HENRY CASALLE ALSO HEARS GOOD NEWS
No one slept much that night in that happy household, for the news of
Tom's escape had spread like wildfire among the townspeople of the
quaint old port, and until long past midnight there were many callers,
some coming on foot and some on horseback. Most of them were men and
women who had known Tom since his infancy, and who had felt a deep and
sincere sympathy for his father in the time of his affliction. And all
were welcome.
Mr. Wallis, being a shrewd man, was at first rather concerned that the
servants had already made it known that their visitor was a brother of
Captain Casalle; but it was now too late to remedy the matter. On
second thoughts, however, he felt sure that there was no danger to his
guest at Port Kooringa, the people of which hardly knew that there was
such a place as New Caledonia, and that sometimes convicts escaped from
there to Australia. In Sydney, there would be some danger of Henry
Casalle being recognized and recaptured, and sent back to a life of
misery. This, however, was a matter to which he would attend; and
indeed he had already outlined his plans to his guest.
It was nearly dawn before the last of the visitors had left, and then
Mr. Wallis, his son, and Henry Casalle went out upon the verandah facing
the sea, and had a quiet talk.
Cheerfully as he had spoken to Jack at dinner about the surety of Tom's
return, Mr. Wallis was secretly anxious. As far as he could glean from
the letter brought by Casalle, the Lady Alicia was returning to Sydney
as soon as she had discharged her cargo at Noumea, but there was a
possibility of Tom obtaining an earlier passage to Australia by the
Virago. But the Lady Alicia should have been back in Sydney two months
ago! What could have happened to her? he thought.
He decided to go to Sydney as quickly as possible, and announced his
determination to Jack and Henry Casalle.
'We shall go to Sydney, Mr. Casalle--you, Jack, Nita, and I--and wait
for your brother and the Malolo, and Tom and the Lady Alicia. I could
not bear to remain here in suspense. The William the Fourth leaves
to-night at six. Let us make our preparations at once.'
That evening, as the old Puffing Billy, as she was nicknamed, floundered
and gasped and rolled sponsons under against the sweeping seas of the
bar, and her long thin funnel sent up clouds of black smoke, Jack, his
father, and Casalle waved their hands in farewell to old Foster and
Kate, who, with the rest of the servants, were standing on the bluff to
watch the steamer pass out. Little Nita was below with her maid--one of
the stockmen's daughters.
Early one morning, after a tedious passage of nine days along the coast,
Jack came on deck, and saw right ahead the bold outline of the North
Head of Sydney, and in another hour the little steamer, which always
seemed to be at her last gasp when there was the least sea on, groaned
her way through the noble entrance into fair Sydney Harbour. The
captain, a rough old sea dog, something after the style of old Sam
Hawkins, beckoned to Jack to come up on the bridge, where he was soon
joined by his father, both being anxious to see what men-of-war were
lying in Farm Cove.
In half an hour they were abreast of the Cove, which lay embosomed in
the vivid green of the loveliest gardens in the southern hemisphere, and
presently Jack uttered a shout as several men-of-war were seen--one of
which was a paddle-wheel barque-rigged steamer.
'That's the Virago, father. I've seen her twice passing Port Kooringa.'
'Ay, ay, that's her, Mr. Wallis,' said the captain. 'She ain't much to
look at, neither. If I was to give the old Billy's funnel a coat o'
yellow wash, she'd be just as good-looking.'
Hailing a passing schooner, the captain inquired how long the Virago had
been in port.
'Three days about.'
'Has the Lady Alicia arrived?'
The master of the schooner shook his head.
'Haven't heard of her, and haven't seen her. She always lies at
Cuthbert's slip up here in Darling Harbour. She's expected, I know.'
'Well, we shall soon know if Tom came in the Virago, anyway,' said Mr.
Wallis, as the William the Fourth rounded Miller's Point, and headed for
her wharf; 'we'll drive to Biffen and Chard's as quick as a hansom can
take us.'
As soon as the steamer was made fast, Mr. Wallis told Casalle--who had
made some very judicious changes in his personal appearance, changes
which made him appear ten or a dozen years younger--to go to Petty's
Hotel and await him there; and then he and Tom jumped into a hansom and
drove to his agent's office in Pitt Street.
The moment he gave his name to one of the clerks, a big, stout man with
a round red face, merged into one vast smile, rushed out of an office
marked 'private' and seizing his hand, wrung it with such vigour that
Mr. Wallis fairly winced.
'My dear Mr. Wallis,' he said, almost dragging his visitor into his
room, 'what a happy meeting! I've glorious, glorious news for you! Your
son Tom----'
'I know, my dear Biffen. Tom is alive. Is he here?'
The big man gasped in astonishment. 'Here! No, of course he's not here;
but how did you----'
'I know that he was picked up by the Lady Alicia, and he sent me a
letter _via_ Queensland, saying that it was possible he might get a
passage to Sydney in the Virago from Noumea.'
'Well, the Virago has arrived, and has brought you another letter from
him. Here it is; but before you read it let me tell you that the first
lieutenant brought it here himself. He told me that your boy was
looking splendid. You must go and see him.'
Mr. Wallis nodded. 'Of course I shall, at once. Now let me see what Tom
says.'
Mr. Biffen went and left Jack and his father together.
This letter of Tom's was a very much longer one than that from Wreck
Reef, and gave a detailed account of his adventures, from the time he
lit the fire on Misty Head to his arrival at Noumea. 'I do so hope,' he
went on to say, 'that the letter I sent you from Wreck Reef has long
since reached you. The person to whom it was given pledged his solemn
word of honour to Captain Hawkins that it would reach you safely. There
is no harm now in my telling you that he and his companions were escaped
convicts from New Caledonia. I often think of them, and wonder if they
reached the mainland without much hardship. I do really love old
Captain Hawkins for being so good to those poor wretches, and when you
meet him I am sure you will like him too, and so will Jack. Dear old
Jack, with his solemn old face! Oh, how I wish I could see into the
room at Port Kooringa--that is, if you have received my letter from
Wreck Reef, for then I know you would feel happy, and would perhaps be
talking about me. Sometimes, after I began to get better, I would think
so much of you by day, and dream of you all at night, that I could not
stand it, and would sneak out of the cabin, and go up into the fore-top,
where I could have a quiet blubber to myself.
'Mr. Collier, the chief mate, is just as kind to me as Captain Hawkins.
He is a very religious man, and such a gentleman, and Captain Hawkins
says that a better seaman never trod a deck. We often have long talks,
for I always stand out the watch with him. The captain himself is the
dearest old fellow in the world. Sometimes he swears horribly at the
men, and threatens them with the most awful punishments, and they only
wink at each other, and don't take the least notice of him, for he has
the kindest heart of any man living. He is so proud of his ship, and of
the way in which he dresses when he goes ashore--top-hat, frock-coat,
gloves, walking-stick, and a watch-chain like a chain cable. This
morning he has gone to call on the Governor, and he was half an hour
deciding whether he would wear a green satin tie or a scarlet one, with
a tiger's claw for a pin. He called Mr. Collier and me into his cabin
to decide for him. We said green. It makes such a contrast to his
fiery red face and white hair. 'There is a Maori half-caste on board
named Chester. He and I are great friends. Captain Hawkins says that
he (Chester) could be hobnobbing with dukes and duchesses in London if
he had a mind to, as he can knock out any "pug." in the world in four
rounds. Mr. Collier is teaching me navigation. I quite forgot to
mention that the man who took my letter from Wreck Reef looked just like
that shipwrecked captain who came to Port Kooringa that day. I often
wonder what became of him and all his men, and whether that poor little
girl lived or died. She looked just like a starved monkey. But I shall
hear all about it when I come back. I am not very sorry that the Virago
is not returning to Sydney before the Lady Alicia, as, although Captain
Byng would give me a passage, I would rather stay with Captain Hawkins.
Now good-bye for the present.'
The next portion was written very hurriedly:--'My dear father and Jack.
Such news! The Governor has chartered the Lady Alicia to go in search
of a missing French transport--the Marengo. We are to search the islands
to the northward, and leave as quickly as possible. Of course I am very
sorry that it will now be perhaps four or five months more before I see
you; but you will know that I am all right, and of course I feel very
excited at going on such a cruise. Captain Hawkins, too, is very
pleased, and I believe will make a lot of money out of it. He has such
a funny way of making long speeches and never stopping for a second, so
that you never _can_ understand what he means. About an hour ago he
called the hands aft and said, "My lads me and this ship has the honour
of being employed by the Governor of this Colony to institoot a search
for a missing ship whose whereabouts is secluded in mystery you stand by
me and do your dooty like men and preserve decority inasmuch as there is
a naval officer coming aboard and if I see any man spitting on the deck
or smoking at the wheel he will get such a lift under the ear that his
own mother won't know him again and if we find this ship I will give
every one of you a five-pound note so go for'ard again and study out
this revelation."
'And now, my dear father, good-bye! You will not hear from me again
until you see me come tearing up over the hill from the town. Give my
love to Foster, and Kate, and Mrs. Potter, and Wellington, and all the
hands. I hope poor Peter was not burnt up in that awful fire. When I
last saw him he was running up and down on the beach, with the reins
hanging down, looking for me. And please tell old Foster that the Lady
Alicia has single rolling topsails like Uncle Hemsley's brig in the
picture over the mantel, and also tell him that I can furl the fore
royal by myself; Captain Hawkins says I manage it "with mendicity and
ability not to be aversed or commented on by the most improper mind."
Oh, I shall have such a lot of things to tell you about him, and the
extraordinary words he uses!
'The other day, one of our native sailors met with a rather bad
accident--smashed his big toe--and Captain Hawkins made me write a note
to the doctor of the Virago, asking him to come on board, as one of his
men "was suffering from a fragmentary pediment which was in a state of
collusion and might suborn tettans or some corresponding aliment."
Good-bye once more, dear dad!'
Intensely disappointed as he was at the prospect of Tom not returning
for so many months, Mr. Wallis could not help laughing at his
description of old Sam. Presently Mr. Biffen returned, and Mr. Wallis
read the letter to him.
'Well, your boy is in good hands, Wallis. Old Hawkins is a sterling old
fellow, in spite of his many absurdities, and if the lad has any
inclination for a sea life he could not be with a better man. Oh, by
the way, you received a letter from Casalle, didn't you? I sent one on
to you.'
'Yes; and as he told me he expected to be in Sydney in a month after it
reached me, I mean to wait here for him. I have brought his little girl
up with me. Possibly the Lady Alicia may soon follow. Anyway, I shall
of course wait for her arrival as well.'
'Why not go on board the Virago and see Captain Byng? He can give you a
good idea of how long the Lady Alicia is likely to be. I'm sure that
both he and the first lieutenant will be delighted to see you; they'll
have a lot to tell you about Tom.'
Thanking Mr. Biffen, and promising to call again later on in the day,
Mr. Wallis and Jack rose.
'Casalle tells me in his letter to me that the Malolo is a heeler,' said
the merchant (he and his partner had transacted the business of buying
her for Captain Casalle), 'and that he expects to repay you about
thirteen hundred pounds after selling his cargo.'
Mr. Wallis smiled pleasantly and shook hands with his agent. 'I'm glad
he likes his new ship, Biffen. He is a good fellow, I'm sure.' The
repayment of thirteen hundred pounds was a matter of no moment to him at
such a time, when his thoughts were full of Tom.
Driving up to Petty's Hotel, he and Jack lunched with Henry Casalle and
little Nita, and then father and son walked down to the Circular Quay
and took a waterman's boat for the Virago.
Captain Byng happened to be on board, and greeted them most warmly,
answered all their inquiries about Tom, told them all he knew of the
mission on which the Lady Alicia had been sent, and said that he
certainly thought she should be in Sydney in a few weeks, whether she
had discovered the Marengo or not. Then followed a long talk, in the
course of which Mr. Wallis mentioned the fact of his having received a
letter from Tom by a somewhat unusual source. 'It was written at Wreck
Reef,' he said, 'but only reached me ten days ago.'
The naval officer's face lit up. 'Of course, of course, I know all
about it. That amusing old fellow, Hawkins, as well as Tom, gave me an
account of the party of gentlemen they met there; and now I've something
interesting to tell you. But tell me, do you know where to find the poor
fellow who was their leader?'
'He is here in Sydney--with me. I am interested in the man. I believe
him to be innocent of the crime.'
The commander jumped up from his chair and went to the cabin door.
'Ask Mr. Perry to come to me at once,' he said to his steward.
Mr. Perry, the second lieutenant, at once made his appearance.
'Perry, this is Mr. Wallis and his son. I want you to tell them what it
was the Governor at Noumea said about the party of convicts who escaped
a few weeks before the Lady Alicia arrived.'
'He said that the Cyclope had brought a pardon for one of them, an
American named Castelle or Casalle, or some name like that, and that he
hoped that he at least would reach Australia safely. It seems that
something came to light in France which clearly proved his innocence.'
An exclamation of delight broke from Mr. Wallis, who could not now
refrain from telling the sympathetic Byng both the story of Henry
Casalle, and that of his brother Ramon.
'Well, I'm heartily glad. 'Twill be a happy meeting for them. No doubt
the French Consul here has received advices from the Governor on the
subject; but at the same time I should strongly advise your friend not
to go near him; the chances are that the Consul would apply to the
authorities here for extradition papers, and get the poor fellow sent
back to Noumea, in order to be told he was innocent. Then the beggars
there would most likely give him seven years' detention for running away
"while under sentence." That's the French style. He's safe enough now
anywhere in the colonies, and I'll use my influence with the Governor at
Noumea, when I am there next month, to have the pardon sent on here.'
Mr. Wallis expressed his thanks, and then only remaining a few minutes
longer--so eager was he to tell the good news to Casalle--he and Jack
shook hands with Captain Byng, and hurried ashore.
Casalle and little Nita were seated on the wide verandah of the hotel,
awaiting their return, when father and son dashed up in a cab. Jack's
excited face told Casalle that something unusual had occurred.
'Casalle,' said Mr. Wallis, with his grave, kindly smile, as he grasped
the ex-convict's hand, 'you were the bearer of happy tidings to me, and
now I have good news to tell _you_.'
'Your son Tom----'
'No, my dear fellow, nothing about my boy--but good news for you. The
captain of the Virago has just told me that you have been pardoned. Your
innocence has been proved. This he heard from the Governor of New
Caledonia only a few weeks after you escaped. Come, let us go inside,
and I will tell you all about it. Come, Nita, little one. This is a
happy day for us all.'
Regardless of the people who were sitting about, Henry Casalle leapt to
his feet, his dark eyes shining with great joy. Then they filled with
tears.
'God is good to me, and I thought He had deserted me! The world is
bright to me again.'
Then entering a quiet room he knelt down and buried his face in his
hands, as Mr. Wallis led Nita away.