By this time the potency of their morning beverage began to betray
itself. The merchant, no longer irresolute, put on the air of a
determined man, ready to do the utmost bidding of his covetous
spirit. And the captain, no longer calm and self-controlled, grew
self-complacent, and, in the pride of his heart, felt brave and true
enough to do anything.
'Kegs!' replied the governor; 'no. The last was a poor speculation,
and Lundy Cave is gorged enough by this time. I'm for a short cut,
Mr. Stauncy, a short cut; and, if I can only get a bold heart to help
me, I'll go through with it.'
'Here you are then!' exclaimed the captain. 'A bold heart? It isn't
much _I_ fear. I should like to see what I wouldn't face. Why, I
once ran for the bar with a king's ship at my heels, when it was
blowing a gale of wind, and hardly half-tide on; when the bay was
like a boiling caldron, and every wave sprinkled our topmast-head.
Twice we were on our beam ends; and, as we neared the South Tail, a
huge sea struck us, which cleaned our deck and carried away the
rudder, leaving us to the mercy of the surge, which roared and hissed
as it leapt around such daring prey. My heart feared nothing,
however, and, by manoeuvring with the sails, we got safely through
it, and reached the Pool. Then there was that affair in Cawsand Bay,
when Heard, the vagabond, betrayed me, and I was taken on board the
three-decker'--
'Say no more, Stauncy,' responded the merchant, interrupting him.
'You have a heart bold enough, I know; but the courage you are
thinking of is not exactly what I want just now. There are plenty
who could be cool and resolute under such circumstances; but show me
the man whose conscience is not governed by human laws, but by human
rights; who, with such a conscience, can face the shame which the
violation of those laws may incur. Show me the man who, in a land
where poverty is a crime and wealth a virtue, and where imposts are
so levied as to oppress the class least able to bear them, has spirit
enough to give the revenue the go-by rather than slave on, without
the chance of doing what his heart tells him he ought to do, for
himself and family.'
'Ay, ay, sir,' said the captain, wondering at the merchant's
earnestness, and little suspecting his base design in giving
utterance to such atrocious sentiments; 'our circumstances, you mean,
must determine our duties, and not our one-sided laws. I should
think I've courage enough to follow out that creed any day.'
'I believe it, captain, and I'll put you to the proof now: help
yourself.' Then, rising from his chair and pacing the room, he
continued, 'The worst of a thing does not always appear at the first;
but my scheme has this advantage, that you can see all its darkness,
if there be any, at once. I want to improve the state of my pocket,
and of yours too, Stauncy, and nothing can be easier. The way of it
is'--And then, approaching close to the captain, he whispered for a
few moments in his ear.
The seaman compressed his lips and was silent, whilst the merchant
continued to pace the room, ejaculating occasionally to himself, and
waiting until his victim had taken in the idea.
[Illustration: 'FIFTY POUNDS, AND THE QUARTER-DECK OF THE "ARIADNE."']
'Fifty pounds, Stauncy!' he at length exclaimed; for he began to fear
lest the captain's heart was misgiving him, and promptly stated a sum
about which he had long haggled with himself an hour or so
before,--'fifty pounds and the quarter-deck of the Ariadne when she
is launched. A mushroom like that is not kicked up every day.'
'The money is tempting, Mr. Phillipson, but the scheme is new. I
don't see any bravery in it either.'
'The less the bravery the less the risk, captain; and let the waves
cast up what they may against smugglers, they will never tell tales
after such a pretty funeral.'
'Not likely, sir, not likely. Fifty pounds, you said, Mr.
Phillipson? Well, I don't see why I shouldn't do as I'm bid, and ask
no questions. Pay me down the money, and I'm at your service.'
'I said,' observed the merchant, 'that the less the bravery the less
the risk; but you must remember that in my case the risk is
considerable. I put myself completely into your hands, and must
therefore secure myself by a pledge from you, if I secure you by
paying down the money.'
'What pledge do you want, sir?' said Stauncy, colouring, and looking
displeased. 'One halter has been about our necks for many years, and
I'm not the man to slip it, unless we can slip it together. Do you
think I shall turn king's evidence?'
'No fear of that,' said Mr. Phillipson blandly. 'I'm as sure of you
as I am of myself. All I want you to do is, to promise that my name
shall never be mentioned in the matter, come what may.'
'Granted,' said the captain; 'I promise.'
'Stop, stop!' exclaimed the merchant hurriedly; 'let us do it
regular--and make it what it ought to be.'
'Anything you like,' responded the captain. 'What I say I mean.
I'll pledge my life if you will.' And then, by a solemn vow, the
blinded and seduced sailor bound himself never to divulge the name of
his tempter, imprecating fearful judgments on himself if he violated
his promise.
'I am satisfied,' said the merchant. 'Here's the money, Stauncy; and
now all you have to do is to whistle for a breeze.'
A gust of wind that moment rushing through the passage shrieked into
the keyhole. The fire cracked and flared with intense excitement.
The merchant's dog, which had lain quietly under the table, gave one
short bark and one long howl; and so they separated.