"I am known, lady, as simple Josiah Weedon, and I will gladly talk with
Master Langton, but I have an aged mother and sister, and a wife who was
sorely displeased at my leaving her before, and I doubt that she will
let me quit home again; yet to please two such sweet ladies as you are,
and to bring back to the world two such gallant gentlemen as Captain
Antony Waymouth, and his lieutenant Master Edward Raymond, I would again
risk the dangers of the sea and part from my loving spouse, provided we
were simply to make the voyage out and home, spending some fixed time in
the search."
"Thanks, Master Weedon, thanks!" exclaimed Constance enthusiastically;
"we would join our prayers with yours to persuade your wife to let you
come, if that would avail."
"My better-half, ladies, is one woman in a thousand. If she will, she
will, you may depend on't; if she won't, she won't, and there's an end
on't. I will hie me home, and should she consent I will send you word;
if not, you will know that I am kept bound in the chains of matrimony."
Suddenly Hugh recollected that probably the stranger was hungry, which
he confessed to be the case. Refreshment was therefore placed for him
in the dining-hall, to which he set himself to do ample justice, and
while he was discussing it Beatrice sent a messenger to summon Master
Langton. The old captain soon appeared. His astonishment at hearing
the account given by Weedon was very great, but far greater was it on
hearing of the resolution to which his fair friends had so suddenly
arrived. He knew Constance too well by this time to attempt to combat
it. Before he made any remark, however, he had a long conversation with
the stranger. He seemed perfectly satisfied that he was honest and his
statements true, though he doubted much the likelihood of the missing
ship being found. It was not a matter to be settled in a hurry; much
discussion would be required, and he could not find it in his heart to
oppose the scheme altogether.
Pressed by Hugh, Master Weedon gladly consented to remain that night at
the hall to rest, and if he ate and drank abundantly he deserved his
provender in return for the way he plied his tongue for Hugh's benefit.
Hugh would scarcely have allowed him to sleep had he not cried out that
his tongue could wag no more. Next morning, while discussing the ale
and beef and wheaten bread placed before him at breakfast, he was
compelled by the young man to begin again, and before he was permitted
to go on his way he had given Hugh a large amount of information about
those eastern seas and strange lands among which he had so long
wandered. The ladies had filled a satchel with good food, and pressed
on the seaman a purse with a store of coin to enable him with ease to
reach his journey's end. There was little doubt that the subject would
be discussed by the two maidens and Hugh. In truth, morning, noon, and
even, it was the only matter about which they could speak; even Captain
Langton caught much of their enthusiasm. Hugh was fully as warm as his
sister or Constance. Means would not be wanting between them to fit out
a tall ship able to sail round the world. John Langton must be captain;
they would take no refusal. Master Josiah Weedon should be pilot if his
wife would let him go, and if not, no doubt he could give such
directions to Captain Langton as would enable him to sail in the
direction they desired, where they might perchance discover the Lion.
At length their importunity, if not their reasoning, succeeded in
overcoming all Master Langton's scruples, and he consented to search for
a suitable ship, to fit her out and store her, and to find the necessary
officers and crew. Not many days had elapsed, and just as Captain
Langton was about to set off for Plymouth, when Josiah Weedon arrived
habited exactly as before.
"Fair ladies, Master Hugh, I am ready to sail with you to any part of
the world you may desire," he exclaimed as he entered the house.
"Things are changed since I left home, and beshrew me I was an idiot to
expect it to be otherwise. My good old mother is in her grave; had she
been alive I should have had a different tale to tell. My sister is
married and gone far away I know not whither, and my wife, why she has
gone away with my sister and a new husband of her own into the bargain,
and not a soul in the place would acknowledge me. My doublet is
threadbare and tattered. Josiah Weedon was always the best-dressed man
in the village. I was a wretched beggar. Josiah Weedon was to come
back with a dozen packhorses laden with gold and precious stones. Many
more bitter remarks were made, and finally I was kicked out of the
village as a rogue and vagabond, and glad enough to hurry back that I
may lay my sword and services at your feet, fair ladies, right willing
to do your behests in any way you may command me."
The young people did not doubt the truth of Master Weedon's story, and,
after he had fed, Hugh hurried him off to Captain Langton that he might
accompany him the next morning to Plymouth. While the captain and pilot
were selecting a ship and fitting her out, Hugh, with his sister and
Constance, was engaged with those learned in the law in arranging for
the necessary funds and the disposal of their estates, should they not
live to return to the shores of Old England. Yet so sanguine is youth
that not one of them ever for a moment believed that they should not
return successful. Hugh was the least likely to be disappointed; he
would, at all events, see much of the world, and would meet with many
adventures. He forgot that it is possible to meet with disagreeable as
well as agreeable adventures.
Before long Captain Langton wrote word that he had purchased a stout
ship, which Constance insisted should be called the Esperanza, or Hope.
Captain Langton was well known, and he had little difficulty in
selecting a goodly company, especially when the object of the voyage was
understood. Many young gallants offered their services on hearing that
Mistress Beatrice Willoughby and Mistress Constance Raymond were
themselves going on it, and were much disappointed on having them
courteously refused. Captain Langton selected as his officers staid,
steady, and trusty men, who were likely to keep one object in view--
their duty--and not to depart from it.
The tall ship Esperanza, with banners and streamers flying and the white
canvas spread to the breeze, sailed down Plymouth Sound on her way to
the far-off lands of the East. Never ship bare richer freight, for
never sailed over the salt seas two fairer damsels with more loving,
faithful hearts. Fair blew the breeze, calm was the sea, just rippled
by the joyous wind, and bright the sky overhead. Even John Langton
caught some of the enthusiasm of his young charges, and could not help
predicting a favourable termination to the adventure. Well was the good
ship called the Esperanza, for all on board felt hope reigning in their
bosoms except Master Weedon, the pilot. When rallied on his gravity he
replied--
"I prithee do not ask me to rejoice at the prospect of the future who
have been oft so cruelly deceived. If matters turn out well, good; it
will be time enough to rejoice then; if ill, it will be but as I expect.
I shall at least have the satisfaction of knowing that I have not
laughed in vain. Meantime I will do my duty, and guide the ship towards
those regions where the fair dames and their brother desire to proceed.
May their star be a happier one than mine!"
This was the usual style of Weedon's remarks. Inside a rough shell
there was a tender heart, which had been sorely wounded by the reception
he had encountered on his return to the place of his birth.
Hugh Willoughby, on the contrary, was full of life and animation. Every
thing he saw was new and strange, and afforded him delight, and he
looked forward without doubt to the complete success of their
enterprise. The ship sailed on without interruption till the burning
rays of the sun, which shone down on the deck, making the pitch to
bubble up out of the seams, and driving the ladies to seek the shadow of
the sails, warned them that they were already in southern latitudes.
The elder seamen laughed at the notion of the weather being hot.
"Do you call this hot?" said Master Weedon. "Why, good friends, we were
wont during calms in those eastern seas to cook our victuals on the bare
planks or on a sheet of tin placed on the deck. I can certify that we
shall have it far hotter than this."
The breeze still held fair, though coming off the land of Africa, said
to lie some twenty leagues away on the larboard beam.
"A sail! a sail!" was shouted by the seaman on the watch in the top.
"To the eastward, and seemingly approaching us," he replied to the
questions put to him.
Mariners sailing over the ocean in those days had to be on their guard
against foes in every direction. Every preparation was made to give the
stranger a warm reception should he prove an enemy. The heavy guns and
all fire-arms were loaded; battle-axes, pikes were got up, and placed
with slow matches in readiness for use; swords were girded on, and the
deck of the Esperanza--generally so quiet and peaceful--assumed a
thoroughly warlike appearance.
When all things were ready, Hugh approached the ladies.
"Fair friend and sweet sister, I am about to exert some little authority
over you," he said. "Should yonder stranger prove to be a foe, you must
descend into the hold, where you will be free from danger. When we have
driven off, or captured, or sunk the enemy, we will summon you from your
prison-house to rejoice with us in our victory, and to reward those who
have exhibited most valour in the fight."
To this arrangement neither Beatrice nor Constance showed any
inclination to agree.
"But suppose one of the foeman's shot was to deprive you of life,"
argued Hugh. "In battle, methinks, bullets pay little respect to
persons."
"We shall but die in the performance of our duty and in the execution of
our mission," answered Constance.