CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
SURLY DICK--THE RESCUE.
We must turn aside here for a short time to follow the fortunes of the_Talisman_.
When that vessel went in chase of the _Foam_, after her daring passageacross the reefs, she managed to keep her in view until the island wasout of sight astern. Then the increasing darkness caused by the squallhid the two vessels from each other, and before the storm passed awaythe superior sailing qualities of the _Foam_ carried her far beyond thereach of the cruiser.
But Mr Mulroy was not a man to be easily baffled. He resolved tocontinue the chase, and, supposing that his commander must have gotsafely to the shore, he made up his mind to proceed southward for ashort time, thinking it probable that the pirate would run for theshelter of those remote islands which he knew were seldom visited bymerchant ships. The importance of keeping the chase in view as long aspossible, and following it up without delay, he felt it would beaccepted as a sufficient excuse by Montague for not putting back to takehim on board.
The squalls which happened to prevail at that time drove the _Talisman_farther south than her first lieutenant had intended to go, and shefailed to fall in with the pirate schooner. Mulroy cruised far and widefor fully a week; then he gave up the chase as hopeless. Two days afterthe breaking of the storm that wrecked the _Wasp_, the _Talisman's_ prowwas turned northward towards Sandy Cove.
It was the close of a calm beautiful evening when this was done. Agentle breeze fanned the topsails, although it failed to ruffle the sea.
"I don't like to be baffled in this way," said Mulroy to the secondlieutenant, as they paced the quarterdeck together.
"It is very unfortunate," returned the other. "Would it not be as wellto examine the man called Surly Dick before leaving these waters? Youknow he let out that there is some island hereabouts at which thepirates are wont to rendezvous. Perhaps by threats, if not bypersuasion, he may be induced to tell us where it lies."
"True. I had forgotten that fellow altogether. Let him be sent for."
In a few minutes Surly Dick stepped on the quarter-deck and touched hiscap. He did not appear to have grown less surly since his introductionon board the frigate. Discipline had evidently a souring effect on histemper.
"Your late comrades have escaped me," said the first lieutenant, "butyou may depend upon it I will catch the villains in the long run."
"It'll be a pretty long run before you do," remarked the man, sulkily.
Mulroy looked sternly at him. "You forget," said he, "that you are aprisoner. Let me advise you to be at least _civil_ in your manner andtone. Whether the run shall be a long or a short one remains to beseen. One thing is pretty certain, namely, that your own run of lifewill be a _very_ short one. You know the usual doom of a pirate when heis caught."
Surly Dick moved uneasily. "I was made a pirate against my will," saidhe, in a still more sulky tone and disrespectful manner.
"You will find it difficult to prove that," returned Mulroy. "MeanwhileI shall put you in irons and treat you as you deserve until I can placeyou in the hands of the civil authorities."
Surly Dick stood first on one leg and then on the other; moved hisfingers about nervously, and glanced in the lieutenant's face furtively.It was evident that he was ill at ease.
"I never committed murder, sir," said he in an improved tone. "Itwasn't allowed on board of the _Avenger_, sir. It's a hard case that afellow should be made a pirate by force, and then be scragged for it,though he's done none o' the bloody work."
"This may be true," rejoined the lieutenant, "but as I have said, youwill find it difficult to convince your judges of it. But you willreceive a fair trial. There is one thing, however, that will stand inyour favour, and that is a full and free confession. If you make this,and give me all the information you can in order to bring your latecomrades to justice, your judges will perhaps be disposed to view yourcase leniently."
"Wot more _can_ I confess, sir," said Dick, beginning to look a littlemore interested. "I've already confessed that I wos made a pirateagainst my will, and that I've never done no murder--though I _have_plundered a little, just like the rest. As for helpin' to bring mycomrades to justice, I only wish as I know'd how, and I'd do it rightoff, I would."
Surly Dick's expression of countenance when he said this, was asufficient guarantee that he was in earnest.
"There is an island somewhere hereabouts," said the lieutenant, "wherethe pirates are in the habit of hiding sometimes, is there not?"
Surly Dick looked at his questioner slyly as he replied--"There is,sir."
"Do you not think it very likely that they may have run there now--thatthey may be there at this moment?"
"It's _oncommom_ likely," replied Dick with a grin. "Can you direct mehow to steer, in order to reach that island?"
Surly Dick's aspect changed. He became morose again, and lookedsilently at his feet for a few moments, as if he were debating somethingin his own mind. He was in truth perplexed; for, while he was extremelyanxious to bring his hated comrades to justice, he was by no means soanxious to let the lieutenant into the secret of the treasures containedin the caverns of the Isle of Palms, all of which he knew would be atonce swept hopelessly beyond his grasp if they should be discovered. Healso reflected that if he could only manage to get his late companionscomfortably hanged, and himself set free for having turned King'sevidence against them, he could return to the island and abstract thewealth it contained by degrees. The brilliant prospect thus opened upto him was somewhat marred, however, by the consideration that some ofthe pirates might make a confession and let this secret be known, inwhich case his golden dreams would vanish. The difficulty of making uphis mind was so great that he continued for some time to twist hisfingers and move his feet uneasily in silence.
Mulroy observed the pirate's indecision, and although he knew not itscause to the full extent, he was sufficiently acquainted with humannature to know that now was the moment to overcome the man, if he was tobe overcome at all.
"Well, well," he said, carelessly, "I'm sorry to see you throw away youronly chance. As for the information you refuse to give, I can dowithout it. Perhaps I may find some of your late comrades when we makethe island, who will stand witness against _you_. That will do, my man,you may go. Mr Geoffrey," (turning to a midshipman,) "will youaccompany that pirate forward and see that he is put in irons."
"But you don't know where the island is," said Surly Dick, anxiously, asthe lieutenant was turning away.
Mulroy turned back--"No," said he, "but you ought to know that when aseaman is aware of the existence of an island, and knows that he is nearit, a short time will suffice to enable him to find it."
Again he was about to turn away when Dick cried out--"Stay, sir, willyou stand by me if I shew you the way?"
"I will not deceive you," said Mulroy, bluntly. "If you shew me how tosteer for this island, and assist me in every way that you can to catchthese villains, I will report what you have done, and the judges at yourtrial will give what weight they please to the facts; but if you supposethat I will plead for such a rascal as you are, you very much mistakeme."
A look of deep hatred settled on the pirate's countenance as he saidbriefly--"Well, I'll shew you how to steer."
Accordingly Surly Dick, after being shewn a chart, and being made awareof the exact position of the ship, ordered the course to be altered to"north-half-east." As this was almost dead in the eye of the lightbreeze that was blowing, the _Talisman_ had to proceed on her course bythe slow process of tacking.
While she was in the act of putting about on one of these tacks, thelook-out reported "a boat on the lee bow."
"Boat on the lee bow!" was passed from mouth to mouth, and the order wasimmediately given to let the frigate fall off. In another minute,instead of ploughing her way slowly and doggedly to windward, the_Talisman_ ran swiftly before the breeze towards a dark object which ata distance resembled a boat with a mast and a small flag f
lying from it.
"It is a raft, I think," observed the second lieutenant, as he adjustedthe telescope more perfectly.
"You are right, and I think there is someone on it," said Mulroy. "Isee something like a man lying on it, but whether he is dead or alive Icannot say. There is a flag, undoubtedly--but no one waves ahandkerchief or a rag of any kind. Surely, if a _living_ being occupiedthe raft he would have seen the ship by this time. Stay, he moves! No;it must have been imagination. I fear that he is dead, poor fellow.Stand by to lower a boat."
The lieutenant spoke in a sad voice, for he felt convinced that he hadcome too late to the aid of some unfortunate who had died in perhaps themost miserable manner in which man can perish.
Henry Stuart did indeed lie on the raft a dead man to all appearance.Towards the evening of his third day, he had suffered very severely fromthe pangs of hunger. Long and earnestly had he gazed round the horizon,but no sail appeared. He felt that his end was approaching, and in afit of despair and increasing weakness, he fell on his face in a stateof half consciousness. Then he began to pray, and, gradually, he fellinto a troubled slumber.
It was while he was in this condition, that the _Talisman_ hove insight. Henry had frequently fallen into this species of sleep duringthe last few hours, but he never continued in it long, for the pains ofthirst as well as hunger now racked his frame. Nevertheless, he was notmuch reduced in strength or vigour. A long slow process of dying wouldhave still lain before the poor youth, had it been his lot to perish onthat raft.
A delightful dream came over him as he lay. A rich banquet was spreadbefore him. With wolfish desire he grasped the food, and ate as henever ate before. Oh! it was a rare feast that! Each morsel wasdelicious; each draught was nectar. But he could not devour enough.There was a strange feeling in him that he could by no means eat tosatisfaction.
While he was thus feasting in dreams the _Talisman_ drew near. Herbulwarks were crowded with faces gazing earnestly at the bit of red ragthat fluttered in the breeze and the pile of loose spars on the man'sform lay extended and motionless.
Suddenly Henry awoke with a start, to find that his rich banquet was aterrible delusion! that he was starving to death--and that a large shipwas hove-to within a few yards of him!
Starting up on his knees, he uttered a wild shriek. Then, as the truthentered his soul, he raised his hand and gave a faint cheer.
The revulsion of feeling in the crew of the _Talisman_ wasoverpowering--a long, loud, tremendous cheer burst from every heart!
"Lower away!" was shouted to the men who stood at the fall-tackles ofthe boat!
As the familiar sounds broke on Henry's ear, he leaped to his feet, andwaving his hand above his head, again attempted to cheer; but his voicefailed him. Staggering backwards, he fell fainting into the sea.
Almost at the same instant, a man leaped from the bulwark of thefrigate, and swam vigorously towards the raft. It was Richard Price,the boatswain of the frigate. He reached Henry before the boat did,and, grasping his inanimate form, supported him until it came up andrescued them both. A few minutes later Henry Stuart was restored toconsciousness, and the surgeon of the frigate was ministering to himsuch restoratives as his condition seemed to require.