THE PIRATE
PUNCTUALLY at eleven, Captain Charlie's raft with its live cargo, crew
and Captain and wife, started for its voyage down the Adderbrook. Every
few yards added fresh excitement to the crew. There were frogs, and
tadpoles to be seen scurrying out of their way, ducks taking an airing
filled the air with their quacks, as they hurriedly made for land;
once a water rat sprang on board, but hurriedly splashed back into the
stream, when he was greeted with frightened screams.
"Just like girls!" said the Captain scornfully.
"Don't you know a crocodile when you see it?" retorted his wife. "I
suppose you will call it a rat! As if we have rats in mid-ocean!"
Several times the raft threatened to upset. The little girls had to be
most wary in their movements. Of course such moments were the result
of violent storms, when waves sought to engulf them, and the Captain's
wife seemed to aid and abet the rough elements when she could. More
than once she had to be called to order by the Captain.
They passed through two open fields, and then came to where the willows
and rushes bent over the stream and made it very difficult navigation.
The crew had to lie flat on their chests to prevent the willow branches
hitting them in the face. But every difficulty was an added delight,
and when the Captain struck a gong, and said it was time to dine, and
they must land on a desert island and do it, they scrambled ashore with
joy.
The raft was tied securely to a tree trunk, and under a white hawthorn
tree, the voyagers spread out their lunch and made a hearty meal.
Charlie's mother had given him bacon pasties and cake, and biscuits
and cheese—enough for them all. He was not a greedy boy, and was quite
willing to share. Charity undertook to divide everything with equal
fairness, and in this way every one was more than satisfied.
[Illustration: CHARITY UNDERTOOK TO DIVIDE EVERYTHING WITH EQUAL
FAIRNESS.]
Up to now they had seen very few people. A boy driving cattle in the
distance was an Indian chasing buffaloes; an old man with a dog was a
chief with his wolf hound.
But when they took to their raft again, their sharp eyes spied a
fisherman some distance away with his line across the stream.
"Now you'll hear him swear," said Charlie, with a delighted chuckle. "I
know what fishermen are like. I've passed them before."
"He isn't a fisherman," said Hope; "he's a pirate looking out for ships
from his island."
"It's a pity we have no gun to blow him to pieces! My dear husband,
put a bit more strength into that old punt stick of yours! Let's rush
down the stream and pull hold of his line—perchance we may pull in the
pirate to his death!"
So all four got hold of their oars, and by dint of prodding the banks
in punt-like fashion, the raft began to quicken its pace. The fisherman
saw them before they reached him and pulled in his line. He did not
swear but laughed heartily as the raft approached.
"Who the dickens is this?" he asked. "Here, hi, don't pass me by! Is
there room for me on board?"
He was a tall, broad-shouldered young man.
Charlie threw a ferocious look at him.
"You're a pirate, let us pass!"
The young man had stopped the raft with his foot. Charlie was rather
exhausted with his efforts, and the little girls were panting for
breath.
"If I'm a pirate, I beg to tell you that this water is mine, and that
you are my prisoners. You'll land at once, and forfeit your ship."
With a quick, dexterous stroke, he had seized hold of the rope, and
drawn the raft close to the bank.
Winding it round a tree stump, the discomfited voyagers found their
passage stopped.
Charity looked up into the pirate's face. She saw that his eyes were
twinkling, and she felt reassured.
"The ocean is free to all," she said boldly.
The young man pointed to a board close by.
"Private water. Trespassers will be prosecuted."
And then Charlie saw that he had brought his raft along the wrong bend
of the stream. He had seldom before come as far as this.
For a moment the little Captain looked perplexed.
"We are on a peace voyage," he said, "otherwise with cutlasses and guns
we would make short work of you. We are searching for an island called
'Tarjak,' and for treasure thereon."
"Ah," said the young man in a mysterious tone, "now you've come to the
right party. I know the very spot and will lead you to it, if I may
share in the booty."
"He means treachery!" said Charity in a loud whisper.
"I've got you in my power!" said the young man sternly.
Charlie and the little girls hastily consulted together.
"We'll just let him join us," was Charlie's decision.
Then he turned to the stranger.
"Now will you lead us?"
"I'll tow you along," was the cheerful reply. "You have spoilt my
fishing, but I'll take you straight to a treasure island such as you
have never seen before."
In a very short time, this amazing young man was marching along the
banks rope in hand, and the raft was being towed along without any
effort on the part of the crew. They gave themselves up to the delight
of it, for all small backs and wrists were aching, and it was delicious
to be towed along so swiftly, without any effort.
And presently the stream widened considerably and a veritable small
island appeared. The Pirate used the oars now, and stood in the middle
of the raft himself. He brought it to the edge of the island and told
the children to get out.
To their delight there was a tiny thatched hut in the middle of it.
"Years ago," said the pirate, "I landed here in a small boat, having
been shipwrecked, and having lost all I possessed. I built myself this
hut and lived here in peace, quitting it for rougher waters and sea
fishing occasionally. For the most part I lived on fish. One day I
was digging for bait, when I stumbled on a—a cache, and in a certain
spot on this island is one hidden now. Treasure is in it. If you have
brought spades, dig away till you find it. I will give you a clue. Four
paces from Security, an arm's length to the right, dig for two feet
down!"
"We haven't any spades," said the little girls. "The Captain has the
only one."
The young man went into the hut, and soon appeared with a pitchfork and
two spades of very small proportions.
"And now," said Charity, "where is Security? It must be the hut, of
course!"
In a very few minutes each child was digging four paces from the hut.
But Charlie began to flag, whereupon the young man whispered something
to him.
"Your Captain is ill," he said; "he's going to rest. I'll take his
place."
Charlie sat down on the step leading to the hut and watched the others
with a rather bitter face. It was hard to be bowled over so soon, just
when he would like to prove his strength to be superior to the girls.
Digging went on steadily, but the three little girls made slow progress.
The young man dug too, but he presently said, "I'll give another clue:"
"By the side of a singer's home, a hand's span from the base."
The little girls were completely puzzled. Charlie's bright eyes roved
to and fro. At last his face lightened.
"I have it. A singer's home is a bird's tree, and the base is the trunk
of it. There's only one tree which it can mean, and it's the ash tree
between Bolt and Ben."
Charity made a rush to the spot, and Charlie sprang up declaring he was
quite rested. He and the three girls all attacked the ground round the
ash tree, and the young man quietly slipped into the hut, leaving them
at work.
It was not long before Charity's spade hit against something hard. Then
four eager pairs of hands dragged it to light. It was a rusty tin box
tied with string and sealed.
Charlie took command as Captain, and cut the string with his clasp
knife. His face was solemn as he did it, but the little girls' faces
bubbled all over with curiosity and delight.
It was hard to open, but at last the lid gave way, and then Charlie
very carefully lifted out the contents.
Four black farthings, a blue marble, and two peach stones.
Faith's face fell; she was dreadfully disappointed. She had really
expected to find it full of precious stones.
Charity danced up and down.
"Golden sovereigns, a blue jewel worth a million pounds, and seeds of a
pomegranate that grew in Paradise!" she cried.
Charlie turned to her with an approving face.
"You are right, my wife, wonderful treasure indeed! Does the Pirate
mean to let us carry it off?"
"The Pirate invites you to a meal. He is tired of a very lonely life
and welcomes treasure seekers to his home."
It was the young man who spoke. The children dashed into the hut,
Charlie clutching his tin box. There another surprise awaited them.
A kettle was boiling merrily. A cake was on the table, and some ham
sandwiches. The Pirate had cups and saucers, and was measuring tea into
a brown teapot.
"We have no cow on the island, but we have sugar and good tea. Let us
fall to!"
It seemed like magic. The children sat up round a little table and they
had a merry meal. After it was over, the treasure box was produced and
the treasures divided. The Pirate took one of the peach stones. Charity
took the other.
"I as Captain's wife have first choice," she said. "I am going to plant
this wonderful seed, and perhaps it will spring up into a magic tree
which will reach the sun."
Charlie gave Hope and Faith a farthing each.
"A guinea for Bolt and Ben," he said. "I being Captain keep the blue
diamond and a guinea, my wife can have the other."
Then the Pirate pulled out his pipe, and sitting cross legged on the
ground told them the most wonderful story of how the treasures had been
obtained and hidden away. The children listened breathlessly, but at
last the Captain said it was getting late, and they must go. The Pirate
took them back to their raft, and then he surprised them again. He got
out a very small boat from under the willows, tucked himself into it,
and fastening the rope of the raft to his painter, rowed gaily off down
the stream, towing the children back to the spot where he found them.
Then he bade them good-bye.
"We shall never meet again most likely," he said, "but I warn you to
keep to your own waters. There are other pirates who would make short
work of you should they find you where I did!"
The children waved their hands gaily to him. Charlie was supremely
happy, and content at the result of his voyage after treasure, and
all their tongues wagged fast as they made their way down the stream
towards Charlie's home. It was nearly six o'clock when they got there,
so the little girls bade their new friend a hasty good-bye.
"It has been perfect—simply perfect!" said Charity, and the others
echoed her words.
They ran home then as fast as they could, and told Granny all of their
adventures.
"Who do you think the Pirate can be?" Faith asked. "He has such nice
kind eyes, but a very grave face."
Granny said she could not possibly tell, and Aunt Alice could not help
them.
But the next day the rector's wife paid a long call. Charity happened
to be in the room, and though she was as quiet as a little mouse she
kept her ears wide open, and when she was alone with Hope and Faith she
was quite excited.
"I believe Mrs. Webster was talking about the Pirate, I believe she
was! She told Aunt Alice she had a little grandson staying with her
last week, and she wished she had asked us over to tea with him, as
he was so lonely. And then she said that Fred Cardwell had been so
good to him. He had taken him off fishing with him several days, and
had entertained him on an island which the little boy had loved. She
asked Aunt Alice if she knew the Cardwells, and I pricked up my ears
and listened hard. Aunt Alice said no, and she said Fred Cardwell
lived with a very cross, ill father—I think he's a squire, like Sir
George, and they live about five miles from here. The father is
parry—something—a long word, and Fred had to come home and look after
him, and he's no mother or brothers and sisters, and Mrs. Webster said
it was a terrible life for him, and it made him gloomy, and he doesn't
go anywhere or won't know anybody, but he likes children and she said
her little grandson loved him. Don't you think Fred may be our pirate?
Because there can't be lots of islands about, and perhaps that was why
he had cake and tea in the hut, he had put them there when the little
boy was with him!"
Charity paused for breath.
"I wish we could see him again," said Faith.
"We'll keep a sharp look-out along the roads when we walk," said Hope.
"Mrs. Cox wasn't at all right about the country. We do meet people very
often, and we may meet him."
"We'll ask Lady Melville if she knows him when we see her next,"
Charity said; "and now I'm going to plant my magic seed. Come and see
me do it."
So Hope and Faith accompanied her to the little garden, and she planted
it just below their bedroom window.
"Perhaps it will be like Jack's beanstalk, and grow so high that we can
step out of our window on to its branches," said Hope.
"It's sure to be different from any other tree, for it has been hidden
away for years, I'm sure," said Charity.
They did not see Charlie for some time after this. They heard that he
was ill, and one day a letter came from him addressed to "My Wife and
Crew."
The little girls opened it with great delight. It was very short.
"This is to tell you that youre Captin lies dangirosly wunded, and
his sickness is suvere. His next voyage will not take plaice, and when
he gets better Ben is to come to him to delever messages to his wife
and to Bolt.
"Charles, Captain of the 'Success.'"
Faith was Ben. She wondered why she was especially invited. Charity
tossed her head.
"He knows he can do what he likes with Faith. I expect none of us
will be able to go with him now, for Aunt Alice said we were to begin
lessons. This new governess, Miss Vale, is coming next Monday."
"Well, anyhow," said Hope, "I'm glad it isn't school, and Aunt Alice
says she will be very nice."
"I must answer his letter," said Faith.
But she was not very fond of letter-writing and put it off. She left
Charity and Hope playing in the orchard that afternoon and went off to
visit her friend the shepherd. There was nothing she enjoyed so much as
creeping into his little cottage and sitting on a small stool in the
chimney corner with the old man. Sandy would come and rest his nose in
her lap, and she and Timothy found plenty to say to each other. She
told him all about Charlie, and the raft and the Pirate.
"'Tis a pity the little laddie enjoys such poor health," said Timothy
to her. "The doctor be such a hearty man, but there—the Lord have a way
of His Own with each o' us, and 'tis ordained for him to be weakly. I
often sits and thinks o' strength. 'Tis misused in the body, and if so
be the soul is strong, 'tisn't so much odds about the body!"
"I wonder how strong my soul is," said Faith. "I'm not very strong in
my body, Granny says. Can I make my soul strong, Timothy?"
"Ask the Comforter," said the old man. "He'll strengthen the weak. We
are told 'He helpeth our infirmities.'"
"What do infirmities mean?"
"Our weakness and ailments, surely. The Book says, 'We can be
strengthened with might in the inner man' by Him."
"Is our inner man our souls?" asked Faith.
"I suppose I have an inner woman—I'm not a man."
"'Tis just a figure o' speech. 'Tis your little soul you want to be
made strong."
"I like the Comforter very much," said Faith softly and reverently;
"He came and comforted me this morning, Timothy. Aunt Alice scolded me
because she told us not to leave the front door open, there was such a
wind. And Hope left it open; she came out last, and the wind knocked a
china vase off the table, and broke it, and Aunt Alice was very angry
and scolded me, because she thought I'd gone out last. And I went away
and cried, and then I distinctly felt the Comforter near me, and I
asked Him to comfort me. I almost felt He took me in His Arms. He was
so close. And I kept quite still, and then I couldn't be sorry any
more, for I knew He knew I hadn't done it. He was so kind!"
Faith heaved a sigh of happiness, and Timothy nodded his head.
"'Tis just so!" he said simply.
And then they began to talk about Sandy and the sheep, and when she
left the cottage, Faith's little face was radiant.
"I feel when I'm talking to you," she said as she bade the old man
farewell, "that I'm getting happier every minute. I shan't be able to
come and see you so often when we do lessons, but I'll come whenever I
can!"
Charity and Hope could not understand her friendship with the old man.
But Faith paid no heed to them. She was a quiet, old-fashioned child,
and loved to go her own way without any interference of other people.