CHAPTER XV
THE HOME OF THE HERMIT
When Robert awoke the next morning he found himself alone. His strangehost was absent, on some errand perhaps.
After a brief glance of bewilderment, Robert remembered where he was,and with the recovery of his strength, which had been repaired by sleep,he felt a natural curiosity about his host and his strange home.
So far as he knew, he was the first inhabitant of the village who hadbeen admitted to a sight of its mystery.
For two years the hermit of the cliff had made his home there, but hehad shunned all intercourse with his neighbors and had coldly repelledall advances and checked all curiosity by his persistent taciturnity.From time to time he went to the village for supplies, and when theywere too bulky to admit of his carrying them, he had had them deliveredon the beach in front of the entrance to his cave dwelling and at hisleisure carried them in himself.
He always attracted attention, as with his tall, slender, majesticfigure he moved through the village, or paced the beach, or impelled hisfrail boat. But speculation as to who he was or what had induced him tobecome a recluse had about ceased from the despair of obtaining anylight upon these points.
No wonder then that Robert, admitted by chance to his dwelling, lookedabout him in curious wonder.
Cavern as it was, the room was fitted up with due regard to comfort andeven luxury.
The bed on which our hero reposed was soft and inviting. The rough stonefloor was not carpeted, but was spread with Turkish rugs. There was abookcase, containing perhaps two hundred books; there was a table andwriting desk, an easy-chair and a rocking-chair, and the necessarilydark interior was lighted by an astral lamp, diffusing a soft andpleasant light. On a shelf ticked a French clock and underneath it was abureau provided with toilet necessaries.
No one in the village knew how these articles had been spirited into thecavern. No one of the villagers had assisted. Indeed, no one, exceptRobert, knew that the hermit was so well provided with comforts.
Our hero found his clothes on a chair at his bedside. They were drierand suitable for wearing.
"I may as well dress," thought Robert. "I won't go away till I've seenthe hermit. I want to thank him again for taking such good care of me."
He did not have to wait long, however. He had scarcely completed histoilet when the hermit appeared.
"So, my young friend, you arc quite recovered from your bath?"
"Yes, sir."
"That is well."
"I think, sir, I had better go home now, for my aunt will be anxiousabout me."
"I sent a message to your aunt last evening. She knew before she went tobed that you were safe."
"Thank you, sir!"
"I am not apt to be curious, but I wish, before you leave me, to ask youa few questions. Sit down, if you please."
Robert seated himself. He felt that the hermit had a right to ask somequestions of one whom he had saved.
"How came you so far out at sea on a frail raft? If you had beenshipwrecked, that would explain it, but as you have not been to sea, Icannot understand it."
"I found myself on Egg Island, without any means of getting off. So Imade a raft from the timbers of the wreck and launched it. I thought itwould last long enough for me to reach land."
"It was a hazardous enterprise. But how came you on the island? Surelyyou did not swim there?"
"No, sir. My uncle carried me there in his boat. He refused to take meoff unless I would give up some money which I wanted to spend for myaunt."
"Was the money yours?"
"Yes, sir. It was given me by a gentleman living at the hotel."
"Your uncle--John Trafton--is not a temperate man?"
"No, sir. He spends all the money he earns on drink, and my aunt and Ihave to live as we can."
"What a fool is man!" said the hermit musingly. "He alone of createdbeings allows himself to be controlled by his appetites, whileprofessing to stand at the head of the universe!"
Robert felt that he was not expected to answer this speech and remainedrespectfully silent till his host resumed his questioning.
"And you," said the old man abruptly, "what do you do?"
"Sometimes I go out with my uncle's boat and catch fish for use at home.Sometimes I find jobs to do in the village which bring in a littlemoney. I am always glad of that, for we can't buy groceries withoutmoney, and my uncle never gives us any. My aunt is very fond of tea, butonce for three weeks she had to do without it."
"That was a pity. There are some who find great comfort in tea."
"It is so with Aunt Jane. She says it puts new life in her."
"Have you any money now?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you of my good luck!" said Robert eagerly. "Justbefore I left the wreck I dug up this," and he displayed the purse withthe gold pieces in it. "It would have been a pity if I had been drownedwith all this in my pocket."
"My poor boy, your young life would have outweighed a thousandfold thevalue of these paltry coins. Still I do not depreciate them, for theymay be exchanged for comforts. But will not your uncle seek to take themfrom you?"
"He will not know that I have this money. I shall not tell him."
"It will be better."
For a brief time the hermit gazed at Robert in thoughtful silence andthen said:
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen, sir."
"Have you ever thought of life and its uses--I mean of the uses of yourown life? Have you ever formed plans for the future?"
"No, sir. It did not seem of much use. I have had to consider how to getenough for my aunt and myself to live upon."
"So your uncle's burdens have been laid on your young shoulders? Haveyou no aspirations? Are you willing to follow in his steps and grow up afisherman, like your neighbors?"
"No, sir. I should be very sorry if I thought I must always live here atCook's Harbor and go out fishing. I should like to see something of theworld, as I suppose you have."
"Yes, I have seen much of the world--too much for my happiness--or Iwould not have come to this quiet spot to end my days. But for a youngand guileless boy, whose life is but beginning, the world has itscharms. Do you care for books?"
"I have never looked into many, sir, but that is not my fault. I havehalf a dozen tattered books at home and I study in some of them everyday. I have been nearly through the arithmetic and I know something ofgeography. Sometimes I get hold of a paper, but not often, for my uncletakes none and does not care for reading."
"Look among my books. See if there is any one you would like to read."
Robert had already cast wistful glances at the rows of books in thehandsome bookcase.
He had never before seen so many books together, for Cook's Harbor wasnot noted for its literary men and book lovers. He gladly accepted thehermit's invitation.
His attention was quickly drawn to a set of the Waverley novels. He hadoften heard of them, and an extract which he had seen in his schoolreader from "Rob Roy" had given him a strong desire to read the storyfrom which it was taken.
"I should like to borrow 'Rob Roy,'" he said.
"You may take it. When you have read it, you may, upon returning it,have another."
"Then I may call to see you, sir?"
"I shall be glad to have you do so. It is an invitation I never expectedto give, but you have interested me, and I may be able to serve you atsome time."
"Thank you, sir. If you should ever want any one to run errands for you,I hope you will call upon me. I should like to make some return for yourgreat kindness."
"That is well thought of. You may come to me every Tuesday and Fridaymornings, at nine o'clock, and carry my orders to the village. I do notcare to go there, but have had no messenger I could trust. For thisservice I will pay you two dollars a week."
Robert was astonished at the mention of such liberal payment.
"But, sir, that is rather too much," he began.
"Let it be so," said the hermit. "I have mo
ney in plenty and it does notbring me happiness. In your hands it may do good."
"It will be a great help to me, sir."
"It is understood then. I will not detain you longer. Go home andgladden the heart of your aunt."
Robert left the cavern, more than ever puzzled by his brief acquaintancewith the mysterious recluse.