After I had thus swooned away, which happened both from the fever of my
wound and the loss of blood, there followed a long time during which
everything was confused and dream-like. I may call to mind what seemed
to me a great and toilsome journey, but so commingled with the visions
of my fever that I knew not whether it had taken hours, days, or weeks,
and of which I may remember almost nothing. After that I have a memory
of tossing upon a pallet which was both rough and hard, of a darkened
and silent room, and of people coming and going and talking in whispers.
Then one morning I awoke as though from a deep sleep, and felt that the
heat of the fever had left me, though mightily weak and weary. This
awakening must have happened betwixt four and five o'clock in the
morning, for the mat which hung at the door had been raised, and a cool
and refreshing breeze swept through the mud hut.
I lay for a long time looking out of the door towards which my couch was
facing, and through which I could see hillocks of gray sand intermingled
with rich and luxuriant vegetation; beyond, the rim of the ocean
stretched like a black thread against the gray sky. I gave no thought to
anything, but lay quite still, feeling mighty peaceful and quiet.
By-and-by I turned mine eyes and saw that some one sat beside me, and
that it was Mr. White. He did not see that I was observing him, but sat
reading his Bible, for he was a young man of great earnestness of
spirit. The sight of him brought first one thing and then another back
to my memory, until the whole was complete as I have told it.
"Mr. White," said I. I spoke very quietly, but he could not have started
more violently had a clap of thunder sounded from the sky. He came
straight to me, and laid his hand upon my forehead. "Yes," said I,
making shift to smile, "the fever has left me now; and will you tell me
where I am?"
"Sir," says he, "you are safe, and in the king's town; and now I will go
and tell the surgeon of the bettering of your condition." So saying he
left me, and Mr. Greenacre, the surgeon, presently came to me. He told
me that all hands had been brought safe to the king's town; that I might
set my mind at rest both regarding the passengers and the crew; and that
I must not now talk further, but should seek to rest myself, which was
very necessary for me to do in my present condition. Nor was I inclined
to disobey this command, but presently closed mine eyes and fell into a
most refreshing slumber, from which I did not awake until nigh sunset,
when I found that Mr. White was once more beside me. When he saw that I
was awake he made as if he would again go and call the surgeon, but I
stopped him from doing as he intended.
"Stay, Mr. White," said I. "I should like now to know something more of
what has happened. How long have I been lying in this condition?"
"About six days, sir," said he. And then, in a trembling voice, "Oh,
Captain Mackra, can you forgive me for the injury I have done?"
"Why, sir," said I, "I have nothing to forgive, nor have you done
anything for which to beseech forgiveness. What you did you did with the
best intent; nor can I blame you for being so deceived by such a wicked
and cunning villain as Captain Leach. And now tell me, what news is
there of the pirates?" To this he answered that they were still lying at
anchor in the bay on the east side of the island, repairing the damages
which we had wrought; that the chief or them was one Edward England, a
fellow of great note among these wicked villains; that they had been so
enraged at that bloody fight, which had cost them so dear, that they had
set a reward of two thousand pounds upon my head; and that the king of
the island had offered us his protection, and had undertaken to guard us
securely from any attack the pirates might be inclined to make against
us. But, nevertheless, lest any of the natives should be of a mind to
betray me for this great and magnificent reward, it had been deemed best
that it should be reported that I had been killed in the late
engagement.
After having recounted these things as briefly as possible, Mr. White
again went in search of the surgeon, who soon came, and put a very
cheerful face upon my case, which he said was now without doubt upon the
mend.
After having eaten a very hearty supper of rich and savory broth, I was
so far refreshed as to be able to receive some few who particularly
desired to have speech with me, and who were presently ushered in by
Mr. Greenacre.
The first to come was my former acquaintance, Mr. Longways, the
Company's agent, and with him a great tall native chief, who had rather
the appearance of a Malay than an African negro, and who was none other
than King Kulakula himself. With these two came a black interpreter from
Mozambique, for King Coffee could not speak one single word of English,
but only a little Dutch, which he had picked up from the traders along
the coast.
After them came the two ladies, escorted by Mr. Langely, who had now so
far recovered from his wound as to be able to be about with ease,
although he still carried his arm in a sling.
Mrs. Evans, when she saw me, gushed into tears, but Mistress Pamela came
straight to me, took my hand, and set it to her lips, though I strove my
best to stay her from doing so. "Sir," said she, "what do we not owe to
our brave preserver, who hath brought us safe through all this great
trouble!"
"No, madam," cried I, hastily, for I could not bear that she should lay
credit to me, who had so little earned it, seeing how helpless I had
been in bringing them safe off from the _Cassandra_--"no, madam, give no
credit to me; give it first of all to God, and then to Mr. Langely, who,
though so sorely wounded, brought you, I understand, safe through the
wilderness to this place."
After they had so spoken, comes King Kulakula forward with the
interpreter, and through the black man expressed many kind and
condescending wishes for the continued bettering of my condition. He
furthermore gave me every assurance that we should all be protected from
our enemies so long as we chose to remain at that place.
After a little while my visitors left me, except Mr. Longways, who, by
permission of the surgeon, remained behind to exchange a few words with
me. I then observed for the first time how sadly different he was in his
appearance from what he had been; for the jauntiness of his carriage was
gone, and he looked mightily perturbed in his spirits.
So soon as he had made sure that no one was by to overhear us, he began
without preface to talk about the Rose of Paradise, saying that Mr.
White had told him that it had been lost, and also some details of the
matter; that that loss meant ruin to him, who could say no word in his
own defence excepting by letter, while I had every opportunity of
stating my case in my own fashion to the East India Company when I
should come home, and so clear myself and leave him in the mire. But in
spite of that it was his opinion that even I, with all these advantages
in my favor, would have great trouble in making matters straight; for
the loss of three hundred thousand pounds, besides my ship and cargo,
was a thing that was not likely to be passed over very lightly. I could
hardly forbear smiling at this discourse, although it was of such a
serious nature, for it seemed very strange to me that Mr. Longways
should so readily suspect me of being disposed to ruin him.
"Sir," said I, "I know not what you would do in such a case as this, but
I tell you plain that if I am compelled to make an unfortunate report to
the East India Company, I will make it without blaming you or myself or
any one, but simply tell the truth, and so let them adjudge the matter
as they see fit."
"That is it, sir," cried he--"that is it, sir. If the Company are
informed that I betrayed this important secret to Captain Leach, I'll
have to whistle for it a long time out in the cold before I get a snug
berth with them again."
"I am mightily sorry for you," said I, gravely. "But of course, sir,
that is a matter concerning which you alone are responsible.
Nevertheless, I must tell you that I am not inclined to leave this
place without endeavoring to recover that which has been so
unfortunately lost."
"What, sir!" he cried; "do you mean to say that you will undertake to
recover the Rose of Paradise again? And how do you purpose doing it, may
I ask?"
"You may ask, sir," says I, smiling; "but as for my telling you, why,
that is a very different matter."
Yet I had determined upon one point almost as soon as Mr. White had
informed me who was the pirate captain into whose hands the _Cassandra_
had fallen, and that was to go aboard of the pirate craft, and to speak
with Captain Edward England himself. I had known him before he had
entered into the nefarious life which he now followed, and while he was
still first mate of the _Lady Alice_. I was then with Captain Wraxel in
the West Indies, and had met England at Kingston, in the island of
Jamaica, upon which occasion he had appeared to conceive quite a liking
for me, though I cannot say it was returned in kind. I knew him as a
wild and reckless blade, but neither blood-thirsty nor cruel, and making
every allowance for the change in his nature which this wicked life
might effect, I did not believe that injury would happen to me if I
could once gain his promise of safety in visiting his ship.
As for the jewel, I did not believe that Captain Leach would disclose
the secret of it without he had been compelled to do so; wherefore, if
he had it still in his own keeping, I entertained a hope that I might by
some trick or other snatch the precious stone away from him again. In
that event I did not believe he would say anything, for fear that the
pirates might punish him for keeping it a secret from them.
But although I could perceive, as Mr. Longways had said, that it was of
great importance both to his future and mine own that the Rose of
Paradise should be regained, I ventured my life not so much in the hope
of obtaining the stone as of procuring some means by which all hands
might be able to quit the island; for we--and more especially the
women--could not but be in constant danger from the bloody wretches
thirsting for revenge on account of the check which we of the
_Cassandra_ had lately put upon them. Wherefore I thought it best that I
should boldly visit the pirate captain, for I had great hopes of being
able to persuade him to allow us to escape, and even of procuring from
him some means to that end.
In any case, the venture could not but be of advantage to us, for even
if I should perish, their revenge might thereby be satisfied, and they
might depart without molesting the rest of the ship's company, for they
were pleased to regard me as the chief cause of all their mishaps in the
late engagement.
Before I dared venture aboard the pirate craft it was necessary that I
should first write a letter to the captain, and also that I should have
a trustworthy person to convey my communication to him; nor did I give
two thoughts to this matter, for common justice pointed to Mr. White as
the only fitting one to be my messenger; accordingly I sent for him, and
he soon came. I told him that I desired to open communication with the
pirate captain upon a matter of great importance, and that I gave him
this opportunity towards redeeming his self-respect by conveying my
message to Captain England. Nor have I ever seen a man more grateful
than Mr. White upon this occasion; two or three times he strove to
speak, and when he did contrive to do so it was only simply to say,
"Sir, I thank you."
The surgeon having given me permission, I wrote my letter, and Mr. White
took it that very night, having no companion with him but two natives
who acted as guides. I have a copy of the letter, made at the time,
which runs as follows:
_"To Captain Edward England:_
_"Sir,--I write you this in a most forlorn and distressing situation._
_"Having defended ourselves, our ship, and those intrusted to our
keeping, from you, who sought to encompass our destruction by all means
in your power, we now find ourselves reduced to the necessity of
imploring aid from you, who so lately sought our lives. Nor would we
even yet ask anything from you were it not for three poor and helpless
women, whose safety here is a matter of uncertainty from day to day, and
who, without aid is extended to them, may perish miserably in this
desolate and savage land._
_"Sir, though a wild and ungoverned nature, I never knew you to be a
cruel man; therefore I ask this aid of you for the sake of these three
women._
_"Furthermore, I ask that you do not hastily refuse this plea for aid,
but may allow me to come aboard of your craft and speak to you in
person._
_"I know that there is with you one who is mine enemy, because of a great
injury which he hath done me, and who will no doubt conspire against my
life--I mean Captain Leach, lately one of my passengers, and who, I
suspect, along with others, betrayed us into your hands. But although I
believe he would seek my life, yet I am willing to trust it into your
hands if you will promise me safety in my coming and my going._
_"Sir, I beseech you to grant me this speech with you, that I may plead
the cause of the weak and helpless, and am, sir,_
_"Your very obedient and humble servant,_
"John Mackra."