The Light of Scarthey: A Romance

by Egerton Castle

  CHAPTER XXIV

  THE NIGHT

  So the blood burned within her, And thus it cried to her: And there, beside the maize field The other one was waiting-- He, the mysterious one.

  _Luteplayer's Song._

  The mantle of night had already fallen upon the land when LadyLandale, closely wrapped in her warmest furs, with face well ensconcedunder her close bonnet, and arms buried to the elbow in her muff,sallied from her room on the announcement that the carriage waswaiting. As, with her leisurely daintiness, she tripped it down thestairs, she crossed Mr. Landale, and paused a moment, ready for theskirmish, as she noticed the cynical curiosity with which he examinedher.

  "Whither, my fair sister," said he, ranging himself with his bestcourtesy against the bannisters, "so late in the day?"

  "To my lord and master's side, of course," said Molly.

  "Why--is not Adrian coming back to-night?"

  "Apparently not, since he has graciously permitted me to join him uponhis rock. I trust you will not find it too unhappy in our absence:that would be the crowning misfortune of a day when everything seemsto have gone wrong. Sophia invisible with her vapours; Madeleine withthe megrim; and you in and out of the house as excited and secret asthe cat when she has licked all the cream. I suppose I shall end byknowing what it is all about. Meanwhile I think I shall enjoy thetranquillity of the island--although I have actually to tear myselfaway from the prospect of a tete-a-tete evening with you."

  But as Rupert's serenity was not to be moved, her ladyship hereuponallowed herself to be escorted to the carriage without further parley.

  As she drove away through the dark night, first down the level,well-metalled avenue, then along the uneven country road, and finallythrough the sand of the beach in which hoofs and tyres sanknoiselessly, inches deep, Molly gave herself up, with almost childishzest to the leaven of imagination.... Here, in this dark carriage, wasreclining, not Lady Landale (whose fate deed had already been signed,sealed and delivered to bring her nothing but disappointment), but herhappier sister, still confronted with the fascinating unknown,hurrying under cover of night, within sound of the sea, to thatenthralling lure, a lover--a real lover, ardent, daring, _young_,ready to risk all, waiting to spread the wings of his boat, and carryher to the undiscovered country.

  Glowing were these fleeting images of the "might have been," angry thesudden relapses into the prose of reality.

  No, Madeleine, the coward, who thought she had loved her lover, wasnow in her room, weak and weeping, whilst he, no doubt, paced the deckin mad impatience (as a lover should), now tortured by the throes ofanxiety, now hugging himself with the thought of his coming bliss ...that bliss that never was to be his. And in the carriage there wasonly Molly, the strong-hearted but the fettered by tie and vow, theslave for ever of a first girlish fancy but too successfullycompassed; only Lady Landale rejoining her husband in his melancholysolitude; Lady Landale who never--never! awful word! would know thejoys which yonder poor fool had had within her grasp and yet had notclutched at.

  Molly had read, as permitted, her sister's letter, and to somepurpose; and scorn of the girl who from some paltry quibble couldabandon in danger the man she professed to love, filled her soul tothe exclusion of any sisterly or ever womanly pity.

  At the end of half an hour the carriage was stopped by the blackshadow of a man, who seemed to spring up from the earth, and who,after a few rapid words interchanged with the coachman, extinguishedboth the lights, and then opened the door.

  Leaning on the offered elbow Molly jumped down upon the yieldingsand.

  "Rene?" she asked; for the darkness even on the open beach was toothick to allow of recognition.

  "Rene, your ladyship--or Mademoiselle is it?" answered the man in hisunmistakable accent. "I must ask; for, by the voice no one can tell,as your ladyship, or Mademoiselle knows--and the sky is black like achimney."

  "Lady Landale, Rene," and as he paused, she added, "My sister wouldnot come."

  "Ah, _mon Dieu_! She would not come," repeated the man in tones ofdismay; and the black shadow was struck into a moment of stillness.Then with an audible sigh Mr. Potter roused himself, and saying withmelancholy resignation, "The boat is there, I shall be of return in aminute, My Lady," took the traveller's bag on his shoulder anddisappeared.

  The carriage began to crunch its way back in the darkness and Mollywas left alone.

  * * * * *

  In front of her was a faint white line, where the rollers spread theirfoam with mournful restless fugue of long drawn roar and hissing sigh.

  In the distance, now and then glancing on the crest of the dancingbillows, shone the steady light of Scarthey. The rising wind whistledin the prickly star-grass and sea-holly. Beyond these, not a sight,not a sound--the earth was all mystery.

  Molly looked at the light--marking the calm spot where her husbandwaited for her; its very calm, its familiar placidity, monotony,enraged her; she hearkened to the splashing, living waves, to theswift flying gusts of the storm wind, and her soul yearned to theirlife, and their mysteriousness.

  What she longed for, she herself could not tell. No words canencompass the desire of pent-up young vitality for the unknown, forthe ideal, for the impossible. But one thing was overpoweringly real:that was the dread of leaving just then the wide, the open world whosedarkness was filled to her with living scenes of freedom and space,and blood-stirring emotions; of re-entering the silent room under thelight; of consorting with the shadowy personality, her husband; offeeling the web of his melancholy, his dreaminess, imprison as it werethe wings of her imagination and the thoughtful kindness of his gaze,paralyse the course of her hot blood through her veins.

  And yet, thither she was going, must be going! Ah Madeleine, fool--youmay well weep, yonder on your pillow, for the happiness that was yoursand that you have dropped from your feeble hands!

  * * * * *

  In a few minutes the black shadow re-appeared close to her.

  "If My Lady will lean on my shoulder, I shall lead her to the boat."And after a few steps, the voice out of the darkness proceeded inexplanation: "I have not taken a lantern, I have put out those of thecarriage, for I must tell My Lady, that since what arrived thismorning, there may be _gabelous_--they call them the preventivehere--in every corner, and the light might bring them, as it does thenight papilions, and ... as I thought Mademoiselle was to accompanyyou--they might have frightened her. These people want to know somuch!"

  "I know nothing of what has happened this morning, that you speak ofas if the whole world must know," retorted Lady Landale coolly. "Youare all hatching plots and sitting on secrets, but nobody confides inme. It seems then, that you expected Mademoiselle, my sister, here forsome purpose and that you regret she did not come; may I ask for anexplanation?"

  A few moments elapsed before the man replied, and then it was withembarrassment and diffidence: "For sure, I am sorry, My Lady ... therehave been misfortunes on the island this morning--nothing though toconcern her ladyship--and, as for Mademoiselle, mother Margery wouldhave liked to see her, no doubt ... and Maggie the wife also--and--andno doubt also Mademoiselle would have liked to come.... What do Iknow?"

  "Oh, of course!" said Molly with her little note of mocking laughter.

  Then again they walked a while in silence. As Rene lifted his mistressin his arms to carry her over the licking hissing foam, she resumed:"It is well, Rene, you are discreet, but I am not such a fool aspeople seem to think. As for her, you were right in thinking that shemight easily be frightened. She was afraid even to come out!"

  Rene shoved his boat off, and falling to his sculls, suddenly relapsedinto the old vernacular: "_Ah Madame_," he sighed, "_c'est bientriste--un gentilhomme si beau--si brave!_"

  During the crossing no further words passed between them.

  "So brave--so handsome?" The echo of the words came back to the womanin every lap of the water on the sides of the b
oat, in every strain ofthe oars.

  The keel ground against the beach, and Rene leaped out to drag theboat free of the surf. As he did so, two blacker outlines segregatedthemselves from the darkness and a rough voice called out, subdued butdistinct: "Savenaye, St. Malo!"

  "Savenaye, St. Malo!" repeated Rene, and helped Lady Landale toalight. Then one of the figures darted forward and whispered a rapidsentence in the Frenchman's ear. Rene uttered an exclamation, but hismistress intervened with scant patience:

  "My good Rene," said she, "take the bag into the peel, and come backfor me. I have a message for these gentlemen."

  Rene hesitated. As he did so a rustle of anger shook the lady in hersilks and furs. "Do you hear me?" she repeated, and he could guess howher little foot stamped the yielding sand.

  "_Oui, Madame_," said he, hesitating no longer. Immediately the othertwo drew near. Molly could just see that they stood in all deference,cap in hand.

  "Madam," began one of these in hurried words, "there is not a momentto be lost: the captain had to remain on board."

  "What!" interrupted Lady Landale with much asperity, "not come inperson!" She had been straining her eyes to make out something of herinterlocutor's form, unable to reconcile her mind's picture with thecoarse voice that addressed her--And now all her high expectationsfell from her in an angry rush. "Have I come all this way to be met bya messenger! Who are you?"

  "Madam," entreated the husky voice, "I am the mate of the _Peregrine_.The captain has directed me to beg and pray you not to be afraid, butto have good courage and confidence in us--the schooner is there; infive minutes you can be safe on board. You see, madam," continued theman with an earnestness that spoke well of his devotion, "the captainfound he couldn't, he dared not leave the ship--he is the only one whoknows the bearings of these waters here--any one of us might run heron the bank, and where would we be then, madam, and you, if we werefound in daylight still in these parts?--'For God's sake, Curwen,'says he, 'implore the lady not to be afraid and tell her to trust, asshe has promised,' so he says. And for God's sake, say I, madam, trustus. In five minutes you will be with him? Say the word, madam, am I tomake the signal? There he is, eating his heart out. There are all thelads ready waiting for your foot on the ladder, to hoist sail. No timeto lose, we are already behind. Shall I signal?"

  Molly's heart beat violently; under the sudden impulse, thefascination of the black chasm, of the peril, the adventure, theunfathomed, took possession of her, and whirled her on.

  "Yes," she said.

  On the very utterance of the word the man, who had not yet spoken,uncovered a lantern, held it aloft, as rapidly replaced it under hiscoat, and moved away.

  Almost immediately, against the black pall, behind the dim line ofgrey that marked the shore, suddenly sprang up three bright points inthe form of a triangle.

  It was as if all the darkness around had been filled with life; as ifthe first fulfilment of those promises with which it had been drawingthis woman's soul was now held out to her to lure her further still.

  "See, madam, how they watch!--By your leave."

  And with no further warning, Molly felt herself seized withuncompromising, but deferential, energy, by a pair of powerful arms;lifted like a child, and carried away at a bear-like trot. By thesplashing she judged it was through the first line of breakers. Thenshe was handed into another irresistible grasp. The boat lurched asthe mate jumped in. Then:

  "Now give way, lads," he said, "and let her have it. Those lights mustnot be burning longer than we can help. Tain't wholesome for any ofus."

  And under the pulse of four willing pairs of arms the skiff, like athing of life, clove the black waters and rose to the billows.

  "You see, madam," explained the mate, "we could not do without thelights, to show us where she lay, and give us a straight course. Weare all right so long as we keep that top 'un in the middle--but hewon't be sorry, I reckon, when he can drop them overboard. They can'tbe seen from the offing yet, but it's astounding how far a light willreach on a night like this. Cheerily, lads, let her have it!"

  But Molly heeded him not. She had abandoned herself to the thrillingdelight of the excitement. The die was cast--not by her own hand, noone should be able to hold her responsible--she had been kidnapped.Come what might she must now see the adventure out.

  The lights grew larger; presently a black mass, surmounted by a kindof greyish cloud, loomed through the pitch of the night; and next itwas evident that the beacon was hanging over the side of a ship,illuminating its jagged leaping water line.

  A voice, not too loud, yet, even through the distance, ringing clearin its earnestness sounded from above. "Boat ahoy! what boat is that?"

  And promptly the helmsman by Molly's side returned: "Savenaye, St.Malo."

  On the instant the lights went out. There was a creaking of block andcordage, and new ghostly clouds rose over the ship--sails loosened tothe wind. As the skiff rowers came alongside, boat-hooks leaped intoaction and gripped the vessel; an arm, strong as steel, was held outfor the passenger as she fearlessly put her foot on the ladder;another, a moment later, with masterful tenderness bent round herwaist, and she was fairly lifted on board the _Peregrine_. But beforeher foot touched the deck, she felt upon her lips, laid like a burningseal, a passionate kiss; and her soul leaped up to it, as if calledinto sudden life from slumber, like the princess of fairy lore. Sheheard Madeleine's mysterious lover whisper in her ear: "At last! Oh,what I have suffered, thinking you would not come!"

  From the warm shelter of her loosened cloak the violets in her bosomsent forth a wave of sweetness.

  For a moment these two were in all creation alone to each other,while in a circle the _Peregrine's_ crew stood apart in respectfulsilence: a broad grin of sympathy upon the mouth of every mother'sson.

  Released at last, Lady Landale took a trembling step on the deck. Intowhat strange world had she come this night?

  The schooner, like a mettled steed whose head is suddenly set free,was already in motion, and with gentle forward swaying leaps rising tothe wave and gathering speed under her swelling sails.

  Captain Jack had seized Molly's hand, and the strong clasp trembledround the little fingers; he said no more to her; but, in tonesvibrating with emotion which all the men, now silently seeking theirposts in the darkness, could hear:

  "My lads," he cried, "the lady is safe with us after all. Who shallsay that your skipper is not still Lucky Smith? Thank you, my goodfellows! Now we have yet to bring her safe the other side.Meanwhile--no cheering, lads, you know why--there is a hundred guineasmore among you the hour we make St. Malo. Stand to, every man. Up withthose topsails!"

  Scarcely had the last words been spoken when, from the offing, on thewings of the wind, came a long-drawn hail, faint through the distance,but yet fatally distinct: "Ahoy, what schooner is that?"

  Molly, who had not withdrawn her hand, felt a shock pass over CaptainJack's frame. He turned abruptly, and she could see him lean andstrain in the direction of the voice.

  The call, after an interval, was repeated. But the outlook wasimpenetrable, and it was weird indeed to feel that they were seen yetcould not see.

  Molly, standing close by his side, knew in every fibre of her own bodythat this man, to whom she seemed in some inexplicable fashion alreadylinked, was strongly moved. Nevertheless she could hardly guess theextremity of the passion that shook him. It was the frenzy of therider who feels his horse about to fail him within a span of thewinning post; of the leader whose men waver at the actual point ofvictory. But the weakness of dismay was only momentary. Calm andclearness of mind returned with the sense of emergency. He raised hisnight-glass, with a steady hand this time, and scanned the depth ofblackness in front of him: out of it after a moment, there seemed toshape itself the dim outline of a sail, and he knew that he had waitedtoo long and had fallen in again with the preventive cutter. Thenglancing aloft, he understood how it was that the _Peregrine_ had beenrecognised.

  The overcast sky ha
d partly cleared to windward during the lastminutes; a few stars glinted where hitherto nothing but the mostimpenetrable pall had hung. In the east, the rays of a yet invisiblemoon, edging with faint silver the banks of clouds just above thehorizon, had made for the schooner a tell-tale background indeed.

  On board no sound was heard now save the struggle of rope and canvas,the creaking of timber and the swift plashing rush of water againsther rounded sides as she sped her course.

  "Madeleine," he said, forcibly controlling his voice, and bringing, ashe spoke, his face close to Molly's to peer anxiously at itsindistinct white oval, "we are not free yet; but in a short time, withGod's help, we shall have left those intermeddling fools yonder whowould bar our way, miles out of the running. But I cannot remain withyou a moment longer; I must take the helm myself. Oh, forgive me forhaving brought you to this! And, should you hear firing, for Heaven'ssake do not lose courage. See now, I will bring you to your cabin;there you will find warmth and shelter. And in a little while, a verylittle while, I will return to you to tell you all is well. Come, mydearest love."

  Gently he would have drawn her towards the little deck-cabin, guidingher steps, as yet untutored to the motion of the ship, when out of theblack chasm, upon the weather bow of the _Peregrine_, leaped forth ayellow tongue of light fringed with red and encircled by a ruddycloud; and three seconds later the boom of a gun broke with a dull,ominous clangour above the wrangling of sea and wind. Mollystraightened herself. "What is that?" she asked.

  "The warning gun," he answered, hurriedly, "to say that they mean tosee who we are and that if we do not stop the next will be shotted.Time presses, Madeleine, go in--fear nothing! We shall soon be ontheir other side, out of sight in darkness again."

  "I shall stop with you. Let no thought of me hinder you. I am notafraid. I want to see."

  At these words the lover was struck with a surprise that melted into aproud and new joy. He had loved Madeleine for her woman's grace andher woman's heart; now, he told himself, he must worship her also forher brave soul. But this was no time for useless words. It was notmore unsafe for her on deck than in the cabin, and at the thought ofher beside him during the coming struggle the strength of a god rosewithin him. "Come," he answered, briefly, and moved with her to thehelm which a sailor silently surrendered to him whilst she steadiedherself by holding to the binnacle--the only place on board at thattime where (from sheer necessity) any light had been allowed toremain. It was faint enough, but the reflection from thecompass-board, as he bent to examine it, was sufficient to make justvisible, with a dim fantastic glow, the strong beauty of his face, andput a flash into each wide dilated eye.

  And thus did Molly, for the first time, see Captain Jack.

  She sank down at the foot of the binnacle, her hands clasped round herknees, as if hugging the new rapture as closely to her as she could.And looking up at the alert figure before her which she now began todiscern more clearly under the lightening sky; at the face which shedivined, although she could only see the watchful gleam of the eyes asnow and again they sought her down in the shadow at his feet, she feltherself kindle in answer to the glow of his glorious life-energy. Theywere going, side by side, this young hero of romance and she, to fighttheir way through some unknown peril!

  "Madeleine, my sweet bride, my brave love, they are about to fireagain, and this time you will hear the shot burring; but be notafraid, it will strike ahead of us."

  Another flash sprang out of the night, much nearer this time, andlouder, for it belched forth a shot which ploughed its way in thewater across the schooner's bow.

  "I am not afraid," said Molly again; and she laughed a little fierce,nervous laugh.

  "They are between us and the open sea. Thus far the luck is on theirside. Had you come but half an hour sooner, Madeleine, we should berunning as free as any king's ship. Now they think, no doubt, theywill drive me on to the sand; but," he tossed back his head with asuperb gesture; "there is no power from heaven or hell that can keepme out of my course to-night."

  By this time the preventive cutter was faintly discernible two cableslength on the larboard bow. There came another hail--a loud, huskybellow from over the water, "Schooner ahoy! Heave to, or we'll sinkyou!"

  "Madeleine," said Captain Jack; "come closer to me, lie down, behindme, quick--The next shot will be in my rigging. Heave to?--with mytreasures, my bride on board and a ten knot breeze...!" And he lookeddown at Molly, laughing in his contempt. Then he shouted some orderwhich brought the _Peregrine_ some points more off the wind, and shebounded forward with renewed zest. "Sink us! Why don't you fire now,you lubbers?" He glanced back over his shoulder to see the beacon ofScarthey straight over the stern. "You have got us in line with thelight, and that's your last chance. In another minute I shall be pastyou. Ah, I can see you now, my fine fellows!--Courage, Madeleine."

  To Molly, of course, his words conveyed no meaning, except that thecritical moment had come, that the ship which carried her flying uponthe water like a living thing, eager, yet obedient in all its motionsto the guiding will of the man beside her, was rushing to the fray.The thought fired her soul, and she sprang up to look over the side.

  "What," she exclaimed, for the little cutter on close quarters lookedinsignificant indeed by the side of the noble vessel that soscornfully bore down on her. "Is that all!"

  "They have a gun, and we have none," answered Captain Jack. "Down,Madeleine! down behind, in the name of God!"

  "Why should I crouch if you stand up?"

  The man's heart swelled within him; but as he looked with proudadmiration at the cloaked and hooded figure by his side, the cutter'sgun fired for the third time. With roar and hiss the shot came overthe bow of the schooner, as she dipped into the trough, and raking thedeck, crashed through her side on the quarter. Molly gave a shriek andstaggered.

  A fearful malediction burst from Captain Jack's lips: he left thetiller and sprang to her.

  One of the hands, believing his skipper to have been struck, ran tothe helm, and again put the vessel on her proper course which a fewmoments later was to make her shoot past the revenue cutter.

  "Wounded, Madeleine! Wounded through my fault! By the living God, theyshall pay for this!"

  "Oh," groaned Molly, "something has cut me in the arm and shoulder."Then rapidly gathering composure, "But it's not much, I can move it."

  At one glance the sailor saw from the position of the shot hole in thevessel's side that the wound could only have been made by a splinter.But the possibility of exposing his beloved to such another risk wasnot to be borne--a murderous rush of blood flew to his brain.

  The cutter, perceiving the tactics of the swifter schooner, was nowtacking about with the intention of bringing the gun to bear upon heronce more as she attempted to slip by. But Captain Jack in hisnew-fanned fury had made up his mind to a desperate cast of the die.

  "Starboard, hard a starboard," he called out in a voice that his menhad known well in old fighting days and which was heard as far as thecutter itself. "They shall not fire that gun again!"

  With a brief, "Starboard it is, sir," the man who had taken the helmbrought the ship round, and the silent, active crew in a trice wereready to go about. Majestically the schooner changed her course, andas the meaning of the manoeuvre became fearfully apparent, shoutsand oaths arose in confusion from the cutter.

  "What are you going to do?" eagerly asked Molly, enthralled by thesuperb motion of the vessel under her foot as it swept round andincreased speed upon the new tack.

  He held her in his arms. His hand had sought her wounded shoulder andpressed the lacerated spot in his effort to staunch the precious bloodthat rose warm through the cloth, torturing his cold fingers.

  "I am going to clear those men from our way to freedom and to love! Iam going to sink that boat: they shall pay with their lives for this!Come to the other side, Madeleine, and watch how my stout _Peregrine_sweeps our course--and then I may see how these scoundrels havemangled you, my love. But, nay, this is no s
ight for you. Hold onclose to me, sweet, and hide your eyes while they go."

  He steadied himself firmly with one hand on the rigging.

  Now musket shots flashed on board the cutter in quick succession, andsundry balls whizzed over the poop, intended for the helmsman by theirside. Captain Jack gnashed his teeth, as the menacing drone of one ofthem came perilously close to the beloved head by his cheek.

  "Look out, every man. We'll run her down!" he called. His voice waslike the blast of bugles. Cheers broke out from every part of theship, drowning the yells of execration and the shouts of fear frombelow. And now, with irresistible sway, the rushing _Peregrine_ heavyand powerful was closing and bearing down upon her frailer enemy.

  There was a spell of suspense when all was silence, save the rush andturmoil of the waters, and the flapping of the cutter's sails,helpless for the moment in the teeth of the breeze. Like a chargingsteed the schooner seemed to leap at her foe. Then came the shock.There was a brief check in her career, she rose by the head; therigging strained and sighed, the masts swayed groaning, but stood.Over the bows, in the darkness was heard a long-drawn crash, was seena white wall of foaming water rising silently to break the next momentwith a great roar.

  The cutter, struck obliquely amidships, was thrown straightway on herbeam ends: the _Peregrine_, with every sail spread and swollen, heldher as the preying bird with outstretched wings holds its quarry, andpressed her down until she began to fill and settle. It was withwide-open eyes, with eager, throbbing heart that Molly watched it all.

  "Lights, my lads," cried Captain Jack, with a shout of exultation,when the anxious instant had passed. "Take in every man you can savebut handspike is the word for the first who shows fight! Curwen, doyou get her clear again."

  All around upon the deck, sprang rumour and turmoil, came shouts andsounds of scuffling and the rushing of feet; from the blank waterscame piteous calls for help. But paying little heed to aught butMolly, Captain Jack seized a lighted lantern from the hands of apassing sailor and drew her aside.

  Fevered with pain and fascinated by the horror of fight and death'sdoings, yet instinctively remembering to pull her hood over her face,she allowed herself to be taken into the little deck cabin.

  He placed the lantern upon the table:

  "Rest here," he said quickly, once more striving to see her beneaththe jealous shade. "I must find out if anything is amiss on board theship and attend to these drowning men--even before you, my darling!But I shall be back instantly. You are not faint?"

  The light shone full on his features which Molly eagerly scanned fromher safe recess. When she met his eyes, full of the triumph of loveand hope, her soul broke into fierce revolt--again she felt upon herlips that kiss of young passionate love that had been the first herlife had ever known ... and might be the last, for the disclosure wasapproaching apace.

  She was glad of the respite.

  "Go," she said with as much firmness as she could muster. "Let me notstand between you and your duty. I am strong."

  Strong indeed--Captain Jack might have wondered whence had come tothis gentle Madeleine this lioness-strength of soul and body, had hehad time to wonder, time for aught but his love thoughts and his fury,as he dashed back again panting for the moment when he could have herto himself.

  "Any damage, Curwen?"

  "Bowsprit broken, and larboard bulwark stove in, otherwise everythinghas stood."

  "Casualties?"

  "No, sir. We have three of the cutter's men on board already. Theyswarmed over the bows. One had his cutlass out and had the devil'simpudence to claim the schooner, but a boat-hook soon brought him toreason. There they be, sir," pointing to a darker group huddled roundthe mast. "I have lowered the gig to see if we can pick up the others,damn them!"

  "As soon as they are all on board bring them aft, I will speak tothem."

  When, with a master's eye, he had rapidly inspected his vessel fromthe hold to the rigging, without finding aught to cause anxiety forits safety, Captain Jack returned to the poop, and there found theparty of prisoners arranged under the strong guard of his own crew.Molly stood, wrapped up in her cloak, at the door of the cabin,watching.

  One of the revenue men came forward and attempted to speak--but thecaptain impatiently cut him short.

  "I have no time to waste in talk, my man," he said commandingly. "Howmany were you on board the cutter?"

  "Nine," answered the man sullenly.

  "How many have we got here?"

  "Six, sir," interposed Curwen. "Those three," pointing to threedisconsolate and dripping figures, "were all we could pick up."

  "Hark ye, fellows," said the captain. "You barred my road, I had toclear you away. You tried to sink me, I had to sink you. You have lostthree of your ship-mates, you have yourselves to blame for it; yourshot has drawn blood from one for whom I would have cut down fortytimes your number. I will send you back to shore. Away with you! No, Iwill hear nothing. Let them have the gig, Curwen, and four oars."

  "And now God speed the _Peregrine_," cried Jack Smith, as the revenuemen pushed off in the direction of the light and the wind was againswelling every sail of his gallant ship. "We are well out of ourscrape. Shape her course for St. Malo, Curwen. If this wind holds weshould be there by the nineteenth in the morning, at latest."