At his heels came that scampering mass of ragged door-mat Toozle, who, feeling that a sensation of some kind or other was being got up for his amusement, joined heartily in the shout of delight that burst from the youthful Corrie when he beheld the extraordinary figure in the fireplace.
Well, I say, Kickup, cried the youth, picking up his hat, which had fallen off in the convulsion, and drying his tears, youre a sweet lookin creetur, you are! Is this a new frock youve got to go to church with? Come, I rather like that pattern, but theres not quite enough of em. Suppose I lend a hand and print a few more all over you. Theres plenty of pots and pans here to do it; and if Alice will bring down her white frock Ill give it a touch up too.
How can you talk such nonsense, Corrie! said Alice, laughing. Down, Toozle; silence, sir. Go, my dear Poopy, and put on another frock, and make haste, for Ive something to say to you.
Thus admonished, the girl ran to a small apartment that opened off the kitchen, and speedily reappeared in another tunic. Meanwhile, Corrie had seated himself on the floor, with Toozle between his knees and Alice on a stool at his side. Poopy, in a fit of absence of mind, was about to resume her seat on the iron pot, when a simultaneous shriek, bark, and roar, recalled her scattered faculties, produced a hee! hee! varied with a faint ho! and induced her to sit down on the floor beside her mistress.
Now, tell me, Poopy, said Alice, did you ever hear of friends who were not really friends, but enemies?
The girl stared with a vacant countenance at the bright intelligent face of the child, and shook her head slowly.
Why dont you ask me? inquired Corrie. You might as well ask Toozle as that potato Kickup. Eh? Puppy, dont you confess that you are no better than a vegetable? Come, now, be honest.
Hee! hee! replied Poopy.
Humph! I thought so. But thats an odd question of yours, Alice. What do you mean by it?
I mean that my papa thinks there are friends in the settlement who are enemies.
Does he, though? Now, thats mysterious, said the boy, becoming suddenly grave. That requires to be looked to. Come, Alice, tell me all the particulars. Dont omit anythingour lives may depend on it.
The deeply serious manner in which Corrie said this, so impressed and solemnised the child, that she related, word for word, the brief conversation she had had with her father, and all that she had heard of the previous converse between him and Henry.
When she had concluded, Master Corrie threw a still more grave and profoundly philosophical expression into his chubby face, and asked, in a hollow tone of voice, Your father didnt say anything against the Grampus, did he?
The what? inquired Alice.
The Grampusthe man, at least, whom I call the Grampus, and who calls hisself Jo Bumpus.
I did not hear such names mentioned, but Henry spoke of a wounded nigger.
Ay, theyre all a set of false rascals together, said Corrie.
Niggers ob dis here settlement is good mans, ebery von, said Poopy, promptly.
Hallo! Kickup, wots wrong? I never heard ye say so much at one time since I came to this place.
Niggers is good peepils, reiterated the girl.
So they are, Puppy, and youre the best of em; but I was speakin of the fellers on the other side of the island, dye see?
Hee! hee! ejaculated the girl.
Well, but what makes you so anxious? said Alice, looking earnestly into the boys face.
Corrie laid his hand on her head and stroked her fair hair as he replied
This is a serious matter, Alice; I must go at once and see your father about it.
He rose with an air of importance, as if about to leave the kitchen.
Oh! but please dont go till you have told me what it is; Im so frightened, said Alice; do stay and tell me about it before you go to papa.
Well, I dont mind if I do, said the boy, sitting down again. You must know, then, that its reported there are pirates on the island.
Oh! exclaimed Alice.
Dye know what pirates are, Puppy?
Hee! hee! answered the girl.
I do believe she dont know nothin, said the boy, looking at her with an air of compassion wot a sad thing it is to belong to a lower species of human natur! Well, I spose it cant be helped. A pirate, Kickup, is a sea-robber. Dye understand?
Ho! ho!
Ay, I thought so. Well, Alice, I am told that theres been a lot o them landed on the island and took to chasin and killin the niggers, and Henry was all but killed by one o the niggers this very morning, an was saved by a big feller thats a mystery to me, and by the Grampus, who is the best feller I ever meta regular trump he is; and theres all sorts o doubts, and fears, and rumours, and things of that sort, with a captain of the British navy, that you and I have read so much about, trying to find this pirate out, and suspectin everybody he meets is him. I only hope he wont take it into his stupid head to mistake me for himnot so unlikely a thing after all. And the youthful Corrie shook his head with much gravity, as he surveyed his rotund little legs complacently.
What are you laughing at? he added, suddenly, on observing that a bright smile had overspread Alices face.
At the idea of you being taken for a pirate, said the child.
Hee! hee! ho! ho! remarked Poopy.
Silence, you lump of black putty! thundered the aspiring youth.
Come, dont be cross to my maid, said Alice, quickly.
Corrie laughed, and was about to continue his discourse on the events and rumours of the day, when Mr Masons voice was heard the other end of the house.
Ho! Corrie.
Thats me, cried the boy, promptly springing up and rushing out of the room.
Here, my boy, I thought I heard your voice. I want you to go a message for me. Run down, like a good lad, to Ole Thorwald and tell him to come up here as soon as he conveniently can. There are matters to consult about which will not brook delay.
Ay, ay, sir, answered Corrie, sailor fashion, as he touched his forelock and bounded from the room.
Off on pressing business, cried the sanguine youth, as he dashed through the kitchen, frightening Alice, and throwing Toozle into convulsions of delighthorribly important business that wont brook delay; but what brook means is more than I can guess.
Before the sentence was finished, Corrie was far down the hill, leaping over every obstacle like a deer. On passing through a small field he observed a native bending down, as if picking weeds, with his back towards him. Going softly up behind, he hit the semi-naked savage a sounding slap, and exclaimed, as he passed on, Hallo! Jackolu, important business, my boyhurrah!
The native to whom this rough salutation was given, was a tall stalwart young fellow who had for some years been one of the best behaved and most active members of Frederick Masons dark-skinned congregation. He stood erect for some time, with a broad grin on his swarthy face, and a twinkle in his eye, as he gazed after the young hopeful, muttering to himself, Ho! yesbery wicked boy dat, bery; but hims capital chap for all dat.
A few minutes later, Master Corrie burst in upon the sturdy middle-aged merchant, named Ole Thorwald, a Norwegian who had resided much in England, and spoke the English language well, and who prided himself on being entitled to claim descent from the old Norwegian sea-kings. This man was uncle and protector to Corrie.
A few minutes later, Master Corrie burst in upon the sturdy middle-aged merchant, named Ole Thorwald, a Norwegian who had resided much in England, and spoke the English language well, and who prided himself on being entitled to claim descent from the old Norwegian sea-kings. This man was uncle and protector to Corrie.
Ho! uncle Ole; heres a business. Sich a to dowounds, blood, and murder! or at least an attempt at it;the whole settlement in arms, and the parson sends for you to take command!
What means the boy? exclaimed Ole Thorwald, who, in virtue of his having once been a private in a regiment of militia, had been appointed to the chief command of the military department of the settlement. This consisted of about thirty white men, armed with fourteen fowling-pieces, twenty daggers, fifteen swords, and eight cavalry pistols; and about two hundred native Christians, who, when the assaults of their unconverted brethren were made, armed themselvesas they were wont to do in days gone bywith formidable clubs, stone hatchets, and spears. What means the boy! exclaimed Ole, laying down a book which he had been reading, and thrusting his spectacles up on his broad bald forehead.
Exactly what the boy says, replied Master Corrie.
Then add something more to it, pray.
Thorwald said this in a mild tone, but he suddenly seized the handle of an old pewter mug which the lad knew, from experience, would certainly reach his head before he could gain the door if he did not behave; so he became polite, and condescended to explain his errand more fully.
So, so, observed the descendant of the sea-kings, as he rose and slowly buckled on a huge old cavalry sabre, there is double mischief brewing this time. Well, we shall seewe shall see. Go, Corrie, my boy, and rouse up Terrence and Hugh and
The whole army, in short, cried the boy, hastilyyoure so awfully slow, uncle, you should have been born in the last century, I think.
Farther remark was cut short by the sudden discharge of the pewter mug, which, however, fell harmlessly on the panel of the closing door as the impertinent Corrie sped forth to call the settlement to arms.
Chapter Six
Suspicions allayed and re-awakened
Gascoyne, followed by his man Jo Bumpus, sped over the rugged mountains and descended the slopes on the opposite side of the island soon after nightfall, and long before Captain Montague, in his large and well-manned boat, could pull half way round in the direction of the sequestered bay where the Foam lay quietly at anchor.
There was not a breath of wind to ruffle the surface of the glassy sea, as the captain of the sandal-wood trader reached the shore and uttered a low cry like the hoot of an owl. The cry was instantly replied to, and in a few minutes a boat crept noiselessly towards the shore, seeming, in the uncertain light, more like a shadow than a reality. It was rowed by a single man. When within a few yards of the shore, the oars ceased to move, and the deep stillness of the night was scarcely broken by the low voice of surly Dick demandingWho goes there?
All right, pull in, replied Gascoyne, whose deep bass voice sounded sepulchral in the almost unearthly stillness. It was one of those dark oppressively quiet nights which make one feel a powerful sensation of loneliness, and a peculiar disinclination, by word or act, to disturb the prevailing quiescence of naturesuch a night as suggests the idea of a coming storm to those who are at sea, or of impending evil to those on land.
Is the mate aboard? inquired Gascoyne.
He is, sir.
Are any of the hands on shore?
More than half of em, sir.
Nothing more was said; and in a few minutes Gascoyne was slowly pacing the quarter-deck of his little vessel in earnest consultation with his first mate. There seemed to be some difference of opinion between the captain and his officer, for their words, which at first were low, at length became audible.
I tell you, Manton, it wont do, said Gascoyne, sternly.
I can only suggest what I believe to be for the good of the ship, replied the other, coldly. Even if you succeed in your attempt, you will be certain to lose some of our hands; for although the best of them are on shore, the commander of the Talisman will think those that remain too numerous for a sandal-wood trader, and you are aware that we are sufficiently short-handed in such dangerous seas.
The latter part of this speech was uttered in a slightly sarcastic tone.
What would you have me do, then? demanded Gascoyne, whose usual decision of character seemed to have deserted him under the influence of conflicting feelings, which, the first mate could plainly perceive, agitated the breast of his commander, but which he could by no means account for. Certainly he had no sympathy with them, for Mantons was a hard, stern naturenot given to the melting mood.
Do? exclaimed the mate vehemently, I would mount the red, and get out the sweeps. An hours pull will place the schooner on the other side of the reef. A shot from Long Tom will sink the best boat in the service of his Britannic Majesty, and we could be off and away with the land breeze before morning.
What! sink a man-of-wars boat! exclaimed Gascoyne; why, that would make them set us down as pirates at once, and we should have to run the gauntlet of half the British navy before this time next year.
Manton received this remark with a loud laugh, which harshly disturbed the silence of the night.
That is true, said he, yet I scarcely expected to see Captain Gascoyne shew the white feather.
Possibly not, retorted the other, grimly; yet methinks that he who counsels flight shews more of the white feather than he who would shove his head into the very jaws of the lion. It wont do, Manton; I have my own reasons for remaining here. The white lady must in the meantime smile on the British commander. Besides, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to do all this and get our fellows on board again before morning. The land-breeze will serve to fill the sails of the Talisman just as well as those of the Foam; and theyre sure to trip their anchor to-night, for, youll scarcely believe it, this mad little fellow Montague actually suspects me to be the pirate Durward!
Again the harsh laugh of Manton disturbed the peaceful calm, and this time he was joined by Gascoyne, who seemed at length to have overcome the objections of his mate, for their tones again sank into inaudible whispers.
Shortly after this conversation the moon broke out from behind a bank of clouds, and shone brightly down on land and sea, throwing into bold relief the precipices, pinnacles, and gorges of the one, and covering the other with rippling streaks of silver. About the same time the oars of the man-of-wars boat were heard, and in less than half an hour Captain Montague ascended the side of the Foam, where, to his great surprise, he was politely received by Gascoyne.
Captain Gascoyne has reason to be proud of his pedestrian powers, said the young commander; he must have had urgent reason for making such good use of his legs since we last met.
To do the honours of his own ship, when he expects a visit from a British officer, is surely sufficient reason to induce a poor skipper to take an extra walk of a fine evening, replied Gascoyne, blandly. Besides, I know that men-of-war are apt to take a fancy to the crews of merchantmen sometimes, and I thought my presence might be necessary here to-night.