Captain Gould

“ Captain Manton sat in the bow, where there was a seat for the chief, and Wal and Edgar paddled.
Before they were half-way to the schooner the natives saw them, and, uttering loud cries, ran down to the beach. A large canoe was quickly launched, Meri took his place in the bow, and the pursuit commenced.
‘They will overhaul us before we reach the schooner,’ said Wal. ‘Our only plan is to frighten them. We [274] have our rifles. You must send a bullet or two in their direction, Edgar. Do not harm anyone if you can help it, but strike the canoe somewhere near the chief. ”

“ But, in the meanwhile, the captain of the Margaret Quail, despairing of help, and thinking that his vessel would break up under him, came off in his boat, with the rest of the crew, trusting rather to a rotten boat, patched with canvas which they had tarred over, than to the tender mercies of the covetous Clovellites, in whose veins ran the too recent blood of wreckers. The only living being left on board was a poor dog.
No sooner was the captain seen to leave the ship, than the Clovelly men lost their repugnance to go to sea. ”

“ Captain Mitchell had snatched at the occasion of leave-taking to remark to Mrs. Gould, in a low, confidential mutter, “This marks an epoch.”
Mrs. Gould loved the patio of her Spanish house. A broad flight of stone steps was overlooked silently from a niche in the wall by a Madonna in blue robes with the crowned child sitting on her arm. Subdued voices ascended in the early mornings from the paved well of the quadrangle, with the stamping of horses and mules led out in pairs to drink at the cistern. ”

“ The skipper might be a rough man, unpolished, but his heart was in the right place, his nerves true as steel, and the desire to do his duty strong within him. Such men as these, Jack thought, have made England the nation she is, and raised her merchant vessels and ocean steamers to the highest pitch. Ashore Captain Seagrave might cause smiles to cross the faces of men who were as mere pigmies compared to him now. ”

“ When the Sea-mew was purchased it was [8] Captain Ben who clinched the deal, and was appointed "skipper."
"So I'm your stud manager and captain of your yacht, that's a queer combination," said Ben.
"And you're as good in one capacity as the other," said Picton.
"I think I'm safer on deck than on a horse," said Ben.
It was Captain Ben Bruce who came quietly along the deck of the Sea-mew and looked at Picton Woodridge as he gazed over Torquay bay. A kindly look was in his eyes, which were always bright and merry, for he was a cheerful man, not given to look on the dark side of things. ”

“ Captain Morby did not pursue the subject further.
"You can keep a secret, Alan?" he asked.
"I'll try. You're a mysterious fellow, Harry."
"It's about the regiment," he said. "We're to hold ourselves ready at a moment's notice—don't split—I might be court-martialled."
"Whew!" whistled Alan. "This looks serious."
"Bet you there's war before long; it's a bigger cert than Bandmaster," said Harry.
"And I'm out of it."
"You needn't be. Join us again. You'll easily get your commission; they'll want all the men they can get, especially officers."
"If there is trouble I shall not be idle," said Alan. ”

“ Mrs. Gould said, in a tone as if she were repelling an undeserved aspersion. "Viola, the Garibaldino, with whom he has lived for some years, calls him the incorruptible."
"Ah! he belongs to the group of your protégés out there towards the harbor, Mrs. Gould. Muy bien. And Captain Mitchell calls him wonderful. I have heard no end of tales of his strength, his audacity, his fidelity. No end of fine things. H'm! incorruptible? It is indeed a name of honor for the capataz of the cargadores of Sulaco. Incorruptible! Fine, but vague. However, I suppose he's sensible, too. ”

“ At length Oliver succeeded in wrenching one bar away, and now a gap was made through which he might reach Coppinger and draw him forth through the window. He was scrambling in when the Captain staggered to his feet. "Let me alone," said he. "You have won what I have lost. Let me alone. I am defeated."
Then he stepped into the mass of smoke and falling liquid blue fire and dropping masses of red glowing tobacco. A moment more, and the whole of the attic floor, with all the burning contents of the garret, fell in. ”

“ Captain Manton—for, indeed, it was that unfortunate seaman—commenced by telling them, in a somewhat incoherent way, that he was on a big ship when it went on to the rocks and crashed to pieces.
‘It was the captain’s fault,’ he said; ‘he ought to have made for a harbour; he is responsible for all our deaths.’
‘You were saved,’ said Edgar. ‘You are not dead, and you ought to be thankful. It was not the captain’s fault, for he was a brave man, and a good seaman. ”

“ Then Oliver begged a word with the Preventive captain, and told him what he had overheard, and also that he knew where was the cave in which the smugglers had their boat and to which they ran the cargo first, before removing it to their inland stores.
"I'm not so certain the Black Prince dare venture nigh the coast to-night," said the Captain, "because of the sea and the on-shore wind. But the glass is rising" and the wind may change. Then she’ll risk it for certain. Now, look you here. I can't go with you myself to-night, because I must be here; and I can only let you have six men." ”

“ Without further words he led them up the ascent, along the ledge, and into the guard-room.
There he said to Amanieu and Roger—
"Your Captain's daughter is going to remain yonder." He pointed across the gulf to the rock chambers in the projecting mass of cliff. "I shall not be at Ste. Soure to protect her. You know what these people are. Even you are not safe, though my father granted you both your lives. As I see, you no longer bear the brand of lawlessness. Do not concern yourself about what takes me away. I leave you here in guard of her. Let no one approach. ”

“ No man ever crossed me yet but was brought to bite the dust."
"He has not harmed you, Captain Coppinger."
"He! Can I endure that you should call him by his Christian name, while I am but Captain Coppinger? That you should seek him out, laugh, and talk, and flirt with him——"
"Captain Coppinger!"
"Yes," raged he, "always Captain Coppinger, or Captain Cruel, and he is dear Oliver! sweet Oliver!" He well-nigh suffocated in his fury.
Judith drew herself up and folded her arms. She had in one hand a sprig of lavender from which she had been shaking the over-ripe grains. She turned deadly white. ”

“ I have no control over the ship, and we are being blown straight for the rocks.’
[61]
‘What can I do?’ said Edgar.
He was pale, but perfectly calm.
‘Very little,’ said Captain Manton; ‘but you can set a good example. A panic will only make matters worse. If the passengers are kept under control, it may be possible to save some of them. Will you call them up in the saloon cabin? Tell them to dress, and try and calm them. I will tell my wife and take her and Eva up with me. You will find them in my cabin. If it comes to the worst, do what you can for them. I must stick to the ship. ”

“ CHAPTER XI TEARAWAY AND OTHERS THERE was no occasion for Picton to travel to Bridlington. Captain Ben arrived next day and was very pleased to see him.
"He's much better," said Ben; "making a wonderful recovery. He's quite sane, remembers everything, but his health is terribly shattered and a long rest on the Sea-mew will do him a world of good. He has no desire to come to Haverton, or to leave the yacht; he thinks he is safer where he is, and he is right. There was no need to caution him to be careful, he knows what it means for all of us if there is the slightest suspicion about the Sea-mew. ”

“ What the coast-guard did not suspect was that this "new-take" had been made for the very purpose of serving as a guide by which the smugglers could find their course in the blackest of winter's nights; moreover, in the fiercest storm the wall served as a shelter, under lea of which they might approach their cave. Coppinger was without a lantern. He doubted if one would avail him, in his quest; moreover, the night was lightening, as the moon rode higher.
The smuggler captain stood for a moment on the edge of the cliffs to consider what course he should adopt to find Judith. ”

“ His career in the Navy had not been particularly creditable. In November, 1803, he had been lieutenant on board the frigate Blanche, Captain Zachariah Mudge, lying at anchor off the entrance of Mancenille Bay, Isle of S. Domingo. In the harbour lay the French cutter Albion, armed with two 4-pounders, six swivels, and twenty muskets, and manned by forty-three officers and men, lying under the guns of the fort of Monte Christo. A night attack was determined upon, and Lieutenant Edward Nicolls, of the Marines, volunteered, with one boat, to attempt cutting out the vessel. ”

“ Edgar left Captain Fife’s office feeling he had been most fortunate. His heart was heavy when he thought of the Distant Shore and those on board who had lost their lives. He could hardly realize, as he walked the streets of Sydney, how near he had been to death, and that only a day or two ago. He met Wal Jessop, and told him what Captain Fife had done.
‘He’s a good sort,’ said Wal—‘a regular out-and-outer. [88] You’ll have a real good time at Yanda. It’s different to many stations, for the hands up there all pull together, and, my eye! don’t they turn out some good sports. ”

“ The bulk of his fortune was left to Picton, who was determined, when the time came, to surrender to Hector his proper share. Captain Ben Bruce left the service soon after the Admiral he had loved and served. He was, so to speak, a poor man, and when he came to Haverton, to his old chief's funeral, Picton begged him to stay with him for a few months to relieve his loneliness. This he readily consented to do. The months extended, and Picton would not let him go; he relied on the stronger man, who had carved his way upward by his own exertions. Ben Bruce protested, all to no purpose. ”

“ Avery bade him not fear. If he chose to throw in his lot with them, he would be received, but must remain sober and mind his own business, and if he conducted himself properly would be made lieutenant. If he refused he might have the long-boat and go ashore in it. The captain preferred the latter alternative; he was accordingly put into the boat along with such seamen, five or six in all, who would not throw in their lot with the mutineers. The two ships proceeded to Madagascar, and came across a couple of sloops at anchor on the north-east of the island. ”

“ Can you guess why the captain houses you and the girl? It is because he knows that he has [71] wronged the widow and the fatherless, and his conscience gives him a pinch now and again. He thinks to hush it by allowing you such scraps as he would cast to a dog, Towler, if he kept one—which he don't. Jane'—Olver spoke slowly, and with his eye fixed on her—'Jane, you are on the spot, and I looks on it as the wonderful ways of Providence bringing you here. You keep your eye wakeful, and keep an eye in the back of your head also. You discover where he hides his piles of money. ”

“ Although Neptune was on the outside, it gave him the advantage of a clear run. Rodney Shaw's second string made the pace a cracker and sailed round the first bend with a long lead. At this point Neptune ran wide and lost a good deal of ground, but Willie soon steadied him, and determined to be more careful in future. It was a sharp circle round the side, and Jackson hugged the rails with The Captain; Ben Madsley, being alongside him on the favourite, who also was going remarkably well. ”

“ A stationary light might serve as a warning, but a moving light misleads. The captain of a vessel, if he has lost his bearings, as is like enough in the fog, as soon as the mist rises, would see a light gliding along and think it was that of a vessel at sea, and so make in the direction of the light in the belief that there was open water, and so run directly on his destruction."
"Oh, no, no, Uncle, we will not take a light."
Mr. Menaida and Judith went out together, she with her workbox under her arm, he with his stick, and her hand resting on his arm. ”

“ There's not one in a thousand would know him, but I do—it's Hector, sir, is it not?"
"Yes, it's Hector Woodridge, or what's left of him. He's in a bad way, Abe."
"He is, sir."
"And we can't have a doctor to him."
"No, sir, but we'll pull him through. Every man of us will help. Give me permission to tell them. They'll stand by him and Mr. Picton; you need have no fear of that, sir."
"Trust them all; yes, that will be the best," said Ben.
"I'm sure you're right, sir; quite sure."
Captain Ben gave orders for the Sea-mew to leave Torbay, and she was soon moving slowly toward the sea. ”

“ Next, the steward was sent for, as also every one of the crew who could write, and the result was the same. At length the captain said, "There must be a stowaway. Have the ship searched. Pipe all hands on deck." Every corner of the vessel was explored, but all in vain. The captain was more perplexed than ever. Summoning the mate to attend him in the cabin, and holding the slate before him, he asked Bruce what he considered this might mean.
"That is more than I can say, sir," replied Bruce, "I saw the man write, and there you see the writing. There must be something in it we don't understand." ”

“ A wind sprang up. The sails were spread. The captain called Peter. The men ran everywhere searching for him, could not find him, and at length were reluctantly obliged to sail without him. On reaching Provence the captain was unwilling to retain the goods of the lost man, and so gave them to the holy woman who ministered to the sick in the hospital she had built on a tiny islet off the coast. One day when Maguelone was short of salt she went to fetch some from the barrels given her by the ship's captain, and to her amazement found under the salt an incalculable treasure. ”