CAUGHT AT LAST
While these little things were doing thus, the coast from the mouth of
the Tees to that of Humber, and even the inland parts, were in a great
stir of talk and work about events impending. It must not be thought
that Flamborough, although it was Robin's dwelling-place--so far as he
had any--was the principal scene of his operations, or the stronghold
of his enterprise. On the contrary, his liking was for quiet coves near
Scarborough, or even to the north of Whitby, when the wind and tide
were suitable. And for this there were many reasons which are not of any
moment now.
One of them showed fine feeling and much delicacy on his part. He knew
that Flamborough was a place of extraordinary honesty, where every
one of his buttons had been safe, and would have been so forever; and
strictly as he believed in the virtue of his own free importation,
it was impossible for him not to learn that certain people thought
otherwise, or acted as if they did so. From the troubles which such
doubts might cause, he strove to keep the natives free.
Flamburians scarcely understood this largeness of good-will to them.
Their instincts told them that free trade was every Briton's privilege;
and they had the finest set of donkeys on the coast for landing it. But
none the more did any of them care to make a movement toward it. They
were satisfied with their own old way--to cast the net their father
cast, and bait the hook as it was baited on their good grandfather's
thumb.
Yet even Flamborough knew that now a mighty enterprise was in hand. It
was said, without any contradiction, that young Captain Robin had laid
a wager of one hundred guineas with the worshipful mayor of Scarborough
and the commandant of the castle, that before the new moon he would land
on Yorkshire coast, without firing pistol or drawing steel, free goods
to the value of two thousand pounds, and carry them inland safely. And
Flamborough believed that he would do it.
Dr. Upround's house stood well, as rectories generally contrive to do.
No place in Flamborough parish could hope to swindle the wind of its
vested right, or to embezzle much treasure of the sun, but the parsonage
made a good effort to do both, and sometimes for three days together got
the credit of succeeding. And the dwellers therein, who felt the edge
of the difference outside their own walls, not only said but thoroughly
believed that they lived in a little Goshen.
For the house was well settled in a wrinkle of the hill expanding
southward, and encouraging the noon. From the windows a pleasant glimpse
might be obtained of the broad and tranquil anchorage, peopled with
white or black, according as the sails went up or down; for the rectory
stood to the southward of the point, as the rest of Flamborough surely
must have stood, if built by any other race than armadillos. But to see
all those vessels, and be sure what they were doing, the proper place
was a little snug “gazebo,” chosen and made by the doctor himself, near
the crest of the gully he inhabited.
Here upon a genial summer day--when it came, as it sometimes dared to
do--was the finest little nook upon the Yorkshire coast for watching
what Virgil calls “the sail-winged sea.” Not that a man could see round
the Head, unless his own were gifted with very crooked eyes; but without
doing that (which would only have disturbed the tranquillity of his
prospect) there was plenty to engage him in the peaceful spread of
comparatively waveless waters. Here might he see long vessels rolling,
not with great misery, but just enough to make him feel happy in the
firmness of his bench, and little jolly-boats it was more jolly to be
out of, and faraway heads giving genial bobs, and sea-legs straddled
in predicaments desirable rather for study than for practice. All was
highly picturesque and nice, and charming for the critic who had never
got to do it.
“Now, papa, you must come this very moment,” cried Miss Janetta Upround,
the daughter of the house, and indeed the only daughter, with a gush of
excitement, rushing into the study of this deeply read divine; “there
is something doing that I can not understand. You must bring up the
spy-glass at once and explain. I am sure that there is something very
wrong.”
“In the parish, my dear?” the rector asked, with a feeble attempt at
malice, for he did not want to be disturbed just now, and for weeks he
had tried (with very poor success) to make Janetta useful; for she had
no gift in that way.
“No, not in the parish at all, papa, unless it runs out under water,
as I am certain it ought to do, and make every one of those ships pay
tithe. If the law was worth anything, they would have to do it. They
get all the good out of our situation, and they save whole thousands
of pounds at a time, and they never pay a penny, nor even hoist a flag,
unless the day is fine, and the flag wants drying. But come along, papa,
now. I really can not wait; and they will have done it all without us.”
“Janetta, take the glass and get the focus. I will come presently,
presently. In about two minutes--by the time that you are ready.”
“Very well, papa. It is very good of you. I see quite clearly what
you want to do; and I hope you will do it. But you promise not to play
another game now?”
“My dear, I will promise that with pleasure. Only do please be off about
your business.”
The rector was a most inveterate and insatiable chess-player. In the
household, rather than by it, he was, as a matter of lofty belief,
supposed to be deeply engaged with theology, or magisterial questions of
almost equal depth, or (to put it at the lowest) parochial affairs,
the while he was solidly and seriously engaged in getting up the sound
defense to some Continental gambit. And this, not only to satisfy
himself upon some point of theory, but from a nearer and dearer point of
view--for he never did like to be beaten.
At present he was laboring to discover the proper defense to a new and
slashing form of the Algaier gambit, by means of which Robin Lyth had
won every game in which he had the move, upon their last encounter.
The great free-trader, while a boy, had shown an especial aptitude for
chess, and even as a child he had seemed to know the men when first, by
some accident, he saw them. The rector being struck by this exception
to the ways of childhood--whose manner it is to take chess-men for
“dollies,” or roll them about like nine-pins--at once included in
the education of “Izunsabe,” which he took upon himself, a course of
elemental doctrine in the one true game. And the boy fought his way up
at such a pace that he jumped from odds of queen and rook to pawn and
two moves in less than two years. And now he could almost give odds to
his tutor, though he never presumed to offer them; and trading as he
did with enlightened merchants of large Continental sea-ports, who had
plenty of time on their hands and played well, he imported new openings
of a dash and freedom which swallowed the ground up under the feet of
the steady-going players, who had never seen a book upon their favorite
subject. Of course it was competent to all these to decline such fiery
onslaught; but chivalry and the true love of analysis (which without may
none play chess) compelled the acceptance of the challenge, even with a
trembling forecast of the taste of dust.
“Never mind,” said Dr. Upround, as he rose and stretched himself, a good
straight man of threescore years, with silver hair that shone like
silk; “it has not come to me yet; but it must, with a little
more perseverance. At Cambridge I beat everybody; and who is this
uncircumcised--at least, I beg his pardon, for I did myself baptize
him--but who is Robin Lyth, to mate his pastor and his master? All these
gambits are like a night attack. If once met properly and expelled,
you are in the very heart of the enemy's camp. He has left his own
watch-fires to rush at yours. The next game I play, I shall be sure to
beat him.”
Fully convinced of this great truth, he took a strong oak staff and
hastened to obey his daughter. Miss Janetta Upround had not only learned
by nature, but also had been carefully taught by her parents, and by
every one, how to get her own way always, and to be thanked for taking
it. But she had such a happy nature, full of kindness and good-will,
that other people's wishes always seemed to flow into her own, instead
of being swept aside. Over her father her government was in no sort
constitutional, nor even a quiet despotism sweetened with liberal
illusions, but as pure a piece of autocracy as the Continent could
itself contain, in the time of this first Napoleon.
“Papa, what a time you have been, to be sure!” she exclaimed, as the
doctor came gradually up, probing his way in perfect leisure, and
fragrant still of that gambit; “one would think that your parish was
on dry land altogether, while the better half of it, as they call
themselves--though the women are in righteousness the better half a
hundredfold--”
“My dear, do try to talk with some little sense of arithmetic, if no
other. A hundredfold the half would be the unit multiplied by fifty. Not
to mention that there can be no better half--”
“Yes, there can, papa, ever so many; and you may see one in mamma every
day. Now you put one eye to this glass, and the half is better than the
whole. With both, you see nothing; with one, you see better, fifty times
better, than with both before. Don't talk of arithmetic after that. It
is algebra now, and quod demonstrandum.”
“To reason with the less worthy gender is degeneration of reason. What
would they have said in the Senate-house, Janetta? However, I will obey
your orders. What am I to look at?”
“A tall and very extraordinary man, striking his arms out, thus and
thus. I never saw any one looking so excited; and he flourishes a long
sword now and again, as if he would like to cut everybody's head off.
There he has been going from ship to ship, for an hour or more, with a
long white boat, and a lot of men jumping after him. Every one seems
to be scared of him, and he stumps along the deck just as if he were on
springs, and one spring longer than the other. You see that heavy brig
outside the rest, painted with ten port-holes; well, she began to make
sail and run away, but he fired a gun--quite a real cannon--and she
had to come back again and drop her colors. Oh, is it some very great
admiral, papa? Perhaps Lord Nelson himself; I would go and be seasick
for three days to see Lord Nelson. Papa, it must be Lord Nelson.”
“My dear, Lord Nelson is a little, short man, with a very brisk walk,
and one arm gone. Now let me see who this can be. Whereabout is he now,
Janetta?”
“Do you see that clumsy-looking schooner, papa, just behind a
pilot-boat? He is just in front of her foremast--making such a fuss--”
“What eyes you have got, my child! You see better without the glass than
I do with it.--Oh, now I have him! Why, I might have guessed. Of course
it is that very active man and vigilant officer Lieutenant Carroway.”
“Captain Carroway from Bridlington, papa? Why, what can he be doing with
such authority? I have often heard of him, but I thought he was only a
coast-guard.”
“He is, as you say, showing great authority, and, I fear, using very
bad language, for which he is quite celebrated. However, the telescope
refuses to repeat it, for which it is much to be commended. But
every allowance must be made for a man who has to deal with a wholly
uncultivated race, and not of natural piety, like ours.”
“Well, papa, I doubt if ours have too much, though you always make the
best of them. But let me look again, please; and do tell me what he can
be doing there.”
“You know that the revenue officers must take the law into their
own hands sometimes. There have lately been certain rumors of some
contraband proceedings on the Yorkshire coast. Not in Flamborough
parish, of course, and perhaps--probably, I may say--a long way off---”
“Papa dear, will you never confess that free trade prevails and
flourishes greatly even under your own dear nose?”
“Facts do not warrant me in any such assertion. If the fact were so,
it must have been brought officially before me. I decline to listen to
uncharitable rumors. But however that matter may be, there are officers
on the spot to deal with it. My commission as a justice of the peace
gives me no cognizance of offenses--if such there are--upon the high
seas. Ah! you see something particular; my dear, what is it?”
“Captain Carroway has found something, or somebody, of great importance.
He has got a man by the collar, and he is absolutely dancing with
delight. Ah! there he goes, dragging him along the deck as if he were
a cod-fish or a conger. And now, I declare, he is lashing his arms
and legs with a great thick rope. Papa, is that legal, without even a
warrant?”
“I can hardly say how far his powers may extend, and he is just the man
to extend them farther. I only hope not to be involved in the matter.
Maritime law is not my province.”
“But, papa, it is much within three miles of the shore, if that has got
anything to do with it. My goodness me! They are all coming here; I am
almost sure that they will apply to you. Yes, two boat-loads of people,
racing to get their oars out, and to be here first. Where are your
spectacles, dear papa? You had better go and get up the law before they
come. You will scarcely have time, they are coming so fast--a white boat
and a black boat. The prisoner is in the white boat, and the officer
has got him by the collar still. The men in the white boat will want
to commit him, and the men in the black boat are his friends, no doubt,
coming for a habeas corpus--”
“My dear, what nonsense you do talk! What has a simple justice of the
peace--”
“Never mind that, papa; my facts are sound--sounder than yours about
smuggling, I fear. But do hurry in, and get up the law. I will go and
lock both gates, to give you more time.”
“Do nothing of the kind, Janetta. A magistrate should be accessible
always; and how can I get up the law, without knowing what it is to be
about--or even a clerk to help me? And perhaps they are not coming here
at all. They may be only landing their prisoner.”
“If that were it, they would not be coming so, but rowing toward the
proper place, Bridlington Quay, where their station-house is. Papa, you
are in for it, and I am getting eager. May I come and hear all about it?
I should be a great support to you, you know. And they would tell the
truth so much better!”
“Janetta, what are you dreaming of? It may even be a case of secrecy.”
“Secrecy, papa, with two boat-loads of men and about thirty ships
involved in it! Oh, do let me hear all about it!”
“Whatever it may be, your presence is not required, and would be
improper. Unless I should happen to want a book; and in that case I
might ring for you.”
“Oh, do, papa, do! No one else can ever find them. Promise me now that
you will want a book. If I am not there, there will be no justice done.
I wish you severely to reprimand, whatever the facts of the case may be,
and even to punish, if you can, that tall, lame, violent, ferocious
man, for dragging the poor fellow about like that, and cutting him with
ropes, when completely needless, and when he was quite at his mercy.
It is my opinion that the other man does not deserve one bit of it; and
whatever the law may be, papa, your duty is to strain it benevolently,
and question every syllable upon the stronger side.”
“Perhaps I had better resign, my dear, upon condition that you shall be
appointed in the stead of me. It might be a popular measure, and would
secure universal justice.”
“Papa, I would do justice to myself--which is a thing you never do. But
here, they are landing; and they hoist him out as if he were a sack,
or a thing without a joint. They could scarcely be harder with a man
compelled to be hanged to-morrow morning.”
“Condemned is what you mean, Janetta. You never will understand the use
of words. What a nice magistrate you would make!”
“There can be no more correct expression. Would any man be hanged if he
were not compelled? Papa, you say the most illegal things sometimes. Now
please to go in and get up your legal points. Let me go and meet those
people for you. I will keep them waiting till you are quite ready.”
“My dear, you will go to your room, and try to learn a little patience.
You begin to be too pat with your own opinions, which in a young lady is
ungraceful. There, you need not cry, my darling, because your opinions
are always sensible, and I value them very highly; but still you must
bear in mind that you are but a girl.”
“And behave accordingly, as they say. Nobody can do more so. But though
I am only a girl, papa, can you put your hand upon a better one?”
“Certainly not, my dear; for going down hill, I can always depend on
you.”
Suiting the action to the word, Dr. Upround, whose feet were a little
touched with gout, came down from his outlook to his kitchen-garden, and
thence through the shrubbery back to his own study, where, with a little
sigh, he put away his chess-men, and heartily hoped that it might not be
his favorite adversary who was coming before him to be sent to jail.
For although the good rector had a warm regard, and even affection, for
Robin Lyth, as a waif cast into his care, and then a pupil wonderfully
apt (which breeds love in the teacher), and after that a most gallant
and highly distinguished young parishioner--with all this it was a
difficulty for him to be ignorant that the law was adverse. More than
once he had striven hard to lead the youth into some better path of
life, and had even induced him to “follow the sea” for a short time in
the merchant service. But the force of nature and of circumstances had
very soon prevailed again, and Robin returned to his old pursuits with
larger experience, and seamanship improved.
A violent ringing at the gate bell, followed by equal urgency upon
the front door, apprised the kind magistrate of a sharp call on his
faculties, and perhaps a most unpleasant one. “The poor boy!” he said to
himself--“poor boy! From Carroway's excitement I greatly fear that it is
indeed poor Robin. How many a grand game have we had! His new variety of
that fine gambit scarcely beginning to be analyzed; and if I commit him
to the meeting next week, when shall we ever meet again? It will seem
as if I did it because he won three games; and I certainly was a little
vexed with him. However, I must be stern, stern, stern. Show them in,
Betsy; I am quite prepared.”
A noise, and a sound of strong language in the hall, and a dragging of
something on the oil-cloth, led up to the entry of a dozen rough men,
pushed on by at least another dozen.
“You will have the manners to take off your hats,” said the magistrate,
with all his dignity; “not from any undue deference to me, but common
respect to his Majesty.”
“Off with your covers, you sons of”--something, shouted a loud voice;
and then the lieutenant, with his blade still drawn, stood before them.
“Sheathe your sword, Sir,” said Dr. Upround, in a voice which amazed the
officer.
“I beg your Worship's pardon,” he began, with his grim face flushing
purple, but his sword laid where it should have been; “but if you knew
half of the worry I have had, you would not care to rebuke me. Cadman,
have you got him by the neck? Keep your knuckles into him, while I make
my deposition.”
“Cast that man free, I receive no depositions with a man half strangled
before me.”
The men of the coast-guard glanced at their commander, and receiving a
surly nod, obeyed. But the prisoner could not stand as yet; he gasped
for breath, and some one set him on a chair.
“Your Worship, this is a mere matter of form,” said Carroway, still
keeping eyes on his prey; “if I had my own way, I would not trouble you
at all, and I believe it to be quite needless. For this man is an outlaw
felon, and not entitled to any grace of law; but I must obey my orders.”
“Certainly you must, Lieutenant Carroway, even though you are better
acquainted with the law. You are ready to be sworn? Take this book, and
follow me.”
This being done, the worthy magistrate prepared to write down what the
gallant officer might say, which, in brief, came to this, that having
orders to seize Robin Lyth wherever he might find him, and having sure
knowledge that said Robin was on board of a certain schooner vessel, the
Elizabeth, of Goole, the which he had laden with goods liable to duty,
he, Charles Carroway, had gently laid hands on him, and brought him to
the nearest justice of the peace, to obtain an order of commitment.
All this, at fifty times the length here given, Lieutenant Carroway
deposed on oath, while his Worship, for want of a clerk, set it down in
his own very neat handwriting. But several very coaly-looking men, who
could scarcely be taught to keep silence, observed that the magistrate
smiled once or twice; and this made them wait a bit, and wink at one
another.
“Very clear indeed, Lieutenant Carroway,” said Dr. Upround, with
spectacles on nose. “Good Sir, have the kindness to sign your
deposition. It may become my duty to commit the prisoner, upon
identification. Of that I must have evidence, confirmatory evidence. But
first we will hear what he has to say. Robin Lyth, stand forward.”
“Me no Robin Lyth, Sar; no Robin man or woman,” cried the captive,
trying very hard to stand; “me only a poor Francais, make liberty to
what you call--row, row, sweem, sweem, sail, sail, from la belle France;
for why, for why, there is no import to nobody.”
“Your Worship, he is always going on about imports,” Cadman said,
respectfully; “that is enough to show who he is.”
“You may trust me to know him,” cried Lieutenant Carroway. “My
fine fellow, no more of that stuff! He can pass himself off for any
countryman whatever. He knows all their jabber, Sir, better than his
own. Put a cork between his teeth, Hackerbody. I never did see such a
noisy rogue. He is Robin Lyth all over.”
“I'll be blest if he is, nor under nayther,” cried the biggest of the
coaly men; “this here froggy come out of a Chaise and Mary as had run up
from Dunkirk. I know Robin Lyth as well as our own figure-head. But what
good to try reason with that there revenue hofficer?”
At this, all his friends set a good laugh up, and wanted to give him a
cheer for such a speech; but that being hushed, they were satisfied with
condemning his organs of sight and their own quite fairly.
“Lieutenant Carroway,” his Worship said, amidst an impressive silence,
“I greatly fear that you have allowed zeal, my dear Sir, to outrun
discretion. Robin Lyth is a young, and in many ways highly respected,
parishioner of mine. He may have been guilty of casual breaches of the
laws concerning importation--laws which fluctuate from year to year, and
require deep knowledge of legislation both to observe and to administer.
I heartily trust that you may not suffer from having discharged your
duty in a manner most truly exemplary, if only the example had been the
right one. This gentleman is no more Robin Lyth than I am.”