CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
IN WHICH THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF PLOTTING, AND A LITTLE EXECUTION.
We will follow Nancy Corbett for the present. Nancy gained the summitof the cliff, and, panting for breath, looked round to ascertain ifthere was any one in sight, but the coast was clear: she waited a minuteto recover herself a little, and then set off at a brisk pace in thedirection of the hamlet of Ryde, which then consisted of a fewfishermen's huts. It was an hour and a half before she gained thisplace, from whence she took a boat, and was safely landed at the Point.The fisherman who brought her over was an old acquaintance of Nancy's,and knew that he would have to remain to take her back, but he was wellpaid for his trouble, and it was a lucky day for him when Nancy requiredhis services. The Yungfrau had rounded St. Helen's, and was standinginto Spithead, when Nancy landed, and the first door at which sheknocked was at the lodgings of Moggy Salisbury, with whom she was wellacquainted, and from whom she expected to be able to gain information.On inquiry, she found that Moggy had not come on shore from the cutter,which had sailed during the night very unexpectedly.
This information pleased Nancy, as Moggy would in all probability beable to give her important information, and she took up her quarters inMoggy's apartments, anxiously awaiting her arrival, for Nancy was not atall desirous to be seen. In due time the cutter was again anchored inthe harbour, and the first order of Mr Vanslyperken's was, that MoggySalisbury should be sent on shore, which order was complied with, andshe left the vessel, vowing vengeance upon the lieutenant and his dog.The informer also hastened into a boat, and pulled on shore on theGosport side, with a very significant farewell look at Mr Vanslyperken.Moggy landed, and hastened, full of wrath, to her own lodgings, whereshe found Nancy Corbett waiting for her. At first she was too full ofher own injuries and the attempt to flog her dear, darling Jemmy toallow Nancy to put in a word. Nancy perceived this, and allowed her torun herself down like a clock; and then proposed that they should sendfor some purl and have a cozy chat, to which Moggy agreed; and as soonas they were fairly settled, and Moggy had again delivered herself ofher grievances, Nancy put the requisite questions, and discovered whatthe reader is already acquainted with. She requested and obtained afull description of the informer, and his person was too remarkable forNancy not to recognise immediately who it was.
"The villain!" cried she; "why if there was any man in whom we thoughtwe could trust, it was--him;" for Nancy had, in her indignation, nearlypronounced his name.
"Nancy," said Moggy, "you have to do with the smugglers, I know, foryour husband is one of them, if report says true. Now, I've beenthinking, that the cutter is no place for my Jemmy, and that with thispeak-nosed villain he will always be in trouble. Tell me, will they lethim in, if he volunteers?"
"I can't exactly say, Moggy; but this I can tell you, that you may bevery useful to them in giving us information, which you may gain throughyour husband."
"Ay, and not only through my husband, but from every body on board thecutter. I'm yours, Nancy--and here's my hand on it--you'll see what Ican do. The wagabond, to attempt to flog my own dear, darling duck--myown Jemmy. Only tell me what you want to know, and if I don't ferret itout, my name's not Moggy. But hear me, Nancy; I join you now hand andheart, though I gain nothing by it: and when you choose to have him,I'll bring you my little duck of a husband, and he will be worth hisweight in gold, though I say it that shouldn't say it."
"Thanky, Moggy; but you shall not work for nothing;" and Nancy laid agold Jacobus on the table. "This for your present information. Besecret and cautious, and no gossiping, and you'll find that you shallhave all you wish, and be no loser in the bargain. And now, goodnight--I must be away. You shall see me soon, Moggy; and remember whatI have told you."
Moggy was astonished at the sight of the gold Jacobus, which she took upand examined as Nancy departed. "Well," thought she, "but thissmuggling must be a pretty consarn; and as sure as gold is gold, myJemmy shall be a smuggler."
Nancy turned down the street, and passed rapidly on, until she was clearof the fortifications, in the direction of South Sea Beach. A fewscattered cottages were at that time built upon the spot. It was quitedark as she passed the lines, and held her way over the shingle. A manwas standing alone, whose figure she recognised. It was the very personthat she wished to find. Nancy watched him for awhile, and observed himpull out a paper, tear it in two, and throw it down with gesticulationsof anger and indignation. She then approached.
"What's o'clock?" said Nancy.
"Do you want the right time?" replied the man.
"To a minute," replied Nancy, who, finding that the password was givencorrectly, now stopped, and faced the other party. "Is that you,Cornbury?"
"Yes, Nancy," replied the man, who was the same person who went on boardof the cutter to give the information.
"I have been seeking you," replied Nancy. "There has been someinformation laid, and the boats were nearly surprised. Alice desiresthat you will find out what boats entered the cove, whom they belongedto, and, if possible, how they obtained the information."
"Boats nearly surprised!--you don't say so," replied Cornbury, withaffected astonishment. "This must indeed be looked to. Have you noidea--"
"None," replied Nancy. "There was no vessel to be seen the nextmorning--the fog was too thick. Have you seen Wahop?"
"No; I thought he was on the Isle."
"He ought to have been, but has not come; I have been at the oak-treefor three nights running. It's very strange. Do you think that he canhave played false?"
"I never much liked the man," replied Cornbury.
"Nor I either," replied Nancy; "but I must go now, for I must be back atthe crags before daylight. Find out what you can, and let us know assoon as possible. I shall be over again as soon as the cargo is run; ifyou find out anything, you had better come to-morrow night."
"I will," replied Cornbury; and the parties separated.
"Traitor!" muttered Nancy, when she was once more alone. "If he comes,it shall be to his death;" and Nancy stooped down, picked up the piecesof paper which Cornbury had torn up, and put them in the basket shecarried on her arm.
It will be observed, that Nancy had purposely thrown out hints againstWahop, to induce Cornbury to believe that he was not suspected. Herassertion that Wahop was not on the island was false. He had been threedays at Ryde, according to the arrangement. The bait took. Cornburyperceiving that the suspicion was against Wahop, thought that he couldnot do better than to boldly make his appearance at the cave, whichwould remove any doubts as to his own fidelity.
Nancy hastened down to the Point, and returned that night to Ryde, fromwhence she walked over to the cave, and was there before daylight. Shecommunicated to Alice the intelligence which she had received from MoggySalisbury, and the arrangements she had proposed to her, by which themotions of the cutter could be known.
"Is that woman to be trusted, think you, Nancy?" inquired Alice.
"Yes, I believe sincerely she may be. I have known her long; and shewishes her husband to join us."
"We must reflect upon it. She may be most useful. What is thecharacter of the officer who commands the vessel?"
"A miser and a coward. He is well known--neither honour nor consciencein him."
"The first is well, as we may act upon it, but the second renders himdoubtful. You are tired, Nancy, and had better lie down a little."
Nancy Corbett delivered the pens to Lilly and then took the advice ofher superior. The day was remarkably fine, and the water smooth, sothat the boats were expected that night. At dusk two small lights, ateven distances, were suspended from the cliff, to point out to the boatsthat the coast was free, and that they might land. Alice, however, tookthe precaution to have a watch on the beach, in case of any secondsurprise being attempted; but of this there was little fear, as she knewfrom Nancy that all the cutter's boats were on board when she enteredthe harbour. Lilly, who thought it a delight to be o
ne moment sooner inher father's arms, had taken the watch on the beach, and there thelittle girl remained perched upon a rock, at the foot of which the wavesnow only sullenly washed, for the night was beautifully calm and clear.To a passer on the ocean she might have been mistaken for a mermaid whohad left her watery bower to look upon the world above.
What were the thoughts of the little maiden as she remained there fixedas a statue? Did she revert to the period at which her infant memorycould retrace silken hangings and marble halls, visions of splendour,dreamings of courtly state, or was she thinking of her father, as herquick ear caught the least swell of the increasing breeze? Was she, asher eye was fixed as if attempting to pierce the depths of the ocean,wondering at what might be its hidden secrets, or as they were turnedtowards the heavens, bespangled with ten thousand stars, was shemeditating on the God who placed them there? Who can say?--but thatthat intellectual face bespoke the mind at work is certain, and from oneso pure and lovely could emanate nothing but what was innocent and good.
But a distant sound falls upon her ear; she listens, and by its measuredcadence knows that it is the rowers in a boat: nearer it comes and moredistinct, and now her keen eye detects the black mass approaching in thegloom of night. She starts from the rock ready to fly up to the cave togive notice of an enemy, or, if their anticipated friends, to fly intothe arms of her father. But her alarm is over, she perceives that it isthe lugger, the boat dashes into the cove, and the first who landsstrains her to his bosom.
"My dearest Lilly, is all well?"
"Yes, all is well, father; but you are well come."
"Run up, dearest, and let the women be ready to assist. We have thathere which must soon be out of sight. Is the Father Innis here?"
"Since Thursday last."
"'Tis well, dear; you may go. Quick, my lads, and beach the cargo:--seeto it, Ramsay; I must at once unto the cave." Having given thesedirections, the father of Lilly commenced his ascent over the rough andsteep rocks which led up to the cavern, anxious to obtain whatinformation could be imparted relative to the treachery which had led totheir narrow escape two nights preceding.
He was met by Alice, who cordially embraced him; but he appeared anxiousto release himself from her endearments, that he might at once enterupon matters to him of more serious importance. "Where is the FatherInnis, my dear?" said he, disengaging himself from her arms.
"He sleeps, Robert, or, at least, he did just now, but probably he willrise now that you are come. But in the meantime, I have discovered whothe traitor is."
"By all the saints, he shall not escape my vengeance!"
Alice then entered into the particulars related by Nancy Corbett, andalready known to the reader. She had just concluded when Father Innismade his appearance from the cave.
"Welcome, thrice welcome, holy father."
"Welcome, too, my son. Say, do we start to-night?"
"Not till to-morrow night," replied the husband of Alice, who havingascertained that, in all probability, Cornbury would come that night,determined, at all risks, to get possession of him; "we could well beover before daylight, and with your precious person I must not risk toomuch. You are anxiously expected."
"And I have important news," replied the priest; "but I will not detainyou now; I perceive that your presence is wanted by your men."
During this colloquy the women had descended the ladder, and had beenassisting the men to carry up the various packages of which the boat'scargo consisted, and they now awaited directions as to the stowing away.
"Ramsay," said the leader, "we do not return to-night: take the men, andcontrive to lift the boat up on the rocks, so that she may not beinjured."
An hour elapsed before this was effected, and then the leader, as wellas the rest of the smugglers, retired to the cave to refresh themselveswith sleep after their night of fatigue. As usual, one woman keptwatch, and that woman was Nancy Corbett. The ladder had been hauled up,and she was walking up and down, with her arms under a shawl, to a sortof stamping trot, for the weather was frosty, when she heard a lowwhistle at the west side of the flat.
"Oh, ho! have I lured you, you traitorous villain?" muttered Nancy; "youcome in good time;" and Nancy walked to the spot where the ladder wasusually lowered down, and looked over. Although the moon had risen, itwas too dark on that side of the platform to distinguish more than thatthere was a human form, who repeated the whistle.
"What's o'clock?" said Nancy, in a low tone.
"Do you want the right time to a minute?" replied a voice, which wasrecognised as Cornbury's. Nancy lowered down the ladder, and Cornburyascended the platform.
"I am glad you are come, Cornbury. Have you heard anything of Wahop?"
"No one has seen or heard of him," replied the man, "but I have foundout what boats they were. Did the lugger come over to-night?"
"Yes," replied Nancy, "but I must go in and let Mistress Alice know thatyou are here."
Nancy's abrupt departure was to prevent Cornbury from asking if the boathad remained, or returned to the French coast; for she thought it notimpossible that the unusual circumstance of the boat remaining mightinduce him to suppose that his treachery had been discovered, and tomake his immediate escape, which he, of course, could have done, andgiven full information of the cave and the parties who frequented it.
Nancy soon reappeared, and familiarly taking the arm of Cornbury, ledhim to the eastern side of the platform, asking him many questions. Assoon as he was there, the leader of the gang, followed by half-a-dozenof his men, rushed out and secured him. Cornbury now felt assured thatall was discovered, and that his life was forfeited. "Bind him fast,"said the leader, "and keep watch over him; his case shall soon bedisposed of. Nancy, you will call me at daylight."
When Cornbury had been secured, the men returned into the cave, leavingone with a loaded pistol to guard him. Nancy still remained on thewatch.
"Nancy Corbett," said Cornbury, "why am I treated thus?"
"Why?" replied Nancy, with scorn; "ask yourself why. Do you think thatI did not know when I sought you at the beach that you had sailed in thecutter, had brought the boats here, and that if it had not been for thelieutenant taking his dog in the boat, and its barking, you would havedelivered us all into the hands of the Philistines?--wretched traitor."
"Damn!" muttered Cornbury; "then it is to you, you devil, that I amindebted for being entrapped this way."
"Yes, to me," replied Nancy, with scorn. "And, depend upon it, you willhave your deserts before the sun is one hour in the heavens."
"Mistress Nancy, I must beg you to walk your watch like a lady, and notto be corresponding with my prisoner any how, whether you talk raison ortraison, as may happen to suit your convanience," observed the man whowas guard over Cornbury.
"Be aisy, my jewel," replied Nancy, mimicking the Irishman, "and I'll beas silent as a magpie, any how. And, Mr Fitzpatrick, you'll just beplased to keep your two eyes upon your prisoner, and not be staring atme, following me up and down, as you do, with those twinklers of yours."
"A cat may look at a king, Mistress Nancy, and no harm done either."
"You forget, Mr Fitzpatrick," replied Nancy, "that I am now a modestwoman."
"More's the pity, Mistress Nancy: I wish you'd forget it too, and Idying of love for you."
Nancy walked away to the end of the platform to avoid furtherconversation. The day was now dawning, and as, by degrees, the lightwas thrown upon the face of Cornbury, it was strange to witness how hisagitation and his fear had changed all the ruby carbuncles on his faceto a deadly white. He called to Nancy Corbett in an humble tone once ortwice as she passed by in her walk, but received no reply further than alook of scorn. As soon as it was broad daylight, Nancy went into thecave to call up the leader.
In a few minutes he appeared, with the rest of the smugglers.
"Philip Cornbury," said he, with a stern and unrelenting countenance,"you would have betrayed us for the sake of money."
"
It is false," replied Cornbury.
"False, is it? you shall have a fair trial. Nancy Corbett, give yourevidence before us all."
Nancy recapitulated all that had passed.
"I say again, that it is false," replied Cornbury. "Where is the womanwhom she states to have told her this? This is nothing more thanassertion, and I say again, it is false. Am I to be condemned withoutproofs? Is my life to be sacrificed to the animosity of this woman, whowishes to get rid of me, because--"
"Because what?" interrupted Nancy.
"Because I was too well acquainted with you before your marriage, andcan tell too much."
"Now, curses on you, for a liar as well as a traitor!" exclaimed Nancy."What I was before I was married is well known; but it is well known,also, that I pleased my fancy, and could always choose, I must, indeed,have had a sorry taste to be intimate with a blotched wretch like you,sir," continued Nancy, turning to the leader, "it is false; and whatevermay be said against me on other points, Nancy Dawson, or Nancy Corbett,was never yet so vile as to assert a lie, I put it to you, sir, and toall of you, is not my word sufficient in this case?"
The smugglers nodded their heads in assent.
"And now that is admitted, I will prove his villany and falsehood.Philip Cornbury, do you know this paper?" cried Nancy, taking out of herbosom the agreement signed by Vanslyperken, which she had picked up onthe night when Cornbury had torn it up and thrown it away. "Do you knowthis paper, I ask you? Read it, sir," continued Nancy, handing it overto the leader of the smugglers.
The paper was read, and the inflexible countenance of the leader turnedtowards Cornbury--who saw his doom.
"Go in, Nancy Corbett, and let no women appear till all is over."
"Liar!" said Nancy, spitting on the ground as she passed by Cornbury.
"Bind his eyes, and lead him to the western edge," said the leader.
"Philip Cornbury, you have but a few minutes to live. In mercy, you maysee the holy father, if you wish it."
"I'm no damned papist," replied Cornbury, in a sulky tone.
"Lead him on then."
Cornbury was led to the western edge of the flat, where the cliff wasmost high and precipitous, and then made to kneel down.
"Fitzpatrick," said the leader, pointing to the condemned.
Fitzpatrick walked up to the kneeling man with his loaded pistol, andthen the others, who had led Cornbury to the edge of the cliff, retired.
Fitzpatrick cocked the lock.
"Would you like to say, `God have mercy on my treacherous sinful sowl,'or anything short and sweet like that?" said Fitzpatrick; "if so, I'llwait a couple of seconds more for your convanience, Philip Cornbury."
Cornbury made no reply. Fitzpatrick put the pistol to his ear, the ballwhizzed through his brain, the body half raised itself from its kneeswith a strong muscular action, and then toppled over, and disappeareddown the side of the precipice.
"It's to be hoped that the next time you lave this world, MasterCornbury, it will be in a purliter sort of manner. A civil questiondemands a civil answer, anyhow," said Fitzpatrick, coolly rejoining theother men.