"Well, sir," said he, "maybe I might be able to help you in your search.
It needs no prophet to tell that you are Captain Collingwood's son,
when a man gets a fair squint at your figure-head, axing your pardon,
sir, for my boldness; and if you'll just give me your word that nothing
I may say shall tell agin me, I'll tell you all I knows about it, and
gladly too; for I sailed with your father, sir, and a kinder skipper or
a better seaman never trod a deck than he was, as I've had good reason
to know."
"_Was_?" exclaimed I, with a sudden sinking of heart.
"And is still, for aught I know, sir; at least I hope so; there's no
reason why he mayn't be still alive," replied the man, fully
understanding all the meaning of my exclamation.
"Thank God for that," replied I fervently. "But why is this strange
pledge required? Surely, fellow, you will not have the temerity to tell
_me_--his son--that he has been the victim of any foul play? If so--"
"Not on my part, sir, I'll take my Bible oath," said he. "What I did I
was _forced_ to do to save my own life. Gladly would I have helped the
skipper if I could; but what can one man do agin a whole ship's crew."
"_Much_, if he have the will," replied I. "I will give no pledge
whatever, beyond this. Tell me your story, and if I find you were
powerless to prevent the evil which I begin to suspect has befallen my
poor father, you have nothing to fear; but if I find that you have in
any way aided--"
"Never, sir. If I could have had my will the skipper would not be
where, I suppose, he is now; but you shall hear all I have to say, and
then judge for yourself whether I could prevent anything that happened
or no."
Volume One, Chapter VI.