Dulcibel: A Tale of Old Salem

by Henry Peterson

  CHAPTER LII.

  An Unwilling Parson.

  Not quite an hour had elapsed, when the sound of oars was again heard;and Captain Tolley, peering through the dark, saw that another form wasseated opposite the mate in the stern-sheets of the boat.

  "I thought that Simmons would bring him," said Captain Tolley to thesecond mate; "such a smooth tongue as he has. It is a pity he wasn't aminister himself--his genius is half wasted here."

  "Glad to see you on board the Storm King, Master Mather," was thegreeting of the Captain, as the minister was helped up to the deck bythe mates.

  "The Storm King! Why I was told that it was an English frigate, justcome into port," said the minister in a surprised voice.

  "The messenger must have made a mistake," replied the Captain coolly."You know that landsmen always do get things mixed.

  "Well, as I am here, no matter. Show me the dying man."

  "Walk down into the cabin," said the Captain politely.

  Entering the cabin which was well lighted, Master Raymond steppedforward, "I am happy to see you, Master Mather. You remember me, do younot?"

  "Master Raymond, I believe," returned the minister coldly. "Where is thedying man who requires my spiritual ministrations?"

  "Dying!" laughed the Captain. "How strangely that fellow got thingsmixed. I said dying to get married--did I not, Master Raymond?"

  "Of course you did--that is, after you had explained yourself."

  Master Mather's face looked blank, he did not know what to make of it.

  "In truth, Master Mather," said the young Englishman, "I was under thenecessity of getting married this evening; and, thinking over theworshipful ministers of Boston town, I singled you out as the one Ishould prefer to officiate on the happy occasion."

  "I decline to have anything to do with it," said Master Matherindignantly, turning on his heel, and going to the door of the cabin.But here a muscular sailor, with a boarding pike, promptly forbade hispassage by putting the pike across the door way.

  "What do you mean by barring my way in this manner?" said the ministerin great wrath to the captain. "Have you no reverence for the law?"

  "Not a particle for Boston law," replied Captain Tolley. "The only lawrecognized on board the Storm King is the command of its Captain. Youhave been brought here to marry these two young friends of mine; and youwill not leave the vessel before you do it--if I have to take you withus all the way to China."

  Master Mather pondered the matter for a moment. "This is too informal,there are certain preliminaries that are necessary in such cases."

  "Advisable--but I am told not absolutely necessary," replied MasterRaymond.

  "Wait then for an hour or two; and we shall be on the high seas--and outof any jurisdiction," added Captain Tolley.

  "Who is this maiden? Who gives her away?" asked the minister.

  "This maiden is Mistress Dulcibel Burton," said Master Raymond, takingher by the hand.

  "She is an orphan; but I give her away," added the Captain.

  "Dulcibel Burton! the serpent witch!" exclaimed Master Mather. "What isthat convict doing here? Has she broken jail?"

  "Master Mather," said the Captain in an excited tone, "if you utteranother word of insult against this innocent and beautiful maiden, Iwill have you flung overboard to the sharks! So take care of what yousay!" and the indignant seaman shook his finger in the minister's facewarningly.

  "Master Mather," added Raymond, more coolly, "Mistress Burton has notbroken jail. She was duly released from custody by Keeper Arnold on thepresentation of an official paper by Lady Mary Phips. Therefore yourconscience need not be uneasy on that score."

  "Why are you here then--why making this haste? It is evident that thereis something wrong about it."

  "Boston has not treated either of us so well that we are very desirousof remaining," replied Master Raymond. "And as we are going together, itis only decorous that we should get married. If you however refuse tomarry us, we shall be compelled to take you with us--for the merepresence of such a respected minister will be sufficient to shield themaiden's name from all reckless calumniators."

  The second mate came to the door of the cabin. "Captain, there is a finebreeze blowing, it is a pity not to use it."

  "Make all ready, sir," replied the Captain. Then turning to theminister, "There is no particular hurry, Master Mather. You can take thenight to think over it. To-morrow morning probably, if you come to yoursenses, we may be able to send you ashore somewhere, between here andthe capes of the Delaware."

  "This is outrageous!" said Master Mather. "I will hold both of youaccountable for it."

  "It is a bad time to threaten, when your head is in the lion's mouth,Master Mather," returned Captain Tolley fiercely. "No one knows but myown men that you ever came on board the 'Storm King.' How do you knowthat I am not Captain Kidd himself?"

  The minister's face grew pale. It was no disparagement to his manhood.Even Master Raymond's face grew very serious--for did even he know thatthis Captain Tolley might not be the renowned freebooter, of whose manyacts of daring and violence the wide seas rang?

  "I would counsel you for your own good to do at once what you will haveto do ultimately," said Master Raymond gravely. "I owe you no thanks foranything; but"--and the young man laughed as he turned to Dulcibel--"Inever could trap even a fox without pitying the animal."

  Dulcibel went up to the minister, and put her hand upon his arm:--"Do Ilook so much like a witch?" she said in a playful tone.

  "We are told that Satan can enrobe himself like an angel of light,"replied Master Mather severely. "I judge you by what I have heard ofyour cruel deeds."

  "As you judged the cruel yellow bird that turned out to be only aharmless little chicken," said Master Raymond sarcastically. "Enough ofthis folly. Will you marry us now--or not? If you will, you shall be putashore unharmed. If you will not, you shall go along with us. Make upyour mind at once, for we shall soon be out of Boston harbor."

  Master Mather had a strong will--and an equally strong won't--but thePhilistines were, for this time, too much for him. That reference toCaptain Kidd had frightened him badly. "Stand up--and I will marry you.Unscrupulous as you both are, it is better that you should be marriedby legal rites, than allowed to go your own way to destruction."

  And then--the important ceremony being duly gone through--he pronouncedMaster Ellis Raymond and Mistress Dulcibel Burton man and wife. TheCaptain being allowed by Master Raymond to take the first kiss, asacting in the place of the bride's father.

  "No, not a penny!" said the minister, closing his hand against thegolden pieces that the groom held out to him. "All I ask is, that youcomply with your promise--and put me on shore again as soon aspossible."

  "Better take a drink of wine first," said the Captain, filling up aglass and handing it to him.

  "I will neither break bread nor drink wine on this"--he was going to say_accursed_ ship; but the fierce eyes of the possible freebooter wereupon him, and he said, "on this unhappy vessel."

  Captain Tolley laughed heartily. "Oh well, good wine never goes begging.The anchor is not up yet, and we will put you off just where you cameon. Come along!"

  Without a word of leave-taking to the two whom he had joined together,Master Mather followed the Captain. In fact though, Master Raymond andDulcibel scarcely noted his going, for they were now seated on a smallsofa, the arm of the young husband around the shapely waist of hisnewly-made wife, and the minister dismissed from their minds ascompletely as the wine-glass out of which they had just drank. He hadanswered their purpose and in the deep bliss of their new relation, theythought no more about him.

  As Master Mather turned to descend to the boat again--not wasting anyformal words of leave-taking upon the Captain either--the latter graspedhim by the arm.

  "Wait one moment," said Captain Tolley. "You will speak of what hasoccurred here this evening Master Mather, or not, at your pleasure. Butbe careful of what you say--for there is no power on this coast, str
ongenough to protect you against my vengeance!" And with a scowl upon hisface, that would not have done injustice to the dreaded Captain Kiddhimself, he added in a hoarse, fierce tone the one impressive word"Beware!"

  The minister made no reply. It was a day of fierce men and wilddeeds--especially on the high seas. Prudence in some positions is farbetter than valor.

  "Now, my hearties! let us get out of this harbor as soon as possible!"cried the Captain. "I might have held him till we were opposite thecastle, and put him ashore there; but it is safer as it is. We have aregular clearance, and he cannot do anything legally under an hour ortwo at least--while in half-an-hour we shall be outside. With a stiffbreeze like this, once on the open seas, I fear neither man nor devil!"