The Red Rover Part 56

"Yes!" muttered the Rover, with bitter irony, as his boat rowed under the stern of the cruiser of the Crown; "yes! I, and my officers, will taste of your banquet! But the viands shall be such as these hirelings of the King shall little relis.h.!.+--Pull with a will, my men, pull; in an hour, you shall rummage the store-rooms of that fool, for your reward!"

The greedy freebooters who manned the oars could scarcely restrain their shouts, in order to maintain that air of moderation which policy still imposed but they gave vent to their excitement, in redoubled efforts in propelling the pinnace. In another minute the adventurers were all in safety again under the sheltering guns of the "Dolphin."

His people gathered, from the haughty gleamings that were flas.h.i.+ng from the eyes of the Rover, as his foot once more touched the deck of his own s.h.i.+p, that the period of some momentous action was at hand. For an instant, he lingered on the quarter-deck surveying, with a sort of stern joy, the st.u.r.dy materials of his lawless command; and then, without speaking, he abruptly entered his proper cabin either forgetful that he had conceded its use to others or, in the present excited state of his mind, utterly indifferent to the change. A sudden and tremendous blow on the gong announced to the alarmed females, who had ventured from their secret place, under the present amicable appearances between the two s.h.i.+ps, not only his presence, but his humour.

"Let the first lieutenant be told I await him," was the stern order that followed the appearance of the attendant he had summoned.

During the short period which elapsed before his mandate could be obeyed, the Rover seemed struggling with an emotion that choaked him. But when the door of the cabin was opened, and Wilder stood before him, the most suspicious and closest observer might have sought in vain any evidence of the fierce pa.s.sion which in reality agitated the inward man. With the recovery of his self-command, returned a recollection of the manner of his intrusion into a place which he had himself ordained should be privileged.

It was then that he first sought the shrinking forms of the females, and hastened to relieve the terror that was too plainly to be seen in their countenances, by words of apology and explanation.

"In the hurry of an interview with a friend," he said, "I may have forgotten that I am host to even such guests as it is my happiness to entertain, though it be done so very indifferently."

"Spare your civilities, sir," said Mrs Wyllys, with dignity: "In order to make us less sensible of any intrusion, be pleased to act the master here."

The Rover first saw the ladies seated; and then, like one who appeared to think the occasion might excuse any little departure from customary forms, he signed, with a smile of high courtesy, to his lieutenant to imitate their example.

"His Majesty's artisans have sent worse s.h.i.+ps than the 'Dart' upon the ocean, Wilder," he commenced, with a significant look, as if he intended that the other should supply all the meaning that his words did not express; "but his ministers might have selected a more observant individual for the command."

"Captain Bignall has the reputation of a brave and an honest man."

"Ay! He should deserve it; for, strip him of these qualities, and little would remain. He gives me to understand that he is especially sent into this lat.i.tude in quest of a s.h.i.+p that we have all heard of, either in good or in evil report; I speak of the Red Rover!'"

The involuntary start of Mrs Wyllys, and the sudden manner in which Gertrude grasped the arm of her governess, were certainly seen by the last speaker but in no degree did his manner betray the consciousness of such an observation. His self-possession was admirably emulated by his male companion, who answered, with a composure that no jealousy could have seen was a.s.sumed,--

"His cruise will be hazardous, not to say without success."

"It may prove both. And yet he has lofty expectations of the results."

"He probably labours under the common error as to the character of the man he seeks."

"In what does he mistake?"

"In supposing that he will encounter an ordinary freebooter--one coa.r.s.e, rapacious, ignorant, and inexorable like others of"----

"Of what, sir?"

"I would have said, of his cla.s.s; but a mariner like him we speak of forms the head of his own order."

"We will call him, then, by his popular name, Mr Wilder--a rover. But, answer me, is it not remarkable that so aged and experienced a seaman should come to this little frequented sea in quest of a s.h.i.+p whose pursuits should call her into more bustling scenes?"

"He may have traced her through the narrow pa.s.sages of the islands, and followed on the course she has last been seen steering."

"He may indeed," returned the Rover, musing intently "Your thorough mariner knows how to calculate the chances of winds and currents, as the bird finds its way in air. Still a description of the s.h.i.+p should be needed for a clue."

The eyes of Wilder, not withstanding every effort to the contrary, sunk before the piercing gaze they encountered, as he answered,--

"Perhaps he is not without that knowledge, too."

"Perhaps not. Indeed, he gave me reason to believe he has an agent in the secrets of his enemy. Nay, he expressly avowed the same, and acknowledged that his prospects of success depended on the skill and information of that individual, who no doubt has his private means of communicating what he learns of the movements of those with whom he serves."

"Did he name him?"

"He did."

"It was?"----

"Henry--Ark, _alias_ Wilder."

"It is vain to attempt denial," said our adventurer rising, with an air of pride that he intended should conceal the uneasy sensation that in truth beset him; "I find you know me."

"For a false traitor, sir."

"Captain Heidegger, you are safe, here, in using these reproachful terms."

The Rover struggled, and struggled successfully, to keep down the risings of his temper; but the effort lent to his countenance gleamings of fierce and bitter scorn.

"You will communicate that fact also to your superiors," he said, with taunting irony. "The monster of the seas, he who plunders defenceless fishermen ravages unprotected coasts, and eludes the flag of King George, as other serpents steal into their caves at the footstep of man, is safe in speaking his mind, backed by a hundred and fifty freebooters, and in the security of his own cabin. Perhaps he knows too, that he is breathing in the atmosphere of peaceful and peace-making woman."

But the first surprise of the subject of his scorn had pa.s.sed, and he was neither to be goaded into retort nor terrified into entreaties. Folding his arms with calmness, Wilder simply replied,--

"I have incurred this risk, in order to drive a scourge from the ocean, which had baffled all other attempts at its extermination. I knew the hazard, and shall not shrink from its penalty."

"You shall not, sir!" returned the Rover, striking the gong again with a finger that appeared to carry in its touch the weight of a giant. "Let the negro, and the topman his companion, be secured in irons, and, on no account, permit them to communicate, by word or signal, with the other s.h.i.+p."--When the agent of his punishments, who had entered at the well-known summons, had retired, he again turned to the firm and motionless form that stood before him, and continued: "Mr Wilder, there is a law which binds this community, into which you have so treacherously stolen, together, that would consign you, and your miserable confederates, to the yard-arm the instant your true character should be known to my people. I have but to open that door, and to p.r.o.nounce the nature of your treason, in order to give you up to the tender mercies of the crew."

"You will not! no, you will not!" cried a voice at his elbow, which thrilled on even all his iron nerves. "You have forgotten the ties which bind man to his fellows, but cruelty is not natural to your heart. By all the recollections of your earliest and happiest days; by the tenderness and pity which watched your childhood; by that holy and omniscient Being who suffers not a hair of the innocent to go unrevenged, I conjure you to pause, before you forget your own awful responsibility. No! you will not--cannot--dare not be so merciless!"

"What fate did he contemplate for me and my followers, when he entered on this insidious design?" hoa.r.s.ely demanded the Rover.

"The laws of G.o.d and man are with him," you continued the governess, quailing not, as her own contracting eye met the stern gaze which she confronted. "'Tis reason that speaks in my voice; 'tis mercy which I know is pleading at your heart. The cause, the motive, sanctify his acts; while your career can find justification in the laws neither of heaven nor earth."

"This is bold language to sound in the ears of a blood-seeking, remorseless pirate!" said the other, looking about him with a smile so proud and conscious that it seemed to proclaim how plainly he saw that the speaker relied on the very reverse of the qualities he named.

"It is the language of truth; and ears like yours cannot be deaf to the sounds. If"----

"Lady, cease," interrupted the Rover, stretching his arm towards her with calmness and dignity. "My resolution was formed on the instant; and no remonstrance nor apprehension of the consequence, can change it. Mr Wilder, you are free. If you have not served me as faithfully as I once expected, you have taught me a lesson in the art of physiognomy, which shall leave me a wiser man for tho rest of my days."

The conscious Wilder stood self-condemned and humbled. The strugglings which stirred his inmost soul were easily to be read in the workings of a countenance that was no longer masked in artifice, but which was deeply charged with shame and sorrow The conflict lasted, however, but for a moment.

"Perhaps you know not the extent of my object, Captain Heidegger," he said; "it embraced the forfeit of your life, and the destruction, or dispersion, of your crew."

"According to the established usages of that portion of the world which, having the power, oppresses the remainder, it did. Go, sir; rejoin your proper s.h.i.+p; I repeat, you are free."

"I cannot leave you, Captain Heidegger without one word of justification."

"What! can the hunted, denounced, and condemned freebooter command an explanation! Is even his good opinion necessary to a virtuous servant of the Crown!"

"Use such terms of triumph and reproach as suit your pleasure, sir,"

returned the other, reddening to the temples as he spoke; "to me your language can now convey no offence; still would I not leave you without removing part of the odium which you think I merit."