We must turn aside here for a short time to follow the fortunes of the
_Talisman_.
When that vessel went in chase of the _Foam_, after her daring passage
across the reefs, she managed to keep her in view until the island was
out of sight astern. Then the increasing darkness caused by the squall
hid the two vessels from each other, and before the storm passed away
the superior sailing qualities of the _Foam_ carried her far beyond the
reach of the cruiser.
But Mr Mulroy was not a man to be easily baffled. He resolved to
continue the chase, and, supposing that his commander must have got
safely to the shore, he made up his mind to proceed southward for a
short time, thinking it probable that the pirate would run for the
shelter of those remote islands which he knew were seldom visited by
merchant ships. The importance of keeping the chase in view as long as
possible, and following it up without delay, he felt it would be
accepted as a sufficient excuse by Montague for not putting back to take
him on board.
The squalls which happened to prevail at that time drove the _Talisman_
farther south than her first lieutenant had intended to go, and she
failed to fall in with the pirate schooner. Mulroy cruised far and wide
for fully a week; then he gave up the chase as hopeless. Two days after
the breaking of the storm that wrecked the _Wasp_, the _Talisman's_ prow
was turned northward towards Sandy Cove.
It was the close of a calm beautiful evening when this was done. A
gentle breeze fanned the topsails, although it failed to ruffle the sea.
"I don't like to be baffled in this way," said Mulroy to the second
lieutenant, as they paced the quarterdeck together.
"It is very unfortunate," returned the other. "Would it not be as well
to examine the man called Surly Dick before leaving these waters? You
know he let out that there is some island hereabouts at which the
pirates are wont to rendezvous. Perhaps by threats, if not by
persuasion, he may be induced to tell us where it lies."
"True. I had forgotten that fellow altogether. Let him be sent for."
In a few minutes Surly Dick stepped on the quarter-deck and touched his
cap. He did not appear to have grown less surly since his introduction
on board the frigate. Discipline had evidently a souring effect on his
temper.
"Your late comrades have escaped me," said the first lieutenant, "but
you may depend upon it I will catch the villains in the long run."
"It'll be a pretty long run before you do," remarked the man, sulkily.
Mulroy looked sternly at him. "You forget," said he, "that you are a
prisoner. Let me advise you to be at least _civil_ in your manner and
tone. Whether the run shall be a long or a short one remains to be
seen. One thing is pretty certain, namely, that your own run of life
will be a _very_ short one. You know the usual doom of a pirate when he
is caught."
Surly Dick moved uneasily. "I was made a pirate against my will," said
he, in a still more sulky tone and disrespectful manner.
"You will find it difficult to prove that," returned Mulroy. "Meanwhile
I shall put you in irons and treat you as you deserve until I can place
you in the hands of the civil authorities."
Surly Dick stood first on one leg and then on the other; moved his
fingers about nervously, and glanced in the lieutenant's face furtively.
It was evident that he was ill at ease.
"I never committed murder, sir," said he in an improved tone. "It
wasn't allowed on board of the _Avenger_, sir. It's a hard case that a
fellow should be made a pirate by force, and then be scragged for it,
though he's done none o' the bloody work."
"This may be true," rejoined the lieutenant, "but as I have said, you
will find it difficult to convince your judges of it. But you will
receive a fair trial. There is one thing, however, that will stand in
your favour, and that is a full and free confession. If you make this,
and give me all the information you can in order to bring your late
comrades to justice, your judges will perhaps be disposed to view your
case leniently."
"Wot more _can_ I confess, sir," said Dick, beginning to look a little
more interested. "I've already confessed that I wos made a pirate
against my will, and that I've never done no murder--though I _have_
plundered a little, just like the rest. As for helpin' to bring my
comrades to justice, I only wish as I know'd how, and I'd do it right
off, I would."
Surly Dick's expression of countenance when he said this, was a
sufficient guarantee that he was in earnest.
"There is an island somewhere hereabouts," said the lieutenant, "where
the pirates are in the habit of hiding sometimes, is there not?"
Surly Dick looked at his questioner slyly as he replied--"There is,
sir."
"Do you not think it very likely that they may have run there now--that
they may be there at this moment?"
"It's _oncommom_ likely," replied Dick with a grin. "Can you direct me
how to steer, in order to reach that island?"
Surly Dick's aspect changed. He became morose again, and looked
silently at his feet for a few moments, as if he were debating something
in his own mind. He was in truth perplexed; for, while he was extremely
anxious to bring his hated comrades to justice, he was by no means so
anxious to let the lieutenant into the secret of the treasures contained
in the caverns of the Isle of Palms, all of which he knew would be at
once swept hopelessly beyond his grasp if they should be discovered. He
also reflected that if he could only manage to get his late companions
comfortably hanged, and himself set free for having turned King's
evidence against them, he could return to the island and abstract the
wealth it contained by degrees. The brilliant prospect thus opened up
to him was somewhat marred, however, by the consideration that some of
the pirates might make a confession and let this secret be known, in
which case his golden dreams would vanish. The difficulty of making up
his mind was so great that he continued for some time to twist his
fingers and move his feet uneasily in silence.
Mulroy observed the pirate's indecision, and although he knew not its
cause to the full extent, he was sufficiently acquainted with human
nature to know that now was the moment to overcome the man, if he was to
be overcome at all.
"Well, well," he said, carelessly, "I'm sorry to see you throw away your
only chance. As for the information you refuse to give, I can do
without it. Perhaps I may find some of your late comrades when we make
the island, who will stand witness against _you_. That will do, my man,
you may go. Mr Geoffrey," (turning to a midshipman,) "will you
accompany that pirate forward and see that he is put in irons."
"But you don't know where the island is," said Surly Dick, anxiously, as
the lieutenant was turning away.
Mulroy turned back--"No," said he, "but you ought to know that when a
seaman is aware of the existence of an island, and knows that he is near
it, a short time will suffice to enable him to find it."
Again he was about to turn away when Dick cried out--"Stay, sir, will
you stand by me if I shew you the way?"
"I will not deceive you," said Mulroy, bluntly. "If you shew me how to
steer for this island, and assist me in every way that you can to catch
these villains, I will report what you have done, and the judges at your
trial will give what weight they please to the facts; but if you suppose
that I will plead for such a rascal as you are, you very much mistake
me."
A look of deep hatred settled on the pirate's countenance as he said
briefly--"Well, I'll shew you how to steer."
Accordingly Surly Dick, after being shewn a chart, and being made aware
of the exact position of the ship, ordered the course to be altered to
"north-half-east." As this was almost dead in the eye of the light
breeze that was blowing, the _Talisman_ had to proceed on her course by
the slow process of tacking.
While she was in the act of putting about on one of these tacks, the
look-out reported "a boat on the lee bow."
"Boat on the lee bow!" was passed from mouth to mouth, and the order was
immediately given to let the frigate fall off. In another minute,
instead of ploughing her way slowly and doggedly to windward, the
_Talisman_ ran swiftly before the breeze towards a dark object which at
a distance resembled a boat with a mast and a small flag flying from it.
"It is a raft, I think," observed the second lieutenant, as he adjusted
the telescope more perfectly.
"You are right, and I think there is someone on it," said Mulroy. "I
see something like a man lying on it, but whether he is dead or alive I
cannot say. There is a flag, undoubtedly--but no one waves a
handkerchief or a rag of any kind. Surely, if a _living_ being occupied
the raft he would have seen the ship by this time. Stay, he moves! No;
it must have been imagination. I fear that he is dead, poor fellow.
Stand by to lower a boat."
The lieutenant spoke in a sad voice, for he felt convinced that he had
come too late to the aid of some unfortunate who had died in perhaps the
most miserable manner in which man can perish.
Henry Stuart did indeed lie on the raft a dead man to all appearance.
Towards the evening of his third day, he had suffered very severely from
the pangs of hunger. Long and earnestly had he gazed round the horizon,
but no sail appeared. He felt that his end was approaching, and in a
fit of despair and increasing weakness, he fell on his face in a state
of half consciousness. Then he began to pray, and, gradually, he fell
into a troubled slumber.
It was while he was in this condition, that the _Talisman_ hove in
sight. Henry had frequently fallen into this species of sleep during
the last few hours, but he never continued in it long, for the pains of
thirst as well as hunger now racked his frame. Nevertheless, he was not
much reduced in strength or vigour. A long slow process of dying would
have still lain before the poor youth, had it been his lot to perish on
that raft.
A delightful dream came over him as he lay. A rich banquet was spread
before him. With wolfish desire he grasped the food, and ate as he
never ate before. Oh! it was a rare feast that! Each morsel was
delicious; each draught was nectar. But he could not devour enough.
There was a strange feeling in him that he could by no means eat to
satisfaction.
While he was thus feasting in dreams the _Talisman_ drew near. Her
bulwarks were crowded with faces gazing earnestly at the bit of red rag
that fluttered in the breeze and the pile of loose spars on the man's
form lay extended and motionless.
Suddenly Henry awoke with a start, to find that his rich banquet was a
terrible delusion! that he was starving to death--and that a large ship
was hove-to within a few yards of him!
Starting up on his knees, he uttered a wild shriek. Then, as the truth
entered his soul, he raised his hand and gave a faint cheer.
The revulsion of feeling in the crew of the _Talisman_ was
overpowering--a long, loud, tremendous cheer burst from every heart!
"Lower away!" was shouted to the men who stood at the fall-tackles of
the boat!
As the familiar sounds broke on Henry's ear, he leaped to his feet, and
waving his hand above his head, again attempted to cheer; but his voice
failed him. Staggering backwards, he fell fainting into the sea.
Almost at the same instant, a man leaped from the bulwark of the
frigate, and swam vigorously towards the raft. It was Richard Price,
the boatswain of the frigate. He reached Henry before the boat did,
and, grasping his inanimate form, supported him until it came up and
rescued them both. A few minutes later Henry Stuart was restored to
consciousness, and the surgeon of the frigate was ministering to him
such restoratives as his condition seemed to require.