CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
DESCRIBES A MARRED PLOT, AND TELLS OF RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.
Meanwhile the gossiping woman of the cottage on the moor, whose gratefulheart had never forgotten the little kindness done to her boy by theyoung doctor, and who knew that the doctor loved Rose Ellis, moresurely, perhaps, than Rose did herself, went off in a state of deepanxiety to St. Just, and, by dint of diligent inquiries and piecing ofthings together, coupled with her knowledge of Clearemout's intentions,came to a pretty correct conclusion as to the state of affairs.
She then went to the abode of young Charles Tregarthen, whom she knew tobe Oliver's friend, and unbosomed herself. Charlie repaid her with morethan thanks, and almost hugged her in his gratitude for her promptactivity.
"And now, Mrs Hicks," said he, "you shall see how we will thwart thisscoundrel. As for Oliver Trembath, I cannot imagine what could take himinto Penzance in the wild state that you describe. Of course thisaffair has to do with it, and he evidently has learned something ofthis, and must have misunderstood the matter, else assuredly he had notbeen absent at such a time. But why go to Penzance? However, he willclear up the mystery ere long, no doubt. Meanwhile we shall proceed tothwart your schemes, good Mr Clearemout!"
So saying, Charlie Tregarthen set about laying his counter-plans. Healso, as the managing director had done, visited several men, some ofwhom were miners and some smugglers, and arranged a meeting that eveningnear Cape Cornwall.
When evening drew on apace, four separate parties converged towardsPriest's Cove. First, a boat crept along shore propelled by four menand steered by Jim Cuttance. Secondly, six stout men crept stealthilydown to the cove, led by Charlie Tregarthen, with Maggot as his secondin command. Thirdly, Rose Ellis wended her way to the rendezvous withtrembling step and beating heart; and, fourthly, George AugustusClearemout moved in the same direction.
But the managing director moved faster than the others, having a longerway to travel, for, having had to pay a last visit to Wheal Dooem, herode thence to St. Just. On the way he was particularly interested in awater-wheel which worked a pump, beside which a man in mining costumewas seated smoking his pipe.
"Good-evening," said Clearemout, reining up.
"Good-hevenin', sur."
"What does that pump?" asked the managing director, pointing to thewheel.
"That, sur?" said the miner, drawing a few whiffs from his pipe; "why,that do pump gold out o' the Londoners, that do."
The managing director chuckled very much, and said, "Indeed!"
"Iss, sur," continued the miner, pointing to Wheal Dooem, "an' that wantheere, up over hill, do the same thing."
The managing director chuckled much more at this, and displayed histeeth largely as he nodded to the man and rode on.
Before his arrival at the rendezvous, the boat was run ashore not farfrom the spot where Tregarthen and his men were concealed. As soon asthe men had landed, Charlie walked down to them alone and accosted theirleader.
"Well, Cuttance, you're a pretty fellow to put your finger in such adirty pie as this."
Cuttance had seen the approach of Tregarthen with surprise and somealarm.
"Well, sur," said he, without any of the bold expression that usuallycharacterised him, "what can a man do when he's to be well paid for thejob? I do confess that I don't half like it, but, after all, what havewe got to do weth the opinions of owld aunts or uncles? If a gurl dochoose to go off wi' the man she likes, that's no matter to we, an' if Ibe well paid for lendin' a hand, why shouldn't I? But it do puzzle me,Mr Tregarthen, to guess how yow did come to knaw of it."
"That don't signify," said Tregarthen sternly. "Do you know who thegirl is?"
"I don't knaw, an' I don't care," said Jim doggedly.
"What would you say if I told you it was Miss Rose Ellis?" said Charlie.
"I'd say thee was a liard," replied Cuttance.
"Then I do tell you so."
"Thee don't mean that!" exclaimed the smuggler, with a blaze ofamazement and wrath in his face.
"Indeed I do."
"Whew!" whistled Jim, "then that do explain the reason why thatsmooth-tongued feller said he would car' her to the boat close veiled upfor fear the men should see her."
A rapid consultation was now held by the two as to the proper mode ofproceeding. Cuttance counselled an immediate capture of the culprit,and pitching him off the end of Cape Cornwall; but Tregarthen advisedthat they should wait until Clearemout seized his victim, otherwise theycould not convict him, because he would deny any intention of evilagainst Rose, and pretend that some other girl, who had been scared awayby their impetuosity, was concerned, for they might depend on it he'dget up a plausible story and defeat them.
Tregarthen's plan was finally agreed to, and he returned to his men andexplained matters.
Soon afterwards the managing director appeared coming down the road.
"Is all right?" he inquired of Cuttance, who went forward to meet him.
"All right, sur."
"Go down to the boat then and wait," he said, turning away.
Ere long he was joined by Rose, with whom he entered into conversation,leading her over the cape so as to get out of sight of the men, butyoung Tregarthen crept among the rocks and never for a moment lost sightof them. He saw Clearemout suddenly place a kerchief on Rose's mouth,and, despite the poor girl's struggles, tie it firmly so as to preventher screaming, then he threw a large shawl over her, and catching her inhis arms bore her swiftly towards the boat.
Tregarthen sprang up and confronted him.
Clearemout, astonished and maddened by this unexpected interference,shouted,--"Stand aside, sir! _You_ have no interest in this matter, orright to interfere."
Charlie made no reply, but sprang on him like a tiger. Clearemoutdropped his burden and grappled with the youth, who threw him in aninstant, big though he was, for Tregarthen was a practised wrestler, andthe managing director was not. His great strength, however, enabled himto get on his knees, and there is no saying how the struggle might haveterminated had not Cuttance come forward, and, putting his hard handsround Clearemout's throat, caused that gentleman's face to grow black,and his tongue and eyes to protrude. Having thus induced him to submit,he eased off the necklace, and assisted him to rise, while the men ofboth parties crowded round.
"Now, then, boys," cried Jim Cuttance, "bear a hand, one and all, andinto the say with him."
The managing director was at once knocked off his legs, and borneshoulder-high down to the beach by as many hands as could lay hold ofhim. Here they paused:--
"All together, boys--one--two--ho!"
At the word the unfortunate man was shot, by strong and willing arms,into the air like a bombshell, and fell into the water with a splashthat was not unlike an explosion.
Clearemout was a good swimmer. When he came to the surface he raisedhimself, and, clearing the water from his eyes, glanced round. Even inthat extremity the quickness and self-possession of the man did notforsake him. He perceived, at a glance, that the boat which, in theexcitement of the capture, had been left by all the men, had floated offwith the receding tide, and now lay a short distance from the shore.
At once he struck out for it. There was a shout of consternation and arush to the water's edge. Maggot shot far ahead of the others, plungedinto the sea, and swam off. Observing this, and knowing well thecourage and daring of the man, the rest stopped on the shore to witnessthe result.
Clearemout reached the boat first, but, owing to exhaustion, was unableto raise himself into it. Maggot soon came up and grasped him by thethroat, both men managed to get their arms over the gunwale, but intheir struggle upset the boat and were separated. Clearemout then madefor the shore with the intention of giving himself up, and Maggotfollowed, but he was not equal in swimming to the managing director,whose long steady strokes easily took him beyond the reach of hispursuer. He reached the shore, and stalked slowly out of the water. Atthe same moment Maggot san
k and disappeared.
The consternation of his comrades was so great that in the confusiontheir prisoner was unheeded. Some sprang into the sea and dived afterMaggot; others swam to the boat, intending to right it and get theboat-hooks.
Suddenly those who had remained on the beach observed something creepout of the sea near to some rocks a little to the right of the placewhere they stood. They ran towards it.
"Hallo! is that you, old Maggot?" they cried.
It was indeed the valiant smith himself! How he got there no one everknew, nor could himself tell. It was conjectured that he must havebecome partially exhausted, and, after sinking, had crept along thebottom to the shore! However, be that as it may, there he was, lyingwith his arm lovingly round a rock, and the first thing he said onlooking up was,--"Aw! my dear men, has any of 'ee got a chaw of baccyabout 'ee?"
This was of course received with a shout of laughter, and unlimitedoffers of quids while they assisted him to rise.
Meanwhile Tregarthen was attending to Rose, who had swooned whenClearemout dropped her. He also kept a watch over the prisoner, who,however, showed no intention of attempting to escape, but sat on a stonewith his face buried in his hands.
The men soon turned their attention to him again, and some of the moreviolent were advancing to seize him, with many terrible threats offurther vengeance, when Rose ran between them, and entreated them tospare him.
Tregarthen seconded the proposal, and urged that as he had got prettysevere punishment already, they should set him free. This being agreedto, Charlie turned to the managing director, and said, with a look ofpity, "You may go, sir, but, be assured, it is not for your own sakethat we let you off. You know pretty well what the result would be ifwe chose to deliver you up to justice; we care more, however, for thefeelings of this lady--whose name would be unavoidably and disagreeablybrought before the public at the trial--than we care for your gettingyour merited reward. But, mark me, if you ever open your lips on thesubject, you shall not escape us."
"Iss," added Jim Cuttance, "ann remember, you chucklehead, that if youdo write or utter wan word 'bout it, after gettin' back to London, thereare here twelve Cornish men who will never rest till they have flayedthee alive!"
"You need have no fear," said Clearemout with a bitter smile, as heturned and walked away, followed by a groan from the whole party.
"Now, lads," said Cuttance after he was gone, "not wan word of this mustever be breathed, and we'll howld 'ee responsible, David Hicks, for t'wife's tongue; dost a hear?"
This was agreed to by all, and, to the credit of these honest smugglers,and of Mrs Hicks, be it said, that not a syllable about the incidentwas ever heard of in the parish of St. Just from that day to this!
Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines Page 31