"Iss, sur," continued the miner, pointing to Wheal Dooem, "an' that wan
theere, up over hill, do the same thing."
The managing director chuckled much more at this, and displayed his
teeth largely as he nodded to the man and rode on.
Before his arrival at the rendezvous, the boat was run ashore not far
from the spot where Tregarthen and his men were concealed. As soon as
the men had landed, Charlie walked down to them alone and accosted their
leader.
"Well, Cuttance, you're a pretty fellow to put your finger in such a
dirty pie as this."
Cuttance had seen the approach of Tregarthen with surprise and some
alarm.
"Well, sur," said he, without any of the bold expression that usually
characterised him, "what can a man do when he's to be well paid for the
job? I do confess that I don't half like it, but, after all, what have
we got to do weth the opinions of owld aunts or uncles? If a gurl do
choose to go off wi' the man she likes, that's no matter to we, an' if I
be well paid for lendin' a hand, why shouldn't I? But it do puzzle me,
Mr Tregarthen, to guess how yow did come to knaw of it."
"That don't signify," said Tregarthen sternly. "Do you know who the
girl is?"
"I don't knaw, an' I don't care," said Jim doggedly.
"What would you say if I told you it was Miss Rose Ellis?" said Charlie.
"I'd say thee was a liard," replied Cuttance.
"Then I do tell you so."
"Thee don't mean that!" exclaimed the smuggler, with a blaze of
amazement and wrath in his face.
"Indeed I do."
"Whew!" whistled Jim, "then that do explain the reason why that
smooth-tongued feller said he would car' her to the boat close veiled up
for fear the men should see her."
A rapid consultation was now held by the two as to the proper mode of
proceeding. Cuttance counselled an immediate capture of the culprit,
and pitching him off the end of Cape Cornwall; but Tregarthen advised
that they should wait until Clearemout seized his victim, otherwise they
could not convict him, because he would deny any intention of evil
against Rose, and pretend that some other girl, who had been scared away
by their impetuosity, was concerned, for they might depend on it he'd
get up a plausible story and defeat them.
Tregarthen's plan was finally agreed to, and he returned to his men and
explained matters.
Soon afterwards the managing director appeared coming down the road.
"Is all right?" he inquired of Cuttance, who went forward to meet him.
"All right, sur."
"Go down to the boat then and wait," he said, turning away.
Ere long he was joined by Rose, with whom he entered into conversation,
leading her over the cape so as to get out of sight of the men, but
young Tregarthen crept among the rocks and never for a moment lost sight
of them. He saw Clearemout suddenly place a kerchief on Rose's mouth,
and, despite the poor girl's struggles, tie it firmly so as to prevent
her screaming, then he threw a large shawl over her, and catching her in
his arms bore her swiftly towards the boat.
Tregarthen sprang up and confronted him.
Clearemout, astonished and maddened by this unexpected interference,
shouted,--"Stand aside, sir! _You_ have no interest in this matter, or
right to interfere."
Charlie made no reply, but sprang on him like a tiger. Clearemout
dropped his burden and grappled with the youth, who threw him in an
instant, big though he was, for Tregarthen was a practised wrestler, and
the managing director was not. His great strength, however, enabled him
to get on his knees, and there is no saying how the struggle might have
terminated had not Cuttance come forward, and, putting his hard hands
round Clearemout's throat, caused that gentleman's face to grow black,
and his tongue and eyes to protrude. Having thus induced him to submit,
he eased off the necklace, and assisted him to rise, while the men of
both parties crowded round.
"Now, then, boys," cried Jim Cuttance, "bear a hand, one and all, and
into the say with him."
The managing director was at once knocked off his legs, and borne
shoulder-high down to the beach by as many hands as could lay hold of
him. Here they paused:--
"All together, boys--one--two--ho!"
At the word the unfortunate man was shot, by strong and willing arms,
into the air like a bombshell, and fell into the water with a splash
that was not unlike an explosion.
Clearemout was a good swimmer. When he came to the surface he raised
himself, and, clearing the water from his eyes, glanced round. Even in
that extremity the quickness and self-possession of the man did not
forsake him. He perceived, at a glance, that the boat which, in the
excitement of the capture, had been left by all the men, had floated off
with the receding tide, and now lay a short distance from the shore.
At once he struck out for it. There was a shout of consternation and a
rush to the water's edge. Maggot shot far ahead of the others, plunged
into the sea, and swam off. Observing this, and knowing well the
courage and daring of the man, the rest stopped on the shore to witness
the result.
Clearemout reached the boat first, but, owing to exhaustion, was unable
to raise himself into it. Maggot soon came up and grasped him by the
throat, both men managed to get their arms over the gunwale, but in
their struggle upset the boat and were separated. Clearemout then made
for the shore with the intention of giving himself up, and Maggot
followed, but he was not equal in swimming to the managing director,
whose long steady strokes easily took him beyond the reach of his
pursuer. He reached the shore, and stalked slowly out of the water. At
the same moment Maggot sank and disappeared.
The consternation of his comrades was so great that in the confusion
their prisoner was unheeded. Some sprang into the sea and dived after
Maggot; others swam to the boat, intending to right it and get the
boat-hooks.
Suddenly those who had remained on the beach observed something creep
out of the sea near to some rocks a little to the right of the place
where they stood. They ran towards it.
"Hallo! is that you, old Maggot?" they cried.
It was indeed the valiant smith himself! How he got there no one ever
knew, nor could himself tell. It was conjectured that he must have
become partially exhausted, and, after sinking, had crept along the
bottom to the shore! However, be that as it may, there he was, lying
with his arm lovingly round a rock, and the first thing he said on
looking up was,--"Aw! my dear men, has any of 'ee got a chaw of baccy
about 'ee?"
This was of course received with a shout of laughter, and unlimited
offers of quids while they assisted him to rise.
Meanwhile Tregarthen was attending to Rose, who had swooned when
Clearemout dropped her. He also kept a watch over the prisoner, who,
however, showed no intention of attempting to escape, but sat on a stone
with his face buried in his hands.
The men soon turned their attention to him again, and some of the more
violent were advancing to seize him, with many terrible threats of
further vengeance, when Rose ran between them, and entreated them to
spare him.
Tregarthen seconded the proposal, and urged that as he had got pretty
severe punishment already, they should set him free. This being agreed
to, Charlie turned to the managing director, and said, with a look of
pity, "You may go, sir, but, be assured, it is not for your own sake
that we let you off. You know pretty well what the result would be if
we chose to deliver you up to justice; we care more, however, for the
feelings of this lady--whose name would be unavoidably and disagreeably
brought before the public at the trial--than we care for your getting
your merited reward. But, mark me, if you ever open your lips on the
subject, you shall not escape us."
"Iss," added Jim Cuttance, "ann remember, you chucklehead, that if you
do write or utter wan word 'bout it, after gettin' back to London, there
are here twelve Cornish men who will never rest till they have flayed
thee alive!"
"You need have no fear," said Clearemout with a bitter smile, as he
turned and walked away, followed by a groan from the whole party.
"Now, lads," said Cuttance after he was gone, "not wan word of this must
ever be breathed, and we'll howld 'ee responsible, David Hicks, for t'
wife's tongue; dost a hear?"
This was agreed to by all, and, to the credit of these honest smugglers,
and of Mrs Hicks, be it said, that not a syllable about the incident
was ever heard of in the parish of St. Just from that day to this!