The Island of Gold: A Sailor's Yarn

by Anonymous

suffering from YellowJack I'd hand you over to a doctor, but, Charles Halcott, it takes a_man_ to cure love. And you've been sorely hit.'

  "This had been a day of surprises, but when I entered that ballroomthere came the greatest surprise of all. Those here assembled were notso-called gentle-folks. They were the sons and daughters of theordinary working classes; but the taste displayed, the banks of flowersaround the orchestra, the gay bouquets and coloured lights along thewalls, the polished and not overcrowded floor, the romantic dresses ofthe gallants that transported one back to the middle ages, thesnow-white costumes of the ladies, and, above all, their innocent,ravishing beauty, formed a scene that reminded me strongly of stories Ihad read in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments.

  "I was almost ashamed of my humble attire, but the courtesy of themaster of ceremonies was charming. Would the strangers dance? Surelythe stranger sailors would dance? He would get us, as partners, theloveliest senoritas in all the room.

  "So he did.

  "I forgot everything in that soft, dreamy waltz--everything save thethrilling music and the sylph-like form of my dark-eyed partner, whofloated with me through the perfumed air, for surely our feet nevertouched the floor.

  "But the drollest thing of all was this--James was dancing too. Jameswith his--well, I must not say aversion to, but fear and shyness ofwomankind, was dancing; and I knew he was only doing so to encourage me.A handsome fellow he looked, too, almost head and shoulders taller thanany man there, and broad and well-knit in proportion. The master ofceremonies had got him a partner `for to match,' as he expressed it;certainly a beautiful girl, with a wealth of raven hair that I had neverseen equalled, far less surpassed. I daresay she could dance lightly;but James's waltzing was of a very solid brand indeed, and he swung hispretty partner round the room in a way that seemed to indicate businessrather than pleasure. Several couples cannoned off James and wentricochetting to the farther end of the room, and one went down. Jamesswung past me a moment after, apparently under a heavy press of canvas,and as he did so I heard him say to his partner, referring to the couplehe had brought to deck,--

  "`They should keep out o' the way, then, when people are dancing.'

  "The hours sped quickly by, as they always do in a ballroom, and by thetime James and I got on board the _Sea Flower_ four bells in themiddle-watch were ringing out through the still, dark night. But allwas safe and quiet on board.

  "I took a turn on deck to enjoy a cigar before going below, just by wayof cooling my brow. When I went down at last, why, there was Jamesseated at the table, his mother's Bible before him, and, as usual, theawful specs across his nose.

  "Poor James, he was a strange man, but a sincere friend, as the sequelwill show."

  Book 2--CHAPTER FIVE.

  "TILL THE SEA GIVES UP ITS DEAD."

  From Madeira, where we stayed for many days, going on shore everyforenoon to sell some of our cargo to the shopkeepers, and everyafternoon for a long ride--horse and hammock--over some part or other ofthis island of enchantment, sometimes finishing up with a dance--fromall this pleasure and delight, I say, we sailed away at last.

  "South and away we sailed, and in due time we reached and anchored offSaint James's Town, Saint Helena.

  "Now, Saint Helena had not figured in our programme when we left MerryEngland. But here we were, and a most delightful place I found it.Hills and dells, mountains and glens; wild flowers everywhere; and theblue eternal sea dotted with many a snow-white sail, engirdling all.This, then, was the `lonely sterile rock in the midst of the wildtempestuous ocean,' to which Napoleon had been banished.

  "James had been here before, although I had not, so everything was ofinterest to me, and everything new. And my good mate determined to makeit as pleasant for me as possible. He seemed to know every one, andevery one appeared delighted to see him. Such remarks as the followingfell upon our ears at every corner:--

  "`Well, you've got back again, James?'

  "`What! here you are once more, James, and welcome.'

  "`Dee--lighted to see you, certain--lee!'

  "`Ah! Jeames,'--this from a very aged crone, who was seated on a stonedais near her door, basking in the warm, white sunshine--`ah! Jeames,and sure the Lord is good to me. And my old eyes are blessed once morewi' a sight o' your kindly face!'

  "`Glad to see you alive, Frilda. And look, I have got a pound of teafor you. And I'll come to-night and read a bit out of my mother's GoodBook to you.'

  "`Bless you, Jeames--bless you, my boy.'

  "We went rambling all over the island that day. We visited the fort,where James had many friends; then we went up a beautiful glen, and onreaching the top we struck straight off at right angles, and a walk ofabout half a mile took us to one of the most pleasantly situated farms Ihave ever seen. It was owned by the farmer, a Scotsman of the name ofMacDonald. Nothing flimsy about this fine house. The walls were builtof sturdy stone, and must have been some feet thick, so that indoors inthe cheerful parlour it was cool and delightful, especially so with theodour of orange blossom blowing through the open window and pervadingthe whole room.

  "`Man, James, I'm so pleased. Here! Hi! Mrs Mac, where are you?Here's James Malone, the honest, simple sumph come back again. Jamie,man, ye must stop all night and give us a song.'

  "`We--ll--I--'

  "`No _wells_ nor _I's_ about it. And your friend here too.'

  "Mrs Mac was a very little body, with rosy cheeks, a merry voice, andblue eyes that looked you through and through.

  "A little girl and boy came running in, and James soon had one on eachknee; and while I and MacDonald talked in the window recess, he was deepin the mysteries of a mermaid story, his tiny audience listening withwondering eyes and rosy lips apart.

  "Mrs Mac had gone bustling away to send in a dram of hollands,cunningly flavoured with seeds and fruit rind. She disappearedimmediately again, to send orders down to James's Town for fish andfowl.

  "Of course we would stay all night?

  "`Well,' I said, `the ship is safe, unless a tornado blows.'

  "`There will be no tornado, sir,' said Farmer Mac.

  "`I'll send off, then, and tell the second mate.'

  "`My henchman is at your service, Captain Halcott.'

  "`And look, see,' cried James, `just tell your henchman to bring my GoodBook and specs. I haven't the heart to disappoint old Mother Banks.'

  "`And the guitar,' I added.

  "`Well--well, yes.'

  "The children clapped their hands with glee, and Maggie, the girl,pulled James's face towards her by the whiskers and kissed him.

  "We started next for Longwood and Napoleon's tomb. Maggie and Jack--tenand nine years old respectively--came with us, and a right pleasant daywe spent. There were bright-winged birds flitting hither and thither inthe dazzling sunshine, and singing sweet and low in trees of darkestgreen; but the happy voices of the children made sweeter music far to myears, and I'm sure to James's too.

  "All along the roadsides at some parts grew the tall cacti; they wereone mass of gorgeous crimson bloom, and here and there between, theground was carpeted with trailing blossoms white and blue; yet, in myopinion, the laughing rosebud lips of Maggie and Jack's saucy eyes ofblue were prettier far than the flowers.

  "And here, on the top of the dingle or glen, and overlooking the sea,were Napoleon's house and garden.

  "`Why, James,' I cried, `this isn't a dungeon any more than Saint Helenais a rock. It strikes me--a simple sailor--that Nap must have had finetimes of it.'

  "`No, sir, no,' said James, shaking his head. `Plenty to eat and drink,plenty o' good clothes to wear, but ah! Charles Halcott, he wasn'tfree, and there burned inside him an unquenchable fire. When in action,on the field, or on the march, he had little time to think; but here, inthis solitude, the seared conscience regained its softness, and in histhoughts by day and in his dreams at the dead hours o' night, CharlesHalcott, rose visions of the terrible misery he brought on Europe, andthe black and awful deeds
he did in Egypt. O sir, if you want to punisha man, leave him alone to his conscience!'

  "James Malone was in fine form that evening at Farmer Mac's. He sangand he yarned time about--the songs for the children, the yarns for us.Parodying Tam o' Shanter, I might say:--

  "`The nicht drave on wi' sangs and clatter, Wi' childish glee, wi' bairnies' patter; The sailor tauld his queerest stories, The farmer's laugh was ready chorus; Till, hark! the clock strikes in the hall The wee short oor ayont the twal.'

  "Before dinner that evening simple James had gone to see old MotherBanks, and he spent a whole hour with her.

  "`Good-bye, dear laddie,'