When Dick Bracewell entered the tavern, he intended merely to take a
glass of liquor, just to show his independence, and then to follow his
friend. He, however, found a shipmate, Tom Joyce, in the bar, who
easily persuaded him to take a second, followed, naturally, by a third;
and then, his spirits raised, he was induced to accompany his companion
to a dancing hall attached to a public-house in one of the back streets
not far off. Upwards of fifty seamen were collected, many of them
half-seas-over, when a press-gang, to whose commanding officer notice
had been given of what was going forward (very likely by the landlord
himself), rushed in, and, after a severe struggle, captured whole of
them, including Dick and Tom, who, having only just fallen into the
trap, were the most sober of the party.
While the more unruly were carried down at once to the boats, Dick and
Tom with a few others were marched along by the larger part of the
press-gang, who were evidently intent on making further captures.
The two captives had their wits wide awake, and were not without hopes
of effecting their escape.
The press-gang went on till they reached the outskirts of the town, when
they brought up before a neat little cottage. Three men were sent round
to the back-door, while five others advanced to the front entrance and
knocked loudly.
"That's where Widow Treviss lives; she's not one to harbour seamen,"
Dick heard one of the party observe.
"Nol Hedger says he marked a prime seaman go in there not two hours
ago," answered another. It at once occurred to Dick that they were
speaking of Ralph Michelmore.
"Poor fellow! It's where the young girl lives he's going to marry. If
they get hold of him they'll not mind her tears and prayers, but will
carry him off, like the rest of us, to serve the king. However he has a
protection, and has a chance of getting off, I hope."
The blow on the door was, repeated.
"Open in the King's name," shouted the officer.
"I always obey that authority," answered Dame Treviss, from within,
"Ralph, unlock the door."
The door was thrown open, and the seamen, led by their officer, rushed
in. The old dame sat calmly in her chair, while Ralph, with Jessie
clinging to his arm, stood in the centre of the room.
"Why have you come here at this time of the evening, my friends?" asked
Mrs Treviss, with all the composure she could command.
"Because, old lady, we have information that you are harbouring seamen
wanted for his Majesty's service, and, if I mistake not, here stands one
of them, and a likely lad too," answered the officer, a rough old
master's mate, well accustomed to such work, as he laid his hand on
Ralph's arm and made a sign to his men to seize him.
"Oh, no, no! You cannot take him! You will not be so cruel--you shall
not have him," cried Jessie, clinging tightly to her intended husband.
"Don't be frightened, dear Jessie, they cannot take me, I have my
protection," said Ralph, trying to free himself from the officer's
grasp.
"Let go my arm, and I will show you the paper which proves that I am
mate of the _Amity_, and a protected man," he added, turning to the
officer.
"Never took a fellow yet who didn't try to make out that he was
protected. However, if the young woman here won't make such a fuss
we'll let you overhaul your pockets for your protection."
Ralph was released, and began to search in his pockets. Poor Jessie
stood by, still trembling with alarm, and anxiously watching him.
"Oh! You must have it, Ralph," she exclaimed in a plaintive tone, as
she saw that he did not produce the important document. "Oh! Let me
try," and she plunged her hands eagerly into his pockets. She uttered a
cry of dismay when it was not to be found.
"I must have forgotten to take it out of my other jacket when I dressed
to come on shore," said Ralph; "I had it just before I left the brig, I
know. Don't be alarmed, Jessie dear, all will come right; Captain Mudge
will send it to me, or, if the officer will permit me to go on board,
I'll get it--I will, indeed, sir," he added, addressing the old mate,
"and will, on my honour, return with it to any place you may name; I
will, on my honour."
"That sort of note, I tell you, don't pass current with us, my lad,"
answered the old mate, more moved perhaps by Jessie's agony of grief and
terror than from his gruff manner and language might have been supposed.
"It's hard lines for you, I'll allow, as matters stand, I see; out
cheer up, my good girl, many another man has had to serve his Majesty
for a year or two and come home with his pockets full of rhino to set up
house. As to the protection, I knew from the first that was all fudge;
so as we've lost too much time already palavering about it, come along,
my brave fellow, without more ado." As he spoke he again seized Ralph
by the arm, and three of the men stepped forward to assist him.
Poor Jessie clung to Ralph frantically, entreating that he might be
allowed to remain. "He will bring you the paper to-morrow; I can answer
for him, and so can my grandmother. He never told a falsehood in his
life; he would not deceive even you," she exclaimed. "Oh, let him go!
Cruel, cruel men!"
"The young man speaks only the truth," said Dame Treviss, trembling with
agitation as she rose from her chair and tottered to her grand child's
assistance.
While two of the men had seized Ralph, another was about to tear Jessie
from him, when the dame took the poor girl in her arms.
"Take off your hands, lads, and I will accompany you without attempting
to escape," he said, and the men releasing him he bore Jessie to the
little horse-hair sofa, where he placed her by the dame's side,
bestowing on her a loving kiss as he did so.
Having released himself gently from her arms, "Now I am ready to
accompany you, sir," he said, and walked steadily towards the door.
Perhaps even then the king's officer might have felt that the merchant
seaman was, morally, his superior.
The dame, fearing that Jessie might be exposed to some rough treatment
should she attempt to stop Ralph, held her in her arms till he had
reached the door. She cast a fond look at him as his captors hurried
him away.
The door was closed--he was gone! She listened with aching heart to the
retreating steps of the cruel press-gang as they bore off their
prisoners, till the sound died away in the distance. In vain her
grandmother tried to console her; a fearful foreboding filled her gentle
bosom that she might never see him more, and she refused to be
comforted.