CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH
*In which Angria is astonished; and our hero begins to pay off oldscores.*
Time sped quickly. Desmond made the best use of his opportunities oflearning navigation under Captain King and the superintendent, andbefore two months had expired was pronounced fit to act as mate on thefinest East Indiaman afloat. He took this with a grain of salt. Thefact was that his adventures, the modesty with which he deprecated allallusions to his part in the escape from Gheria, and the industry withwhich he worked, won him the goodwill of all; he was a general favouritewith the little European community of Bombay.
Apart from his study, he found plenty to interest him in his sparemoments. The strange mixture of people, the temples and pagodas, thetowers of silence on which the Parsis exposed their dead, the burningghats of the Hindus on the beach, the gaunt filthy fakirs[#] and jogiswho whined and told fortunes in the streets for alms, the exercising ofthe troops, the refitting and careening of Admiral Watson's ships--allthis provided endless matter for curiosity and amusement. One thingdisappointed him. Not once during the two months did he come in contactwith Clive. Mr. Merriman remained in Bombay, awaiting the arrival of avessel of his from Muscat; but Desmond was loth to ask him whether hehad sounded Clive about a cadetship. As a matter of fact Mr. Merrimanhad mentioned the matter at once.
[#] Religious mendicants (Mohammedan).
"Patience, Merriman," was Clive's reply. "I have my eye on theyoungster."
And with that the merchant, knowing his friend, was very well content;but he kept his own counsel.
At length, one day in the first week of February 1756, Desmond receiveda summons to visit the Admiral. His interview was brief. He wasdirected to place himself under the orders of Captain Latham on the_Tyger_; the fleet was about to sail.
It was a bright, cool February morning, cool, that is, for Bombay, whenthe vessels weighed anchor and sailed slowly out of the harbour. AllBombay lined the shores: natives of every hue and every mode of attire;English merchants; ladies fluttering white handkerchiefs. Such anexpedition had never been undertaken against the noted Pirate before,and the report of Commodore James, confirming the information brought byDesmond, had given the authorities good hope that this pest of theMalabar coast was at last to be destroyed.
It was an inspiriting sight as the vessels, rounding the point, madeunder full sail to the south. There were six line-of-battle ships, sixCompany's vessels, five bomb-ketches, four Maratha grabs--one of themAngria's own grab, the _Tremukji_, on which Desmond had escaped--andforty gallivats. The _Tyger_ led the van. Admiral Watson's flag washoisted on the _Kent_, Admiral Pocock's on the _Cumberland_. On boardthe fleet were 200 European soldiers, 300 sepoys, and 300Topasses--mainly half-caste Portuguese in the service of the Company,owing their name to the topi[#] they wore. To co-operate with thisforce a land army of 12,000 Marathas, horse and foot, under the commandof Ramaji Punt, one of the Peshwa's generals, had been for some timeinvesting the town of Gheria.
[#] Hat.
At this time of year the winds were so slight and variable that it wasnearly a week before the fleet arrived off Gheria. When the bastions ofthe fort hove into sight Desmond could not help contrasting his feelingswith those of two months before.
"Like the look of your cage, Mr. Burke?" said Captain Latham at hiselbow.
"I was just thinking of it, sir," said Desmond. "It makes a very greatdifference when you're outside the bars."
"And we'll break those bars before we're much older, or I'm a Dutchman."
At this moment the signal to heave-to was seen flying at the masthead ofthe _Kent_. Before the vessels had anchored one of the grabs left themain fleet and ran into the harbour. It bore a message from AdmiralWatson to Tulaji Angria, summoning him to surrender. The answerreturned was that if the Admiral desired to be master of the fort hemust take it by force, as Angria was resolved to defend it to the lastextremity. The ships remained at anchor outside the harbour during thenight. Next morning a boat put off from the town end of the fortconveying several of Angria's relatives and some officers of RamajiPunt's army. It by and by became known that Tulaji Angria, leaving hisbrother in charge of the fort, had given himself up to Ramaji Punt, andwas now a prisoner in his camp. The visitors had come ostensibly toview the squadron, but really to discover what were Admiral Watson'sintentions in regard to the disposal of the fort supposing it fell intohis hands. The Admiral saw through the device, which was no doubt tohand the fort over to the Peshwa's general, and so balk the British oftheir legitimate prize. Admiral Watson made short work of the visitors.He told them that if Angria would surrender his fort peaceably he andhis family would be protected; but that the fort he must have. Theypleaded for a few days' grace, but the Admiral declined to wait a singleday. If the fort was not immediately given up he would sail in andattack it.
It was evident that hostilities could not be avoided. About one in theafternoon Captain Henry Smith of the _Kingfisher_ sloop was ordered tolead the way, and Desmond was sent to join him.
"What is the depth under the walls, Mr. Burke?" the Captain asked him.
"Three and a half fathoms, sir--deep enough to float the biggest of us."
The sloop weighed anchor, and stood in before the afternoon breeze. Itwas an imposing sight as the fleet formed in two divisions and cameslowly in their wake. Each ship covered a bomb-ketch, protecting thesmaller vessels from the enemy's fire. Desmond himself was kept verybusy, going from ship to ship as ordered by signals from the _Kent_, andassisting each captain in turn to navigate the unfamiliar harbour.
It was just two o'clock when the engagement began with a shot from thefort at the _Kingfisher_. The shot was returned, and a quarter of anhour later, while the fleet was still under full sail, the _Kent_ flewthe signal for a general action. One by one the vessels anchored atvarious points opposite the fortifications, and soon a hundred and fiftyguns were blazing away at the massive bastions and curtains, answeredvigorously by Angria's two hundred and fifty. Desmond was allexcitement. The deafening roar of the guns, the huge columns of smokethat floated heavily over the fort, and sometimes enveloped the vessels,the bray of trumpets, the beating of tom-toms, the shouts of men, sethis blood tingling: and though he afterwards witnessed other stirringscenes, he never forgot the vivid impression of the fight at Gheria.
About three o'clock a shell set fire to one of the Pirate's grabs--onethat had formerly been taken by him from the Company. Leaving itsmoorings, it drifted among the main fleet of pirate grabs which stilllay lashed together Where Desmond had last seen them by the blaze of theburning gallivats. They were soon alight. The fire rapidly spread tothe dockyard, caught the unfinished grabs on the stocks, and before longthe whole of Angria's shipping was a mass of flame.
Meanwhile the bombardment had made little impression on thefortifications, and it appeared to the Admiral that time was beingwasted. Accordingly he gave orders to elevate the guns and fire overthe walls into the interior of the fort. A shell from one of thebomb-ketches fell plump into one of the outhouses of the palace and setit on fire. Fanned by the west wind, the flames spread to the arsenaland the storehouse, licking up the sheds and smaller buildings untilthey reached the outskirts of the city. The crackling of flames was nowmingled with the din of artillery, and as dusk drew on, the sky was litup over a large space with the red glow of burning. By half-past sixthe guns on the bastions had been silenced, and the Admiral gave thesignal to cease fire.
Some time before this a message reached Captain Smith ordering him tosend Desmond at once on board the _Kent_. When he stepped on deck hefound Admiral Watson in consultation with Clive. It appeared thatduring the afternoon a cloud of horsemen had been observed hovering on ahill eastward of the city, and being by no means sure of the loyalty ofthe Maratha allies, Clive had come to the conclusion that it was time toland his troops. But it was important that the shore and the neck ofland east of the fort should be reconnoitred before t
he landing wasattempted. The groves might, for all he knew, be occupied by thePirate's troops or by those of Ramaji Punt, and Clive had had enoughexperience of native treachery to be well on his guard.
"I am going to send you on a somewhat delicate mission, Mr. Burke," hesaid. "You know the ground. I want you to go quietly on shore and seefirst of all whether there is safe landing for us, and then whether theground between the town and the fort is occupied. Be quick and secret; Ineed waste no words. Mr. Watson has a boat's crew ready."
"I think, sir," said Desmond, "that it will hardly be necessary, perhapsnot advisable, to take a boat's crew from this ship. If I might have acouple of natives there would be a good deal less risk in gettingashore."
"Certainly. But there is no time to spare; indeed, if you are not backin a couple of hours I shall land at once. But I should like to knowwhat we have to expect. You had better get a couple of men from thenearest grab."
"The _Tremukji_ is only a few cables-lengths away, sir, and there's aman on board who knows the harbour. I will take him, with yourpermission."
"Very well. Good luck go with you."
Desmond saluted, and stepping into the boat which had rowed him to the_Kent_, he was quickly conveyed to the grab. In a few minutes he leftthis in a skiff, accompanied only by Fuzl Khan and a lascar. Not tillthen did he explain what he required of them. The Gujarati seemedovercome by the selection of himself for this mission.
"You are kind to me, sahib," he said. "I do not deserve it; but I willserve you to my life's end."
There was in the man's tone a fervency which touched Desmond at thetime, and which he had good cause afterwards to remember.
A quarter of an hour after Desmond quitted the deck of the _Kent_, hewas put ashore at a sandy bay at the further extremity of the isthmus,hidden from the fort by a small clump of mango trees.
"Now, Fuzl Khan," he said, "you will wait here for a few minutes till itis quite dark, then you will row quickly along the shore till you cometo within a short distance of the jetty. I am going across the sand uptoward the fort, and will come round to you."
He stepped over the soft sand towards the trees and was lost to sight.The bombardment had now ceased, and though he heard a confused noisefrom the direction of the fort, there was no sound from the town, and heconcluded that the people had fled either into the fort or away into thecountry. It appeared at present that the whole stretch of land betweenthe town and the fort was deserted.
He had not walked far when he was startled by hearing, as he fancied, astealthy footstep following him. Gripping in his right hand the pistolhe had brought as a precaution, and with the left loosening his sword inits scabbard, he faced round with his back to the wall of a shed inwhich Angria's ropes were made, and waited, listening intently. But thesound, slight as it was, had ceased. Possibly it had been made by someanimal, though that seemed scarcely likely: the noise and the glare fromthe burning buildings must surely have scared away all the animals inthe neighbourhood. Finding that the sound was not repeated, he went onagain. Some minutes later, his ears on the stretch, he fancied hecaught the same soft furtive tread: but when he stopped and listened andheard nothing, he believed that he must have been mistaken, and set itdown as an echo of his own excitement.
Stepping warily, he picked his way through the darkness, faintlyillumined by the distant glow of the conflagration. He skirted thedockyard, and drew nearer to the walls of the courtyard surrounding thefort, remembering how, nearly twelve months before, he had come almostthe same way from the jetty with the decoy message from Captain Barker.Then he had been a source of amusement to crowds of natives as he passedon his way to the palace; now the spot was deserted, and but for thenoises that reached him from distant quarters he might have thoughthimself the sole living creature in that once populous settlement.
He had now reached the outer wall, which was separated from the fortonly by a wide compound dotted here and there with palm-trees. It wasclear that no force, whether of the Pirate's men or of Ramaji Punt's,held the ground between the shore and the fort. All the fighting menhad without doubt been withdrawn within the walls. His mission wasaccomplished.
It had been his intention to make his way back by a shorter cut alongthe outer wall, by the west side of the dockyard, until he reached theshore near the jetty. But standing for a moment under the shade of apalm-tree, he hesitated to carry out his plan, for the path he meant tofollow must be lit up along its whole course by a double glare: from theblazing buildings inside the fort, and from the burning gallivats in thedockyard and harbour. He was on the point of retracing his steps when,looking over the low wall towards the fort, he saw two dark figuresapproaching, moving swiftly from tree to tree, as if wishing to escapeobservation. It was too late to move now; if he left the shelter of thepalm-tree he would come distinctly into view of the two men, and itwould be unwise to risk anything that would delay his return to Clive.Accordingly he kept well in the shadow and waited. The stealthymovements of the men suggested that they were fugitives, eager to getaway with whole skins before the fort was stormed.
They came to the last of the palm-trees within the wall, and pausedthere for a brief space. A few yards of open ground separated them fromthe gate. Desmond watched curiously, then with some anxiety, for itsuddenly struck him that the men were making for him, and that he hadactually been shadowed from his landing-place by some one acting,strange as it seemed, in collusion with them. On all accounts it wasnecessary to keep close.
Suddenly he saw the men leave the shelter of their tree and run rapidlyacross the ground to the gate. Having reached it, they turned asideinto the shadow of the wall and stood as if to recover breath. Desmondhad kept his eyes upon them all the time. Previously, in the shade ofthe trees, their faces had not been clearly distinguishable; but whilenow invisible from the fort, they were lit up by the glow from theharbour. It was with a shock of surprise that he recognized in thefugitives the overseer of the dockyard, whose cruelties he had so goodreason to remember, and Marmaduke Diggle, as he still must call him.The sight of the latter set his nerves tingling; his fingers itched totake some toll for the miseries he had endured through Diggle'svillainy. But he checked his impulse to rush forward and confront theman. Single-handed he could not cope with both the fugitives; andthough, if he had been free, he might have cast all prudence from him inhis longing to bring the man to book, he recollected his duty to Cliveand remained in silent rage beneath the tree.
All at once he heard a rustle behind him, a low growl like that of ananimal enraged; and almost before he was aware of what was happening adark figure sprang past him, leapt over the ground with the rapidity ofa panther, and threw himself upon the overseer just as with Diggle hewas beginning to move towards the town. There was a cry from each man,and the red light falling upon the face of the assailant, Desmond sawwith amazement that it was the Gujarati, whom he had supposed to berowing along the shore to meet him. He had hardly recognized the manbefore he saw that he was at deadly grips with the overseer, bothsnarling like wild beasts. There was no time for thought, for Diggle,momentarily taken aback by the sudden onslaught, had recovered himselfand was making with drawn sword towards the two combatants, who in theirstruggle had moved away from him.
Desmond no longer stayed to weigh possibilities or count risks. It wasclear that Fuzl Khan's first onslaught had failed; had he got home, theoverseer, powerful as he was, must have been killed on the spot. In thedarkness the Gujarati's knife had probably missed its aim. He had nowtwo enemies to deal with, and but for intervention he must soon beovercome and slain. Drawing his sword, Desmond sprang from the tree anddashed across the open, reaching the scene of the struggle just in thenick of time to strike up Diggle's weapon ere it sheathed itself in theGujarati's side. Diggle turned with a startled oath, and seeing who hisassailant was, he left his companion to take care of himself and facedDesmond, a smile of anticipated triumph wreathing his lips.
No word was spoken. Diggle lunged,
and Desmond at that moment knew thathe was at a perilous crisis of his life. The movements of the practisedswordsman could not be mistaken; he himself had little experience; allthat he could rely on was his quick eye and the toughness of hismuscles. He gave back, parrying the lunge, tempted to use his pistolupon his adversary. But now that the cannonading had ceased, a shotmight be heard by some of the Pirate's men, and before he could escapehe might be beset by a crowd of ruffians against whom he would have nochance at all. He could but defend himself with his sword and hope thatDiggle might overreach himself in his fury and give him an opportunityto get home a blow.
Steel struck upon steel; the sparks flew; and the evil smile uponDiggle's face became fixed as he saw that Desmond was no match for himin swordsmanship. But it changed when he found that though his youngopponent's science was at fault, his strength and dexterity, hiswariness in avoiding a close attack, served him in good stead.Impatient to finish the fight, he took a step forward, and lunged sorapidly that Desmond could hardly have escaped his blade but for anaccident. There was a choking sob to his right, and just as Diggle'ssword was flashing towards him a heavy form fell against the blade andupon Desmond. In the course of their deadly struggle the Gujarati andthe overseer had shifted their ground, and at this moment, fortunatelyfor Desmond, Fuzl Khan had driven his knife into his old oppressor'sheart.
But the same accident that saved Desmond's life gave Diggle anopportunity of which he was quick to avail himself. Before Desmondcould recover his footing, Diggle shortened his arm and was about todrive his sword through the lad's heart. The Gujarati saw the movement.Springing in with uplifted knife he attempted to turn the blade. Hesucceeded; he struck it upwards, but the force with which he had thrownhimself between the two swordsmen was his undoing. Unable to check hisrush, he received the point of Diggle's sword in his throat. With aterrible cry he raised his hands to clutch his assailant; but hisstrength failed him; he swayed, tottered, and fell gasping at Desmond'sfeet, beside the lifeless overseer. Desmond saw that the turn offortune had given the opportunity to him. He sprang forward as Diggletried to recover his sword Diggle gave way: and before he could lift hisdripping weapon to parry the stroke, Desmond's blade was through hisforearm. Panting with rage he sought with his left hand to draw hispistol; but Desmond was beforehand with him. He caught his arm,wrenched the pistol from him, and, breathless with his exertions, said:
"You are my prisoner."
"'Tis fate, my young friend," said Diggle, with all his old blandness;Desmond never ceased to be amazed at the self-command of thisextraordinary man. "I have let some blood, I perceive; my sword-arm isfor the time disabled; but my great regret at this moment--you willunderstand the feeling--is that this gallant friend of yours lies lowwith the wound intended for another. So Antores received in his flankthe lance hurled at Lausus: 'infelix alieno volnere'."
"I dare say, Mr. Diggle," interrupted Desmond, "but I have no time toconstrue Latin." Covering Diggle with his pistol, Desmond stooped overFuzl Khan's prostrate body and discovered in a moment that the poorfellow's heart had ceased to beat. He rose, and added: "I must troubleyou to come with me; and quickly, for you perceive you are at my mercy."
"Where do you propose to take me, my friend?"
"We will go this way, and please step out."
Diggle scowled, and stood as though meditating resistance.
"Come, come, Mr. Diggle, you have no choice. I do not wish to have todrag you; it might cause you pain."
"Surely you will spare a moment to an old friend! I fear you areentirely mistaken. 'Tis pity that with the natural ebullition of youryouthful spirit you should have set upon a man whom----"
"You can talk as we go, Mr. Diggle, if you talk low enough. Must Irepeat it?"
"But where are we going? Really, Mr. Burke, respect for my years shouldprompt a more considerate treatment."
"You see yonder point?" said Desmond impatiently--"yonder on the shore.You will come with me there."
Diggle looked round as if hoping that even now something might happen inhis favour. But no one was in sight; Desmond stood over him with swordstill drawn; and recognizing his helplessness the man at length turnedtowards the shore and began to walk slowly along, Desmond a foot or soin the rear.
"'Twas a most strange chance, surely," he said, "that brought you tothis spot at the very moment when I was shaking the dust of Gheria frommy feet. How impossible it is to escape the penalty of one'swrong-doing! Old Horace knew it: 'Raro antecedentem scelestum'--youremember the rest. Mr. Burslem drubbed our Latin into us, Mr. Burke. Iam a fellow-townsman of yours, though you did not know it: ay, a boy inyour old school, switched by your old master. I have treated you badly.I admit it; but what could I do? Your brother slandered you; I see nowhow he deceived me; he wished you out of his way. Here I acted underpressure of Angria; he was bent on sending you to Bombay; I could notdefy him; I was wrong; what you said when I saw you last made a deepimpression on me; I repented, and, as Tully, I think, puts it, 'a changeof plan is the best harbour to a penitent man.' I was indeed seekingthat refuge of the repentant, and altering my whole plan of life; and ifyou will but tarry a moment----"
"Keep on, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond, as the man, who had been talkingover his shoulder, half-stopped: "my point is sharp."
"I was leaving the fort, as you saw. Not from any fear--you will acquitme of that, and as you know, the fort is impregnable, and I might haveremained there in perfect safety. No, I was quitting it because I waswearied, disgusted with Angria and his ways. 'Twas under amisapprehension I for a time consorted with him; I am disabused, and itis by the mere malignity of Fate that at this turning-point of my careerI encounter one whom, I acknowledge, I have wronged. I am beaten; I donot blink that; and by a better man. But youth is generous; and you,Mr. Burke, are not the man to press your advantage against one who allhis life has been the sport of evil circumstance. I was bound forfurther India; I know a little port to the south where I should havetaken ship, with strong hope of getting useful and honourable employmentwhen my voyage was ended. Perchance you have heard of Alivirdi Khan; ifyou would but pause a moment----"
"Go on, Mr. Diggle," said Desmond inexorably; "and it will be well tomend your pace."
"Alivirdi Khan," resumed Diggle, speaking more rapidly--the waters ofthe harbour, glowing red, were in sight--"Alivirdi Khan is sick untodeath. He is wealthy beyond all imaginings. His likeliest heir,Siraj-uddaula, soon to be Subah[#] of Bengal, is well known to me, andindeed beholden to me for services rendered in the past. Mr. Burke, Imake you a proposition--it is worth considering. Why not come with me?Wipe off old scores, throw in your lot with mine. Together, what couldwe not do--I with my experience, you with your youthful vigour! See,here is an earnest of my sincerity." He took from his fob a largediamond, which flashed in the red light of the conflagration. "Acceptthis; in the treasuries of Alivirdi there are thousands like it, eachworth a king's ransom. Come with me, and I promise you that within twoyears you shall be rich beyond your wildest dreams."
[#] Viceroy.
"Put up your diamond, Mr. Peloti. You may repeat your offer when wereach Colonel Clive."
Diggle stopped as if shot. He looked with startled eyes at the boy, whohad known him only as Diggle.
"You are going to Colonel Clive!" he exclaimed. The smoothness of hismanner was gone; his tone expressed mortal anxiety. "But--but--he is apersonal enemy; he will--I beseech you think again; I----"
He broke off, and with a suddenness that took Desmond by surprise hesprang away, making towards the grove of mangoes that stood between himand the shore. Desmond was instantly in pursuit. If Diggle gained theshelter of the trees he might escape in the darkness. But the race wasshort. Weak from fear and loss of blood, the elder was no match inspeed for the younger. In less than a hundred yards he was overtaken,and stood panting, quivering, unnerved. Desmond gripped his uninjuredarm, and with quickened footsteps hurried him towards the shore. Therewas the boat, the
lascar resting motionless on his oar. Ten minuteslater Diggle was assisted up the side of the _Kent_, and handed over tothe officer of the watch. Then Desmond made his report to Clive.
"All the enemy are withdrawn within the fort, sir. The whole groundbetween the fort and the shore is clear. There is nothing to obstructyour landing."
"I thank you. You have exceeded your time by ten minutes. Who is thatman who came aboard with you?"
"It was he who delayed me, sir. It is Mr. Diggle, or Peloti, I shouldsay."
"The deuce he is!"
"He was stealing out of the fort; it came to a scuffle, and he waswounded--so I brought him along."
"Mr. Speke," said Clive turning to the captain, "may I ask you to seethis man safe bestowed? I will deal with him when our business here isconcluded. Mr. Burke, you will come with me."
By nine o'clock Clive had landed his troops. They bivouacked on theshore, in expectation of storming the fort next day. At daybreak anofficer was sent into the fort with a flag of truce to demand itssurrender. This being refused, the Admiral ordered his ships to warpwithin a cable's length of the walls in three fathoms and a quarter ofwater, and the attack was renewed by sea and land, Clive graduallyadvancing and worrying the enemy with his cannon. At two o'clock amagazine in the fort blew up, and not long after, just as Clive wasabout to give the order to storm, a white flag was seen fluttering atone of the bastions. A messenger was sent to the governor to arrangethe capitulation, but when he was met by prevarication and pleas fordelay the bombardment was once more resumed. A few minutes of thissufficed to bring the defenders to reason, and by five o'clock theEnglish flag flew upon the walls.
Clive postponed his entry until dawn on the following morning.
"By Jove, Mr. Burke," he said to Desmond, who showed him the way to thepalace, "if we had been within these walls I think we could have heldout till doomsday."
All the English officers were impressed by the strength of thefortifications. Besides Angria's 250 cannon, an immense quantity ofstores and ammunition fell into the hands of the captors. In the vaultsof the palace were found silver rupees to the value of L100,000, andtreasure worth L30,000 more. The capture had been effected with theloss of only twenty killed and wounded.
Desmond took the earliest opportunity of seeking the body of Fuzl Khan.Fortunately the fires and the noises of the night had preserved it frommangling by wild beasts. The poor man lay where he had fallen, near thebody of the overseer.
"Poor fellow!" thought Desmond, looking at the strong, fierce face andthe gigantic frame now stiff and cold. "Little he knew, when he saidhe'd serve me to his life's end, that the end was so near."
He had the body carried into the town, and reverently buried accordingto Mohammedan rites. From the lascar he had learnt all that he everknew of the motives of the Gujarati's action. Desmond had hardly leftthe boat when the man sprang quickly after him, saying briefly: "I go toguard the sahib." It was like the instinctive impulse of a faithfuldog; and Desmond often regretted the loss of the man who had shownhimself so capable of devotion.
That evening Clive summoned Desmond to attend him in the palace. Whenhe entered the durbar hall, he saw a small group seated on the dais,consisting of Clive, Admiral Watson, and two or three subordinateofficers. Standing in front of them was Diggle, in the charge of twomarines.
"How many European prisoners have been released, Mr. Ward?" the Admiralwas saying.
"Thirteen, sir; ten English and three Dutch."
"Is that correct, Mr. Burke? Was that the number when you were here?"
"Yes, sir, that is correct."
"Then you may go, Mr. Ward, and see that the poor fellows are taken onboard the _Tyger_ and well looked after." As the officer saluted andwithdrew the Admiral turned to Clive.
"Now for this white pirate," he said: "a most unpleasant matter, truly."
Signing to the marines to bring forward their prisoner, he threw himselfback upon the divan, leaving the matter in Clive's hands. Clive wasgazing hard at Diggle, who had lost the look of terror he had worn twonights before, and stood before them in his usual attitude of carelessease.
"You captured this man," said Clive, turning to Desmond, "within theprecincts of the fort?"
His hard level tone contrasted strongly with the urbaner manner of theAdmiral.
"Yes, sir," replied Desmond.
"He is the same man who inveigled you on board the interloper _GoodIntent_ and delivered you to the Pirate?"
"Yes, sir."
"And he was to your knowledge associated with the Pirate, and offeredyou inducements to spy upon His Majesty's forces in Bombay?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have you anything to say for yourself, Mr. Peloti?"
"Pardon me, Mr. Clive; Diggle--Marmaduke Diggle."
"Diggle if you like," said Clive with a shrug. "You will hang as wellin that name as another."
One of the officers smiled at the grim jest, but there was no smile onClive's stern, set face.
"You asked me had I anything to say for myself," said Diggle quietly."Assuredly; but it seems your honours have condemned me already. Whyshould I waste your time, and my breath? I bethink me 'twas not even inRome the custom to judge a matter before learning the facts--'prius remdijudicare'; but it is a long time, Mr. Clive, since we conned ourTerence together."
Desmond could not but admire the superb insouciance and the easy smilewith which Diggle played his card. Seeing that Clive for an instanthesitated, the intrepid prisoner continued:
"But there, Mr. Clive, you never excelled in the Latin. 'Twas a sorepoint with poor Mr. Burslem."
"Come, come," cried Clive, visibly nettled, "this is no time for quips.You fail to appreciate your position. You are caught red-handed. Ifyou have no defence to make you will meet the fate of other piratesbefore you. Have you anything to say?"
"Yes. You accuse me of piracy; I have a complete answer to that charge;but as an Englishman I claim an Englishman's right--a fair trial beforea jury of my countrymen. In any case, Mr. Clive, it would be invidiousto give me worse treatment than Monaji Angria and his officers. As forthe rest, it depends on the evidence of this single witness."
Here Admiral Watson bent forward and said to Clive in an undertone,inaudible to the others:
"I think we had better defer this. If, as you suppose, the fellow hasknowledge of the French plans, it would be only politic to give Mr.Bourchier an opportunity of inquiring into the matter. No doubt herichly deserves hanging, but _dead_ men tell no tales."
Clive frowned, and, drumming upon the divan impatiently with hisfingers, seemed for the moment to be lost in thought. Then he said:
"Yes, Mr. Watson, I think you are right."
"Take the prisoner back to your ship," said the Admiral, "and put himunder double guard. Thank you, Mr. Burke; we shall require yourevidence in Bombay. One word before you go. I am vastly indebted toyou for your services; you have been of the greatest use to myself andmy captains. Your name will frequently appear in our ships' logs, and Ishall take care to show your work in the proper light when I make myreport. Meanwhile, when the division of prize-money is made, you willreceive a lieutenant's share. Good-night, sir."
And Desmond's face, as he left the room, bore a flush of happiness andpride.