we shall both fill our pockets full of lace, and go on shore with him."
"Mercy on me! Then it is no hoax after all; and I've been sitting down
to dinner with a smuggler!"
"Sitting down, madam!--if it were to be no more than that--but we are to
take his arm up to the hotel. Oh dear! Cecilia, I am ordered on deck;
pray, come with me!"
Miss Ossulton rolled on the sofa, and rang for Phoebe; she was in a
state of great alarm.
A knock at the door.
"Come in," said Miss Ossulton, thinking it was Phoebe; when Pickersgill
made his appearance.
"What do you want, sir? Go out, sir! Go out directly, of I'll scream!"
"It is no use screaming, madam; recollect, that all on board are at my
service. You, will oblige me by listening to me, Miss Ossulton. I am,
as you know, a smuggler; and I must send this lace on shore. You will
oblige me by putting, it into your pockets, or about your person, and
prepare to go on shore with me. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, you
will deliver it to me, and I then shall re-conduct you on board of the
yacht. You are not the first lady who has gone on shore with contraband
articles about her person."
"Me, sir! Go on shore in that way? No, sir--never! What will the
world say?--the Hon. Miss Ossulton walking with a smuggler! No, sir--
never!"
"Yes, madam; walking arm-in-arm with a smuggler: I shall have you on one
arm, and Mrs Lascelles on the other; and I would advise you to take it
very quietly; for, in the first place, it will be you who smuggle, as
the goods will be found on your person, and you will certainly be put in
prison: for at the least appearance of insubordination, we run and
inform against you; and further, your niece will remain on board as a
hostage for your good behaviour--and if you have any regard for her
liberty, you will consent immediately."
Pickersgill left the cabin, and shortly afterwards Cecilia and Mrs
Lascelles entered, apparently much distressed. They had been informed
of all, and Mrs Lascelles declared, that for her part, sooner than
leave her poor Cecilia to the mercy of such people, she had made up her
mind to submit to the smuggler's demands. Cecilia also begged so
earnestly, that Miss Ossulton, who had no idea that it was a trick, with
much sobbing and blubbering, consented.
When all was ready, Cecilia left the cabin; Pickersgill came down,
handed up the two ladies, who had not exchanged a word with each other
during Cecilia's absence; the boat was ready alongside--they went in,
and pulled on shore. Everything succeeded to the smuggler's
satisfaction. Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm;
and, with Mrs Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel,
followed by four of his boat's crew. As soon as they were shown into a
room, Corbett, who was already on shore, asked for Lord B---, and joined
them. The ladies retired to another apartment, divested themselves of
their contraband goods, and, after calling for some sandwiches and wine,
Pickersgill waited an hour, and then returned on board. Mrs Lascelles
was triumphant; and she rewarded her new ally--the smuggler--with one of
her sweetest smiles. Community of interest will sometimes make strange
friendships.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
CONCLUSION.
We must now return to the other parties who have assisted in the acts of
this little drama. Lord B---, after paddling and paddling, the men
relieving each other, in order to make head against the wind, which was
off shore, arrived about midnight at a small town in West Bay, from
whence he took a chaise on to Portsmouth, taking it for granted that his
yacht would arrive as soon as, if not before himself, little imagining
that it was in possession of the smugglers. There he remained three or
four days, when, becoming impatient, he applied to one of his friends
who had a yacht at Cowes, and sailed with him to look after his own.
We left the _Happy-go-lucky_ chased by the revenue-cutter. At first the
smuggler had the advantage before the wind; but, by degrees, the wind
went round with the sun, and brought the revenue-cutter leeward: it was
then a chase on a wind, and the revenue-cutter came fast up with her.
Morrison, perceiving that he had no chance of escape, let run the ankers
of brandy that he might not be condemned; but still he was in an awkward
situation, as he had more men on board than allowed by Act of
Parliament. He therefore stood on, notwithstanding the shot of the
cutter went over and over him hoping, that a fog or night might enable
him to escape; but he had no such good fortune; one of the shot carried
away the head of his mast, and the _Happy-go-lucky's_ luck was all over.
He was boarded and taken possession of; he asserted that the extra men
were only passengers; but, in the first place, they were dressed in
seamen's clothes; and, in the second, as soon as the boat was aboard of
her, Appleboy had gone down to his gin-toddy, and was not to be
disturbed. The gentlemen smugglers therefore passed an uncomfortable
night; and the cutter going Portland by daylight, before Appleboy was
out of bed, they were taken on shore to the magistrate. Hautaine
explained the whole affair, and they were immediately released and
treated with respect; but they were not permitted to depart until they
were bound over to appear against the smugglers, and prove the brandy
having been on board. They then set off for Portsmouth in the seamen's
clothes, having had quite enough of yachting for that season, Mr
Ossulton declaring that he only wanted to get his luggage, and then he
would take care how he put himself again in the way of the shot of a
revenue cruiser, or of sleeping a night on her decks.
In the mean time Morrison and his men were locked up in the gaol, the
old man, as the key was turned on him, exclaiming, as he raised his foot
in vexation, "That cursed blue pigeon!"
We will now return to the yacht.
About an hour after Pickersgill had come on board, Corbett had made all
his arrangements and followed him. It was not advisable to remain at
Torquay any longer, through fear of discovery; he therefore weighed
anchor before dinner, and made sail.
"What do you intend to do now, my lord?" said Mrs Lascelles.
"I intend to run down to Cowes, anchor the yacht in the night, and an
hour before daylight have you in my boat with all my men. I will take
care that you are in perfect safety, depend upon it, even if I run a
risk. I should, indeed, be miserable, if, through my wild freaks, any
accident should happen to Mrs Lascelles or Miss Ossulton."
"I am very anxious about my father," observed Cecilia. "I trust that
you will keep your promise."
"I always have hitherto, Miss Ossulton; have I not?"
"Ours is but a short and strange acquaintance."
"I grant it; but it will serve for you to talk about long after. I
shall disappear as suddenly as I have come--you will neither of you, in
all probability, ever see me again."
The dinner was announced, and they sat down to table as before; but the
elderly spinster refused to make her appearance, and Mr Lascelles and
Cecilia, who thought she had been frightened enough, did not attempt to
force her. Pickersgill immediately yielded to these remonstrances, and
from that time she remained undisturbed in the ladies' cabin, meditating
over the indignity of having sat down to table, having drank wine, and
been obliged to walk on shore, taking the arm of a smuggler, and appear
in such a humiliating situation.
The wind was light, and they made but little progress, and were not
abreast of Portland till the second day, when another yacht appeared in
sight, and the two vessels slowly neared, until in the afternoon they
were within four miles of each other. It then fell a dead calm: signals
were thrown out by the other yacht, but could not be distinguished, and,
for the last time, they sat down to dinner. Three days' companionship
on board of a vessel, cooped up together, and having no one else to
converse with, will produce intimacy; and Pickersgill was a young man of
so much originality and information, that he was listened to with
pleasure. He never attempted to advance beyond the line of strict
decorum and politeness; and his companion was equally unpresuming.
Situated as they were, and feeling what must have been the case had they
fallen into other hands, both Cecilia and Mrs Lascelles felt some
degree of gratitude towards him; and although anxious to be relieved
from so strange a position, they had gradually acquired a perfect
confidence in him; and this had produced a degree of familiarity on
their parts, although never ventured upon by the smuggler. As Corbett
was at the table, one of the men came down and made a sign. Corbett,
shortly after quitted the table and went on deck. "I wish, my lord, you
would come up a moment, and see if you can make this flag out," said
Corbett, giving a significant nod to Pickersgill. "Excuse me, ladies,
one moment," said Pickersgill, who went on deck.
"It is the boat of the yacht coming on board," said Corbett; "and Lord
B--- is in the stern-sheets with the gentleman who was with him."
"And how many men in the boat?--let me see--only four. Well, let his
lordship and his friend come: when they are on the deck, have the men
ready in case of accident; but if you can manage to tell the boat's crew
that they are to go on board again, and get rid of them that way, so
much the better. Arrange this with Adams, and then come down again--his
lordship must see us all at dinner."
Pickersgill then descended, and Corbett had hardly time to give his
directions and to resume his seat, before his lordship and Mr Stewart
pulled up alongside and jumped on deck. There was no one to receive
them but the seamen, and those whom they did not know. They looked
round in amazement; at last his lordship said to Adams, who stood
forward--"What men are you?"
"Belong to the yacht, ye'r honour."
Lord B--- heard laughing in the cabin; he would not wait to interrogate
the men; he walked aft, followed by Mr Stewart, looked down the
skylight, and perceived his daughter and Mrs Lascelles, with, as he
supposed, Hautaine and Ossulton.
Pickersgill had heard the boat rub the side, and the sound of the feet
on deck, and he talked the more loudly, that the ladies might be caught
by Lord B--- as they were. He heard their feet at the skylight, and
knew that they could hear what passed; and at that moment he proposed to
the ladies that as this was their last meeting at table they should all
take a glass of champagne to drink to "their happy meeting with Lord
B---." This was a toast which they did not refuse. Maddox poured out
the wine, and they were all bowing to each other, when his lordship, who
had come down the ladder, walked into the cabin, followed by Mr
Stewart. Cecilia perceived her father; the champagne-glass dropped from
her hand--she flew into his arms, and burst into tears.
"Who would not be a father, Mrs Lascelles?" said Pickersgill, quietly
seating himself, after having first risen to receive Lord B---.
"And pray, whom may I have the honour of finding established here?" said
Lord B---, in an angry tone, speaking over his daughter's head, who
still lay in his arms. "By heavens, yes!--Stewart, it is the smuggling
captain dressed out."
"Even so, my lord," replied Pickersgill. "You abandoned your yacht to
capture me; you left these ladies in a vessel crippled for want of men;
they might have been lost. I have returned good for evil by coming on
board with my own people, and taking charge of them. This night I
expected to have anchored your vessel in Cowes, and have left them in
safety."
"By the--" cried Stewart.
"Stop, sir, if you please!" cried Pickersgill; "recollect you have once
already attacked one who never offended. Oblige me by refraining from
intemperate language; for I tell you I will not put up with it.
Recollect, sir, that I have refrained from that, and also from taking
advantage of you when you were in my power. Recollect, sir, also, that
the yacht is still in possession of the smugglers, and that you are in
no condition to insult with impunity. My lord, allow me to observe,
that we men are too hot of temperament to argue or listen coolly. With
your permission, your friend, and my friend, and I, will repair on deck,
leaving you to hear from your daughter and that lady all that has
passed. After that, my lord, I shall be most happy to hear anything
which your lordship may please to say."
"Upon my word--" commenced Mr Stewart.
"Mr Stewart," interrupted Cecilia Ossulton, "I request your silence;
nay, more, if ever we are again to sail in the same vessel together, I
_insist_ upon it."
"Your lordship will oblige me by enforcing Miss Ossulton's request,"
said Mrs Lascelles.
Mr Stewart was dumbfounded--no wonder--to find the ladies siding with
the smuggler.
"I am obliged to you, ladies, for your interference," said Pickersgill;
"for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should be
sorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply."
Lord B--- was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he
bowed with _hauteur_. Everybody appeared to be in a false position;
even he, Lord B---, somehow or another had bowed to a smuggler.
Pickersgill and Stewart went on deck, walking up and down, crossing each
other without speaking, but reminding you of two dogs who are both
anxious to fight, but have been restrained by the voice of their
masters. Corbett followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill;
Stewart went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside, but
it had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton had heard her
brother's voice, but did not come out of the after-cabin; she wished to
be magnificent, and at the same time she was not sure whether all was
right, Phoebe having informed her that there was nobody with her brother
and Mr Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command of the
vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went down forward, and
returned dressed in the smugglers' clothes, when they resumed their walk
on deck.
In the mean time it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast, and the
Needles' lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between
Cecilia, Mrs Lascelles, and her father, was long. When all had been
detailed, and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord
B--- acknowledged that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself
open to retaliation; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of
forbearance in every instance; and after all, had he not gone on board
the yacht, she might have been lost, with only three seamen on board.
He was amused with the smuggling and the fright of his sister, still
more with the gentlemen being sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that
he was not the only one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with
Pickersgill's intention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes harbour, his
respect for the property on board, and his conduct to the ladies. On
the whole, he felt grateful to Pickersgill, and where there is gratitude
there is always good will.
"But who can he be?" said Mrs Lascelles; "his name he acknowledges not
to be Pickersgill, and he told me confidentially that he was of good
family."
"Confidentially, my dear Mrs Lascelles!" said Lord B---.
"Oh, yes! We are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?"
"Upon my honour, Mrs Lascelles, this smuggler appears to have made an
impression which many have attempted in vain."
Mrs Lascelles did not reply to the remark, but said, "Now, my lord, you
must decide--and I trust you will, to oblige us; treat him as he has
treated us, with the greatest respect and kindness."
"Why should you suppose otherwise?" replied Lord B---; "it is not only
my wish but my interest so to do. He may take us over to France
to-night, or anywhere else. Has he not possession of the vessel?"
"Yes," replied Cecilia; "but we flatter ourselves that we have _the
command_. Shall we call him down, papa?"
"Ring for Maddox. Maddox, tell Mr Pickersgill, who is on deck, that I
wish to speak with him, and shall be obliged by his stepping down into
the cabin."
"Who, my lord? What? _Him_?"
"Yes; _him_," replied Cecilia, laughing.
"Must I call him my lord, now, miss?"
"You may do as you please, Maddox; but recollect he is still in
possession of the vessel," replied Cecilia.
"Then, with your lordship's permission, I will; it's the safest way."
The smuggler entered the cabin, the ladies started as he appeared in his
rough costume. With his throat open, and his loose black handkerchief,
he was the _beau ideal_ of a handsome sailor.
"Your lordship wishes to communicate with me?"
"Mr Pickersgill, I feel that you have had cause of enmity against me,
and that you have behaved with forbearance. I thank you for your
considerate treatment of the ladies; and I assure you, that I feel no
resentment for what has passed."
"My lord, I am quite satisfied with what you have said; and I only hope
that, in future, you will not interfere with a poor smuggler, who may be
striving, by a life of danger and privation, to procure subsistence for
himself, and, perhaps, his family. I stated to these ladies my
intention of anchoring the yacht this night at Cowes, and leaving her as
soon as she was in safety. Your unexpected presence will only make this
difference, which is, that I must previously obtain your lordship's
assurance that those with you will allow me and my men to quit her
without molestation, after we have performed this service."
"I pledge you my word, Mr Pickersgill, and thank you into the bargain.
I trust you will allow me to offer some remuneration."
"Most certainly not, my lord."
"At all events, Mr Pickersgill, if, at any other time, I can be of
service, you may command me."
Pickersgill made no reply.
"Surely, Mr Pickersgill--"
"Pickersgill! How I hate that name!" said the smuggler, musing. "I beg
your lordship's pardon--If I may require your assistance for any of my
unfortunate companions--"
"Not for yourself, Mr Pickersgill?" said Mrs Lascelles.
"Madam, I smuggle no more."
"For the pleasure I feel in hearing that resolution, Mr Pickersgill,"
said Cecilia, "take my hand and thanks."
"And mine," said Mrs Lascelles, half crying.
"And mine, too," said Lord B---, rising up.
Pickersgill passed the back of his hand across his eyes, turned round,
and left the cabin.
"I'm so happy!" said Mrs Lascelles, bursting into tears.
"He's a magnificent fellow," observed Lord B---. "Come, let us all go
on deck."
"You have not seen my aunt, papa."
"True; I'll go in to her, and then follow you."
The ladies went upon deck. Cecilia entered into conversation with Mr
Stewart, giving him a narrative of what had happened. Mrs Lascelles
sat abaft at the taffrail, with her pretty hand supporting her cheek,
looking very much _a la Juliette_.
"Mrs Lascelles," said Pickersgill, "before we part, allow me to
observe, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give up my
profession--"
"Why me, Mr Pickersgill?"
"You said that you did not like it."
Mrs Lascelles felt the force of the compliment.
"You said just now that you hated the name of Pickersgill: why do you
call yourself so?"
"It was my smuggling name, Mrs Lascelles."
"And now that you have left off smuggling, pray what may be the name we
are to call you by?"
"I cannot resume it till I have not only left this vessel, but shaken
hands with, and bid farewell to my companions; and by that time, Mrs
Lascelles, I shall be away from you."
"But I've a great curiosity to know it; and a lady's curiosity must be
gratified. You must call upon me some day, and tell it me. Here is my
address."
Pickersgill received the card with a low bow: and Lord B--- coming on
deck, Mrs Lascelles hastened to meet him.
The vessel was now passing the Bridge at the Needles, and the smuggler
piloted her on. As soon as they were clear and well inside, the whole
party went down into the cabin, Lord B--- requesting Pickersgill and
Corbett to join him in a parting glass. Mr Stewart, who had received
the account of what had passed from Cecilia, was very attentive to
Pickersgill and took an opportunity of saying that he was sorry that he
had said or done anything to annoy him. Every one recovered his
spirits: and all was good humour and mirth, because Miss Ossulton
adhered her resolution of not quitting the cabin till she could quit the
yacht. At ten o'clock the yacht was anchored. Pickersgill took his
leave of the honourable company and went in his boat with his men; and
Lord B--- was again in possession of his vessel, although he had not
ship's company. Maddox recovered his usual tone; and the cook
flourished his knife, swearing that he should like to see the smuggler
who would again order him to dress cutlets _a l'ombre Chinoise_.
The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B--- received a
letter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of his vessel had been
captured, and would be condemned, in consequence of their having the
gentlemen on board, who were bound to appear against them, to prove that
they had sunk the brandy. Lord B--- paid all the recognisances, and the
men were liberated for want of evidence.
It was about two years after this that Cecilia Ossulton, who was sitting
at her work-table in deep mourning for her aunt, was presented with a
letter by the butler. It was from her friend Mrs Lascelles, informing
her that she was married again to a Mr Davenant, and intended to pay
her, a short visit on her way to the Continent. Mr and Mrs Davenant
arrived the next day; and when the latter introduced her husband, she
said to Miss Ossulton, "Look, Cecilia, dear, and tell me if you have
ever seen Davenant before."
Cecilia looked earnestly: "I have, indeed," cried she at last, extending
her hand with warmth; "and happy am I to meet with him again."
For in Mr Davenant she recognised her old acquaintance the captain of
the _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill the smuggler.
THE END.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Three Cutters, by Captain Frederick Marryat