Constance's Story
The surprise and recognition were mutual. Only the untoward state of
my sister's garments prevented her from throwing herself into my
arms. As it was, she could only grasp my hand and exclaim:
"Oh, Clifford, you here! I thought you were dead long ago."
"Far from it," I replied, leading her to the shelter of the weather
bulwarks, for the wind was now howling fiercely. "But tell me, how
came you here?"
"'Tis a long story," she said, striving to keep back the tears of
joy that welled to her eyes. "But why--oh, there's Captain Jeremy!"
And at that moment our Captain came down the poop ladder, to find,
to his unbounded astonishment, that Constance was one of the rescued
passengers.
It was some time ere we dispensed with small talk and entered into
the more important details of our respective adventures, when
Captain Jeremy listened with rapt attention to my sister's
narrative, occasionally giving vent to a hearty exclamation of
approval as she told her story.
"You would hardly realize the consternation that your disappearance
caused. At first our uncle thought you had left the house by stealth
in order to go fishing, and promised you a warm reception on your
return. But when evening came and you did not return, we began to
grow anxious----"
"There you are," exclaimed Captain Jeremy. "Did I not say you were a
young rascal, when you were found in the hold? Didst give a single
thought to your worthy relative's distress?"
"There was a hue and cry raised, but though the countryside was
searched most diligently, not a trace of you was found. A month or
so later a lad's body was found in the Lym stream, and though 'twas
well-nigh unrecognizable, our uncle was convinced 'twas yours. At
any rate, he came to the conclusion that you had been drowned while
swimming in the river, and the body was buried as that of Clifford
Hammond."
"Then another misfortune came. Uncle John was thrown from his horse
near Buckland Rings, and received such severe injuries to his head
that in less than a week he died. Thus I was left without a relative
in England. In my distress I thought of our mother's brother's wife,
whom I knew to be living somewhere in Virginia; and being, as I
thought, without a single tie at home, I resolved to adventure
myself in the New World. With this object in view I went to see
Lawyer Thompson of Lymington, who had, as you know, the ordering of
our affairs. He approved of my resolve, but urged me to wait until
definite news could be obtained of our relative's whereabouts.
Accordingly a letter was sent by the hand of one Captain Joseph
Bennett, whose ship _Prudence_ was about to sail for the port of
Richmond."
"Four months later I had a reply, brought by the same Captain
Bennett, to the effect that Mistress Green, our maternal aunt, would
be glad to receive me."
"The _Prudence_ was timed to sail again from Gravesend on the
following Thursday week, and having made arrangements for my
passage, I prepared for the hazardous journey."
"At length I bade farewell to the home of my childhood. Lawyer
Thompson accompanied me as far as Southampton, whence the coach was
to carry me to London. It was a tedious two days' journey, with the
best part of another day's ride to Gravesend."
"On arriving at the latter place I found, to my consternation, that
the _Prudence_ had sailed on a special voyage to Hull, and would not
be back for another fortnight."
"There was nothing to do but wait, and by good fortune I found a
comfortable lodging at the house of one Mistress Thetwell. But once
again I was doomed to disappointment. The _Prudence_ never returned
to the Thames--she was lost, with all her crew, off Yarmouth--so I
was obliged to wait at Gravesend until such time as I could find a
ship that was sailing for Virginia."
"While awaiting this opportunity I chanced one day to be taking the
air along the Rochester road, when I heard the sound of a horse
galloping behind me. I turned, and saw a mettlesome nag bolting down
the highway, while, clinging desperately to the animal's mane, was a
girl of about my own age."
"As you know, Clifford, I was always used to horses, so as the brute
rushed by I caught at the dangling bridle. The nag carried me some
distance, and just as I had mastered him he trod on my foot. The
pain was intense, and I was barely conscious of seeing the girl slip
from the saddle ere I swooned."
"When I recovered my senses I found myself in a strange bed, with a
motherly lady watching me."
"She was Mistress Farndale, wife of a wealthy landowner, and it was
her daughter Winifred whose horse I had helped to stop. All the
members of the family were kind to me beyond measure, and, hearing
my story, proposed that I should stay as a companion to Winifred
till an opportunity occurred for me to take ship. And, strange to
say, I felt perfectly contented and happy, actually hoping that that
opportunity was yet a long way off."
"At length Master Farndale, for having spoken too openly in favour
of Archbishop Sancroft, was threatened with arrest; so, having
disposed of most of his property, he took ship for Virginia, having
previously made arrangements for his family to follow directly he
had prepared a suitable home for them."
"Thus I was able to carry out my original intentions, without having
to undergo the grief of parting from my newly found friends, when we
took passage on the _Phoenix_. There were Mistress Farndale, Rupert
and Gerald, her sons; and Winifred and myself, together with a
maid."
"I need not relate what happened on our unfortunate voyage, for you
already know of it; but when we were being taken on board this ship
from the boat Winifred fell into the sea, and someone rescued
her----"
"Lucky lad! Lucky lad!" exclaimed Captain Jeremy, bringing his open
hand down heavily on my back, to my great confusion. Then, as
Constance was at a loss to understand this sudden outburst, he
explained: "You see, Mistress Constance, 'twas your brother who
jumped after her. Sink me! 'twas a plucky action, for he was like to
have had his head crushed like an eggshell by the ship's side. But I
must away, for 'tis about time we made a landfall." So saying, he
hurried on to the poop, leaving us to continue our conversation.
"I, too, have news for you," said I. "Constance, we are now rich,
for the _Madre_ treasure has been found. It is on board this very
ship."
"How much is it worth?" she asked, with true feminine curiosity.
"Nay, I cannot say to a certainty, yet 'tis enough for us to be for
ever free from monetary difficulties."
Then I related all the principal incidents of our voyage, not
omitting the terrible fate of my father's murderer, till our
conversation was interrupted by the welcome cry of "Land--ho!"
From the poop I gazed once more upon the shores of Old England,
after an absence of three years, for on our larboard bow I could
discern the dark, lofty outlines of the Lizard, the southernmost
headland of our isle.
The _Golden Hope_ was now bowling along under easy canvas at a good
six knots, and ere night the dreaded Eddystone, rearing its ugly
reef above the breakers, was well abeam, and the rugged Devon coast
away on our larboard bow. Should this breeze continue, to-morrow's
eve would find us safe in Poole Harbour.
Just before sunset most of the rescued passengers, having recovered
from their harrowing experience, came on deck, and Constance
immediately gave me an introduction to Mistress Farndale and her
daughter.
Presently we were joined by Rupert and Gerald Farndale, whose
acquaintance I had made earlier in the day; and together we formed
quite a happy party, talking under the break of the poop deck until
it was quite dark.
Then the ladies retired, while I, lying in a hammock slung under the
crowded fo'c'sle, dreamed of Constance and Winifred, till I was
awakened by the violent ringing of the ship's bell and the hoarse
order, "Put your helm up, or we'll be run down!"