Very perplexing; what shall I do? said Ruby.
Clear out, cried the captain emphatically.
What! fly like a real criminal, just as I have returned home? Never. What say you, Minnie?
Stand your trial, Ruby. They cannotthey dare notcondemn the innocent.
And you, mother?
Im sure I dont know what to say, replied Mrs Brand, with a look of deep anxiety, as she passed her fingers through her sons hair, and kissed his brow. I have seen the innocent condemned and the guilty go free more than once in my life.
Nevertheless, mother, I will give myself up, and take my chance. To fly would be to give them reason to believe me guilty.
Give yourself up! exclaimed the captain, youll do nothing of the sort. Come, lad, remember Im an old man, and an uncle. Ive got a plan in my head, which I think will keep you out of harms way for a time. You see my old chronometer is but a poor one,the worse of the wear, like its master,and Ive never been able to make out the exact time that we went aboard the Termagant the night you went away. Now, can you tell me what oclock it was?
I can.
Xactly?
Yes, exactly, for it happened that I was a little later than I promised, and the skipper pointed to his watch, as I came up the side, and jocularly shook his head at me. It was exactly eleven p.m.
Sure and sartin o that? enquired the captain, earnestly.
Quite, and his watch must have been right, for the town-clock rung the hour at the same time.
Is that skipper alive?
Yes.
Would he swear to that?
I think he would.
Dye know where he is?
I do. Hes on a voyage to the West Indies, and wont be home for two months, I believe.
Humph! said the captain, with a disappointed look. However, it cant be helped; but I see my way now to get you out o this fix. You know, I suppose, that theyre buildin a lighthouse on the Bell Rock just now; well, the workmen go off to it for a month at a time, I believe, if not longer, and dont come ashore, and its such a dangerous place, and troublesome to get to, that nobody almost ever goes out to it from this place, except those who have to do with it. Now, lad, youll go down to the workyard the first thing in the mornin, before daylight, and engage to go off to work at the Bell Rock. Youll keep all snug and quiet, and nobodyll be a bit the wiser. Youll be earnin good wages, and in the meantime Ill set about gettin things in trim to put you all square.
But I see many difficulties ahead, objected Ruby.
Of course ye do, retorted the captain. Did ye ever hear or see anything on this earth that hadnt rocks ahead o some sort? Its our business to steer past em, lad, not to bout ship and steer away. But state yer difficulties.
Well, in the first place, Im not a stonemason or a carpenter, and I suppose masons and carpenters are the men most wanted there.
Not at all, blacksmiths are wanted there, said the captain, and I know that you were trained to that work as a boy.
True, I can do somewhat with the hammer, but mayhap they wont engage me.
But they will engage you, lad, for they are hard up for an assistant blacksmith just now, and I happen to be hand-and-glove with some o the chief men of the yard, wholl be happy to take anyone recommended by me.
Well, uncle, but suppose I do go off to the rock, what chance have you of making things appear better than they are at present?
Ill explain that, lad. In the first place, Major Stewart is a gentleman, out-and-out, and will listen to the truth. He swears that the robbery took place at one oclock in the mornin, for he looked at his watch and at the clock of the house, and heard it ring in the town, just as the thieves cleared off over the wall. Now, if I can get your old skipper to take a run here on his return from the West Indies, hell swear that you was sailin out to the North Sea before twelve, and thatll prove that you couldnt have had nothin to do with it, dye see?
It sounds well, said Ruby dubiously, but do you think the lawyers will see things in the light you do?
Hang the lawyers! dye think they will shut their eyes to the truth?
Perhaps they may, in which case they will hang me, and so prevent my taking your advice to hang them, said Ruby.
Well, well, but you agree to my plan? asked the captain.
Shall I agree, Minnie? it will separate me from you again for some time.
Yet it is necessary, answered Minnie, sadly; yes, I think you should agree to go.
Very well, then, thats settled, said Ruby, and now let us drop the subject, because I have other things to speak of; and if I must start before daylight my time with you will be short
Come here a bit, nephy, I want to have a private word with ee in my cabin, said the captain, interrupting him, and going into his own room. Ruby rose and followed.
You havent any
The captain stopped, stroked his bald head, and looked perplexed.
Well, uncle?
Well, nephy, you haventin short, have ye got any money about you, lad?
Money? yes, a little; but why do you ask?
Well, the fact is, that your poor mother is hard up just now, said the captain earnestly, an Ive given her the last penny I have o my own; but shes quite
Ruby interrupted his uncle at this point with a boisterous laugh. At the same time he flung open the door and dragged the old man with gentle violence back to the kitchen.
Come here, uncle.
But, avast! nephy, I havent told ye all yet.
Oh! dont bother me with such trifles just now, cried Ruby, thrusting his uncle into a chair and resuming his own seat at his mothers side; well speak of that at some other time; meanwhile let me talk to mother.
Minnie, dear, he continued, who keeps the cash here; you or mother?
Well, we keep it between us, said Minnie, smiling; your mother keeps it in her drawer and gives me the key when I want any, and I keep an account of it.
Ah! well, mother, I have a favour to ask of you before I go.
Well, Ruby?
It is that you will take care of my cash for me. I have got a goodish lot of it, and find it rather heavy to carry in my pocketsso, hold your apron steady and Ill give it to you.
Saying this he began to empty handful after handful of coppers into the old womans apron; then, remarking that that was all the browns, he began to place handful after handful of shillings and sixpences on the top of the pile until the copper was hid by silver.
The old lady, as usual when surprised, became speechless; the captain smiled and Minnie laughed, but when Ruby put his hand into another pocket and began to draw forth golden sovereigns, and pour them into his mothers lap, the captain became supremely amazed, the old woman laughed, and,so strangely contradictory and unaccountable is human nature,Minnie began to cry.
Poor girl! the tax upon her strength had been heavier than anyone knew, heavier than she could bear, and the sorrow of knowing, as she had come to know, that it was all in vain, and that her utmost efforts had failed to keep the wolf from the door, had almost broken her down. Little wonder, then, that the sight of sudden and ample relief upset her altogether.
Poor girl! the tax upon her strength had been heavier than anyone knew, heavier than she could bear, and the sorrow of knowing, as she had come to know, that it was all in vain, and that her utmost efforts had failed to keep the wolf from the door, had almost broken her down. Little wonder, then, that the sight of sudden and ample relief upset her altogether.
But her tears, being tears of joy, were soon and easily driedall the more easily that it was Ruby who undertook to dry them.
Mrs Brand sat up late that night, for there was much to tell and much to hear. After she had retired to rest the other three continued to hold converse together until grey dawn began to appear through the chinks in the window-shutters. Then the two men rose and went out, while Minnie laid her pretty little head on the pillow beside Mrs Brand, and sought, and found, repose.
Chapter Eight
The Scene ChangesRuby is Vulcanised
As Captain Ogilvy had predicted, Ruby was at once engaged as an assistant blacksmith on the Bell Rock. In fact, they were only too glad to get such a powerful, active young fellow into their service; and he was shipped off with all speed in the sloop Smeaton, with a few others who were going to replace some men who had become ill and were obliged to leave.
A light westerly breeze was blowing when they cast off the moorings of the sloop.
Goodbye, Ruby, said the captain, as he was about to step on the pier. Remember your promise, lad, to keep quiet, and dont try to get ashore, or to hold communication with anyone till you hear from me.
All right, uncle, I wont forget, and Ill make my mind easy, for I know that my case is left in good hands.
Three hours elapsed ere the Smeaton drew near to the Bell Rock. During this time, Ruby kept aloof from his fellow-workmen, feeling disposed to indulge the sad thoughts which filled his mind. He sat down on the bulwarks, close to the main shrouds, and gazed back at the town as it became gradually less and less visible in the faint light of morning. Then he began to ponder his unfortunate circumstances, and tried to imagine how his uncle would set about clearing up his character and establishing his innocence; but, do what he would, Ruby could not keep his mind fixed for any length of time on any subject or line of thought, because of a vision of sweetness which it is useless to attempt to describe, and which was always accompanied by, and surrounded with, a golden halo.
At last the youth gave up the attempt to fix his thoughts, and allowed them to wander as they chose, seeing that they were resolved to do so whether he would or no. The moment these thoughts had the reins flung on their necks, and were allowed to go where they pleased, they refused, owing to some unaccountable species of perversity, to wander at all, but at once settled themselves comfortably down beside the vision with golden hair, and remained there.
This agreeable state of things was rudely broken in upon by the hoarse voice of the mate shouting
Stand by to let go the anchor.
Then Ruby sprang on the deck and shook himself like a great mastiff, and resolved to devote himself, heart and soul, from that moment, to the work in which he was about to engage.
The scene that presented itself to our hero when he woke up from his dreams would have interested and excited a much less enthusiastic temperament than his.
The breeze had died away altogether, just as if, having wafted the Smeaton to her anchorage, there were no further occasion for its services. The sea was therefore quite calm, and as there had only been light westerly winds for some time past, there was little or none of the swell that usually undulates the sea. One result of this was, that, being high water when the Smeaton arrived, there was no sign whatever of the presence of the famous Bell Rock. It lay sleeping nearly two fathoms below the sea, like a grim giant in repose, and not a ripple was there to tell of the presence of the mariners enemy.
The sun was rising, and its slanting beams fell on the hulls of the vessels engaged in the service, which lay at anchor at a short distance from each other. These vessels, as we have said, were four in number, including the Smeaton. The others were the Sir Joseph Banks, a small schooner-rigged vessel; the Patriot, a little sloop; and the Pharos lightship, a large clumsy-looking Dutch-built ship, fitted with three masts, at the top of which were the lanterns. It was intended that this vessel should do duty as a lightship until the lighthouse should be completed.
Besides these there were two large boats, used for landing stones and building materials on the rock.
These vessels lay floating almost motionless on the calm sea, and at first there was scarcely any noise aboard of them to indicate that they were tenanted by human beings, but when the sound of the Smeatons cable was heard there was a bustle aboard of each, and soon faces were seen looking inquisitively over the sides of the ships.
The Smeatons boat was lowered after the anchor was let go, and the new hands were transferred to the Pharos, which was destined to be their home for some time to come.
Just as they reached her the bell rang for breakfast, and when Ruby stepped upon the deck he found himself involved in all the bustle that ensues when men break off from work and make preparation for the morning meal.
There were upwards of thirty artificers on board the lightship at this time. Some of these, as they hurried to and fro, gave the new arrivals a hearty greeting, and asked, What news from the shore? Others were apparently too much taken up with their own affairs to take notice of them.
While Ruby was observing the busy scene with absorbing interest, and utterly forgetful of the fact that he was in any way connected with it, an elderly gentleman, whose kind countenance and hearty manner gave indication of a genial spirit within, came up and accosted him:
You are our assistant blacksmith, I believe?
Yes, sir, I am, replied Ruby, doffing his cap, as if he felt instinctively that he was in the presence of someone of note.
You have had considerable practice, I suppose, in your trade?
A good deal, sir, but not much latterly, for I have been at sea for some time.
At sea? Well, that wont be against you here, returned the gentleman, with a meaning smile. It would be well if some of my men were a little more accustomed to the sea, for they suffer much from sea-sickness. You can go below, my man, and get breakfast. Youll find your future messmate busy at his, I doubt not. Here, steward, (turning to one of the men who chanced to pass at the moment,) take Ruby Brandthat is your name, I think?
It is, sir.
Take Brand below, and introduce him to James Dove as his assistant.
The steward escorted Ruby down the ladder that conducted to those dark and littered depths of the ships hull that were assigned to the artificers as their place of abode. But amidst a good deal of unavoidable confusion, Rubys practised eye discerned order and arrangement everywhere.
This is your messmate, Jamie Dove, said the steward, pointing to a massive dark man, whose outward appearance was in keeping with his position as the Vulcan of such an undertaking as he was then engaged in. Youll find him not a bad feller if you only dont cross him. He added, with a wink, His only fault is that hes given to spoilin good victuals, being raither floored by sea-sickness if it comes on to blow ever so little.