indications of the indignant, but upright, justice of an honorable mind. +Borroughcliffe, on the other hand, was cool, polite, and as attentive +to the viands as usual, with the alarming exception of discovering much +less devotion to the Pride of the Vineyards than he commonly manifested +on such occasions. In this manner the meal passed by, and the cloth +was removed, though the ladies appeared willing to retain their places +longer than was customary. Colonel Howard, filling up the glasses +of Alice Dunscombe and himself, passed the bottle to the recruiting +officer, and, with a sort of effort that was intended to rouse the +dormant cheerfulness of his guests, cried: + +"Come Borroughcliffe, the ruby lips of your neighbors would be still +more beautiful, were they moistened with this rich cordial, and that, +too, accompanied by some loyal sentiment. Miss Alice is ever ready to +express her fealty to her sovereign; in her name, I can give the health +of his most sacred majesty, with defeat and death to all traitors!" + +"If the prayers of an humble subject, and one of a sex that has but +little need to mingle in the turmoil of the world, and that has less +right to pretend to understand the subtleties of statesmen, can much +avail a high and mighty prince like him who sits on the throne, then +will he never know temporal evil," returned Alice, meekly; "but I cannot +wish death to any one, not even to my enemies, if any I have, and much +less to a people who are the children of the same family with myself." + +"Children of the same family!" the colonel repeated, slowly, and with a +bitterness of manner that did not fail to attract the painful interest +of Katherine: "children of the same family! Ay! even as Absalom was the +child of David, or as Judas was of the family of the holy Apostles! But +let it pass unpledged--let it pass. The accursed spirit of rebellion +has invaded my dwelling, and I no longer know where to find one of my +household that has not been assailed by its malign influence!" + +"Assailed I may have been among others," returned Alice; "but not +corrupted, if purity, in this instance, consists in loyalty--" + +"What sound is that?" interrupted the colonel, with startling +suddenness. "Was it not the crash of some violence, Captain +Borroughcliffe?" + +"It may have been one of my rascals who has met with a downfall in +passing from the festive board--where you know I regale them to-night, +in honor of our success--to his blanket," returned the captain, with +admirable indifference; "or it may be the very spirit of whom you have +spoken so freely, my host, that has taken umbrage at your remarks, and +is passing from the hospitable walls of St. Ruth into the open air, +without submitting to the small trouble of ascertaining the position of +doors. In the latter case there may be some dozen perches or so of wall +to replace in the morning." + +The colonel, who had risen, glanced his eyes uneasily from the speaker +to the door, and was evidently but little disposed to enter into the +pleasantry of his guest. + +"There are unusual noises, Captain Borroughcliffe, in the grounds of +the abbey, if not in the building itself," he said advancing with a fine +military air from the table to the centre of the room, "and as master +of the mansion I will inquire who it is that thus unseasonably disturbs +these domains. If as friends, they shall have welcome, though their +visit be unexpected; and if enemies, they shall also meet with such a +reception as will become an old soldier!" + +"No, no," cried Cecilia, entirely thrown off her guard by the manner +and language of the veteran and rushing into his arms. "Go not out, my +uncle; go not into the terrible fray, my kind, my good uncle! you +are old, you have already done more than your duty; why should you be +exposed to danger?" + +"The girl is mad with terror, Borroughcliffe," cried the colonel, +bending his glistening eyes fondly on his niece, "and you will have to +furnish my good-for-nothing, gouty old person with a corporal's guard, +to watch my nightcap, or the silly child will have an uneasy pillow, +till the sun rises once more. But you do not stir, sir?" + +"Why should I?" cried the captain; "Miss Plowden yet deigns to keep me +company, and it is not in the nature of one of the --th to desert his +bottle and his standard at the same moment. For, to a true soldier, the +smiles of a lady are as imposing in the parlor as the presence of his +colors in the field." + +"I continue undisturbed, Captain Borroughcliffe," said Katherine, +"because I have not been an inhabitant, for so many months, of St. Ruth, +and not learned to know the tunes which the wind can play among its +chimneys and pointed roofs. The noise which has taken Colonel Howard +from his seat, and which has so unnecessarily alarmed my cousin Cicely, +is nothing but the Ćolian harp of the abbey sounding a double bass." + +The captain fastened on her composed countenance, while she was +speaking, a look of open admiration, that brought, though tardily, +the color more deeply to her cheeks: and he answered with something +extremely equivocal, both in his emphasis and his air: + +"I have avowed my allegiance, and I will abide by it. So long as Miss +Plowden will deign to bestow her company, so long will she find me among +her most faithful and persevering attendants, come who may, or what +will." + +"You compel me to retire," returned Katherine, rising, "whatever may +have been my gracious intentions in the matter; for even female vanity +must crimson, at an adoration so profound as that which can chain +Captain Borroughcliffe to a supper-table! As your alarm has now +dissipated, my cousin, will you lead the way? Miss Alice and myself +attend you." + +"But not into the paddock, surely, Miss Plowden," said the captain; +"the door, the key of which you have just turned, communicates with the +vestibule. This is the passage to the drawing-room." + +The lady faintly laughed, as if in derision of her own forgetfulness, +while she bowed her acknowledgment, and moved towards the proper +passage: she observed: + +"The madness of fear has assailed some, I believe, who have been able to +affect a better disguise than Miss Howard." + +"Is it the fear of present danger, or of that which is in reserve?" +asked the captain; "but, as you have stipulated so generously in behalf +of my worthy host here, and of one, also, who shall be nameless, because +he has not deserved such a favor at your hands, your safety shall be one +of my especial duties in these times of peril." + +"There is peril, then!" exclaimed Cecilia; "your looks announce it. +Captain Borroughcliffe! The changing countenance of my cousin tells me +that my fears are too true!" + +The soldier had now risen also, and, casting aside the air of badinage, +which he so much delighted in, he came forward into the centre of the +apartment, with the manner of one who felt it was time to be serious. + +"A soldier is ever in peril, when the enemies of his king are at hand, +Miss Howard," he answered: "and that such is now the case, Miss +Plowden can testify, if she will. But you are the allies of both +parties--retire, then, to your own apartments, and await the result of +the struggle which is at hand." + +"You speak of danger and hidden perils," said Alice Dunscombe; "know ye +aught that justifies your fears?" + +"I know all," Borroughcliffe coolly replied. + +"All!" exclaimed Katherine. + +"All!" echoed Alice, in tones of horror, "If, then, you know all, you +must know his desperate courage, and powerful hand, when opposed--yield +in quiet, and he will not harm ye. Believe me, believe one who knows +his very nature, that no lamb can be more gentle than he would be with +unresisting women; nor any lion more fierce, with his enemies!" + +"As we happen not to be of the feminine gender," returned +Borroughcliffe, with an air somewhat splenetic, "we must abide the fury +of the king of beasts. His paw is, even now, at the outer door; and, if +my orders have been obeyed, his entrance will be yet easier than that +of the wolf to the respectable female ancestor of the little +Red-riding-hood." + +"Stay your hand for one single moment!" said Katherine, breathless with +interest; "you are the master of my secret, Captain Borroughcliffe, and +bloodshed may be the consequence. I can yet go forward, and, perhaps, +save many inestimable lives. Pledge to me your honor, that they who come +hither as your enemies, this night, shall depart in peace, and I will +pledge to you my life for the safety of the abbey." + +"Oh! hear her, and shed not human blood!" cried Cecilla. + +A loud crash interrupted further speech, and the sounds of heavy +footsteps were heard in the adjoining room, as if many men were +alighting on its floor, in quick succession. Borroughcliffe drew back, +with great coolness, to the opposite side of the large apartment, and +took a sheathed sword from the table where it had been placed; at the +same moment the door was burst open, and Barnstable entered alone, but +heavily armed. + +"You are my prisoners, gentlemen," said the sailor, as he advanced; +"resistance is useless, and without it you shall receive favor. Ha, Miss +Plowden! my advice was that you should not be present at this scene." + +"Barnstable, we are betrayed!" cried the agitated Katherine. "But it +is not yet too late. Blood has not yet been spilt, and you can retire, +without that dreadful alternative, with honor. Go, then, delay not +another moment; for should the soldiers of Captain Borroughcliffe come +to the rescue of their commander, the abbey would be a scene of horror!" + +"Go you away; go, Katherine," said her lover, with impatience; "this is +no place for such as you. But, Captain Borroughcliffe, if such be your +name, you must perceive that resistance is in vain. I have ten good +pikes in this outer room, in twenty better hands, and it will be madness +to fight against such odds." + +"Show me your strength," said the captain, "that I may take counsel with +mine honor." + +"Your honor shall be appeased, my brave soldier, for such is your +bearing, though your livery is my aversion, and your cause most unholy! +Heave ahead, boys! but hold your hands for orders." + +The party of fierce-looking sailors whom Barnstable led, on receiving +this order, rushed into the room in a medley; but, notwithstanding the +surly glances, and savage characters of their dress and equipments, they +struck no blow, nor committed any act of hostility. The ladies shrank +back appalled, as this terrific little band took possession of the hall; +and even Borroughcliffe was seen to fall back towards a door which, in +some measure, covered his retreat. The confusion of this sudden +movement had not yet subsided, when sounds of strife were heard rapidly +approaching from a distant part of the building, and presently one of +the numerous doors of the apartment was violently opened, when two of +the garrison of the abbey rushed into the hall, vigorously pressed by +twice their number of seamen, seconded by Griffith, Manual, and Merry, +who were armed with such weapons of offence as had presented themselves +to their hands, at their unexpected liberation. There was a movement on +the part of the seamen who were already in possession of the room, that +threatened instant death to the fugitives; but Barnstable beat down +their pikes with his sword, and sternly ordered them to fall back. +Surprise produced the same pacific result among the combatants; and as +the soldiers hastily sought a refuge behind their own officers, and +the released captives, with their liberators, joined the body of their +friends, the quiet of the hall, which had been so rudely interrupted, +was soon restored. + +"You see, sir," said Barnstable, after grasping the hands of Griffith +and Manual in a warm and cordial pressure, "that all my plans have +succeeded. Your sleeping guard are closely watched in their barracks +by one party; our officers are released and your sentinels cut off by +another; while, with a third, I hold the centre of the abbey, and am, +substantially, in possession of your own person. In consideration, +therefore, of what is due to humanity, and to the presence of these +ladies, let there be no struggle! I shall impose no difficult terms, nor +any long imprisonment." + +The recruiting officer manifested a composure throughout the whole scene +that would have excited some uneasiness in his invaders, had there been +opportunity for minute observation; but his countenance now gradually +assumed an appearance of anxiety, and his head was frequently turned, as +if listening for further and more important interruptions. He answered, +however, to this appeal with his ordinary deliberation. + +"You speak of conquests, sir, before they are achieved. My venerable +host and myself are not so defenceless as you may chose to imagine." +While speaking he threw aside the cloth of a side table, from beneath +which the colonel and himself were instantly armed with a brace of +pistols each. "Here are the death-warrants of four of your party, and +these brave fellows at my back can account for two more. I believe, my +transatlantic warrior, that we are now something in the condition +of Cortes and the Mexicans, when the former overran part of your +continent--I being Cortes, armed with artificial thunder and lightning, +and you the Indians, with nothing but your pikes and sling, and such +other antediluvian inventions. Shipwrecks and seawater are fatal dampers +of gunpowder!" + +"That we are unprovided with firearms, I will not deny," said +Barnstable; "but we are men who are used, from infancy, to depend on our +good right arms for life and safety, and we know how to use them, though +we should even grapple with death! As for the trifles in your hands, +gentlemen, you are not to suppose that men who are trained to look in at +one end of a thirty-two pounder, loaded with grape, while the match is +put to the other, will so much as wink at their report, though you +fired them by fifties. What say you, boys, is a pistol a weapon to repel +boarders?" + +The discordant and disdainful laughs that burst from the restrained +seamen were a sufficient pledge of their indifference to so trifling +a danger. Borroughcliffe noted their hardened boldness, and taking the +supper bell, which was lying near him, he rang it, for a minute, with +great violence. The heavy tread of trained footsteps soon followed this +extraordinary summons; and presently the several doors of the apartment +were opened, and filled with armed soldiers, wearing the livery of the +English crown. + +"If you hold these smaller weapons in such vast contempt," said the +recruiting officer, when he perceived that his men had possessed +themselves of all the avenues, "it is in my power to try the virtue of +some more formidable. After this exhibition of my strength, gentlemen, I +presume you cannot hesitate to submit as prisoners of war." + +The seamen had been formed in something like military array, by the +assiduity of Manual, during the preceding dialogue; and as the different +doors had discovered fresh accessions to the strength of the enemy, +the marine industriously offered new fronts, until the small party +was completely arranged in a hollow square, that might have proved +formidable in a charge, bristled as it was with the deadly pikes of the +Ariel. + +"Here has been some mistake," said Griffith, after glancing his eye +at the formidable array of the soldiers; "I take precedence of Mr. +Barnstable, and I shall propose to you, Captain Borroughcliffe, terms +that may remove this scene of strife from the dwelling of Colonel +Howard." + +"The dwelling of Colonel Howard," cried the veteran, "is the dwelling +of his king, or of the meanest servant of the crown! so, Borroughcliffe, +spare not the traitors on my behalf; accept no other terms than such +unconditional submission as is meet to exact from the rebellious +subjects of the anointed of the Lord." + +While Griffith spoke, Barnstable folded his arms, in affected composure, +and glanced his eyes expressively at the shivering Katherine, who, with +her companions, still continued agitated spectators of all that passed, +chained to the spot by their apprehensions; but to this formidable +denunciation of the master of the abbey he deemed proper to reply: + +"Now, by every hope I have of sleeping again on salt water, old +gentleman if it were not for the presence of these three trembling +females, I should feel tempted to dispute, at once, the title of his +majesty. You may make such a covenant as you will with Mr. Griffith, +but if it contain one syllable about submission to your king, or of any +other allegiance than that which I owe to the Continental Congress, and +the State of Massachusetts, you may as well consider the terms violated +at once; for not an article of such an agreement will I consider as +binding on me, or on any that shall choose to follow me as leader." + +"Here are but two leaders, Mr. Barnstable," interrupted the haughty +Griffith; "the one of the enemy, and the other of the arms of America. +Captain Borroughclffe, to you, as the former, I address myself. The +great objects of the contest which now unhappily divides England from +her ancient colonies can be, in no degree, affected by the events of +this night; while, on the other hand, by a rigid adherence to military +notions, much private, evil and deep domestic calamity must follow any +struggle in such a place. We have but to speak, sir, and these rude men, +who already stand impatiently handling their instruments of death, will +aim them at each other's lives; and who can say that he shall be able to +stay their hands when and where he will. I know you to be a soldier, +and that you are not yet to learn how much easier it is to stimulate to +blood than to glut vengeance." + +Borroughcliffe, unused to the admission of violent emotions, and secure +in the superiority of his own party, both in numbers and equipments, +heard him with the coolest composure to the end, and then answered in +his customary manner: + +"I honor your logic, sir. Your premises are indisputable, and the +conclusion most obvious. Commit then these worthy tars to the good +keeping of honest Drill, who will see their famished natures revived by +divers eatables and a due proportion of suitable fluids; while we can +discuss the manner in which you are to return to the colonies, around a +bottle of liquor, which my friend Manual there assures me has come from +the sunny side of the island of Madeira, to be drunk in a bleak corner +of that of Britain. By my palate! but the rascals brighten at the +thought. They know by instinct, sir, that a shipwrecked mariner is a +fitter companion to a ration of beef and a pot of porter than to such +unsightly things as bayonets and boarding-pikes!" + +"Trifle, not unseasonably!" exclaimed the impatient young sailor. "You +have the odds in numbers, but whether it will avail you much in a deadly +struggle of hand to hand, is a question you must put to your prudence: +we stand not here to ask terms, but to grant them. You must be brief, +sir; for the time is wasting while we delay." + +"I have offered to you the means of obtaining, in perfection, the +enjoyment of the three most ancient of the numerous family of the +arts--eating, drinking, and sleeping! What more do you require?" + +"That you order these men, who fill the pass to the outer door, to fall +back and give us room. I would take, in peace, these armed men from +before the eyes of those who are unused to such sights. Before you +oppose this demand, think how easily these hardy fellows could make a +way for themselves, against your divided force." + +"Your companion, the experienced Captain Manual, will tell you that such +a manoeuvre would be very unmilitary with a superior body in your rear!" + +"I have not leisure, sir, for this folly," cried the indignant Griffith. +"Do you refuse us an unmolested retreat from the abbey?" + +"I do." + +Griffith turned with a look of extreme emotion to the ladies, and +beckoned to them to retire, unable to give utterance to his wishes in +words. After a moment of deep silence, however, he once more addressed +Borroughcliffe in the tones of conciliation. + +"If Manual and myself will return to our prisons, and submit to the will +of your government," he said, "can the rest of the party return to the +frigate unmolested?" + +"They cannot," replied the soldier, who, perceiving that the crisis +approached, was gradually losing his artificial deportment in the +interest of the moment. "You, and all others who willingly invade the +peace of these realms, must abide the issue!" + +"Then God protect the innocent and defend the right!" + +"Amen." + +"Give way, villains!" cried Griffith, facing the party that held the +outer door; "give way, or you shall be riddled with our pikes!" + +"Show them your muzzles, men!" shouted Borroughcliffe, "but pull no +trigger till they advance." + +There was an instant of bustle and preparation, in which the rattling +of firearms blended with the suppressed execrations and threats of the +intended combatants; and Cecilia and Katherine had both covered their +faces to veil the horrid sight that was momentarily expected, when +Alice Dunscombe advanced, boldly, between the points of the threatening +weapons, and spoke in a voice that stayed the hands that were already +uplifted. + +"Hear me, men! if men ye be, and not demons, thirsting for each other's +blood; though ye walk abroad in the semblance of Him who died that ye +might be elevated to the rank of angels! Call ye this war? Is this the +glory that is made to warm the hearts of even silly and confiding women? +Is the peace of families to be destroyed to gratify your wicked lust for +conquest, and is life to be taken in vain, in order that ye may boast +of the foul deed in your wicked revels? Fall back, then, ye British +soldiers! if ye be worthy of that name, and give passage to a woman; and +remember that the first shot that is fired will be buried in her bosom!" + +The men, thus enjoined, shrank before her commanding mien, and a way was +made for her exit through that very door which Griffith had, in vain, +solicited might be cleared for himself and party. But Alice, instead +of advancing, appeared to have suddenly lost the use of those faculties +which had already effected so much. Her figure seemed rooted to the spot +where she had spoken, and her eyes were fixed in a Settled gaze, as if +dwelling on some horrid object, While she yet stood in this attitude +of unconscious helplessness, the doorway became again darkened, and the +figure of the Pilot was seen on its threshold, clad, as usual, in the +humble vestments of his profession, but heavily armed with the weapons +of naval war. For an instant, he stood a silent spectator of the scene; +and then advanced calmly, but with searching eyes, into the centre of +the apartment. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + "_Don Pedro_. Welcome, Signior: you are almost come to part almost a fray." + _Much Ado About Nothing._ + + +"Down with your arms, you Englishmen!" said the daring intruder; "and +you, who fight in the cause of sacred liberty, stay your hands, that no +unnecessary blood may flow. Yield yourself, proud Briton, to the power +of the Thirteen Republics!" + +"Ha!" exclaimed Borroughcliffe, grasping a pistol, with an air of +great resolution, "the work thickens--I had not included this man in +my estimate of their numbers. Is he a Samson, that his single arm can +change the face of things so suddenly! Down with your own weapon, you +masquerader! or, at the report of this pistol, your body shall be made a +target for twenty bullets." + +"And thine for a hundred!" returned the Pilot.--"Without there! wind +your call, fellow, and bring in our numbers. We will let this confident +gentleman feel his weakness." + +He had not done speaking, before the shrill whistle of a boatswain +rose gradually on the ears of the listeners, until the sense of hearing +became painfully oppressed by the piercing sounds that rang under +the arched roof of the hall, and penetrated even to the most distant +recesses of the abbey. A tremendous rush of men followed, who drove in +before them the terrified fragment of Borroughcliffe's command, that had +held the vestibule; and the outer room became filled with a dark mass of +human bodies. + +"Let them hear ye, lads!" cried their leader; "the abbey is your own!" + +The roaring of a tempest was not louder than the shout that burst from +his followers, who continued their cheers, peal on peal, until the very +roof of the edifice appeared to tremble with their vibrations. Numerous +dark and shaggy heads were seen moving around the passage; some cased +in the iron-bound caps of the frigate's boarders, and others glittering +with the brazen ornaments of her marine guard. The sight of the latter +did not fail to attract the eye of Manual, who rushed among the throng, +and soon reappeared, followed by a trusty band of his own men, who took +possession of the post held by the soldiers of Borroughcliffe, while the +dialogue was continued between the leaders of the adverse parties. + +Thus far Colonel Howard had yielded to his guest, with a deep reverence +for the principles of military subordination, the functions of a +commander; but, now that affairs appeared to change so materially, he +took on himself the right to question these intruders into his dwelling. + +"By what authority, sir," the colonel demanded, "is it that you dare +thus to invade the castle of a subject of this realm? Do you come backed +by the commission of the lord lieutenant of the county, or has +your warrant the signature of his majesty's secretary for the home +department?" + +"I bear no commission from any quarter," returned the Pilot; "I rank +only an humble follower of the friends of America; and having led these +gentlemen into danger, I have thought it my duty to see them extricated. +They are now safe; and the right to command all that hear me rests with +Mr. Griffith, who is commissioned by the Continental Congress for such +service." + +When he had spoken, he fell back from the position he occupied in the +centre of the room, to one of its sides, where, leaning his body against +the wainscot, he stood a silent observer of what followed. + +"It appears, then, that it is to you, degenerate son of a most worthy +father, that I must repeat my demand," continued the veteran. "By what +right is my dwelling thus rudely assailed? and why is my quiet and the +peace of those I protect so daringly violated?" + +"I might answer you, Colonel Howard, by saying that it is according to +the laws of arms, or rather in retaliation for the thousand evils that +your English troops have inflicted between Maine and Georgia; but I wish +not to increase the unpleasant character of this scene, and I therefore +will tell you that our advantage shall be used with moderation. The +instant that our men can be collected, and our prisoners properly +secured, your dwelling shall be restored to your authority. We are no +freebooters, sir; and you will find it so after our departure. Captain +Manual, draw off your guard into the grounds, and make your dispositions +for a return march to our boats--let the boarders fall back, there! out +with ye! out with ye--tumble out, you boarders!" + +The amicable order of the young lieutenant, which was delivered after +the stern, quick fashion of his profession, operated on the cluster of +dark figures that were grouped around the door like a charm; and as the +men whom Barnstable had led followed their shipmates into the courtyard, +the room was now left to such only as might be termed the gentlemen of +the invading party, and the family of Colonel Howard. + +Barnstable had continued silent since his senior officer had assumed +the command, listening most attentively to each syllable that fell from +either side; but now that so few remained, and the time pressed, he +spoke again: + +"If we are to take boat so soon, Mr. Griffith, it would be seemly that +due preparations should be made to receive the ladies, who are to honor +us with their presence; shall I take that duty on myself?" + +The abrupt proposal produced a universal surprise in his hearers; though +the abashed and conscious expression of Katherine Plowden's features +sufficiently indicated that to her, at least, it was not altogether +unexpected. The long silence that succeeded the question was interrupted +by Colonel Howard. + +"Ye are masters, gentlemen; help yourselves to whatever best suits your +inclinations. My dwelling, my goods, and my wards, are alike at +your disposal--or, perhaps Miss Alice here, good and kind Miss Alice +Dunscombe, may suit the taste of some among ye! Ah! Edward Griffith! +Edward Griffith! little did I ever--" + +"Breathe not that name in levity again, thou scoffer, or even your +years may prove a feeble protection!" said a stern, startling voice from +behind. All eyes turned involuntarily at the unexpected sounds, and +the muscular form of the Pilot was seen resuming its attitude of repose +against the wall, though every fibre of his frame was working with +suppressed passion. + +When the astonished looks of Griffith ceased to dwell on this +extraordinary exhibition of interest in his companion, they were turned +imploringly towards the fair cousins, who still occupied the distant +corner, whither fear had impelled them. + +"I have said that we are not midnight marauders, Colonel Howard," he +replied: "but if any there be here, who will deign to commit themselves +to our keeping, I trust it will not be necessary to say, at this hour, +what will be their reception." + +"We have not time for unnecessary compliments," cried the impatient +Barnstable; "here is Merry, who, by years and blood, is a suitable +assistant for them, in arranging their little baggage--what say you, +urchin, can you play the lady's maid on emergency?" + +"Ay, sir, and better than I acted the peddler boy," cried the gay +youngster; "to have my merry cousin Kate and my good cousin Cicely for +shipmates, I could play our common grandmother! Come, coz, let us +be moving; you will have to allow a little leeway in time, for my +awkwardness." + +"Stand back, young man," said Miss Howard, repulsing his familiar +attempt to take her arm; and then advancing, with a maidenly dignity, +nigher to her guardian, she continued, "I cannot know what stipulations +have been agreed to by my cousin Plowden, in the secret treaty she has +made this night with Mr. Barnstable: this for myself, Colonel Howard, I +would have you credit your brother's child when she says, that to her, +the events of the hour have not been more unexpected than to yourself." + +The veteran gazed at her, for a moment, with an expression of his eye +that denoted reviving tenderness; but gloomy doubts appeared to cross +his mind again, and he shook his head, as he walked proudly away. + +"Nay, then," added Cecilia, her head dropping meekly on her bosom, "I +may be discredited by my uncle, but I cannot be disgraced without some +act of my own." + +She slowly raised her mild countenance again, and bending her eyes on +her lover, she continued, while a rich rush of blood passed over her +fine features: + +"Edward Griffith, I will not, I cannot say how humiliating it is to +think that you can, for an instant, believe I would again forget myself +so much as to wish to desert him whom God has given me for a protector, +for one chosen by my own erring passions. And you, Andrew Merry! Learn +to respect the child of your mother's sister, if not for her own sake, +at least for that of her who watched your cradle!" + +"Here appears to be some mistake." said Barnstable, who participated, +however, in no trifling degree, in the embarrassment of the abashed +boy; "but, like all other mistakes on such subjects, it can be explained +away, I suppose. Mr. Griffith, it remains for you to speak--damn it, +man," he whispered, "you are as dumb as a codfish--I am sure so fine +a woman is worth a little fair-weather talk:--you are muter than a +four-footed beast--even an ass can bray!" + +"We will hasten our departure, Mr. Barnstable," said Griffith, sighing +heavily, and rousing himself, as if from a trance. "These rude sights +cannot but appall the ladies. You will please, sir, to direct the order +of our march to the shore. Captain Manual has charge of our prisoners, +who must all be secured, to answer for an equal number of our own +countrymen." + +"And our countrywomen!" said Barnstable, "are they to be forgotten, in +the selfish recollection of our own security?" + +"With them we have no right to interfere, unless at their request." + +"By heaven! Mr. Griffith, this may smack of learning," cried the other, +"and it may plead bookish authority as its precedent; but let me tell +you, sir, it savors but little of a sailor's love." + +"Is it unworthy of a seaman, and a gentleman, to permit the woman he +calls his mistress to be so, other than in name?" + +"Well, then, Griff, I pity you, from my soul. I would rather have had a +sharp struggle for the happiness that I shall now obtain so easily, than +that you should be thus cruelly disappointed. But you cannot blame me, +my friend, that I avail myself of fortune's favor. Miss Plowden, your +fair hand. Colonel Howard, I return you a thousand thanks for the care +you have taken, hitherto, of this precious charge; and believe me, sir, +that I speak frankly, when I say, that, next to myself, I should choose +to entrust her with you in preference to any man on earth." + +The colonel turned to the speaker, and bowed low, while he answered with +grave courtesy: + +"Sir, you repay my slight services with too much gratitude. If Miss +Katherine Plowden has not become under my guardianship all that her good +father, Captain John Plowden, of the Royal Navy, could have wished a +daughter of his to be, the fault, unquestionably, is to be attributed to +my inability to instruct, and to no inherent quality in the young lady +herself. I will not say, Take her, sir, since you have her in your +possession already, and it would be out of my power to alter the +arrangement; therefore, I can only wish that you may find her as dutiful +as a wife as she has been, hitherto, as a ward and a subject." + +Katherine had yielded her hand, passively, to her lover, and suffered +him to lead her more into the circle than she had before been; but now +she threw off his arm, and shaking aside the dark curls which she had +rather invited to fall in disorder around her brow, she raised her face +and looked proudly up, with an eye that sparkled with the spirit of its +mistress, and a face that grew pale with emotion at each moment, as she +proceeded: + +"Gentlemen, the one may be as ready to receive as the other is to +reject; but has the daughter of John Plowden no voice in this cool +disposal of her person? If her guardian tires of her presence, other +habitations may be found, without inflicting so severe a penalty on this +gentleman as to compel him to provide for her accommodation in a vessel +which must be already straitened for room!" + +She turned, and rejoined her cousin with such an air of maidenly +resentment as a young woman would be apt to discover, who found herself +the subject of matrimonial arrangement without her own feelings being +at all consulted. Barnstable, who knew but little of the windings of +the female heart, or how necessary to his mistress, notwithstanding her +previous declarations, the countenance of Cecilia, was to any decided +and open act in his favor, stood in stupid wonder at her declaration. +He could not conceive that a woman who had already ventured so much in +secret in his behalf, and who had so often avowed her weakness, should +shrink to declare it again at such a crisis, though the eyes of a +universe were on her! He looked from one of the party to the other, and +met in every face an expression of delicate reserve, except in those of +the guardian of his mistress, and of Borroughcliffe. + +The colonel had given a glance of returning favor at her whom he +now conceived to be his repentant ward, while the countenance of the +entrapped captain exhibited a look of droll surprise, blended with the +expression of bitter ferocity it had manifested since the discovery of +his own mishap. + +"Perhaps, sir," said Barnstable, addressing the latter, fiercely, "you +see something amusing about the person of this lady, to divert you thus +unseasonably. We tolerate no such treatment of our women in America!" + +"Nor do we quarrel before ours in England," returned the soldier, +throwing back the fierce glance of the sailor with interest; "but I was +thinking of the revolutions that time can produce; nothing more, I do +assure you. It is not half an hour since I thought myself a most happy +fellow; secure in my plans for overreaching the scheme you had laid +to surprise me; and now I am as miserable a dog as wears a single +epaulette, and has no hope of seeing its fellow!" + +"And in what manner, sir, can this sudden change apply to me?" asked +Katherine, with all her spirit. + +"Certainly not to your perseverance in the project to assist my enemies, +madam," returned the soldier, with affected humility; "nor to your zeal +for their success, or your consummate coolness at the supper-table! But +I find it is time that I should be superannuated--I can no longer serve +my king with credit, and should take to serving my God, like all +other worn-out men of the world! My hearing is surely defective, or a +paddock-wall has a most magical effect in determining sounds!" + +Katherine waited not to hear the close of this sentence, but walked to a +distant part of the room to conceal the burning blushes that covered +her countenance. The manner in which the plans of Barnstable had become +known to his foe was no longer a mystery. Her conscience also reproached +her a little with some unnecessary coquetry, as she remembered that +quite one-half of the dialogue between her lover and herself, under the +shadow of that very wall to which Borroughcliffe alluded, had been on a +subject altogether foreign to contention and tumults. As the feelings of +Barnstable were by no means so sensitive as those of his mistress, and +his thoughts much occupied with the means of attaining his object, he +did not so readily comprehend the indirect allusion of the soldier, but +turned abruptly away to Griffith, and observed with a serious air: + +"I feel it my duty, Mr. Griffith, to suggest that we have standing +instructions to secure all the enemies of America, wherever they may +be found, and to remind you that the States have not hesitated to make +prisoners of females in many instances." + +"Bravo!" cried Borroughcliffe; "if the ladies will not go as your +mistresses, take them as your captives!" + +"'Tis well for you, sir, that you are a captive yourself, or you should +be made to answer for this speech," retorted the irritated Barnstable. +"It is a responsible command, Mr. Griffith, and must not be +disregarded." + +"To your duty, Mr. Barnstable," said Griffith, again rousing from deep +abstraction; "you have your orders, sir; let them be executed promptly." + +"I have also the orders of our common superior, Captain Munson, Mr. +Griffith; and I do assure you, sir, that in making out my instructions +for the Ariel--poor thing! there are no two of her timbers hanging +together--but my instructions were decidedly particular on that head." + +"And my orders now supersede them." + +"But am I justifiable in obeying a verbal order from an inferior, in +direct opposition to a written instruction?" + +Griffith had hitherto manifested in his deportment nothing more than a +cold determination to act, but the blood now flew to every vessel in +his cheeks and forehead, and his dark eyes flashed fire, as he cried +authoritatively: + +"How, sir! do you hesitate to obey?" + +"By heaven, sir, I would dispute the command of the Continental Congress +itself, should they bid me so far to forget my duty to--to--" + +"Add yourself, sir!--Mr. Barnstable, let this be the last of it. To your +duty, sir." + +"My duty calls me here, Mr. Griffith." + +"I must act, then, or be bearded by my own officers. Mr. Merry, direct +Captain Manual to send in a sergeant and a file of marines." + +"Bid him come on himself!" cried Barnstable, maddened to desperation by +his disappointment; "'tis not his whole corps that can disarm me--let +them come on! Hear, there, you Ariels! rally around your captain." + +"The man among them who dares to cross that threshold without my order, +dies," cried Griffith, menacing with a naked hanger the seamen who had +promptly advanced at the call of their old commander. "Yield your sword, +Mr. Barnstable, and spare yourself the disgrace of having it forced from +you by a common soldier." + +"Let me see the dog who dare attempt it!" exclaimed Barnstable, +flourishing his weapon in fierce anger. Griffith had extended his own +arm in the earnestness of his feelings, and their hangers crossed each +other. The clashing of the steel operated on both like the sound of the +clarion on a war-horse, and there were sudden and rapid blows, and as +rapid parries, exchanged between the flashing weapons. + +"Barnstable! Barnstable!" cried Katherine, rushing into his arms, "I +will go with you to the ends of the earth!" + +Cecilia Howard did not speak; but when Griffith recovered his coolness, +he beheld her beautiful form kneeling at his feet, with her pale face +bent imploringly on his own disturbed countenance. The cry of Miss +Plowden had separated the combatants, before an opportunity for shedding +blood had been afforded; but the young men exchanged looks of keen +resentment, notwithstanding the interference of their mistresses. At +this moment Colonel Howard advanced, and raising his niece from her +humble posture, said: + +"This is not a situation for a child of Harry Howard, though she knelt +in the presence, and before the throne, of her sovereign. Behold, my +dear Cecilia, the natural consequences of this rebellion! It scatters +discord in their ranks; and, by its damnable leveling principles, +destroys all distinction of rank among themselves; even these rash boys +know not where obedience is due!" + +"It is due to me," said the Pilot, who now stepped forward among the +agitated group, "and it is time that I enforce it. Mr. Griffith, sheathe +your sword. And you, sir, who have defied the authority of your senior +officer, and have forgotten the obligation of your oath, submit, and +return to your duty." + +Griffith started at the sounds of his calm voice, as if with sudden +recollection; and then, bowing low, he returned the weapon to its +scabbard. But Barnstable still encircled the waist of his mistress with +one arm, while with the other he brandished his hanger, and laughed with +scorn at this extraordinary assumption of authority. + +"And who is this," he cried, "who dare give such an order to me!" + +The eyes of the Pilot flashed with a terrible fire, while a fierce glow +seemed to be creeping over his whole frame, which actually quivered with +passion. But, suppressing this exhibition of his feelings, by a sudden +and powerful effort, he answered in an emphatic manner: + +"One who has a right to order, and who _will_ be obeyed!" + +The extraordinary manner of the speaker contributed as much as his +singular assertion to induce Barnstable, in his surprise, to lower the +point of his weapon, with an air that might easily have been mistaken +for submission. The Pilot fastened his glowing eyes on him, for an +instant, and then turning to the rest of the listeners, he continued +more mildly: + +"It is true that we came not here as marauders, and that our wish is +to do no unnecessary acts of severity to the aged and the helpless. But +this officer of the crown, and this truant American in particular, +are fairly our prisoners; as such, they must be conducted on board our +ship." + +"But the main object of our expedition?" said Griffith. + +"'Tis lost," returned the Pilot, hastily--"'tis sacrificed to more +private feelings; 'tis like a hundred others, ended in disappointment, +and is forgotten, sir, forever. But the interests of the Republics must +not be neglected, Mr. Griffith.--Though we are not madly to endanger +the lives of those gallant fellows, to gain a love-smile from one young +beauty, neither are we to forget the advantages they may have obtained +for us, in order to procure one of approbation from another. This +Colonel Howard will answer well in a bargain with the minions of the +Crown, and may purchase the freedom of some worthy patriot who is +deserving of his liberty. Nay, nay, suppress that haughty look, and turn +that proud eye on any, rather than me; he goes to the frigate, sir, and +that immediately." + +"Then," said Cecilia Howard, timidly approaching the spot where her +uncle stood, a disdainful witness of the dissensions among his captors; +"then will I go with him! He shall never be a resident among his enemies +alone!" + +"It would be more ingenuous, and more worthy of my brother's daughter," +said her uncle, coldly, "if she ascribed her willingness to depart to +its proper motive." Disregarding the look of deep distress with which +Cecilia received this mortifying rejection of her tender attention, the +old man on receiving this order, rushed into the room in a medley; but, +notwithstanding the surly glances, and savage characters of their dress +and equipments, they struck no blow, nor committed any act of hostility. +The ladies shrank back appalled, as this terrific little band took +possession of the hall; and even Borroughcliffe was seen to fall +back towards a door which, in some measure, covered his retreat. The +confusion of this sudden movement had not yet subsided, when sounds +of strife were heard rapidly approaching from a distant part of the +building, and presently one of the numerous doors of the apartment was +violently opened, when two of the garrison of the abbey rushed into the +hall, vigorously pressed by twice their number of seamen, seconded by +Griffith, Manual, and Merry, who were armed with such weapons of +offence as had presented themselves to their hands, at their unexpected +liberation. There was a movement on the part of the seamen who were +already in possession of the room, that threatened instant death to +the fugitives; but Barnstable beat down their pikes with his sword, and +sternly ordered them to fall back. Surprise produced the same pacific +result among the combatants; and as the soldiers hastily sought a +refuge behind their own officers, and the released captives, with their +liberators, joined the body of their friends, the quiet of the hall, +which had been so rudely interrupted, was soon restored. + +"You see, sir," said Barnstable, after grasping the hands of Griffith +and Manual in a warm and cordial pressure, "that all my plans have +succeeded. Your sleeping guard are closely watched in their barracks +by one party; our officers are released and your sentinels cut off by +another; while, with a third, I hold the centre of the abbey, and am, +substantially, in possession of your own person. In consideration, +therefore, of what is due to humanity, and to the presence of these +ladies, let there be no struggle. I shall impose no difficult terms, nor +any long imprisonment." + +The recruiting officer manifested a composure throughout it, and the +latter laughing, and indulging those buoyant spirits that a boy of his +years and reflection might be supposed to feel even in such a scene. +It was fortunate for her cousin that Katherine had possessed so much +forethought; for the attention of Cecilia Howard was directed much more +to the comforts of her uncle than to those which were necessary for +herself. Attended by Alice Dunscombe, the young mistress of St. Ruth +moved through the solitary apartments of the building, listening to +the mild religious consolation of her companion in silence, at times +yielding to those bursts of mortified feeling, that she could not +repress, or again as calmly giving her orders to her maids, as if the +intended movement was one of but ordinary interest. All this time the +party in the dining-hall remained stationary. The Pilot, as if satisfied +with what he had already done, sank back to his reclining attitude +against the wall, though his eyes keenly watched every movement of the +preparations, in a manner which denoted that his was the master spirit +that directed the whole. Griffith had, however, resumed, in appearance, +the command, and the busy seamen addressed themselves for orders to him +alone. In this manner an hour was consumed, when Cecilia and Katherine +appearing in succession attired in a suitable manner for their +departure, and the baggage of the whole party having been already +entrusted to a petty officer and a party of his men, Griffith gave forth +the customary order to put the whole in motion. The shrill, piercing +whistle of the boatswain once more rang among the galleries and ceilings +of the abbey, and was followed by the deep, hoarse cry of: + +"Away, there, you shore-draft! away, there, you boarders! ahead, heave +ahead, sea-dogs!" + +This extraordinary summons was succeeded by the roll of a drum and the +strains of a fife, from without, when the whole party moved from the +building in the order that had been previously prescribed by Captain +Manual, who acted as the marshal of the forces on the occasion. + +The Pilot had conducted his surprise with so much skill and secrecy +as to have secured every individual about the abbey, whether male or +female, soldier or civilian; and as it might be dangerous to leave any +behind who could convey intelligence into the country, Griffith had +ordered that every human being found in the building should be conducted +to the cliffs; to be held in durance at least until the departure of +the last boat to the cutter, which, he was informed, lay close in to +the land, awaiting their re-embarkation. The hurry of the departure had +caused many lights to be kindled in the abbey, and the contrast between +the glare within and the gloom without attracted the wandering looks of +the captives, as they issued into the paddock. One of those indefinable +and unaccountable feelings which so often cross the human mind induced +Cecilia to pause at the great gate of the grounds, and look back at the +abbey, with a presentiment that she was to behold it for the last +time. The dark and ragged outline of the edifice was clearly delineated +against the northern sky, while the open windows and neglected doors +permitted a view of the solitude within. Twenty tapers were shedding +their useless light in the empty apartments, as if in mockery of the +deserted walls; and Cecilia turned shuddering from the sight, to press +nigher to the person of her indignant uncle, with a secret impression +that her presence would soon be more necessary than ever to his +happiness. + +The low hum of voices in front, with the occasional strains of the fife, +and the stern mandates of the sea-officers, soon recalled her, however, +from these visionary thoughts to the surrounding realities, while the +whole party pursued their way with diligence to the margin of the ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + "A chieftain to the Highlands bound + Cries, 'Boatman, do not tarry! + And I'll give thee a silver pound, + To row us o'er the ferry.'" + _Lord Ullin's Daughter_. + + +The sky had been without a cloud during the day, the gale having been +dry and piercing, and thousands of stars were now shining through a +chill atmosphere. As the eye, therefore, became accustomed to the change +of light, it obtained a more distinct view of surrounding objects. At +the head of the line that was stretched along the narrow pathway marched +a platoon of the marines, who maintained the regular and steady front of +trained warriors. They were followed at some little distance by a +large and confused body of seamen, heavily armed, whose disposition +to disorder and rude merriment, which became more violent from their +treading on solid ground, was with difficulty restrained by the presence +and severe rebukes of their own officers. In the centre of this confused +mass the whole of the common prisoners were placed, but were not +otherwise attended to by their nautical guard than as they furnished the +subjects of fun and numberless quaint jokes. At some distance in +their rear marched Colonel Howard and Borroughcliffe, arm in arm, both +maintaining the most rigid and dignified silence, though under the +influence of very bitter feelings. Behind these again, and pressing as +nigh as possible to her uncle, was Miss Howard, leaning on the arm +of Alice Dunscombe, and surrounded by the female domestics of the +establishment of St. Ruth. Katherine Plowden moved lightly, by herself, +in the shadow of this group, with elastic steps but with a maiden +coyness that taught her to veil her satisfaction with the semblance of +captivity. Barnstable watched her movements with delight, within six +feet of her, but submitted to the air of caprice in his mistress, which +seemed to require that he should come no nearer. Griffith, avoiding the +direct line of the party, walked on its skirts in such a situation +that his eye could command its whole extent, in order, if necessary, to +direct the movements. Another body of the marines marched at the close +of the procession, and Manual, in person, brought up the rear. The music +had ceased by command, and nothing was now audible but the regular +tread of the soldiers, with the sighs of the dying gale, interrupted +occasionally by the voice of an officer, or the hum of low dialogue. + +"This has been a Scotch prize that we've taken," muttered a surly old +seaman; "a ship without head-money or cargo! There was kitchen-timber +enough in the old jug of a place to have given an outfit in crockery and +knee-buckles to every lad in the ship; but, no! let a man's mouth water +ever so much for food and raiment, damme, if the officers would give him +leave to steal even so good a thing as a spare Bible." + +"You may say all that, and then make but a short yarn of the truth," +returned the messmate who walked by his side: "if there had been such +a thing as a ready-made prayer handy, they would have choused a poor +fellow out of the use of it.--I say, Ben, I'll tell ye what; it's my +opinion that if a chap is to turn soldier and carry a musket, he should +have soldier's play, and leave to plunder a little--now the devil a +thing have I laid my hands on to-night, except this firelock and my +cutlash--unless you can call this bit of a table-cloth something of a +windfall." + +"Ay! you have fallen in there with a fresh bolt of duck, I see!" said +the other, in manifest admiration of the texture of his companion's +prize--"why, it would spread as broad a clew as our mizzen-royal, if it +was loosened! Well, your luck hasn't been every man's luck--for my part, +I think this here hat was made for some fellow's great toe: I've rigged +it on my head both fore and aft, and athwart-ships; but curse the +inch can I drive it down--I say, Sam! you'll give us a shirt off that +table-cloth?" + +"Ay, ay, you can have one corner of it; or for that matter, ye can take +the full half, Nick; but I don't see that we go off to the ship any +richer than we landed, unless you may muster she-cattle among your +prize-money." + +"No richer!" interrupted a waggish young sailor, who had been hitherto +a silent listener to the conversation between his older and more +calculating shipmates; "I think we are set up for a cruise in them seas +where the day watches last six months; don't you see we have caught a +double allowance of midnight!" + +While speaking, he laid his hands on the bare and woolly heads of +Colonel Howard's two black slaves, who were moving near him, both +occupied in mournful forebodings on the results that were to flow +from this unexpected loss of their liberty. "Slew your faces this way, +gentlemen," he added; "there; don't you think that a sight to put out +the binnacle lamps? there's darkness visible for ye!" + +"Let the niggers alone," grumbled one of the more aged speakers; "what +are ye skylarking with the like of them for? The next thing they'll sing +out, and then you'll hear one of the officers in your wake. For my part, +Nick, I can't see why it is that we keep dodging along shore here, +with less than ten fathoms under us, when, by stretching into the broad +Atlantic, we might fall in with a Jamaicaman every day or two, and have +sugar hogsheads and rum puncheons as plenty aboard us as hard fare is +now." + +"It is all owing to that Pilot," returned the other; "for, d'ye see, +if there was no bottom, there would be no pilots. This is dangerous +cruising-ground, where we stretch into five fathoms, and then drop our +lead on a sand-pit or a rock! Besides, they make night-work of it, too! +If we had daylight for fourteen hours instead of seven, a man might +trust to feeling his way for the other ten." + +"Now, a'n't ye a couple of old horse-marines!" again interrupted the +young sailor; "don't you see that Congress wants us to cut up Johnny +Bull's coasters, and that old Blow-Hard has found the days too short for +his business, and so he has landed a party to get hold of night. Here +we have him! and when we get off to the ship, we shall put him under +hatches, and then you'll see the face of the sun again! Come, my lilies! +let these two gentlemen look into your cabin windows--what? you won't! +Then I must squeeze your woolen nightcaps for ye!" + +The negroes, who had been submitting to his humors with the abject +humility of slavery, now gave certain low intimations that they were +suffering pain, under the rough manipulation of their tormentor. + +"What's that!" cried a stern voice, whose boyish tones seemed to mock +the air of authority that was assumed by the speaker--"who's that, I +say, raising that cry among ye?" + +The willful young man slowly removed his two hands from the woolly polls +of the slaves, but as he suffered them to fall reluctantly along their +sable temples, he gave the ear of one of the blacks a tweak that caused +him to give vent to another cry, that was uttered with a much greater +confidence of sympathy than before. + +"Do ye hear there!" repeated Merry--"who's skylarking with those +negroes?" + +"'Tis no one, sir," the sailor answered with affected gravity; "one of +the palefaces has hit his shin against a cobweb, and it has made his +earache!" + +"Harkye, you Mr. Jack Joker! how came you in the midst of the +prisoners?--Did not I order you to handle your pike, sir, and to keep in +the outer line?" + +"Ay, ay, sir, you did; and I obeyed orders as long as I could; but these +niggers have made the night so dark that I lost my way!" + +A low laugh passed through the confused crowd of seamen; and even the +midshipman might have been indulging himself in a similar manner at this +specimen of quaint humor from the fellow, who was one of those licensed +men that are to be found in every ship. At length: + +"Well, sir," he said, "you have found out your false reckoning now; so +get you back to the place where I bid you stay." + +"Ay, ay, sir, I'm going. By all the blunders in the purser's book, Mr. +Merry, but that cobweb has made one of these niggers shed tears! Do let +me stay to catch a little ink, sir, to write a letter with to my poor +old mother-devil the line has she had from me since we sailed from the +Chesapeake!" + +"If ye don't mind me at once, Mr. Jack Joker, I'll lay my cutlass over +your head," returned Merry, his voice now betraying a much greater +sympathy in the sufferings of that abject race, who are still in some +measure, but who formerly were much more, the butts of the unthinking +and licentious among our low countrymen; "then ye can write your letter +in red ink if ye will!" + +"I wouldn't do it for the world," said Joker, sneaking away towards his +proper station--"the old lady wouldn't forget the hand, and swear it was +a forgery--I wonder, though, if the breakers on the coast of Guinea be +black! as I've heard old seamen say who have cruised in them latitudes." + +His idle levity was suddenly interrupted by a voice that spoke above the +low hum of the march, with an air of authority, and a severity of tone, +that could always quell, by a single word, the most violent ebullition +of merriment in the crew. + +The low buzzing sounds of "Ay, there goes Mr. Griffith!" and of +"Jack has woke up the first lieutenant, he had better now go to sleep +himself," were heard passing among the men. But these suppressed +communications soon ceased, and even Jack Joker himself pursued his way +with diligence on the skirts of the party, as mutely as if the power of +speech did not belong to his organization. + +The reader has too often accompanied us over the ground between the +abbey and the ocean, to require any description of the route pursued by +the seamen during the preceding characteristic dialogue; and we shall at +once pass to the incidents which occurred on the arrival of the party +at the cliffs. As the man who had so unexpectedly assumed a momentary +authority within St. Ruth had unaccountably disappeared from among them, +Griffith continued to exercise the right of command, without referring +to any other for consultation. He never addressed himself to Barnstable, +and it was apparent that both the haughty young men felt that the tie +which had hitherto united them in such close intimacy was, for the +present at least, entirely severed. Indeed, Griffith was only restrained +by the presence of Cecilia and Katherine from arresting his refractory +inferior on the spot; and Barnstable, who felt all the consciousness of +error, without its proper humility, with difficulty so far repressed his +feelings as to forbear exhibiting in the presence of his mistress such a +manifestation of his spirit as his wounded vanity induced him to imagine +was necessary to his honor. The two, however, acted in harmony on one +subject, though it was without concert or communication. The first +object with both the young men was to secure the embarkation of the fair +cousins; and Barnstable proceeded instantly to the boats, in order to +hasten the preparations that were necessary before they could receive +these unexpected captives: the descent of the Pilot having been made in +such force as to require the use of all the frigate's boats, which were +left riding in the outer edge of the surf, awaiting the return of the +expedition. A loud call from Barnstable gave notice to the officer in +command, and in a few moments the beach was crowded with the busy and +active crews of the "cutters," "launches," "barges," "jolly-boats," +"pinnaces," or by whatever names the custom of the times attached to +the different attendants of vessels of war. Had the fears of the ladies +themselves been consulted, the frigate's launch would have been selected +for their use, on account of its size; but Barnstable, who would have +thought such a choice on his part humiliating to his guests, ordered the +long, low barge of Captain Munson to be drawn upon the sand, it being +peculiarly the boat of honor. The hands of fifty men were applied to the +task, and it was soon announced to Colonel Howard and his wards that the +little vessel was ready for their reception. Manual had halted on the +summit of the cliffs with the whole body of the marines, where he +was busily employed in posting pickets and sentinels, and giving the +necessary instructions to his men to cover the embarkation of the +seamen, in a style that he conceived to be altogether military. The mass +of the common prisoners, including the inferior domestics of the abbey, +and the men of Borroughcliffe, were also held in the same place, under +a suitable guard: but Colonel Howard and his companion, attended by the +ladies and their own maids, had descended the rugged path to the beach, +and were standing passively on the sands, when the intelligence that the +boat waited for them was announced. + +"Where is he?" asked Alice Dunscombe, turning her head, as if anxiously +searching for some other than those around her. + +"Where is who?" inquired Barnstable; "we are all here, and the boat +waits." + +"And will he tear me--even me, from the home of my infancy! the land of +my birth and my affections!" + +"I know not of whom you speak, madam, but if it be of Mr. Griffith, he +stands there, just without that cluster of seamen." + +Griffith, hearing himself thus named, approached the ladies, and, for +the first time since leaving the abbey, addressed them: "I hope I am +already understood," he said, "and that it is unnecessary for me to say +that no female here is a prisoner; though, should any choose to trust +themselves on board our ship, I pledge them to the honor of an officer +that they shall find themselves protected, and safe." + +"Then will I not go," said Alice. + +"It is not expected of you," said Cecilia; "you have no ties to bind +you to any here." (The eyes of Alice were still wandering over the +listeners.) "Go, then, Miss Alice, and be the mistress of St. Ruth, +until my return; or," she added, timidly, "until Colonel Howard may +declare his pleasure." + +"I obey you, dear child; but the agent of Colonel Howard, at B----, will +undoubtedly, be authorized to take charge of his effects." + +While no one but his niece alluded to his will, the master of the +abbey had found, in his resentment, a sufficient apology for his rigid +demeanor; but he was far too well bred to bear, in silence, such a +modest appeal to his wishes, from so fair and so loyal a subject as +Alice Dunscombe. + +"To relieve you, madam, and for no other reason, will I speak on this +subject," he said; "otherwise, I should leave the doors and windows of +St. Ruth open, as a melancholy monument of rebellion, and seek my future +compensation from the Crown, when the confiscated estates of the leaders +of this accursed innovation on the rights of princes shall come to the +hammer. But you, Miss Alice, are entitled to every consideration that a +lady can expect from a gentleman. Be pleased, therefore, to write to my +agent, and request him to seal up my papers, and transmit them to the +office of his majesty's Secretary of State. They breathe no treason, +madam, and are entitled to official protection. The house, and most of +the furniture, as you know, are the property of my landlord, who, in due +time, will doubtless take charge of his own interest. I kiss your hand, +Miss Alice, and I hope we shall yet meet at St. James's--depend on it, +madam, that the royal Charlotte shall yet honor your merits; I know she +cannot but estimate your loyalty." + +"Here I was born, in humble obscurity--here I have lived, and here I +hope to die in quiet," returned the meek Alice; "if I have known any +pleasure, in late years, beyond that which every Christian can find +in our daily duties, it has been, my sweet friends, in your accidental +society.--Such companions, in this remote corner of the kingdom, has +been a boon too precious to be enjoyed without alloy, it seems; and I +have now to exchange the past pleasure for present pain. Adieu! my young +friend; let your trust be in Him, to whose eyes both prince and peasant, +the European and the American, are alike, and we shall meet again, +though it be neither in the island of Britain nor on your own wide +continent." + +"That," said Colonel Howard, advancing, and taking her hand with +kindness, "that is the only disloyal sentiment I have ever heard fall +from the lips of Miss Alice Dunscombe! Is it to be supposed that Heaven +has established orders among men, and that it does not respect the works +of its own formation! But adieu; no doubt, if time was allowed us for +suitable explanations, we should find but little or no difference of +opinion on this subject." + +Alice did not appear to consider the matter as worthy of further +discussion at such a moment; for she gently returned the colonel's +leave-taking, and then gave her undivided attention to her female +friends. Cecilia wept bitterly on the shoulder of her respected +companion, giving vent to her regret at parting, and her excited +feelings, at the same moment; and Katherine pressed to the side of +Alice, with the kindliness prompted by her warm but truant heart, Their +embraces were given and received in silence, and each of the young +ladies moved towards the boat, as she withdrew herself from the arms +of Miss Dunscombe. Colonel Howard would not precede his wards, neither +would he assist them into the barge. That attention they received from +Barnstable, who, after seeing the ladies and their attendants seated, +turned to the gentlemen, and observed: + +"The boat waits." + +"Well, Miss Alice," said Borroughcliffe, in bitter irony, "you are +entrusted by our excellent host with a message to his agent; will you +do a similar service to me, and write a report to the commander of the +district, and just tell him what a dolt--ay, use the plainest terms, and +say what an ass one Captain Borroughcliffe has proved himself in this +affair? You may throw in, by way of episode, that he has been playing +bo-peep with a rebellious young lady from the Colonies, and, like a +great boy, has had his head broken for his pains! Come, my worthy host, +or rather fellow-prisoner, I follow you, as in duty bound." + +"Stay," cried Griffith; "Captain Borroughcliffe does not embark in that +boat." + +"Ha! sir; am I to be herded with the common men? Forget you that I have +the honor to bear the commission of his Britannic Majesty, and that--" + +"I forget nothing that a gentleman is bound to remember, Captain +Borroughcliffe; among other things, I recollect the liberality of your +treatment to myself, when a prisoner. The instant the safety of my +command will justify such a step, not only you, but your men, shall be +set at liberty." + +Borroughcliffe started in surprise, but his feelings were too much +soured by the destruction of those visions of glory, in which he had +been luxuriously indulging for the last day or two, to admit of his +answering as became a man. He swallowed his emotions, therefore, by a +violent effort, and walked along the beach, affecting to whistle a low +but lively air. + +"Well, then," cried Barnstable, "all our captives are seated. The boat +waits only for its officers!" + +In his turn, Griffith walked away, in haughty silence, as if disdaining +to hold communion with his former friend. Barnstable paused a moment, +from a deference that long habit had created for his superior officer, +and which was not to be shaken off by every burst of angry passion; but +perceiving that the other had no intention to return, he ordered the +seamen to raise the boat from the sand, and bear it bodily into the +water. The command was instantly obeyed; and, by the time the young +lieutenant was in his seat, the barge was floating in the still heavy +though no longer dangerous surf, and the crew sprang into their places. + +"Bear her off, boys!" he cried; "never mind a wet jacket. I've seen many +a worthy fellow tumbling on this beach in a worse time than this! Now +you have her head to sea; give way, my souls, give way." + +The seamen rose simultaneously at their oars, and by an united effort +obtained the command of their boat; which, after making a few sudden +ascents, and as many heavy pitches in the breakers, gained the smoother +seas of the swelling ocean, and stemmed the waters in a direction for +the place where the Alacrity was supposed to be in waiting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + "His only plot was this--that, much provoked. + He raised his vengeful arm against his country." + _Thomson_. + + +Alice Duncombe remained on the sands, watching the dark spot that was +soon hid amid the waves in the obscurity of night, and listening, with +melancholy interest, to the regulated sounds of the oars, which were +audible long after the boat had been blended with the gloomy outline of +the eastern horizon. When all traces of her departed friends were to be +found only in her own recollections, she slowly turned from the sea, +and hastening to quit the bustling throng that were preparing for +the embarkation of the rest of the party, she ascended the path that +conducted her once more to the summit of those cliffs along which she +had so often roved, gazing at the boundless element that washed +their base, with sensations that might have been peculiar to her own +situation. + +The soldiers of Borroughcliffe, who were stationed at the head of the +pass, respectfully made way; nor did any of the sentinels of Manual heed +her retiring figure, until she approached the rear guard of the marines, +who were commanded by their vigilant captain in person. + +"Who goes there?" cried Manual, advancing without the dusky group of +soldiers, as she approached them. + +"One who possesses neither the power nor the inclination to do ye harm," +answered the solitary female; "'tis Alice Dunscombe, returning, by +permission of your leader, to the place of her birth." + +"Ay," muttered Manual, "this is one of Griffith's unmilitary exhibitions +of his politeness! Does the man think that there was ever a woman who +had no tongue! Have you the countersign, madam, that I may know you bear +a sufficient warrant to pass?" + +"I have no other warrant besides my sex and weakness, unless Mr. +Griffith's knowledge that I have left him can be so considered." + +"The two former are enough," said a voice, that proceeded from a figure +which had hitherto stood unseen, shaded by the trunk of an oak that +spread its wide but naked arms above the spot where the guard was +paraded. + +"Who have we here!" Manual again cried; "come in; yield, or you will be +fired at." + +"What, will the gallant Captain Manual fire on his own rescuer!" said +the Pilot, with cool disdain, as he advanced from the shadow of the +tree. "He had better reserve his bullets for his enemies, than waste +them on his friends." + +"You have done a dangerous deed, sir, in approaching, clandestinely, +a guard of marines! I wonder that a man who has already discovered, +to-night, that he has some knowledge of tactics, by so ably conducting a +surprise, should betray so much ignorance in the forms of approaching a +picket!" + +"'Tis now of no moment," returned the Pilot; "my knowledge and +my ignorance are alike immaterial, as the command of the party is +surrendered to other and perhaps more proper hands. But I would talk to +this lady alone, sir; she is an acquaintance of my youth, and I will see +her on her way to the abbey." + +"The step would be unmilitary, Mr. Pilot, and you will excuse me if I do +not consent to any of our expedition straggling without the sentries. +If you choose to remain here to hold your discourse, I will march the +picket out of hearing; though I must acknowledge I see no ground so +favorable as this we are on, to keep you within range of our eyes. You +perceive that I have a ravine to retreat into in case of surprise, with +this line of wall on my left flank and the trunk of that tree to cover +my right. A very pretty stand might be made here, on emergency; for even +the oldest troops fight the best when their flanks are properly covered, +and a way to make a regular retreat is open in their rear." + +"Say no more, sir; I would not break up such a position on any account," +returned the Pilot; "the lady will consent to retrace her path for a +short distance." + +Alice followed his steps, in compliance with this request, until he had +led her to a place, at some little distance from the marines, where a +tree had been prostrated by the late gale. She seated herself quietly +on its trunk, and appeared to wait with patience his own time for the +explanation of his motives in seeking the interview. The pilot paced +for several minutes back and forth, in front of the place where she was +seated, in profound silence, as if communing with himself; when suddenly +throwing off his air of absence, he came to her side, and assumed a +position similar to the one which she herself had taken. + +"The hour is at hand, Alice, when we must part," he at length commenced; +"it rests with yourself whether it shall be forever." + +"Let it then be forever, John," she returned, with a slight tremor in +her voice. + +"That word would have been less appalling had this accidental meeting +never occurred. And yet your choice may have been determined by +prudence--for what is there in my fate that can tempt a woman to wish +that she might share it?" + +"If ye mean your lot is that of one who can find but few, or even none, +to partake of his joys, or to share in his sorrows--whose life is +a continual scene of dangers and calamities, of disappointments and +mishaps--then do ye know but little of the heart of woman, if ye doubt +of either her ability or her willingness to meet them with the man of +her choice." + +"Say you thus, Alice? then have I misunderstood your meaning or +misinterpreted your acts. My lot is not altogether that of a neglected +man, unless the favor of princes and the smiles of queens are allowed +to go for nothing. My life is, however, one of many and fearful dangers; +and yet it is not filled altogether with calamities and mishaps; is it, +Alice?" He paused a moment, but in vain, for her answer. "Nay, then, I +have been deceived in the estimation that the world has affixed to my +combats and enterprises! I am not, Alice, the man I would be, or even +the man I had deemed myself." + +"You have gained a name, John, among the warriors of the age," she +answered, in a subdued voice; "and it is a name that may be said to be +written in blood!" + +"The blood of my enemies, Alice!" + +"The blood of the subjects of your natural prince! The blood of those +who breathe the air you first breathed, and who were taught the same +holy lessons of instruction that you were first taught; but, which, I +fear, you have too soon forgotten!" + +"The blood of the slaves of despotism!" he sternly interrupted her; "the +blood of the enemies of freedom! You have dwelt so long in this dull +retirement, and you have cherished so blindly the prejudices of your +youth, that the promise of those noble sentiments I once thought I could +see budding in Alice Dunscombe has not been fulfilled." + +"I have lived and thought only as a woman, as become my sex and +station," Alice meekly replied; "and when it shall be necessary for me +to live and think otherwise, I should wish to die." + +"Ay, there lie the first seeds of slavery! A dependent woman is sure to +make the mother of craven and abject wretches, who dishonor the name of +man!" + +"I shall never be the mother of children, good or bad," said Alice, with +that resignation in her tones that showed she had abandoned the natural +hopes of her sex. "Singly and unsupported have I lived; alone and +unlamented must I be carried to my grave." + +The exquisite pathos of her voice, as she uttered this placid speech, +blended as it was with the sweet and calm dignity of virgin pride, +touched the heart of her listener, and he continued silent many moments, +as if in reverence of her determination. Her sentiments awakened in his +own breast those feelings of generosity and disinterestedness which had +nearly been smothered in restless ambition and the pride of success. He +resumed the discourse, therefore, more mildly, and with a much greater +exhibition of deep feeling, and less of passion, in his manner. + +"I know not, Alice, that I ought, situated as I am, and contented, if +not happy, as you are, even to attempt to revive in your bosom those +sentiments which I was once led to think existed there. It cannot, after +all, be a desirable fate, to share the lot of a rover like myself; one +who may be termed a Quixote in the behalf of liberal principles, and +who may be hourly called to seal the truth of those principles with his +life." + +"There never existed any sentiment in my breast, in which you are +concerned, that does not exist there still, and unchanged," returned +Alice, with her single-hearted sincerity. + +"Do I hear you right? or have I misconceived your resolution to abide in +England? or have I not rather mistaken your early feelings?" + +"You have fallen into no error now nor then, The weakness may still +exist, John; but the strength to struggle with it has, by the goodness +of God, grown with my years. It is not, however, of myself, but of you, +that I would speak. I have lived like one of our simple daisies, which +in the budding may have caught your eye; and I shall also wilt like the +humble flower, when the winter of my time arrives, without being missed +from the fields that have known me for a season. But your fall, John, +will be like that of the oak that now supports us, and men shall +pronounce on the beauty and grandeur of the noble stem while standing, +as well as of its usefulness when felled." + +"Let them pronounce as they will!" returned the proud stranger. "The +truth must be finally known: and when, that hour shall come, they will +say, he was a faithful and gallant warrior in his day; and a worthy +lesson for all who are born in slavery, but would live in freedom, shall +be found in his example." + +"Such may be the language of that distant people, whom ye have adopted +in the place of those that once formed home and kin to ye," said Alice, +glancing her eye timidly at his countenance, as if to discern how far +she might venture, without awakening his resentment; "but what will the +men of the land of your birth transmit to their children, who will be +the children of those that are of your own blood?" + +"They will say, Alice, whatever their crooked policy may suggest, or +their disappointed vanity can urge. But the picture must be drawn by the +friends of the hero, as well as by his enemies! Think you, that there +are not pens as well as swords in America?" + +"I have heard that America called a land, John, where God has lavished +his favors with an unsparing hand; where he has bestowed many climes +with their several fruits, and where his power is exhibited no less than +his mercy. It is said her rivers are without any known end, and that +lakes are found in her bosom which would put our German Ocean to shame! +The plains, teeming with verdure, are spread over wide degrees; and yet +those sweet valleys, which a single heart can hold, are not wanting. In +short, John, I hear it is a broad land, that can furnish food for each +passion, and contain objects for every affection." + +"Ay, you have found those, Alice, in your solitude, who have been +willing to do her justice! It is a country that can form a world of +itself; and why should they who inherit it look to other nations for +their laws?" + +"I pretend not to reason on the right of the children of that soil to +do whatever they may deem most meet for their own welfare," returned +Alice--"but can men be born in such a land, and not know the feelings +which bind a human being to the place of his birth?" + +"Can you doubt that they should be patriotic?" exclaimed the Pilot, +in surprise. "Do not their efforts in this sacred cause--their patient +sufferings--their long privations--speak loudly in their behalf?" + +"And will they who know so well how to love home sing the praises of him +who has turned his ruthless hand against the land of his fathers?" + +"Forever harping on that word home!" said the Pilot, who now detected +the timid approaches of Alice to her hidden meaning. "Is a man a stick +or a stone, that he must be cast into the fire, or buried in a wall, +wherever his fate may have doomed him to appear on the earth? The sound +of home is said to feed the vanity of an English man, let him go where +he will; but it would seem to have a still more powerful charm with +English women!" + +"It is the dearest of all terms to every woman, John, for it embraces +the dearest of all ties! If your dames of America are ignorant of its +charm, all the favors which God has lavished on their land will avail +their happiness but little." + +"Alice," said the Pilot, rising in his agitation, "I see but too well +the object of your allusions. But on this subject we can never agree; +for not even your powerful influence can draw me from the path of glory +in which I am now treading. But our time is growing brief; let us, then, +talk of other things.--This may be the last time I shall ever put foot +on the island of Britain." + +Alice paused to struggle with the feelings excited by this remark, +before she pursued the discourse. But soon shaking off the weakness, she +added, with a rigid adherence to that course which she believed to be +her duty: + +"And now, John, that you have landed, is the breaking up of a peaceful +family, and the violence ye have shown towards an aged man, a fit +exploit for one whose object is the glory of which ye have spoken?" + +"Think you that I have landed, and placed my life in the hands of +my enemies, for so unworthy an object! No, Alice: my motive for this +undertaking has been disappointed, and therefore will ever remain a +secret from the world. But duty to my cause has prompted the step which +you so unthinkingly condemn. This Colonel Howard has some consideration +with those in power, and will answer to exchange for a better man. As +for his wards, you forget their home, their magical home is in America; +unless, indeed, they find them nearer at hand, under the proud flag of a +frigate that is now waiting for them in the offing." + +"You talk of a frigate!" said Alice, with sudden interest in the +subject. "Is she your only means of escaping from your enemies?" + +"Alice Dunscombe has taken but little heed of passing events, to ask +such a question of me!" returned the haughty Pilot. "The question would +have sounded more discreetly had it been, 'Is she the only vessel with +you that your enemies will have to escape from?'" + +"Nay, I cannot measure my language at such a moment," continued Alice, +with a still stronger exhibition of anxiety. "It was my fortune to +overhear a part of a plan that was intended to destroy, by sudden means, +those vessels of America that were in our seas." + +"That might be a plan more suddenly adopted than easily executed, my +good Alice. And who were these redoubtable schemers?" + +"I know not but my duty to the king should cause me to suppress this +information," said Alice, hesitating. + +"Well, be it so," returned the Pilot, coolly; "it may prove the means +of saving the persons of some of the royal officers from death or +captivity. I have already said, this may be the last of my visits to +this island, and consequently, Alice, the last of our interviews--" + +"And yet," said Alice, still pursuing the train of her own thoughts, +"there can be but little harm in sparing human blood; and least of all +in serving those whom we have long known and regarded!" + +"Ay, that is a simple doctrine, and one that is easily maintained," he +added, with much apparent indifference; "and yet King George might well +spare some of his servants--the list of his abject minions is so long!" + +"There was a man named Dillon, who lately dwelt in the abbey, but who +has mysteriously disappeared," continued Alice; "or rather, who was +captured by your companions: know you aught of him, John?" + +"I have heard there was a miscreant of that name, but we have never met. +Alice, if it please Heaven that this should be the last--" + +"He was a captive in the schooner called the Ariel," she added, still +unheeding his affected indifference to her communication; "and when +permitted to return to St. Ruth, he lost sight of his solemn promise, +and of his plighted honor, to wreak his malice. Instead of effecting the +exchange that he had conditioned to see made, he plotted treason against +his captors. Yes, it was most foul treason! for his treatment was +generous and kind, and his liberation certain." + +"He was a most unworthy scoundrel! But, Alice----" + +"Nay, listen, John," she continued, urged to even a keener interest in +his behalf by his apparent inattention; "and yet I should speak tenderly +of his failings, for he is already numbered with the dead! One part of +his scheme must have been frustrated; for he intended to destroy that +schooner which you call the Ariel, and to have taken the person of the +young Barnstable." + +"In both of which he has failed! The person of Barnstable I have +rescued, and the Ariel has been stricken by a hand far mightier than any +of this world!--she is wrecked." + +"Then is the frigate your only means of escape! Hasten, John, and seem +not so proud and heedless; for the hour may come when all your daring +will not profit ye against the machinations of secret enemies. This +Dillon had also planned that expresses should journey to a seaport at +the south, with the intelligence that your vessels were in these seas, +in order that ships might be dispatched to intercept your retreat." + +The Pilot lost his affected indifference as she proceeded; and before +she ceased speaking, his eye was endeavoring to anticipate her words, by +reading her countenance through the dusky medium of the starlight. + +"How know you this, Alice?" he asked quickly--"and what vessel did he +name?" + +"Chance made me an unseen listener to their plan, and--I know not but I +forget my duty to my prince! but, John, 'tis asking too much of a weak +woman, to require that she shall see the man whom she once viewed with +eyes of favor sacrificed, when a word of caution, given in season, might +enable him to avoid the danger!" + +"Once viewed with an eye of favor! Is it then so?" said the Pilot, +speaking in a vacant manner. "But, Alice, heard ye the force of the +ships, or their names? Give me their names, and the first lord of your +British admiralty shall not give so true an account of their force as I +will furnish from this list of my own." + +"Their names were certainly mentioned," said Alice, with tender +melancholy; "but the name of one far nearer to me was ringing in my +ears, and has driven them from my mind." + +"You are the same good Alice I once knew! And my name was mentioned? +What said they of the Pirate? Had his arm stricken a blow that made them +tremble in their abbey? Did they call him coward, girl?" + +"It was mentioned in terms that pained my heart as I listened; for it is +never too easy a task to forget the lapse of years, nor are the feelings +of youth to be easily eradicated." + +"Ay, there is luxury in knowing that, with all their affected abuse, the +slaves dread me in their secret holds!" exclaimed the Pilot, pacing in +front of his listener with quick steps. "This it is to be marked, among +men, above all others in your calling! I hope yet to see the day when +the third George shall start at the sound of that name, even within the +walls of his palace." + +Alice Dunscombe heard him in deep and mortified silence. It was too +evident that a link in the chain of their sympathies was broken, and +that the weakness in which she had been unconsciously indulging was met +by no correspondent emotions in him. After sinking her head for a +moment on her bosom, she arose with a little more than her usual air of +meekness, and recalled the Pilot to a sense of her presence, by saying, +in a yet milder voice: + +"I have now communicated all that it can profit you to know, and it is +meet that we separate." + +"What, thus soon?" he cried, starting and taking her hand. "This is but +a short interview, Alice, to precede so long a separation." + +"Be it short, or be it long, it must now end," she replied. "Your +companions are on the eve of departure, and I trust you would be one of +the last who would wish to be deserted. If ye do visit England again, I +hope it may be with altered sentiments, so far as regards her interests. +I wish ye peace, John, and the blessings of God, as ye may be found to +deserve them." + +"I ask no farther, unless it may be the aid of your gentle prayers! But +the night is gloomy, and I will see you in safety to the abbey." + +"It is unnecessary," she returned, with womanly reserve. "The innocent +can be as fearless, on occasion, as the most valiant among your +warriors. But here is no cause for fear. I shall take a path that +will conduct me in a different way from that which is occupied by your +soldiers, and where I shall find none but Him who is ever ready to +protect the helpless. Once more, John, I bid ye adieu." Her voice +faltered as she continued--"Ye will share the lot of humanity, and have +your hours of care and weakness; at such moments ye can remember those +ye leave on this despised island, and perhaps among them ye may think +of some whose interest in your welfare has been far removed from +selfishness." + +"God be with you, Alice!" he said, touched with her emotion, and losing +all vain images in more worthy feelings--"but I cannot permit you to go +alone." + +"Here we part, John," she said firmly, "and forever! 'Tis for the +happiness of both, for I fear we have but little in common." She gently +wrested her hand from his grasp, and once more bidding him adieu, in +a voice that was nearly inaudible, she turned and slowly disappeared, +moving, with lingering steps, in the direction of the abbey. + +The first impulse of the pilot was certainly to follow, and insist on +seeing her on the way; but the music of the guard on the cliffs at that +moment sent forth its martial strains, and the whistle of the boatswain +was heard winding Its shrill call among the rocks, in those notes that +his practised ear well understood to be the last signal for embarking. + +Obedient to the summons, this singular man, in whose breast the natural +feelings, that were now on the eve of a violent eruption, had so long +been smothered by the visionary expectations of a wild ambition, and +perhaps of fierce resentments, pursued his course, in deep abstraction, +towards the boats. He was soon met by the soldiers of Borroughcliffe, +deprived of their arms, it is true, but unguarded, and returning +peacefully to their quarters. The mind of the Pilot, happily for the +liberty of these men, was too much absorbed in his peculiar reflections, +to note this act of Griffith's generosity, nor did he arouse from his +musing until his steps were arrested by suddenly encountering a human +figure in the pathway. A light tap on his shoulder was the first mark +of recognition he received, when Borroughcliffe, who stood before him, +said: + +"It is evident, sir, from what has passed this evening, that you are not +what you seem. You may be some rebel admiral or general, for aught that +I know, the right to command having been strangely contested among ye +this night. But let who will own the chief authority, I take the liberty +of whispering in your ear that I have been scurvily treated by you--I +repeat, most scurvily treated by you all, generally, and by you in +particular." + +The Pilot started at this strange address, which was uttered with all +the bitterness that could be imparted to it by a disappointed man; but +he motioned with his hand for the captain to depart, and turned aside to +pursue his own way. + +"Perhaps I am not properly understood," continued the obstinate soldier: +"I say, sir, you have treated me scurvily: and I would not be thought to +say this to any gentleman, without wishing to give him an opportunity to +vent his anger." + +The eye of the Pilot, as he moved forward, glanced at the pistols which +Borroughcliffe held in his hands, the one by the handle, and the other +by its barrel, and the soldier even fancied that his footsteps were +quickened by the sight. After gazing at him until his form was lost in +the darkness, the captain muttered to himself: + +"He is no more than a common pilot, after all! No true gentleman would +have received so palpable a hint with such a start. Ah! here comes the +party of my worthy friend whose palate knows a grape of the north side +of Madeira from one of the south. The dog has the throat of a gentleman; +we will see how he can swallow a delicate allusion to his faults!" + +Borroughcliffe stepped aside to allow the marines, who were also in +motion for the boats, to pass, and watched with keen looks for the +person of the commander. Manual, who had been previously apprised of the +intention of Griffith to release the prisoners, had halted to see that +none but those who had been liberated by authority were marching +into the country. This accidental circumstance gave Borroughcliffe an +opportunity of meeting the other at some little distance from either of +their respective parties. + +"I greet you, sir," said Borroughcliffe, "with all affection. This has +been a pleasant forage for you, Captain Manual." + +The marine was far from being disposed to wrangle, but there was that in +the voice of the other which caused him to answer: + +"It would have been far pleasanter, sir, if I had met an opportunity +of returning to Captain Borroughcliffe some of the favors that I have +received at his hands." + +"Nay, then, dear sir, you weigh my modesty to the earth! Surely you +forget the manner in which my hospitality has already been requited--by +some two hours mouthing of my sword-hilt; with a very unceremonious +ricochet into a corner; together with a love-tap received over the +shoulders of one of my men, by so gentle an instrument as the butt of a +musket! Damme, sir, but I think an ungrateful man only a better sort of +beast!" + +"Had the love-tap been given to the officer instead of the man," +returned Manual, with all commendable coolness, "it would have been +better justice; and the ramrod might have answered as well as the butt, +to floor a gentleman who carried the allowance of four thirsty fiddlers +under one man's jacket." + +"Now, that is rank ingratitude to your own cordial of the south side, +and a most biting insult! I really see but one way of terminating this +wordy war, which, if not discreetly ended, may lead us far into the +morning." + +"Elect your own manner of determining the dispute, sir; I hope, however, +it will not be by your innate knowledge of mankind, which has already +mistaken a captain of marines in the service of Congress, for a runaway +lover, bound to some green place or other." + +"You might just as well tweak my nose, sir!" said Borroughcliffe. +"Indeed, I think it would be the milder reproach of the two! will you +make your selection of these, sir? They were loaded for a very different +sort of service, but I doubt not will answer on occasion." + +"I am provided with a pair, that are charged for any service," returned +Manual, drawing a pistol from his own belt, and stepping backward a few +paces. + +"You are destined for America, I know," said Borroughcliffe, who stood +his ground with consummate coolness; "but it would be more convenient +for me, sir, if you could delay your march for a single moment." + +"Fire and defend yourself!" exclaimed Manual, furiously, retracing his +steps towards his enemy. + +The sounds of the two pistols were blended in one report, and the +soldiers of Borroughcliffe and the marines all rushed to the place on +the sudden alarm. Had the former been provided with arms, it is probable +that a bloody fray would have been the consequence of the sight +that both parties be held on arriving at the spot, which they did +simultaneously. Manual lay on his back, without any signs of life, and +Borroughcliffe had changed his cool, haughty, upright attitude for a +recumbent posture, which was somewhat between lying and sitting. + +"Is the poor fellow actually expended?" said the Englishman, in +something like the tones of regret; "well, he had a soldier's mettle in +him, and was nearly as great a fool as myself!" + +The marines had, luckily for the soldiers and their captain, by this +time discovered the signs of life in their own commander, who had been +only slightly stunned by the bullet, which had grazed his crown, and +who, being assisted on his feet, stood a minute or two rubbing his head, +as if awaking from a dream. As Manual came gradually to his senses, he +recollected the business in which he had just been engaged, and, in his +turn, inquired after the fate of his antagonist. + +"I am here, my worthy incognito," cried the other, with the voice of +perfect good nature; "lying in the lap of mother earth, and all the +better for opening a vein or two in my right leg;--though I do think +that the same effect might have been produced without treating the bone +so roughly!--But I opine that I saw you also reclining on the bosom of +our common ancestor." + +"I was down for a few minutes, I do believe," returned Manual; "there is +the path of a bullet across my scalp." + +"Humph! on the head!" said Borroughcliffe, dryly; "the hurt is not +likely to be mortal, I see.--Well, I shall offer to raffle with the +first poor devil I can find that has but one good leg, for who shall +have both; and that will just set up a beggar and a gentleman!--Manual, +give me your hand; we have drunk together, and we have fought; surely +there is nothing now to prevent our being sworn friends." + +"Why," returned Manual, continuing to rub his head, "I see no +irremovable objections--but you will want a surgeon? Can I order +anything to be done? There go the signals again to embark--march the +fellows down at quick time, sergeant; my own man may remain with me, or, +I can do altogether without assistance." + +"Ah! you are what I call a well-made man, my dear friend!" exclaimed +Borroughcliffe; "no weak points about your fortress! Such a man +is worthy to be the _head_ of a whole corps, instead of a solitary +company.--Gently, Drill, gently; handle me as if I were made of potter's +clay.--I will not detain you longer, my friend Manual, for I hear signal +after signal; they must be in want of some of your astonishing reasoning +faculties to set them afloat." + +Manual might have been offended at the palpable allusions that his new +friend made to the firmness of his occiput, had not his perception of +things been a little confused by a humming sound that seemed to abide +near the region of thought. As it was, he reciprocated the good wishes +of the other, whom he shook most cordially by the hand, and once +more renewed his offers of service, after exchanging sundry friendly +speeches. + +"I thank you quite as much as if I were not at all indebted to you +for letting blood, thereby saving me a fit of apoplexy; but Drill has +already dispatched a messenger to B---- for a leech, and the lad may +bring the whole depot down upon you.--Adieu, once more, and remember +that if you ever visit England again as a friend, you are to let me see +you." + +"I shall do it without fail; and I shall keep you to your promise if you +once more put foot in America." + +"Trust me for that: I shall stand in need of your excellent head to +guide me safely among those rude foresters. Adieu; cease not to bear me +in your thoughts." + +"I shall never cease to remember you, my good friend," returned Manual, +again scratching the member which was snapping in a manner that caused +him to fancy he heard it. Once more these worthies shook each other by +the hand, and again they renewed their promises of future intercourse; +after which they separated like two reluctant lovers--parting in a +manner that would have put to shame the friendship of Orestes and +Pylades. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + "Nay, answer me: stand and unfold yourself." + _Hamlet_. + + +During the time occupied by the incidents that occurred after the Pilot +had made his descent on the land, the Alacrity, now under the orders of +Mr. Boltrope, the master of the frigate, lay off and on, in readiness +to receive the successful mariners. The direction of the wind had been +gradually changing from the northeast to the south, during the close of +the day; and long before the middle watches of the night, the wary old +seaman, who, it may be remembered, had expressed, in the council of war, +such a determined reluctance to trust his person within the realm of +Britain, ordered the man who steered the cutter to stand in boldly for +the land. Whenever the lead told them that it was prudent to tack, +the course of the vessel was changed: and in this manner the seamen +continued to employ the hours in patient attendance on the adventurers. +The sailing-master, who had spent the early years of his life as the +commander of divers vessels employed in trading, was apt, like many men +of his vocation and origin, to mistake the absence of refinement for +the surest evidence of seamanship; and, consequently, he held the little +courtesies and punctilios of a man-of-war in high disdain. His peculiar +duties of superintending the expenditure of the ship's stores, in their +several departments; of keeping the frigate's log-book; and of making +his daily examinations into the state of her sails and rigging--brought +him so little in collision with the gay, laughing, reckless young +lieutenants, who superintended the ordinary management of the vessel, +that he might be said to have formed a distinct species of the animal, +though certainly of the same genus with his more polished messmates. +Whenever circumstances, however, required that he should depart from +the dull routine of his duty, he made it a rule, as far as possible, to +associate himself with such of the crew as possessed habits and opinions +the least at variance with his own. + +By a singular fatality, the chaplain of the frigate was, as respects +associates, in a condition nearly assimilated to that of this veteran +tar. + +An earnest desire to ameliorate the situation of those who were +doomed to meet death on the great deep had induced an experienced and +simple-hearted divine to accept this station, in the fond hope that he +might be made the favored instrument of salvation to many, who were then +existing in a state of the most abandoned self-forgetfulness. Neither +our limits, nor our present object, will permit the relation of the many +causes that led, not only to an entire frustration of all his visionary +expectations, but to an issue which rendered the struggle of the good +divine with himself both arduous and ominous, in order to maintain +his own claims to the merited distinctions of his sacred office. The +consciousness of his backsliding had so far lessened the earthly, if +not the spiritual, pride of the chaplain, as to induce him to relish the +society of the rude master, whose years had brought him, at times, to +take certain views of futurity that were singularly affected by the +peculiar character of the individual. It might have been that both found +themselves out of their places--but it was owing to some such secret +sympathy, let its origin be what it would, that the two came to be fond +of each other's company. On the night in question, Mr. Boltrope had +invited the chaplain to accompany him in the Alacrity; adding, in his +broad, rough language, that as there was to be fighting on shore, "his +hand might come in play with some poor fellow or other." This singular +invitation had been accepted, as well from a desire to relieve the +monotony of a sea-life by any change, as perhaps with a secret yearning +in the breast of the troubled divine to get as nigh to terra firma as +possible. Accordingly, after the Pilot had landed with his boisterous +party, the sailing-master and the chaplain, together with a boatswain's +mate and some ten or twelve seamen, were left in quiet possession of the +cutter. The first few hours of this peaceable intercourse had been spent +by the worthy messmates, in the little cabin of the vessel, over a +can of grog; the savory relish of which was much increased by a +characteristic disquisition on polemical subjects, which our readers +have great reason to regret it is not our present humor to record. +When, however, the winds invited the near approach to the hostile shores +already mentioned, the prudent sailing-master adjourned the discussion +to another and more suitable time, removing himself and the can, by the +same operation, to the quarter-deck. + +"There," cried the honest tar, placing the wooden vessel, with great +self-contentment, by his side on the deck, "this is ship's comfort! +There is a good deal of what I call a lubber's fuss, parson, kept up +on board a ship that shall be nameless, but which bears, about three +leagues distant, broad off in the ocean, and which is lying to under a +close-reefed maintopsail, a foretopmast-staysail, and foresail--I +call my hand a true one in mixing a can--take another pull at the +halyards!--'twill make your eye twinkle like a lighthouse, this dark +morning! You won't? well, we must give no offence to the Englishman's +rum."--After a potent draught had succeeded this considerate +declaration, he added: "You are a little like our first lieutenant, +parson, who drinks, as I call it, nothing but the elements--which is, +water stiffened with air." + +"Mr. Griffith may indeed be said to set a wholesome example to the +crew," returned the chaplain, perhaps with a slight consciousness that +it had not altogether possessed its due weight with himself. + +"Wholesome!" cried Boltrope; "let me tell you, my worthy leaf-turner, +that if you call such a light diet wholesome, you know but little of +salt water and sea-fogs! However, Mr. Griffith is a seaman; and if he +gave his mind less to trifles and gimcracks, he would be, by the time +he got to about our years, a very rational sort of a companion.--But +you see, parson, just now, he thinks too much of small follies; such as +man-of-war discipline.--Now there is rationality in giving a fresh nip +to a rope, or in looking well at your mats, or even in crowning a cable; +but damme, priest, if I see the use--luff, luff, you lubber; don't ye +see, sir, you are steering for Garmany!--If I see the use, as I was +saying, of making a rumpus about the time when a man changes his shirt; +whether it be this week, or next week, or, for that matter, the +week after, provided it be bad weather. I sometimes am mawkish about +attending muster (and I believe I have as little to fear on the score +of behavior as any man), lest it should be found I carried my tobacco in +the wrong cheek!" + +"I have indeed thought it somewhat troublesome to myself, at times; and +it is in a striking degree vexatious to the spirit, especially when the +body has been suffering under seasickness." + +"Why, yes, you were a little apt to bend your duds wrong for the first +month or so," said the master; "I remember you got the marine's scraper +on your head, once, in your hurry to bury a dead man! Then you never +looked as if you belonged to the ship, so long as those cursed +black knee-breeches lasted! For my part, I never saw you come up the +quarter-deck ladder, but I expected to see your shins give way across +the combing of the hatch--a man does look like the devil, priest, +scudding about a ship's decks in that fashion, under bare poles! But now +the tailor has found out the articles ar'n't seaworthy, and we have got +your lower stanchions cased in a pair of purser's slops, I am puzzled +often to tell your heels from those of a maintopman!" + +"I have good reason to be thankful for the change," said the humbled +priest, "if the resemblance you mention existed, while I was clad in the +usual garb of one of my calling." + +"What signifies a calling?" returned Boltrope, catching his breath after +a most persevering draught: "a man's shins are his shins, let his upper +works belong to what sarvice they may. I took an early prejudyce against +knee-breeches, perhaps from a trick I've always had of figuring the +devil as wearing them. You know, parson, we seldom hear much said of +a man, without forming some sort of an idea concerning his rigging and +fashion-pieces--and so, as I had no particular reason to believe that +Satan went naked--keep full, ye lubber; now you are running into the +wind's eye, and be d----d to ye!--But as I was saying, I always took a +conceit that the devil wore knee-breeches and a cock'd hat. There's some +of our young lieutenants, who come to muster on Sundays in cock'd hats, +just like soldier-officers; but, d'ye see, I would sooner show my nose +under a nightcap than under a scraper!" + +"I hear the sound of oars!" exclaimed the chaplain, who, finding this +image more distinct than even his own vivid conceptions of the great +father of evil, was quite willing to conceal his inferiority by changing +the discourse. "Is not one of our boats returning?" + +"Ay, ay, 'tis likely; if it had been me, I should have been land-sick +before this--ware round, boys, and stand by to heave to on the other +tack." + +The cutter, obedient to her helm, fell off before the wind; and rolling +an instant in the trough of the sea, came up again easily to her oblique +position, with her head towards the cliffs; and gradually losing her +way, as her sails were brought to counteract each other, finally became +stationary. During the performance of this evolution, a boat had hove +up out of the gloom, in the direction of the land; and by the time the +Alacrity was in a state of rest, it had approached so nigh as to admit +of hailing. + +"Boat, ahoy!" murmured Boltrope, through a trumpet, which, aided by his +lungs, produced sounds not unlike the roaring of a bull. + +"Ay, ay," was thrown back from a clear voice, that swept across the +water with a fullness that needed no factitious aid to render it +audible. + +"Ay, there comes one of the lieutenants, with his ay, ay," said +Boltrope--"pipe the side, there, you boatswain's mate! But here's +another fellow more on our quarter! Boat ahoy!" + +"Alacrity"--returned another voice, in a direction different from the +other. + +"Alacrity! There goes my commission of captain of this craft, in a +whiff," returned the sailing-master. "That is as much as to say, here +comes one who will command when he gets on board. Well, well, it is Mr. +Griffith, and I can't say, notwithstanding his love of knee-buckles and +small wares, but I'm glad he's out of the hands of the English! Ay, here +they all come upon us at once! here is another fellow, that pulls like +the jolly-boat, coming up on our lee-beam, within hail--let us see if he +is asleep--boat ahoy!" + +"Flag," answered a third voice from a small, light-rowing boat, which +had approached very near the cutter, in a direct line from the cliffs, +without being observed. + +"Flag!" echoed Boltrope, dropping his trumpet in amazement--"that's a +big word to come out of a jolly-boat! Jack Manly himself could not have +spoken it with a fuller mouth; but I'll know who it is that carries such +a weather helm, with a Yankee man-of-war's prize! Boat ahoy! I say." + +This last call was uttered in those short menacing tones, that are +intended to be understood as intimating that the party hailing is in +earnest; and it caused the men who were rowing, and who were now quite +close to the cutter, to suspend their strokes, simultaneously, as if +they dreaded that the cry would be instantly succeeded by some more +efficient means of ascertaining their character. The figure that +was seated by itself in the stern of the boat started at this second +summons, and then, as if with sudden recollection, a quiet voice +replied: + +"No--no." + +"'No--no,' and 'flag,' are very different answers," grumbled Boltrope; +"what know-nothing have we here?" + +He was yet muttering his dissatisfaction at the ignorance of the +individual that was approaching, whoever it might be, when the +jolly-boat came slowly to their side, and the Pilot stepped from her +stern-sheets on the decks of the prize. + +"Is it you, Mr. Pilot?" exclaimed the sailing-master, raising a +battle-lantern within a foot of the other's face, and looking with a +sort of stupid wonder at the proud and angry eye he encountered--"Is it +you! Well, I should have rated you for a man of more experience than to +come booming down upon a man-of-war in the dark, with such a big word +in your mouth, when every boy in the two vessels knows that we carry no +swallow-tailed bunting abroad! Flag! Why you might have got a shot, had +there been soldiers." + +The Pilot threw him a still fiercer glance, and turning away with a look +of disgust, he walked along the quarterdeck towards the stern of the +vessel, with an air of haughty silence, as if disdaining to answer. +Boltrope kept his eyes fastened on him for a moment longer, with some +appearance of scorn; but the arrival of the boat first hailed, which +proved to be the barge, immediately drew his attention to other matters. +Barnstable had been rowing about in the ocean for a long time, unable to +find the cutter; and as he had been compelled to suit his own demeanor +to those with whom he was associated, he reached the Alacrity in no very +good-humored mood. Colonel Howard and his niece had maintained during +the whole period the most rigid silence, the former from pride, and +the latter touched with her uncle's evident displeasure; and Katherine, +though secretly elated with the success of all her projects, was +content to emulate their demeanor for a short time, in order to save +appearances. Barnstable had several times addressed himself to the +latter, without receiving any other answer than such as was absolutely +necessary to prevent the lover from taking direct offence, at the same +time that she intimated by her manner her willingness to remain silent. +Accordingly, the lieutenant, after aiding the ladies to enter the +cutter, and offering to perform the same service to Colonel Howard, +which was coldly declined, turned, with that sort of irritation that +is by no means less rare in vessels of war than with poor human nature +generally, and gave vent to his spleen where he dared. + +"How's this! Mr. Boltrope!" he cried, "here are boats coming alongside +with ladies in them, and you keep your gaft swayed up till the leach +of the sail is stretched like a fiddle-string--settle away your +peak-halyards, sir, settle away!" + +"Ay, ay, sir," grumbled the master; "settle away that peak there; though +the craft wouldn't forge ahead a knot in a month, with all her jibs +hauled over!" He walked sulkily forward among the men, followed by +the meek divine; and added, "I should as soon have expected to see Mr. +Barnstable come off with a live ox in his boat as a petticoat! The Lord +only knows what the ship is coming to next, parson! What between cocked +hats and epaulettes, and other knee-buckle matters, she was a sort of +no-man's land before; and now, what with the women and their bandboxes, +they'll make another Noah's ark of her. I wonder they didn't all come +aboard in a coach and six, or a one-horse shay!" + +It was a surprising relief to Barnstable to be able to give utterance +to his humor, for a few moments, by ordering the men to make sundry +alterations in every department of the vessel, in a quick, hurried +voice, that abundantly denoted, not only the importance of his +improvements, but the temper in which they were dictated. In his turn, +however, he was soon compelled to give way, by the arrival of Griffith +in the heavily rowing launch of the frigate, which was crowded with a +larger body of the seamen who had been employed in the expedition. In +this manner, boat after boat speedily arrived, and the whole party were +once more happily embarked in safety under their national flag. + +The small cabin of the Alacrity was relinquished to Colonel Howard and +his wards, with their attendants. The boats were dropped astern, each +protected by its own keeper; and Griffith gave forth the mandate to fill +the sails and steer broad off into the ocean. For more than an hour the +cutter held her course in this direction, gliding gracefully through +the glittering waters, rising and settling heavily on the long, smooth +billows, as if conscious of the unusual burden that she was doomed to +carry; but at the end of that period her head was once more brought near +the wind, and she was again held at rest, awaiting the appearance of the +dawn, in order to discover the position of the prouder vessel on which +she was performing the humble duty of a tender. More than a hundred and +fifty living men were crowded within her narrow limits; and her decks +presented, in the gloom, as she moved along, the picture of a mass of +human heads. + +As the freedom of a successful expedition was unavoidably permitted, +loud jokes, and louder merriment, broke on the silent waters from the +reckless seamen, while the exhilarating can passed from hand to hand, +strange oaths and dreadful denunciations breaking forth at times from +some of the excited crew against their enemy. At length the bustle of +re-embarking gradually subsided, and many of the crew descended to the +hold of the cutter, in quest of room to stretch their limbs, when a +clear, manly voice was heard rising above the deep in those strains that +a seaman most loves to hear. Air succeeded air, from different voices, +until even the spirit of harmony grew dull with fatigue, and verses +began to be heard where songs were expected, and fleeting lines +succeeded stanzas. The decks were soon covered with prostrate men, +seeking their natural rest under the open heavens, and perhaps dreaming, +as they yielded heavily to the rolling of the vessel, of scenes of +other times in their own hemisphere. The dark glances of Katherine were +concealed beneath her falling lids: and even Cecilia, with her head +bowed on the shoulder of her cousin, slept sweetly in innocence and +peace. Boltrope groped his way into the hold among the seamen, where, +kicking one of the most fortunate of the men from his berth, he +established himself in his place with all that cool indifference to the +other's comfort that had grown with his experience, from the time when +he was treated thus cavalierly in his own person to the present moment. +In this manner head was dropped after head on the planks, the guns, or +on whatever first offered for a pillow, until Griffith and Barnstable, +alone, were left pacing the different sides of the quarter-deck in +haughty silence. + +Never did a morning watch appear so long to the two young sailors, who +were thus deprived, by resentment and pride, of that frank and friendly +communion that had for so many years sweetened the tedious hours of +their long and at times dreary service. To increase the embarrassment of +their situation, Cecilia and Katherine, suffering from the confinement +of the small and crowded cabin, sought the purer air of the deck, about +the time when the deepest sleep had settled on the senses of the wearied +mariners. They stood, leaning against the taffrail, discoursing with +each other in low and broken sentences; but a sort of instinctive +knowledge of the embarrassment which existed between their lovers caused +a guarded control over every look or gesture which might be construed +into an encouragement for one of the young men to advance at the expense +of the other. Twenty times, however, did the impatient Barnstable feel +tempted to throw off the awkward restraint, and approach his mistress; +but in each instance was he checked by the secret consciousness of +error, as well as by that habitual respect for superior rank that forms +a part of the nature of a sea-officer. On the other hand, Griffith +manifested no intention to profit by this silent concession in his +favor, but continued to pace the short quarter-deck, with strides +more hurried than ever; and was seen to throw many an impatient glance +towards that quarter of the heavens where the first signs of the +lingering day might be expected to appear. At length Katherine, with +a ready ingenuity, and perhaps with some secret coquetry, removed the +embarrassment by speaking first, taking care to address the lover of her +cousin: + +"How long are we condemned to these limited lodgings, Mr. Griffith?" she +asked; "truly, there is a freedom in your nautical customs, which, to +say the least, is novel to us females, who have been accustomed to the +division of space!" + +"The instant that there is light to discover the frigate, Miss Plowden," +he answered, "you shall be transferred from a vessel of an hundred to +one of twelve hundred tons. If your situation there be less comfortable +than when within the walls of St. Ruth, you will not forget that they +who live on the ocean claim it as a merit to despise the luxuries of the +land." + +"At least, sir," returned Katherine, with a sweet grace, which she well +knew how to assume on occasion, "what we shall enjoy will be sweetened +by liberty and embellished by a sailor's hospitality. To me, Cicely, the +air of this open sea is as fresh and invigorating as if it were wafted +from our own distant America!" + +"If you have not the arm of a patriot, you at least possess a most loyal +imagination, Miss Plowden," said Griffith, laughing; "this soft breeze +blows in the direction of the fens of Holland, instead of the broad +plains of America.--Thank God, there come the signs of day, at last! +unless the currents have swept the ship far to the north, we shall +surely see her with the light." + +This cheering intelligence drew the eyes of the fair cousins towards the +east, where their delighted looks were long fastened, while they +watched the glories of the sun rising over the water. As the morning had +advanced, a deeper gloom was spread across the ocean, and the stars were +gleaming in the heavens like balls of twinkling fire. But now a streak +of pale light showed itself along the horizon, growing brighter, and +widening at each moment, until long fleecy clouds became visible, where +nothing had been seen before but the dim base of the arch that overhung +the dark waters. This expanding light, which, in appearance, might be +compared to a silvery opening in the heavens, was soon tinged with +a pale flush, which quickened with sudden transitions into glows yet +deeper, until a belt of broad flame bounded the water, diffusing itself +more faintly towards the zenith, where it melted into the pearl-colored +sky, or played on the fantastic volumes of a few light clouds with +inconstant glimmering. While these beautiful transitions were still +before the eyes of the youthful admirers of their beauties, a voice was +heard above them, crying as if from the heavens: + +"Sail-ho! The frigate lies broad off to the seaward, sir!" + +"Ay, ay; you have been watching with one eye asleep, fellow," returned +Griffith, "or we should have heard you before! Look a little north of +the place where the glare of the sun is coming, Miss Plowden, and you +will be able to see our gallant vessel." + +An involuntary cry of pleasure burst from the lips of Katherine, as she +followed his directions, and first beheld the frigate through the medium +of the fluctuating colors of the morning. The undulating outline of the +lazy ocean, which rose and fell heavily against the bright boundary +of the heavens, was without any relief to distract the eye as it fed +eagerly on the beauties of the solitary ship. She was riding sluggishly +on the long seas, with only two of her lower and smaller sails spread, +to hold her in command; but her tall masts and heavy yards were painted +against the fiery sky in strong lines of deep black, while even the +smallest cord in the mazes of her rigging might be distinctly traced, +stretching from spar to spar, with the beautiful accuracy of a picture. +At moments, when her huge hull rose on a billow and was lifted against +the background of the sky, its shape and dimensions were brought into +view; but these transient glimpses were soon lost, as it settled into +the trough, leaving the waving spars bowing gracefully towards the +waters, as if about to follow the vessel into the bosom of the deep. As +a clearer light gradually stole on the senses, the delusion of colors +and distance vanished together, and when a flood of day preceded the +immediate appearance of the sun, the ship became plainly visible within +a mile of the cutter, her black hull checkered with ports, and her high, +tapering masts exhibiting their proper proportions and hues. + +At the first cry of "A sail!" the crew of the Alacrity had been aroused +from their slumbers by the shrill whistle of the boatswain, and long +before the admiring looks of the two cousins had ceased to dwell on +the fascinating sight of morning chasing night from the hemisphere, the +cutter was again in motion to join her consort. It seemed but a moment +before their little vessel was in, what the timid females thought, a +dangerous proximity to the frigate, under whose lee she slowly passed, +in order to admit of the following dialogue between Griffith and his +aged commander: + +"I rejoice to see you, Mr. Griffith!" cried the captain, who stood in +the channel of his ship, waving his hat in the way of cordial greeting. +"You are welcome back, Captain Manual, welcome, welcome, all of you, +my boys! as welcome as a breeze in the calm latitudes." As his eye, +however, passed along the deck of the Alacrity, it encountered the +shrinking figures of Cecilia and Katherine; and a dark shade of +displeasure crossed his decent features, while he added: "How's this, +gentlemen? The frigate of Congress is neither a ballroom nor a church, +that is to be thronged with women!" + +"Ay, ay," muttered Boltrope to his friend the chaplain, "now the old man +has hauled out his mizzen, you'll see him carry a weather-helm! He wakes +up about as often as the trades shift their points, and that's once in +six months. But when there has been a neap-tide in his temper for any +time, you're sure to find it followed by a flood with a vengeance. Let +us hear what the first lieutenant can say in favor of his petticoat +quality!" + +The blushing sky had not exhibited a more fiery glow than gleamed in the +fine face of Griffith for a moment; but, struggling with his disgust, he +answered with bitter emphasis: + +"'Twas the pleasure of Mr. Gray, sir, to bring off the prisoners." + +"Of Mr. Gray!" repeated the captain, instantly losing every trace of +displeasure in an air of acquiescence. "Come-to, sir, on the same tack +with the ship, and I will hasten to order the accommodation-ladder +rigged, to receive our guests!" + +Boltrope listened to this sudden alteration in the language of his +commander with sufficient wonder; nor was it until he had shaken +his head repeatedly, with the manner of one who saw deeper than his +neighbors into a mystery, that he found leisure to observe: + +"Now, parson, I suppose if you held an almanac in your fist, you'd think +you could tell which way we shall have the wind to-morrow! but damn +me, priest, if better calculators than you haven't failed! Because +a lubberly--no, he's a thorough seaman, I'll say that for the +fellow!--because a pilot chooses to say, 'Bring me off these here +women,' the ship is to be so cluttered with she-cattle, that a man will +be obligated to spend half his time in making his manners! Now mind what +I tell you, priest, this very frolic will cost Congress the price of +a year's wages for an able-bodied seaman in bunting and canvas for +screens; besides the wear and tear of running-gear in shortening sail, +in order that the women need not be 'stericky in squalls!" + +The presence of Mr. Boltrope being required to take charge of the +cutter, the divine was denied an opportunity of dissenting from the +opinions of his rough companion; for the loveliness of their novel +shipmates had not failed to plead loudly in their favor with every +man in the cutter whose habits and ideas had not become rigidly set in +obstinacy. + +By the time the Alacrity was hove-to, with her head towards the frigate, +the long line of boats that she had been towing during the latter part +of the night were brought to her side, and filled with men. A wild +scene of unbridled merriment and gayety succeeded, while the seamen were +exchanging the confinement of the prize for their accustomed lodgings +in the ship, during which the reins of discipline were slightly relaxed. +Loud laughter was echoed from boat to boat, as they glided by each +other; and rude jests, interlarded with quaint humors and strange +oaths, were freely bandied from mouth to mouth. The noise, however, +soon ceased, and the passage of Colonel Howard and his wards was then +effected with less precipitancy and due decorum. Captain Munson, who had +been holding a secret dialogue with Griffith and the Pilot, received his +unexpected guests with plain hospitality, but with an evident desire +to be civil. He politely yielded to their service his two convenient +staterooms, and invited them to partake, in common with himself, of the +comforts of the great cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + "Furious press the hostile squadron, + Furious he repels their rage. + Loss of blood at length enfeebles; + Who can war with thousands wage?" + _Spanish War Song._ + + +We cannot detain the narrative to detail the scenes which busy wonder, +aided by the relation of divers marvelous feats, produced among the +curious seamen who remained in the ship, and their more fortunate +fellows who had returned in glory from an expedition to the land. For +nearly an hour the turbulence of a general movement was heard, issuing +from the deep recesses of the frigate, and the boisterous sounds of +hoarse merriment were listened to by the officers in indulgent silence; +but all these symptoms of unbridled humor ceased by the time the morning +repast was ended, when the regular sea-watch was set, and the greater +portion of those whose duty did not require their presence on the +vessel's deck, availed themselves of the opportunity to repair the loss +of sleep sustained in the preceding night. Still no preparations were +made to put the ship in motion, though long and earnest consultations, +which were supposed to relate to their future destiny, were observed +by the younger officers to be held between their captain, the first +lieutenant, and the mysterious Pilot. The latter threw many an anxious +glance along the eastern horizon, searching it minutely with his glass, +and then would turn his impatient looks at the low, dense bank of fog, +which, stretching across the ocean like a barrier of cloud, entirely +intercepted the view towards the south. To the north and along the land +the air was clear, and the sea without a spot of any kind; but in the +east a small white sail had been discovered since the opening of day, +which was gradually rising above the water, and assuming the appearance +of a vessel of some size. Every officer on the quarter-deck in his +turn had examined this distant sail, and had ventured an opinion on its +destination and character; and even Katherine, who with her cousin was +enjoying, in the open air, the novel beauties of the ocean, had been +tempted to place her sparkling eye to a glass, to gaze at the stranger. + +"It is a collier," Griffith said, "who has hauled from the land in the +late gale, and who is luffing up to his course again. If the wind holds +here in the south, and he does not get into that fog-bank, we can stand +off for him and get a supply of fuel before eight bells are struck." + +"I think his head is to the northward, and that he is steering off the +wind," returned the Pilot, in a musing manner, "If that Dillon succeeded +in getting his express far enough along the coast, the alarm has been +spread, and we must be wary. The convoy of the Baltic trade is in the +North Sea, and news of our presence could easily have been taken off to +it by some of the cutters that line the coast, I could wish to get the +ship as far south as the Helder!" + +"Then we lose this weather tide!" exclaimed the impatient Griffith; +"surely we have the cutter as a lookout! besides, by beating into the +fog, we shall lose the enemy, if enemy it be, and it is thought meet for +an American frigate to skulk from her foes!" + +The scornful expression that kindled the eye of the Pilot, like a gleam +of sunshine lighting for an instant some dark dell and laying bare its +secrets, was soon lost in the usually quiet look of his glance, though +he hesitated like one who was struggling with his passions before he +answered: + +"If prudence and the service of the States require it, even this proud +frigate must retreat and hide from the meanest of her enemies. My +advice, Captain Munson, is, that you make sail, and beat the ship to +windward, as Mr. Griffith has suggested, and that you order the cutter +to precede us, keeping more in with the land." + +The aged seaman, who evidently suspended his orders only to receive an +intimation of the other's pleasure, immediately commanded his youthful +assistant to issue the necessary mandates to put these measures in +force. Accordingly, the Alacrity, which vessel had been left under the +command of the junior lieutenant of the frigate, was quickly under way; +and, making short stretches to windward, she soon entered the bank of +fog, and was lost to the eye. In the mean time the canvas of the ship +was loosened, and spread leisurely, in order not to disturb the portion +of the crew who were sleeping; and, following her little consort, she +moved heavily through the water, bearing up against the dull breeze. + +The quiet of regular duty had succeeded to the bustle of making sail; +and, as the rays of the sun fell less obliquely on the distant land, +Katherine and Cecilia were amusing Griffith by vain attempts to point +out the rounded eminences which they fancied lay in the vicinity of the +deserted mansion of St. Ruth. Barnstable, who had resumed his former +station in the frigate as her second lieutenant, was pacing the opposite +side of the quarter-deck, holding under his arm the speaking-trumpet, +which denoted that he held the temporary control of the motions of the +ship, and inwardly cursing the restraint that kept him from the side of +his mistress. At this moment of universal quiet, when nothing above +low dialogues interrupted the dashing of the waves as they were thrown +lazily aside by the bows of the vessel, the report of a light cannon +burst out of the barrier of fog, and rolled by them on the breeze, +apparently vibrating with the rising and sinking of the waters. + +"There goes the cutter!" exclaimed Griffith, the instant the sound was +heard. + +"Surely," said the captain, "Somers is not so indiscreet as to scale his +guns, after the caution he has received!" + +"No idle scaling of guns is intended there," said the Pilot, straining +his eyes to pierce the fog, but soon turning away in disappointment at +his inability to succeed--"that gun is shotted, and has been fired +in the hurry of a sudden signal!--can your lookouts see nothing, Mr. +Barnstable?" + +The lieutenant of the watch hailed the man aloft, and demanded if +anything were visible in the direction of the wind, and received for +answer that the fog intercepted the view in that quarter of the heavens, +but that the sail in the east was a ship, running large, or before the +wind. The Pilot shook his head doubtingly at this information, but still +he manifested a strong reluctance to relinquish the attempt of getting +more to the southward. Again he communed with the commander of the +frigate, apart from all other ears; and while they yet deliberated, a +second report was heard, leaving no doubt that the Alacrity was firing +signal-guns for their particular attention. + +"Perhaps," said Griffith, "he wishes to point out his position, or to +ascertain ours; believing that we are lost like himself in the mist" + +"We have our compasses!" returned the doubting captain; "Somers has a +meaning in what he says!" + +"See!" cried Katherine, with girlish delight, "see, my cousin! see, +Barnstable! how beautifully that vapor is wreathing itself in clouds +above the smoky line of fog! It stretches already into the very heavens +like a lofty pyramid!" + +Barnstable sprang lightly on a gun, as he repeated her words: + +"Pyramids of fog! and wreathing clouds! By heaven!" he shouted, "'tis +a tall ship! Royals, skysails, and stud-dingsails all abroad! She is +within a mile of us, and comes down like a racehorse, with a spanking +breeze, dead before it! Now know we why Somers is speaking in the mist!" + +"Ay," cried Griffith, "and there goes the Alacrity, just breaking out of +the fog, hovering in for the land!" + +"There is a mighty hull under all that cloud of canvas, Captain Munson," +said the observant but calm Pilot: "it is time, gentlemen, to edge away +to leeward." + +"What, before we know from whom we run!" cried Griffith; "my life on +it, there is no single ship King George owns but would tire of the sport +before she had played a full game of bowls with--" + +The haughty air of the young man was daunted by the severe look he +encountered in the eye of the Pilot, and he suddenly ceased, though +inwardly chafing with impatient pride. + +"The same eye that detected the canvas above the fog might have seen the +flag of a vice-admiral fluttering still nearer the heavens," returned +the collected stranger; "and England, faulty as she may be, is yet too +generous to place a flag-officer in time of war in command of a frigate, +or a captain in command of a fleet. She knows the value of those who +shed their blood in her behalf, and it is thus that she is so well +served! Believe me, Captain Munson, there is nothing short of a ship of +the line under that symbol of rank and that broad show of canvas!" + +"We shall see, sir, we shall see," returned the old officer, whose +manner grew decided, as the danger appeared to thicken; "beat to +quarters, Mr. Griffith, for we have none but enemies to expect on this +coast" + +The order was instantly issued, when Griffith remarked, with a more +temperate zeal: + +"If Mr. Gray be right, we shall have reason to thank God that we are so +light of heel!" + +The cry of "a strange vessel close aboard the frigate" having already +flown down the hatches, the ship was in an uproar at the first tap of +the drum. The seamen threw themselves from their hammocks, and lashing +them rapidly into long, hard bundles, they rushed to the decks, where +they were dexterously stowed in the netting, to aid the defences of the +upper part of the vessel. While this tumultuous scene was exhibiting, +Griffith gave a secret order to Merry, who disappeared, leading his +trembling cousins to a place of safety in the inmost depths of the ship. + +The guns were cleared of their lumber and loosened. The bulkheads were +knocked down, and the cabin relieved of its furniture; and the gun-deck +exhibited one unbroken line of formidable cannon, arranged in all the +order of a naval battery ready to engage. Arm-chests were thrown open, +and the decks strewed with pikes, cutlasses, pistols, and all the +various weapons for boarding. In short, the yards were slung, and every +other arrangement was made with a readiness and dexterity that were +actually wonderful, though all was performed amid an appearance of +disorder and confusion that rendered the ship another Babel during the +continuance of the preparations. In a very few minutes everything was +completed, and even the voices of the men ceased to be heard answering +to their names, as they were mustered at their stations, by their +respective officers. Gradually the ship became as quiet as the grave; +and when even Griffith or his commander found it necessary to speak, +their voices were calmer, and their tones more mild than usual. The +course of the vessel was changed to an oblique line from that in which +their enemy was approaching, though the appearance of flight was to be +studiously avoided to the last moment. When nothing further remained to +be done, every eye became fixed on the enormous pile of swelling canvas +that was rising, in cloud over cloud, far above the fog, and which was +manifestly moving, like driving vapor, swiftly to the north. Presently +the dull, smoky boundary of the mist which rested on the water was +pushed aside in vast volumes, and the long taper spars that projected +from the bowsprit of the strange ship issued from the obscurity, and +were quickly followed by the whole of the enormous fabric to which they +were merely light appendages. For a moment, streaks of reluctant vapor +clung to the huge floating pile; but they were soon shaken off by the +rapid vessel, and the whole of her black hull became distinct to the +eye. + +"One, two, three rows of teeth!" said Boltrope, deliberately counting +the tiers of guns that bristled along the sides of the enemy; "a +three-decker! Jack Manly would show his stern to such a fellow t, and +even the bloody Scotchman would run!" + +"Hard up with your helm, quartermaster!" cried Captain Munson; "there +is indeed no time to hesitate, with such an enemy within a quarter of +a mile! Turn the hands up, Mr. Griffith, and pack on the ship from her +trucks to her lower studdingsail-booms. Be stirring, sir, be stirring! +Hard up with your helm! Hard up, and be damn'd to you!" + +The unusual earnestness of their aged commander acted on the startled +crew like a voice from the deep, and they waited not for the usual +signals of the boatswain and drummer to be given, before they broke away +from their guns, and rushed tumultuously to aid in spreading the +desired canvas. There was one minute of ominous confusion, that to an +inexperienced eye would have foreboded the destruction of all order in +the vessel, during which every hand, and each tongue, seemed in motion; +but it ended in opening the immense folds of light duck which were +displayed along the whole line of the masts, far beyond the ordinary +sails, overshadowing the waters for a great distance, on either side +of the vessel. During the moment of inaction that succeeded this sudden +exertion, the breeze, which had brought up the three-decker, fell +fresher on the sails of the frigate, and she started away from her +dangerous enemy with a very perceptible advantage in point of sailing. + +"The fog rises!" cried Griffith; "give us but the wind for an hour, and +we shall run her out of gunshot!" + +"These nineties are very fast off the wind," returned the captain, in +a low tone, that was intended only for the ears of his first lieutenant +and the Pilot; "and we shall have a struggle for it." + +The quick eye of the stranger was glancing over the movements of his +enemy, while he answered: + +"He finds we have the heels of him already! he is making ready, and +we shall be fortunate to escape a broadside! Let her yaw a little, Mr. +Griffith; touch her lightly with the helm; if we are raked, sir, we are +lost!" + +The captain sprang on the taffrail of his ship with the activity of a +younger man, and in an instant he perceived the truth of the other's +conjecture. + +Both vessels now ran for a few minutes, keenly watching each other's +motions like two skilful combatants; the English ship making slight +deviations from the line of her course, and then, as her movements +were anticipated by the other, turning as cautiously in the opposite +direction, until a sudden and wide sweep of her huge bows told the +Americans plainly on which tack to expect her. Captain Munson made a +silent but impressive gesture with his arm, as if the crisis were too +important for speech, which indicated to the watchful Griffith the way +he wished the frigate sheered, to avoid the weight of the impending +danger. Both vessels whirled swiftly up to the wind, with their heads +towards the land; and as the huge black side of the three-decker, +checkered with its triple batteries, frowned full upon her foe, it +belched forth a flood of fire and smoke, accompanied by a bellowing roar +that mocked the surly moanings of the sleeping ocean. The nerves of the +bravest man in the frigate contracted their fibres, as the hurricane of +iron hurtled by them, and each eye appeared to gaze in stupid wonder, as +if tracing the flight of the swift engines of destruction. But the voice +of Captain Munson was heard in the din, shouting while he waved his hat +earnestly in the required direction: + +"Meet her! meet her with the helm, boy! meet her, Mr. Griffith, meet +her!" + +Griffith had so far anticipated this movement as to have already ordered +the head of the frigate to be turned in its former course, when, struck +by the unearthly cry of the last tones uttered by his commander, he bent +his head, and beheld the venerable seaman driven through the air, his +hat still waving, his gray hair floating in the wind, and his eye set in +the wild look of death. + +"Great God!" exclaimed the young man, rushing to the side of the ship, +where he was just in time to see the lifeless body disappear in the +waters that were dyed in its blood; "he has been struck by a shot! Lower +away the boat, lower away the jolly-boat, the barge, the tiger, the----" + +"'Tis useless," interrupted the calm, deep voice of the Pilot; "he has +met a warrior's end, and he sleeps in a sailor's grave! The ship is +getting before the wind again, and the enemy is keeping his vessel +away." + +The youthful lieutenant was recalled by these words to his duty, and +reluctantly turned his eyes away from the bloody spot on the waters, +which the busy frigate had already passed, to resume the command of the +vessel with a forced composure. + +"He has cut some of our running-gear," said the master, whose eye had +never ceased to dwell on the spars and rigging of the ship; "and there's +a splinter out of the maintopmast that is big enough for a fid! He +has let daylight through some of our canvas too; but, taking it +by-and-large, the squall has gone over and little harm done. Didn't I +hear something said of Captain Munson getting jammed by a shot?" + +"He is killed!" said Griffith, speaking in a voice that was yet husky +with horror--"he is dead, sir, and carried overboard; there is more need +that we forget not ourselves, in this crisis." + +"Dead!" said Boltrope, suspending the operation of his active jaws for a +moment, in surprise; "and buried in a wet jacket! Well, it is lucky 'tis +no worse; for damme if I did not think every stick in the ship would +have been cut out of her!" + +With this consolatory remark on his lips, the master walked slowly +forward, continuing his orders to repair the damages with a singleness +of purpose that rendered him, however uncouth as a friend, an invaluable +man in his station. + +Griffith had not yet brought his mind to the calmness that was so +essential to discharge the duties which had thus suddenly and awfully +devolved on him, when his elbow was lightly touched by the Pilot, who +had drawn closer to his side. + +"The enemy appear satisfied with the experiment," said the stranger; +"and as we work the quicker of the two, he loses too much ground to +repeat it, if he be a true seaman." + +"And yet as he finds we leave him so fast," returned Griffith, "he must +see that all his hopes rest in cutting us up aloft. I dread that he will +come by the wind again, and lay us under his broadside; we should need a +quarter of an hour to run without his range, if he were anchored!" + +"He plays a surer game--see you not that the vessel we made in the +eastern board shows the hull of a frigate? 'Tis past a doubt that they +are of one squadron, and that the expresses have sent them in our wake. +The English admiral has spread a broad clew, Mr. Griffith; and, as he +gathers in his ships, he sees that his game has been successful." + +The faculties of Griffith had been too much occupied with the hurry of +the chase to look at the ocean; but, startled at the information of the +Pilot, who spoke coolly, though like a man sensible of the existence of +approaching danger, he took the glass from the other, and with his own +eye examined the different vessels in sight. It is certain that the +experienced officer, whose flag was flying above the light sails of the +three-decker, saw the critical situation of his chase, and reasoned much +in the same manner as the Pilot, or the fearful expedient apprehended +by Griffith would have been adopted. Prudence, however, dictated that +he should prevent his enemy from escaping by pressing so closely on his +rear as to render it impossible for the American to haul across his bows +and run into the open sea between his own vessel and the nearest frigate +of his squadron. The unpractised reader will be able to comprehend the +case better by accompanying the understanding eye of Griffith, as it +glanced from point to point, following the whole horizon. To the west +lay the land, along which the Alacrity was urging her way industriously, +with the double purpose of keeping her consort abeam, and of avoiding +a dangerous proximity to their powerful enemy. To the east, bearing off +the starboard bow of the American frigate, was the vessel first seen, +and which now began to exhibit the hostile appearance of a ship of war, +steering in a line converging towards themselves, and rapidly drawing +nigher; while far in the northeast was a vessel as yet faintly +discerned, whose evolutions could not be mistaken by one who understood +the movements of nautical warfare. + +"We are hemmed in effectually," said Griffith, dropping the glass from +his eye; "and I know not but our wisest course would be to haul in to +the land, and, cutting everything light adrift, endeavor to pass the +broadside of the flag-ship." + +"Provided she left a rag of canvas to do it with!" returned the Pilot. +"Sir, 'tis an idle hope! She would strip your ship in ten minutes, to +her plankshears. Had it not been for a lucky wave on which so many of +her shot struck and glanced upwards, we should have nothing to boast of +left from the fire she has already given; we must stand on, and drop the +three-decker as far as possible." + +"But the frigates?" said Griffith, "What are we to do with the +frigates?" + +"Fight them!" returned the Pilot, in a low determined voice; "fight +them! Young man, I have borne the stars and stripes aloft in greater +straits than this, and even with honor! Think not that my fortune will +desert me now." + +"We shall have an hour of desperate battle!" + +"On that we may calculate; but I have lived through whole days of +bloodshed! You seem not one to quail at the sight of an enemy." + +"Let me proclaim your name to the men!" said Griffith; "'twill quicken +their blood, and at such a moment be a host in itself." + +"They want it not," returned the Pilot, checking the hasty zeal of the +other with his hand. "I would be unnoticed, unless I am known as becomes +me. I will share your Danger, but would not rob you of a tittle of +your glory. Should we come to grapple," he continued, while a smile of +conscious pride gleamed across his face, "I will give forth the word as +a war-cry, and, believe me, these English will quail before it!" + +Griffith submitted to the stranger's will; and, after they had +deliberated further on the nature of their evolutions, he gave his +attention again to the management of the vessel. The first object which +met his eye on turning from the Pilot was Colonel Howard, pacing the +quarter-deck with a determined brow and a haughty mien, as if already in +the enjoyment of that triumph which now seemed certain. + +"I fear, sir," said the young man, approaching him with respect, +"that you will soon find the deck unpleasant and dangerous; your wards +are----" + +"Mention not the unworthy term!" interrupted the colonel. "What greater +pleasure can there be than to inhale the odor of loyalty that is wafted +from yonder floating tower of the king?--And danger! you know but little +of old George Howard, young man, if you think he would for thousands +miss seeing that symbol of rebellion leveled before the flag of his +majesty." + +"If that be your wish, Colonel Howard," returned Griffith, biting his +lip as he looked around at the wondering seamen who were listeners, "you +will wait in vain; but I pledge you my word that when that time arrives +you shall be advised, and that your own hands shall do the ignoble +deed." + +"Edward Griffith, why not this moment? This is your moment of +probation--submit to the clemency of the crown, and yield your crew to +the royal mercy! In such a case I would remember the child of my brother +Harry's friend; and believe me, my name is known to the ministry. And +you, misguided and ignorant abettors of rebellion! Cast aside your +useless weapons, or prepare to meet the vengeance of yonder powerful and +victorious servant of your prince." + +"Fall back! back with ye, fellows!" cried Griffith, fiercely, to the men +who were gathering around the colonel, with looks of sullen vengeance. +"If a man of you dare approach him, he shall be cast into the sea." + +The sailors retreated at the order of their commander; but the elated +veteran had continued to pace the deck for many minutes before stronger +interests diverted the angry glances of the seamen to other objects. + +Notwithstanding the ship of the line was slowly sinking beneath the +distant waves, and in less than an hour from the time she had fired the +broadside, no more than one of her three tiers of guns was visible from +the deck of the frigate, she yet presented an irresistible obstacle +against retreat to the south. On the other hand, the ship first seen +drew so nigh as to render the glass no longer necessary in watching her +movements. She proved to be a frigate, though one so materially lighter +than the American as to have rendered her conquest easy, had not her +two consorts continued to press on for the scene of battle with such +rapidity. During the chase, the scene had shifted from the point +opposite to St. Ruth, to the verge of those shoals where our tale +commenced. As they approached the latter, the smallest of the English +ships drew so nigh as to render the combat unavoidable. Griffith and +his crew had not been idle in the intermediate time, but all the usual +preparations against the casualties of a sea-fight had been duly made, +when the drum once more called the men to their quarters, and the ship +was deliberately stripped of her unnecessary sails, like a prize-fighter +about to enter the arena, casting aside the encumbrances of dress. At +the instant she gave this intimation of her intention to abandon flight, +and trust the issue to the combat, the nearest English frigate also took +in her light canvas in token of her acceptance of the challenge. + +"He is but a little fellow," said Griffith to the Pilot, who hovered at +his elbow with a sort of fatherly interest in the other's conduct of the +battle, "though he carries a stout heart." + +"We must crush him at a blow," returned the stranger; "not a shot must +be delivered until our yards are locking." + +"I see him training his twelves upon us already; we may soon expect his +fire." + +"After standing the brunt of a ninety-gun ship," observed the collected +Pilot, "we shall not shrink from the broadside of a two-and-thirty." + +"Stand to your guns, men!" cried Griffith, through his trumpet--"not a +shot is to be fired without the order." + +This caution, so necessary to check the ardor of the seamen, was hardly +uttered, before their enemy became wrapped in sheets of fire and volumes +of smoke, as gun after gun hurled its iron missiles at their vessel +in quick succession. Ten minutes might have passed, the two vessels +sheering close to each other every foot they advanced, during which time +the crew of the American were compelled, by their commander, to suffer +the fire of their adversary, without returning a shot. This short +period, which seemed an age to the seamen, was distinguished in their +vessel by deep silence. Even the wounded and dying, who fell in every +part of the ship, stifled their groans, under the influence of the +severe discipline, which gave a character to every man, and each +movement of the vessel; and those officers who were required to speak +were heard only in the lowest tones of resolute preparation. At length +the ship slowly entered the skirts of the smoke that enveloped their +enemy; and Griffith heard the man who stood at his side whisper the word +"Now." + +"Let them have it!" cried Griffith, in a voice that was heard in the +remotest parts of the ship. + +The shout that burst from the seamen appeared to lift the decks of +the vessel, and the affrighted frigate trembled like an aspen with the +recoil of her own massive artillery, that shot forth a single sheet of +flame, the sailors having disregarded, in their impatience, the usual +order of firing. The effect of the broadside on the enemy was still more +dreadful; for a death-like silence succeeded to the roar of the guns, +which was only broken by the shrieks and execrations that burst from +her, like the moanings of the damned. During the few moments in which +the Americans were again loading their cannon, and the English were +recovering from their confusion, the vessel of the former moved slowly +past her antagonist, and was already doubling across her bows, when the +latter was suddenly, and, considering the inequality of their forces, +it may be added desperately, headed into her enemy. The two frigates +grappled. The sudden and furious charge made by the Englishman, as he +threw his masses of daring seamen along his bowsprit, and out of his +channels, had nearly taken Griffith by surprise; but Manual, who had +delivered his first fire with the broadside, now did good service, by +ordering his men to beat back the intruders, by a steady and continued +discharge. Even the wary Pilot lost sight of their other foes, in the +high daring of that moment, and smiles of stern pleasure were exchanged +between him and Griffith as both comprehended, at a glance, their +advantages. + +"Lash his bowsprit to our mizzenmast," shouted the lieutenant, "and we +will sweep his decks as he lies!" + +Twenty men sprang eagerly forward to execute the order, among the +foremost of whom were Boltrope and the stranger. + +"Ay, now he's our own!" cried the busy master, "and we will take an +owner's liberties with him, and break him up--for by the eternal----" + +"Peace, rude man," said the Pilot, in a voice of solemn remonstrance; +"at the next instant you may face your God; mock not his awful name!" + +The master found time, before he threw himself from the spar on the deck +of the frigate again, to cast a look of amazement at his companion, who, +with a steady mien, but with an eye that lighted with a warrior's +ardor, viewed the battle that raged around him, like one who marked its +progress to control the result. + +The sight of the Englishmen rushing onward with shouts and bitter +menaces warmed the blood of Colonel Howard, who pressed to the side of +the frigate, and encouraged his friends, by his gestures and voice, to +come on. + +"Away with ye, old croaker!" cried the master, seizing him by the +collar; "away with ye to the hold, or I'll order you fired from a gun." + +"Down with your arms, rebellious dog!" shouted the colonel, carried +beyond himself by the ardor of the fray; "down to the dust, and implore +the mercy of your injured prince!" + +Invigorated by a momentary glow, the veteran grappled with his brawny +antagonist; but the issue of the short struggle was yet suspended, when +the English, driven back by the fire of the marines, and the menacing +front that Griffith with his boarders presented, retreated to the +forecastle of their own ship, and attempted to return the deadly blows +they were receiving, in their hull, from the cannon that Barnstable +directed. A solitary gun was all they could bring to bear on the +Americans; but this, loaded with cannister, was fired so near as to send +its glaring flame into the very faces of their enemies. The struggling +colonel, who was already sinking beneath the arm of his foe, felt the +rough grasp loosen from his throat at the flash, and the two combatants +sunk powerless on their knees facing each other. + +"How, now, brother!" exclaimed Boltrope, with a smile of grim +fierceness; "some of that grist has gone to your mill, ha!" + +No answer could, however, be given before the yielding forms of both +fell to the deck, where they lay helpless, amid the din of the battle +and the wild confusion of the eager combatants. + +Notwithstanding the furious struggle they witnessed, the elements +did not cease their functions; and, urged by the breeze, and lifted +irresistibly on a wave, the American ship was forced through the water +still further across the bows of her enemy. The idle fastenings of hemp +and iron were snapped asunder like strings of tow, and Griffith saw his +own ship borne away from the Englishman at the instant that the bowsprit +of the latter was torn from its lashings, and tumbled into the sea, +followed by spar after spar, until nothing of all her proud tackling was +remaining, but the few parted and useless ropes that were left dangling +along the stumps of her lower masts. As his own stately vessel moved +from the confusion she had caused, and left the dense cloud of smoke +in which her helpless antagonist lay, the eye of the young man glanced +anxiously toward the horizon, where he now remembered he had more foes +to contend against. + +"We have shaken off the thirty-two most happily!" he said to the Pilot, +who followed his motions with singular interest; "but here is another +fellow sheering in for us, who shows as many ports as ourselves, and who +appears inclined for a closer interview; besides, the hull of the ninety +is rising again, and I fear she will be down but too soon!" + +"We must keep the use of our braces and sails," returned the Pilot, "and +on no account close with the other frigate; we must play a double game, +sir, and fight this new adversary with our heels as well as with our +guns." + +"'Tis time then that we were busy, for he is shortening sail, and as he +nears so fast we may expect to hear from him every minute; what do you +propose, sir?" + +"Let him gather in his canvas," returned the Pilot; "and when he thinks +himself snug, we can throw out a hundred men at once upon our yards, +and spread everything alow and aloft; we may then draw ahead of him +by surprise; if we can once get him in our wake, I have no fears of +dropping them all." + +"A stern chase is a long chase," cried Griffith, "and the thing may do! +Clear up the decks, here, and carry down the wounded; and, as we have +our hands full, the poor fellows who have done with us must go overboard +at once." + +This melancholy duty was instantly attended to, while the young seaman +who commanded the frigate returned to his duty with the absorbed air of +one who felt its high responsibility. These occupations, however, did +not prevent his hearing the sounds of Barnstable's voice calling eagerly +to young Merry. Bending his head towards the sound, Griffith beheld +his friend looking anxiously up the main hatch, with a face grimed with +smoke, his coat off, and his shirt bespattered with human blood. "Tell +me, boy," he said, "is Mr. Griffith untouched? They say that a shot came +in upon the quarter-deck that tripped up the heels of half a dozen." + +Before Merry could answer, the eyes of Barnstable, which even while he +spoke was scanning the state of the vessel's rigging, encountered +the kind looks of Griffith, and from that moment perfect harmony was +restored between the friends. + +"Ah! you are there, Griff, and with a whole skin, I see," cried +Barnstable, smiling with pleasure; "they have passed poor Boltrope down +into one of his own storerooms! If that fellow's bowsprit had held +on ten minutes longer, what a mark I should have made on his face and +eyes!" + +"'Tis perhaps best as it is," returned Griffith; "but what have you done +with those whom we are most bound to protect?" + +Barnstable made a significant gesture towards the depths of the vessel, +as he answered: + +"On the cables; safe as wood, iron, and water can keep them--though +Katherine has had her head up three times to----" + +A summons from the Pilot drew Griffith away; and the young officers were +compelled to forget their individual feelings, in the pressing duties +of their stations. The ship which the American frigate had now to oppose +was a vessel of near her own size and equipage; and when Griffith looked +at her again, he perceived that she had made her preparations to assert +her equality in manful fight. + +Her sails had been gradually reduced to the usual quantity, and, +by certain movements on her decks the lieutenant and his constant +attendant, the Pilot, well understood that she only wanted to lessen her +distance a few hundred yards to begin the action. + +"Now spread everything," whispered the stranger. + +Griffith applied the trumpet to his mouth, and shouted in a voice that +was carried even to his enemy: "Let fall-out with your booms--sheet +home--hoist away of everything!" + +The inspiring cry was answered by a universal bustle; fifty men flew +out on the dizzy heights of the different spars, while broad sheets +of canvas rose as suddenly along the masts as if some mighty bird were +spreading its wings. The Englishman instantly perceived his mistake, and +he answered the artifice by a roar of artillery. Griffith watched +the effects of the broadside with an absorbing interest, as the shot +whistled above his head; but when he perceived his masts untouched, and +the few unimportant ropes only that were cut, he replied to the uproar +with a burst of pleasure. A few men were, however, seen clinging with +wild frenzy to the cordage, dropping from rope to rope like wounded +birds fluttering through a tree, until they fell heavily into the ocean, +the sullen ship sweeping by them in cold indifference. At the next +instant the spars and masts of their enemy exhibited a display of men +similar to their own, when Griffith again placed the trumpet to his +mouth, and shouted aloud: + +"Give it to them; drive them from their yards, boys; scatter them with +your grape--unreeve their rigging!" + +The crew of the American wanted but little encouragement to enter on +this experiment with hearty good will, and the close of his cheering +words were uttered amid the deafening roar of his own cannon. The +Pilot had, however, mistaken the skill and readiness of their foe; +for, notwithstanding the disadvantageous circumstances under which the +Englishman increased his sail, the duty was steadily and dexterously +performed. + +The two ships were now running rapidly on parallel lines, hurling at +each other their instruments of destruction with furious industry, and +with severe and certain loss to both, though with no manifest advantage +in favor of either. Both Griffith and the Pilot witnessed with deep +concern this unexpected defeat of their hopes; for they could not +conceal from themselves that each moment lessened their velocity through +the water, as the shot of their enemy stripped the canvas from the +yards, or dashed aside the lighter spars in their terrible progress. + +"We find our equal here!" said Griffith to the stranger. "The ninety is +heaving up again like a mountain; and if we continue to shorten sail at +this rate, she will soon be down upon us!" + +"You say true, sir," returned the Pilot, musing; "the man shows judgment +as well as spirit: but--" + +He was interrupted by Merry, who rushed from the forward part of the +vessel, his whole face betokening the eagerness of his spirit, and the +importance of his intelligence. + +"The breakers!" he cried, when nigh enough to be heard amid the din: "we +are running dead on a ripple, and the sea is white not two hundred yards +ahead." + +The Pilot jumped on a gun, and bending to catch a glimpse through the +smoke, he shouted, in those clear, piercing tones that could be even +heard among the roaring of the cannon: "Port, port your helm! we are on +the Devil's Grip! pass up the trumpet, sir; port your helm, fellow; +give it them, boys--give it to the proud English dogs!" Griffith +unhesitatingly relinquished the symbol of his rank, fastening his +own firm look on the calm but quick eye of the Pilot, and gathering +assurance from the high confidence he read in the countenance of the +stranger. The seamen were too busy with their cannon and their rigging +to regard the new danger; and the frigate entered one of the dangerous +passes of the shoals, in the heat of a severely contested battle. The +wondering looks of a few of the older sailors glanced at the sheets of +foam that flew by them, in doubt whether the wild gambols of the waves +were occasioned by the shot of the enemy, when suddenly the noise of +cannon was succeeded by the sullen wash of the disturbed element, and +presently the vessel glided out of her smoky shroud, and was boldly +steering in the centre of the narrow passages. For ten breathless +minutes longer the Pilot continued to hold an uninterrupted sway, during +which the vessel ran swiftly by ripples and breakers, by streaks of foam +and darker passages of deep water, when he threw down his trumpet, and +exclaimed: + +"What threatened to be our destruction has proved our salvation! Keep +yonder hill crowned with wood one point open from the church tower at +its base, and steer east by north; you will run through these shoals on +that course in an hour, and by so doing you will gain five leagues of +your enemy, who will have to double their tail." + +The moment he stepped from the gun, the Pilot lost the air of authority +that had so singularly distinguished his animated form, and even the +close interest he had manifested in the incidents of the day became lost +in the cold, settled reserve he had affected during his intercourse with +his present associates. Every officer in the ship, after the breathless +suspense of uncertainly had passed, rushed to those places where a view +might be taken of their enemies. The ninety was still steering bol'ly +onward, and had already approached the two-and-thirty, which lay a +helpless wreck, rolling on the unruly seas that were rudely tossing her +on their wanton billows. The frigate last engaged was running along the +edge of the ripple, with her torn sails flying loosely in the air, her +ragged spars tottering in the breeze, and everything above her hull +exhibiting the confusion of a sudden and unlooked-for check to her +progress. The exulting taunts and mirthful congratulations of the +seamen, as they gazed at the English ships, were, however, soon +forgotten in the attention that was required to their own vessel. The +drums beat the retreat, the guns were lashed, the wounded again removed, +and every individual able to keep the deck was required to lend his +assistance in repairing the damages of the frigate and securing her +masts. + +The promised hour carried the ship safely through all the dangers, which +were much lessened by daylight; and by the time the sun had begun to +fall over the land, Griffith, who had not quitted the deck during the +day, beheld his vessel once more cleared of the confusion of the +chase and battle, and ready to meet another foe. At this period he was +summoned to the cabin, at the request of the ship's chaplain Delivering +the charge of the frigate to Barnstable, who had been his active +assistant, no less in their subsequent labors than in the combat, he +hastily divested himself of the vestiges of the fight, and proceeded to +obey the repeated and earnest call. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + "Whither, 'midst falling dew, + While glow the heavens with the last steps of day, + Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue + Thy solitary way?" + _Bryant._ + + +When the young seaman who now commanded the frigate descended from the +quarter-deck in compliance with the of ten-repeated summons, he found +the vessel restored to the same neatness as if nothing had occurred to +disturb its order. The gun-deck had been cleansed of its horrid stains, +and the smoke of the fight had long since ascended through the hatches +and mingled with the clouds that flitted above the ship. As he walked +along the silent batteries, even the urgency of his visit could not +prevent him from glancing his eyes towards the splintered sides, those +terrible vestiges, by which the paths of the shot of their enemy might +be traced; and by the time he tapped lightly at the door of the cabin, +his quick look had embraced every material injury the vessel had +sustained in her principal points of defence. The door was opened by the +surgeon of the frigate, who, as he stepped aside to permit Griffith to +enter, shook his head with that air of meaning, which, in one of his +profession, is understood to imply the abandonment of all hopes, and +then immediately quitted the apartment, in order to attend to those who +might profit by his services. + +The reader is not to imagine that Griffith had lost sight of Cecilia and +her cousin during the occurrences of that eventful day: on the contrary, +his troubled fancy had presented her terror and distress, even in the +hottest moments of the fight; and the instant that the crew were called +from their guns he had issued an order to replace the bulkheads of the +cabin, and to arrange its furniture for their accommodation, though the +higher and imperious duties of his station had precluded his attending +to their comfort in person. He expected, therefore, to find the order +of the rooms restored; but he was by no means prepared to encounter the +scene he was now to witness. + +Between two of the sullen cannon, which gave such an air of singular +wildness to the real comfort of the cabin, was placed a large couch, on +which the colonel was lying, evidently near his end. Cecilia was weeping +by his side, her dark ringlets falling in unheeded confusion around her +pale features, and sweeping in their rich exuberance the deck on which +she kneeled. Katherine leaned tenderly over the form of the dying +veteran, while her dark, tearful eyes seemed to express self-accusation +blended with deep commiseration. A few attendants of both sexes +surrounded the solemn scene, all of whom appeared to be under the +influence of the hopeless intelligence which the medical officer had +but that moment communicated. The servants of the ship had replaced the +furniture with a care that mocked the dreadful struggle that so recently +disfigured the warlike apartment, and the stout square frame of Boltrope +occupied the opposite settee, his head resting on the lap of the +captain's steward, and his hand gently held in the grasp of his friend +the chaplain. Griffith had heard of the wound of the master, but his +own eyes now conveyed the first intelligence of the situation of Colonel +Howard. When the shock of this sudden discovery had a little subsided, +the young man approached the couch of the latter, and attempted to +express his regret and pity, in a voice that afforded an assurance of +his sincerity. + +"Say no more, Edward Griffith," interrupted the colonel, waving his +hand feebly for silence; "it seemeth to be the will of God that this +rebellion should triumph, and it is not for vain man to impeach the +acts of Omnipotence. To my erring faculties, it wears an appearance +of mystery, but doubtless it Is to answer the purpose of his own +inscrutable providence. I have sent for you, Edward, on a business that +I would fain see accomplished before I die, that it may not be said that +old George Howard neglected his duty, even in his last moments. You +see this weeping child at my side; tell me, young man, do you love the +maiden?" + +"Am I to be asked such a question?" exclaimed Griffith. + +"And will you cherish her--will you supply to her the places of father +and mother--will you become the fond guardian of her innocence and +weakness?" + +Griffith could give no other answer than a fervent pressure of the hand +he had clasped. + +"I believe you," continued the dying man; "for however he may have +forgotten to inculcate his own loyalty, worthy Hugh Griffith could never +neglect to make his son a man of honor. I had weak and perhaps evil +wishes in behalf of my late unfortunate kinsman, Mr. Christopher Dillon; +but, they have told me that he was false to his faith. If this be true, +I would refuse him the hand of the girl, though he claimed the fealty of +the British realms. But he has passed away, and I am about to follow him +into a world where we shall find but one Lord to serve; and it may have +been better for us both had we more remembered our duty to him, while +serving the princes of the earth. One thing further--know you this +officer of your Congress well--this Mr. Barnstable?" + +"I have sailed with him for years," returned Griffith, "and can answer +for him as myself." + +The veteran made an effort to rise, which in part succeeded, and he +fastened on the youth a look of keen scrutiny, that gave to his pallid +features an expression of solemn meaning, as he continued: + +"Speak not now, sir, as the Companion of his idle pleasures, and as the +unthinking associate commends his fellow, but remember that your opinion +is given to a dying man who leans on your judgment for advice. The +daughter of John Plowden is a trust not to be neglected, nor will +my death prove easy, if a doubt of her being worthily bestowed shall +remain." + +"He is a gentleman," returned Griffith, "and one whose heart is not less +kind than gallant--he loves your ward, and great as may be her merit, +he is deserving of it all.--Like myself, he has also loved the land that +gave him birth, before the land of his ancestors, but----" + +"That is now forgotten," interrupted the colonel; "after what I have +this day witnessed, I am forced to believe that it is the pleasure of +Heaven that you are to prevail! But sir, a disobedient inferior will +be apt to make an unreasonable commander. The recent contention between +you----" + +"Remember it not, dear sir," exclaimed Griffith with generous zeal; +"'twas unkindly provoked, and it is already forgotten and pardoned. He +has sustained me nobly throughout the day, and my life on it, that he +knows how to treat a woman as a brave man should!" + +"Then am I content!" said the veteran, sinking back on his couch; "let +him be summoned." + +The whispering message, which Griffith gave requesting Mr. Barnstable +to enter the cabin, was quickly conveyed, and he had appeared before his +friend deemed it discreet to disturb the reflections of the veteran +by again addressing him. When the entrance of the young sailor was +announced, the colonel again roused himself, and addressed his wondering +listener, though in a manner much less confiding and familiar than that +which he had adopted towards Griffith. + +"The declarations you made last night relative to my ward, the daughter +of the late Captain John Plowden, sir, have left me nothing to learn on +the subject of your wishes. Here, then, gentlemen, you both obtain the +reward of your attentions! Let that reverend divine hear you pronounce +the marriage vows, while I have strength to listen, that I may be a +witness against ye, in heaven, should ye forget their tenor!" + +"Not now, not now," murmured Cecilia; "oh, ask it not now, my uncle!" + +Katherine spoke not; but, deeply touched by the tender interest her +guardian manifested in her welfare, she bowed her face to her bosom, in +subdued feeling, and suffered the tears that had been suffusing her eyes +to roll down her cheeks in large drops, till they bathed the deck. + +"Yes, now, my love," continued the colonel, "or I fail in my duty. I go +shortly to stand face to face with your parents, my children; for the +man who, dying, expects not to meet worthy Hugh Griffith and honest Jack +Plowden in heaven can have no clear view of the rewards that belong to +lives of faithful service to the country, or of gallant loyalty to the +king! I trust no one can justly say that I ever forgot the delicacy due +to your gentle sex; but it is no moment for idle ceremony when time is +shortening into minutes, and heavy duties remain to be discharged. I +could not die in peace, children, were I to leave you here in the wide +ocean, I had almost said in the wide world, without that protection +which becomes your tender years and still more tender characters. If it +has pleased God to remove your guardian, let his place be supplied by +those he wills to succeed him!" + +Cecilia no longer hesitated, but she arose slowly from her knees, +and offered her hand to Griffith with an air of forced resignation. +Katherine submitted to be led by Barnstable to her side; and the +chaplain, who had been an affected listener to the dialogue, in +obedience to an expressive signal from the eye of Griffith, opened the +prayer-book from which he had been gleaning consolation for the dying +master, and commenced reading, in trembling tones, the marriage service. +The vows were pronounced by the weeping brides in voices more distinct +and audible than if they had been uttered amid the gay crowds that +usually throng a bridal; for though they were the irreclaimable words +that bound them forever to the men whose power over their feelings they +thus proclaimed to the world, the reserve of maiden diffidence was lost +in one engrossing emotion of solemnity, created by the awful presence +in which they stood. When the benediction was pronounced, the head +of Cecilia dropped on the shoulder of her husband, where she wept +violently, for a moment, and then resuming her place at the couch, she +once more knelt at the side of her uncle. Katherine received the warm +kiss of Barnstable passively, and returned to the spot whence she had +been led. + +Colonel Howard succeeded in raising his person to witness the ceremony, +and had answered to each prayer with a fervent "Amen." He fell back with +the last words; and a look of satisfaction shone in his aged and pallid +features, that declared the interest he had taken in the scene. + +"I thank you, my children," he at length uttered, "I thank you; for I +know how much you have sacrificed to my wishes. You will find all my +papers relative to the estates of my wards, gentlemen, in the hands of +my banker in London; and you will also find there my will, Edward, +by which you will learn that Cicely has not come to your arms an +unportioned bride. What my wards are in persons and manners your eyes +can witness, and I trust the vouchers in London will show that I have +not been an unfaithful steward to their pecuniary affairs!" + +"Name it not--say no more, or you will break my heart," cried Katherine, +sobbing aloud, in the violence of her remorse at having ever pained +so true a friend. "Oh! talk of yourself, think of yourself; we are +unworthy--at least I am unworthy of another thought!" + +The dying man extended a hand to her in kindness, and continued, though +his voice grew feebler as he spoke: + +"Then to return to myself--I would wish to lie, like my ancestors, in +the bosom of the earth--and in consecrated ground." + +"It shall be done," whispered Griffith, "I will see it done myself." + +"I thank thee, my son," said the veteran; "for such thou art to me +in being the husband of Cicely--you will find in my will that I have +liberated and provided for all my slaves--except those ungrateful +scoundrels who deserted their master--they have seized their own +freedom, and they need not be indebted to me for the same. There is, +Edward, also an unworthy legacy to the king; his majesty will deign to +receive it--from an old and faithful servant, and you will not miss the +trifling gift." A long pause followed, as if he had been summing up the +account of his earthly duties, and found them duly balanced, when he +added, "Kiss me, Cicely--and you, Katherine--I find you have the genuine +feelings of honest Jack, your father.--My eyes grow dim--which is the +hand of Griffith? Young gentleman, I have given you all that a fond old +man had to bestow--deal tenderly with the precious child--we have +not properly understood each other--I had mistaken both you and Mr. +Christopher Dillon, I believe; perhaps I may also have mistaken my +duty to America--but I was too old to change my politics or my +religion--I-I-I loved the king--God bless him--" + +His words became fainter and fainter as he proceeded; and the breath +deserted his body with this benediction on his livid lips, which the +proudest monarch might covet from so honest a man. + +The body was instantly borne into a stateroom by the attendants; and +Griffith and Barnstable supported their brides into the after-cabin, +where they left them seated on the sofa that lined the stern of the +ship, weeping bitterly, in each other's arms. + +No part of the preceding scene had been unobserved by Boltrope, whose +small, hard eyes were observed by the young men to twinkle, when they +returned into the state apartment; and they approached their wounded +comrade to apologize for the seeming neglect that their conduct had +displayed. + +"I heard you were hurt, Boltrope," said Griffith, taking him kindly by +the hand; "but as I know you are not unused to being marked by shot, I +trust we shall soon see you again on deck." + +"Ay, ay," returned the master, "you'll want no spy glasses to see the +old hulk as you launch it into the sea. I have had shot, as you say, +before now to tear my running-gear, and even to knock a splinter out +of some of my timbers; but this fellow has found his way into my +bread-room; and the cruise of life is up!" + +"Surely the case is not so bad, honest David," said Barnstable; "you +have kept afloat, to my knowledge, with a bigger hole in your skin than +this unlucky hit has made!" + +"Ay, ay," returned the master, "that was in my upper works, where the +doctor could get at it with a plug; but this chap has knocked away the +shifting-boards, and I feel as if the whole cargo was broken up. You +may say that Tourniquet rates me all the same as a dead man; for after +looking at the shot-hole, he has turned me over to the parson here, like +a piece of old junk which is only fit to be worked up into something +new. Captain Munson had a lucky time of it! I think you said, Mr. +Griffith, that the old gentleman was launched overboard with everything +standing, and that Death made but one rap at his door, before he took +his leave!" + +"His end was indeed sudden!" returned Griffith; "but it is what we +seamen must expect." + +"And for which there is so much the more occasion to be prepared," the +chaplain ventured to add, in a low, humble, and, perhaps, timid voice. + +The sailing-master looked keenly from one to the other as they spoke; +and, after a short pause, he continued, with an air of great submission: + +"'Twas his luck; and I suppose it is sinful to begrudge a man his lawful +luck. As for being prepared, parson, that is your business, and not +mine; therefore, as there is but little time to spare, why, the sooner +you set about it the better: and, to save unnecessary trouble I may as +well tell you not to strive to make too much of me; for, I must own it +to my shame, I never took learning kindly. If you can fit me for some +middling berth in the other world, like the one I hold in this ship, it +will suit me as well, and, perhaps, be easier to all hands of us." + +If there was a shade of displeasure blended with the surprise that +crossed the features of the divine at this extraordinary limitation of +his duties, it entirely disappeared when he considered more closely the +perfect expression of simplicity with which the dying master uttered his +wishes. After a long and melancholy pause, which neither Griffith or his +friend felt any inclination to interrupt, the chaplain replied: + +"It is not the province of man to determine on the decrees of the +merciful dispensations of the Deity; and nothing that I can do, Mr. +Boltrope, will have any weight in making up the mighty and irrevocable +decree. What I said to you last night, in our conversation on this very +subject, must still be fresh in your memory, and there is no good reason +why I should hold a different language to you now." + +"I can't say that I logg'd all that passed," returned the master; "and +that which I do recollect fell chiefly from myself, for the plain reason +that a man remembers his own better than his neighbor's ideas. And this +puts me in mind, Mr. Griffith, to tell you that one of the forty-two's +from the three-decker traveled across the forecastle, and cut the best +bower within a fathom of the clinch, as handily as an old woman would +clip her rotten yarn with a pair of tailor's shears! If you will be so +good as to order one of my mates to shift the cable end-for-end, and +make a new bend of it, I'll do as much for you another time." + +"Mention it not," said Griffith; "rest assured that everything shall be +done for the security of the ship in your department-I will superintend +the whole duty in person; and I would have you release your mind from +all anxiety on the subject, to attend to your more important interests +elsewhere." + +"Why," returned Boltrope, with a little show of pertinacity, "I have an +opinion that the cleaner a man takes his hands into the other world, +of the matters of duty in this the better he will be fitted to handle +anything new.--Now, the parson, here, undertook to lay down the doctrine +last night that it was no matter how well or how ill a man behaved +himself, so that he squared his conscience by the lifts and braces +of faith; which I take to be a doctrine that is not to be preached on +shipboard; for it would play the devil with the best ship's company that +was ever mustered." + +"Oh! no--no--dear Mr. Boltrope, you mistook me and my doctrine +altogether!" exclaimed the chaplain; "at least you mistook----" + +"Perhaps, sir," interrupted Griffith, gently, "our honest friend will +not be more fortunate now. Is there nothing earthly that hangs upon your +mind, Boltrope? no wish to be remembered to any one, nor any bequest to +make of your property?" + +"He has a mother, I know," said Barnstable in a low voice, "he often +spoke of her to me in the night-watches, I think she must still be +living." + +The master, who distinctly heard his young shipmates continued for more +than a minute rolling the tobacco, which he still retained, from one +side of his mouth to the other, with an industry that denoted singular +agitation for the man; and raising one of his broad hands, with the +other he picked the worn skin from fingers which were already losing +their brownish yellow hue in the fading color of death, before he +answered: + +"Why, yes, the old woman still keeps her grip upon life, which is more +than can be said of her son David. The old man was lost the time the +Susan and Dorothy was wrecked on the back of Cape Cod; you remember it, +Mr. Barnstable? you were then a lad, sailing on whaling voyages from the +island: well, ever since that gale, I've endeavored to make smooth water +for the old woman myself, though she has had but a rough passage of +it, at the best; the voyage of life, with her, having been pretty much +crossed by rugged weather and short stores." + +"And you would have us carry some message to her?" said Griffith, +kindly. + +"Why, as to messages," continued the master, whose voice was +rapidly growing more husky and broken, "there never has been many +compliments--passed between us, for the reason--that she is not more +used to receive them--than I am to make them. But if any one of you will +overhaul--the purser's books, and see what there is standing here--to +my side of the leaf--and take a little pains to get it to the old +woman--you will find her moored in the lee side of a house--ay, here it +is, No. 10 Cornhill, Boston. I took care--to get her a good warm berth, +seeing that a woman of eighty wants a snug anchorage--at her time of +life, if ever." + +"I will do it myself, David," cried Barnstable, struggling to conceal +his emotion; "I will call on her the instant we let go our anchor in +Boston harbor; and as your credit can't be large, I will divide my own +purse with her!" + +The sailing-master was powerfully affected by this kind offer, the +muscles of his hard, weatherbeaten face working convulsively, and it was +a moment before he could trust his voice in reply. + +"I know you would, Dicky, I know you would," he at length uttered, +grasping the hand of Barnstable with a portion of his former strength; +"I know you would give the old woman one of your own limbs, if it would +do a service--to the mother of a messmate--which it would not--seeing +that I am not the son of a--cannibal; but you are out of your own +father's books, and it's too often shoal water in your pockets to help +any one--more especially since you have just been spliced to a pretty +young body--that will want all your spare coppers." + +"But I am master of my own fortune," said Griffith, "and am rich." + +"Ay, ay, I have heard it said you could build a frigate and set her +afloat all a-taunt-o without thrusting your hand--into any man's +purse--but your own!" + +"And I pledge you the honor of a naval officer," continued the young +sailor, "that she shall want for nothing; not eyes the care and +tenderness of a dutiful son." + +Boltrope appeared to be choking; he made an attempt to raise his +exhausted frame on the couch; but fell back exhausted and dying, perhaps +a little prematurely, through the powerful and unusual emotions that +were struggling for Boltrope appeared to be choking; he made an attempt +to raise his 'exhausted frame on the couch; but fell back exhausted and +dying, perhaps a little prematurely, through the powerful and unusual +emotions that were struggling for utterance. "God forgive me my +misdeeds!" he at length said, "and chiefly for ever speaking a word +against your discipline; remember the best bower--and look to the slings +of the lower yards--and--and--he'll do it, Dicky, he'll do it! I'm +casting off--the fasts--of life--and so God bless ye all--and give ye +good weather--going large--or on a bowline!" + +The tongue of the master failed him, but a look of heart felt +satisfaction gleamed across his rough visage, as its muscles suddenly +contracted, when the faded lineaments slowly settled into the appalling +stiffness of death. + +Griffith directed the body to be removed to the apartment of the master, +and proceeded with a heavy heart to the upper deck. The Alacrity had +been unnoticed during the arduous chase of the frigate, and, favored by +daylight, and her light draught of water, she had easily effected her +escape also among the mazes of the shoals. She was called down to her +consort by signal, and received the necessary instructions how to steer +during the approaching night. The British ships were now only to be +faintly discovered like white specks on the dark sea; and as it was +known that a broad barrier of shallow water lay between them, the +Americans no longer regarded their presence as at all dangerous. + +When the necessary orders had been given, and the vessels were fully +prepared, they were once more brought up to the wind, and their heads +pointed in the direction of the coast of Holland. The wind, which +freshened towards the decline of the day, hauled round with the sun; +and when that luminary retreated from the eye, so rapid had been the +progress of the mariners, it seemed to sink in the bosom of the ocean, +the land having long before settled into its watery bed. All night +the frigate continued to dash through the seas with a sort of sullen +silence, that was soothing to the melancholy of Cecilia and Katherine, +neither of whom closed an eye during that gloomy period. In addition +to the scene they had witnessed, their feelings were harrowed by the +knowledge that, in conformity to the necessary plans of Griffith, and in +compliance with the new duties he had assumed, they were to separate in +the morning for an indefinite period, and possibly forever. + +With the appearance of light, the boatswain sent his rough summons +through the vessel, and the crew were collected in solemn silence in her +gangways to "bury the dead." The bodies of Boltrope, of one or two of +her inferior officers, and of several common men who had died of their +wounds in the night, were, with the usual formalities, committed to the +deep; when the yards of the ship were again braced by the wind, and she +glided along the trackless waste, leaving no memorial, in the midst of +the ever-rolling waters, to mark the place of their sepulture. + +When the sun had gained the meridian, the vessels were once more +hove-to, and the preparations were made for a final separation. The +body of Colonel Howard was transferred to the Alacrity, whither it +was followed by Griffith and his cheerless bride, while Katherine hung +fondly from the window of the ship, suffering her own scalding tears +to mingle with the brine of the ocean. After everything was arranged, +Griffith waved his hand to Barnstable, who had now succeeded to the +command of the frigate, and the yards of the latter were braced sharp to +the wind, when she proceeded to the dangerous experiment of forcing her +way to the shores of America, by attempting the pass of the Straits of +Dover, and running the gauntlet through the English ships that crowded +their own Channel; an undertaking, however, for which she had the +successful example of the Alliance frigate, which had borne the stars of +America along the same hazardous path but a few months previously. + +In the mean while the Alacrity, steering more to the west drew in +swiftly towards the shores of Holland; and about an hour before the +setting of the sun had approached so nigh as to be once more hove into +the wind, in obedience to the mandate of Griffith. A small, light boat +was lowered into the sea, when the young sailor, and the Pilot, who had +found his way into the cutter unheeded, and almost unseen, ascended from +the small cabin together. The stranger glanced his eyes along the range +of coast, as if he would ascertain the exact position of the vessel, and +then turned them on the sea and the western horizon to scan the weather. +Finding nothing in the appearance of the latter to induce him to change +his determination, he offered his hand frankly to Griffith, and said: + +"Here we part. As our acquaintance has not led to all we wished, let it +be your task, sir, to forget we ever met." + +Griffith bowed respectfully, but in silence, when the other continued, +shaking his hand contemptuously towards the land: + +"Had I but a moiety of the navy of that degenerate republic, the +proudest among those haughty islanders should tremble in his castle, and +be made to feel there is no security against a foe that trusts his own +strength and knows the weakness of his enemy! But," he muttered in +a lower and more hurried voice, "this has been like Liverpool, +and--Whitehaven--and Edinburgh, and fifty more! It is past, sir; let it +be forgotten." + +Without heeding the wondering crew, who were collected as curious +spectators of his departure, the stranger bowed hastily to Griffith, +and, springing into the boat, he spread her light sails with the +readiness of one who had nothing to learn even in the smallest matters +of his daring profession. Once more, as the boat moved briskly away from +the cutter, he waved his hand in adieu; and Griffith fancied that +even through the distance he could trace a smile of bitter resignation +lighting his calm features with a momentary gleam. For a long time the +young man stood an abstracted gazer at his solitary progress, watching +the small boat as it glided towards the open ocean, nor did he remember +to order the head-sheets of the Alacrity drawn, in order to put the +vessel again in motion, until the dark speck was lost in the strong +glare that fell obliquely across the water from the setting sun. + +Many wild and extraordinary conjectures were tittered among the crew +of the cutter, as she slowly drew in towards her friendly haven, on the +appearance of the mysterious Pilot, during their late hazardous visit to +the coast of Britain, and on his still more extraordinary disappearance, +as it were, amid the stormy wastes of the North Sea. Griffith himself +was not observed to smile, nor to manifest any evidence of his being a +listener to their rude discourse, until it was loudly announced that a +small boat was pressing for their own harbor, across the forefoot of the +cutter, under a single lug-sail. Then, indeed, the sudden and cheerful +lighting of his troubled eye betrayed the vast relief that was imparted +to his feelings by the interesting discovery. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + "Come, all you kindred chieftains of the deep, + In mighty phalanx round your brother bend; + Hush every murmur that invades his sleep-- + And guard the laurels that o'ershade your friend." + _Lines on Tripp_. + + +Here, perhaps, it would be wise to suffer the curtain of our imperfect +drama to fall before the reader, trusting that the imagination of every +individual can readily supply the due proportions of health, wealth, +and happiness, that the rigid rules of poetic justice would award to the +different characters of the legend. But as we are not disposed to part +so coldly from those with whom we have long held amicable intercourse, +and as there is no portion of that in reservation which is not quite as +true as all that has been already related, we see no unanswerable reason +for dismissing the dramatis personae so abruptly. We shall, therefore, +proceed to state briefly the outlines of that which befell them in +after-life, regretting, at the same time, that the legitimate limits +of a modern tale will not admit of such dilatation of many a merry or +striking scene as might create the pleasing hope of beholding hereafter +some more of our rude sketches quickened into life by the spirited +pencil of Dunlap. + +Following the course of the frigate, then, towards those shores from +which, perhaps, we should never have suffered our truant pen to have +wandered, we shall commence the brief task with Barnstable, and +his laughing, weeping, gay, but affectionate bride--the black-eyed +Katherine. The ship fought her way gallantly, through swarms of the +enemy's cruisers, to the port of Boston, where Barnstable was rewarded +for his services by promotion, and a more regular authority to command +his vessel. + +During the remainder of the war, he continued to fill that station with +ability and zeal; nor did he return to the dwelling of his fathers, +which he soon inherited by regular descent, until after peace had +established not only the independence of his country, but his own +reputation as a brave and successful sea-officer. When the Federal +Government laid the foundation of its present navy, Captain Barnstable +was once more tempted by the offer of a new commission to desert his +home; and for many years he was employed among that band of gallant +seamen who served their country so faithfully in times of trial and high +daring. Happily, however, he was enabled to accomplish a great deal of +the more peaceful part of his service accompanied by Katherine, who, +having no children, eagerly profited by his consent to share his +privations and hardships on the ocean. In this manner they passed +merrily, and we trust happily down the vale of life together, Katherine +entirely discrediting the ironical prediction of her former guardian, by +making, everything considered, a very obedient, and certainly, so far as +attachment was concerned, a most devoted wife. + +The boy Merry, who in due time became a man, clung to Barnstable and +Katherine, so long as it was necessary to hold him in leading-strings; +and when he received his regular promotion, his first command was +under the shadow of his kinsman's broad pennant. He proved to be in his +meridian, what his youth had so strongly indicated, a fearless, active, +and reckless sailor; and his years might have extended to this hour, had +he not fallen untimely in a duel with a foreign officer. + +The first act of Captain Manual, after landing once more on his native +soil, was to make interest to be again restored to the line of the army. +He encountered but little difficulty in this attempt, and was soon in +possession of the complete enjoyment of that which his soul had so +long pined after, "a steady drill." He was in time to share in all the +splendid successes which terminated the war, and also to participate +in his due proportion of the misery of the army. His merits were +not forgotten, however, in the re-organization of the forces, and he +followed both St. Clair and his more fortunate successor, Wayne, in the +western campaigns. About the close of the century, when the British made +their tardy relinquishment of the line of posts along the frontiers, +Captain Manual was ordered to take charge, with his company, of a small +stockade on our side of one of those mighty rivers that sets bounds +to the territories of the Republic in the north. The British flag was +waving over the ramparts of a more regular fortress, that had been +recently built, directly opposite, within the new lines of the Canadas. +Manual was not a man to neglect the observances of military etiquette; +and understanding that the neighboring fort was commanded by a +field-officer, he did not fail to wait on that gentleman, in proper +time, with a view to cultivate the sort of acquaintance that their +mutual situations would render not only agreeable, but highly +convenient. The American martinet, in ascertaining the rank of the +other, had not deemed it at all necessary to ask his name; but when +the red-faced, comical-looking officer with one leg, who met him, was +introduced as Major Borroughcliffe, he had not the least difficulty +in recalling to recollection his quondam acquaintance of St. Ruth. The +intercourse between these worthies was renewed with remarkable gusto, +and at length arrived to so regular a pass that a log cabin was erected +on one of the islands in the river, as a sort of neutral territory, +where their feastings and revels might be held without any scandal to +the discipline of their respective garrisons. Here the qualities of many +a saddle of savory venison were discussed, together with those of sundry +pleasant fowls, as well as of divers strange beasts that inhabit those +western wilds, while, at the same time, the secret places of the broad +river were vexed, that nothing might be wanting that could contribute +to the pleasures of their banquets. A most equitable levy was regularly +made on their respective pockets, to sustain the foreign expenses of +this amicable warfare; and a suitable division of labor was also imposed +on the two commandants, in order to procure such articles of comfort as +were only to be obtained from those portions of the globe where the art +of man had made a nearer approach to the bounties of nature than in the +vicinity of their fortifications. All liquids in which malt formed an +ingredient, as well as the deep-colored wines of Oporto, were suffered +to enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and were made to find their way, +under the superintendence of Borroughcliffe, to their destined goal; but +Manual was solely entrusted with the more important duty of providing +the generous liquor of Madeira, without any other restriction on his +judgment than an occasional injunction from his coadjutor that it should +not fail to be the product of the "south side"! + +It was not unusual for the young officers of the two garrisons to allude +to the battle in which Major Borroughcliffe had lost his limb--the +English ensign invariably whispering to the American, on such occasions, +that it occurred during the late contest, in a desperate affair on the +north eastern coast of their island, in which the major commanded, in +behalf of his country,--with great credit and signal success; and for +which service he obtained his present rank "without purchase!" A sort of +national courtesy: prevented the two veterans, for by this time both had +earned that honorable title, from participating at all in these delicate +allusions; though whenever, by any accident, they occurred near the +termination of the revels, Borroughcliffe would so far betray his +consciousness of what was passing as to favor his American friend with +a leer of singular significance, which generally produced in the other +that sort of dull recollection which all actors and painters endeavor to +represent by scratching the head. In this manner year after year +rolled by, the most perfect harmony existing between the two posts, +notwithstanding the angry passions that disturbed their respective +countries, when an end was suddenly put to the intercourse by the +unfortunate death of Manual. This rigid observer of discipline never +trusted his person on the neutral island without being accompanied by a +party of his warriors, who were posted as a regular picket, sustaining +a suitable line of sentries; a practice which he also recommended to his +friend, as being highly conducive to discipline, as well as a salutary +caution against a surprise on the part of either garrison. The major, +however, dispensed with the formality in his own behalf, but was +sufficiently good-natured to wink at the want of confidence it betrayed +in his boon companion. On one unhappy occasion, when the discussions oŁ +a new importation had made a heavy inroad on the morning, Manual left +the hut to make his way towards his picket, in such a state of utter +mental aberration as to forget the countersign when challenged by a +sentinel, when, unhappily, he met his death by a shot from a soldier +whom he drilled to such an exquisite state of insensibility that the man +cared but little whether he killed friend or enemy, so long as he +kept within military usage, and the hallowed limits established by the +articles of war. He lived long enough, however, to commend the fellow +for the deed, and died while delivering an eulogium to Borroughcliffe on +the high state of perfection to which he had brought his command. + +About a year before this melancholy event, a quarter-cask of wine had +been duly ordered from the south side of the island of Madeira, which +was, at the death of Manual, toiling its weary way up the rapids of the +Mississippi and the Ohio; having been made to enter by the port of New +Orleans, with the intention of keeping it as long as possible under a +genial sun! The untimely fate of his friend imposed on Borroughcliffe +the necessity of attending to this precious relic of their mutual +tastes; and he procured a leave of absence from his superior, with the +laudable desire to proceed down the streams and superintend its farther +advance in person. The result of his zeal was a high fever, that set in +the day after he reached his treasure: and as the doctor and the major +espoused different theories, in treating a disorder so dangerous in that +climate--the one advising abstemiousness, and the other administering +repeated draughts of the cordial that had drawn him so far from +home--the disease was left to act its pleasure. Borroughcliffe died in +three days; and was carried back and interred by the side of his friend, +in the very hut which had so often resounded with their humors and +festivities. We have been thus particular in relating the sequel of the +lives of these rival chieftains, because, from their want of connection +with any kind heart of the other sex, no widows and orphans were left +to lament their several ends; and furthermore, as they were both mortal, +and might be expected to die at a suitable period, and yet did not +terminate their career until each had attained the mature age of +threescore, the reader can find no just grounds of dissatisfaction at +being allowed this deep glance into the womb of fate. + +The chaplain abandoned the seas in time to retrieve his character, +a circumstance which gave no little satisfaction to Katherine, +who occasionally annoyed her worthy husband on the subject of the +informality of their marriage. + +Griffith and his mourning bride conveyed the body of Colonel Howard +in safety to one of the principal towns in Holland, where it was +respectfully and sorrowfully interred; after which the young man removed +to Paris, with a view of erasing the sad images which the hurried and +melancholy events of the few preceding days had left on the mind of his +lovely companion. From this place Cecilia held communion, by letter, +with her friend Alice Dunscombe; and such suitable provision was made +in the affairs of her late uncle as the times would permit. Afterwards, +when Griffith obtained the command which had been offered him before +sailing on the cruise in the North Sea, they returned together to +America. The young man continued a sailor until the close of the war, +when he entirely withdrew from the ocean, and devoted the remainder of +his life to the conjoint duties of a husband and a good citizen. + +As it was easy to reclaim the estates of Colonel Howard, which, in fact, +had been abandoned more from pride than necessity, and which had +never been confiscated, their joint inheritances made the young couple +extremely affluent; and we shall here take occasion to say that Griffith +remembered his promise to the dying master, and saw such a provision +made for the childless mother as her situation and his character +required. + +It might have been some twelve years after the short cruise, which it +has been our task to record in these volumes, that Griffith, who was +running his eyes carelessly over a file of newspapers, was observed +by his wife to drop the bundle from before his face, and pass his hand +slowly across his brow, like a man who had been suddenly struck with +renewed impressions of some former event, or who was endeavoring to +recall to his mind images that had long since faded. + +"See you anything in that paper to disturb you, Griffith?" said +the still lovely Cecilia. "I hope that now we have our confederate +government the States will soon recover from their losses--but it is one +of those plans to create a new navy that has met your eye! Ah! truant! +you sigh to become a wanderer again, and pine after your beloved ocean!" + +"I have ceased sighing and pining since you have begun to smile," he +returned with a vacant manner, and without removing his hand from his +brow. + +"Is not the new order of things, then, likely to succeed? Does the +Congress enter into contention with the President?" + +"The wisdom and name of Washington will smooth the way for the +experiment, until time shall mature the system. Cecilia, do you remember +the man who accompanied Manual and myself to St. Ruth, the night we +became your uncle's prisoners, and who afterwards led the party which +liberated us, and rescued Barnstable?" + +"Surely I do; he was the pilot of your ship, it was then said; and I +remember the shrewd soldier we entertained even suspected that he was +one greater than he seemed." + +"The soldier surmised the truth; but you saw him not on that fearful +night, when he carried us through the shoals! and you could not witness +the calm courage with which he guided the ship into those very channels +again, while the confusion of battle was among us!" + +"I heard the dreadful din! And I can easily imagine the horrid scene," +returned his wife, her recollections chasing the color from her cheeks +even at that distance of time; "but what of him? is his name mentioned +in those papers? Ah! they are English prints! you called his name Gray, +If I remember?" + +"That is the name he bore with us! He was a man who had formed romantic +notions of glory, and wished everything concealed in which he acted a +part that he thought would not contribute to his renown." + +"Can there have been any connection between him and Alice Dunscombe?" +said Cecilia, dropping her work in her lap, in a thoughtful manner. "She +met him alone, at her own urgent request, the night Katherine and myself +saw you in your confinement, and even then my cousin whispered that they +were acquainted! The letter I received yesterday from Alice was sealed +with black, and I was pained with the melancholy, though gentle manner, +in which she wrote of passing from this world into another!" + +Griffith glanced his eye at his wife with a look of sudden Intelligence, +and then answered, like one who began to see with the advantages of a +clearer atmosphere: + +"Cecilia, your conjecture is surely true! Fifty things rushed to my mind +at that one surmise--his acquaintance with that particular spot--his +early life--his expedition--his knowledge of the abbey, all confirm it! +He, altogether, was indeed a man of marked character!" + +"Why has he not been among us," asked Cecilia; "he appeared devoted to +our cause?" + +"His devotion to America proceeded from desire of distinction, his +ruling passion, and perhaps a little also from resentment at some +injustice which he claimed to have suffered from his own countrymen. He +was a man, and not therefore without foibles--among which may have been +reckoned the estimation of his own acts but they were most daring, and +deserving of praise! neither did he at all merit the obloquy that he +received from his enemies. His love of liberty may be more questionable; +for if he commenced his deeds in the cause of these free States, they +terminated in the service of a despot! He is now dead--but had he lived +in times and under circumstances when his consummate knowledge of his +profession, his cool, deliberate, and even desperate courage, could have +been exercised in a regular and well-supported navy, and had the habits +of his youth better qualified him to have borne, meekly, the honors he +acquired in his age, he would have left behind him no name in its +lists that would have descended to the latest posterity of his adopted +countrymen with greater renown!" + +"Why, Griffith," exclaimed Cecilia, in a little surprise, "you are +zealous in his cause! Who was he?" + +"A man who held a promise of secrecy while living, which is not at +all released by his death. It is enough to know that he was greatly +instrumental in procuring our sudden union, and that our happiness might +have been wrecked in the voyage of life had we not met the unknown Pilot +of the German Ocean." + +Perceiving her husband to rise, and carefully collect the papers in a +bundle, before he left the room, Cecilia made no further remark at the +time, nor was the subject ever revived between them. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pilot, by J. Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILOT *** + +***** This file should be named 7974-8.txt or 7974-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/9/7/7974/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, Marvin A. +Hodges, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +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 + 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 1.F.3. 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 MERCHANTABILITY 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 are 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 information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +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 +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/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 www.gutenberg.org/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: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty 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: + + 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. + |