TELLS OF THE STRANGE REVELATION MADE BY THE MADMAN OF BEDRUTHEN STEPS,
AND OF TAMSIN TRUSCOTT'S TREACHERY
For a moment I gave myself up as lost. I remembered how the black waters
of the gulf coiled and circled, and knew that there must be some strong
current underneath. I remembered, too, how the stick I had thrown into
it had disappeared from sight, and felt that there could be no hope for
me. But this was only for a moment. I was a strong swimmer, and had been
accustomed to the water all my life. After all, "Hell's Mouth" was not
very wide, and I hoped I should be able to grasp the edge of the rocks
and thus save myself. Then I remembered that Cap'n Jack and his
followers would, if possible, keep me from ever escaping if it were in
their power so to do. I had in a moment destroyed their hopes of ever
getting Granfer Fraddam's treasure, for not one of them would dare to
descend into the treacherous depths of the waters where I had thrown it.
All this passed through my mind like a flash, and then I felt myself
drawn by a terrible current down and down into the depths.
"It's all over," I thought. "I shall have to go to my Maker without ever
saying good-bye to my darling," and then death seemed terrible to me; so
terrible, indeed, was the thought of it, that I determined I would not
die, and I held my breath as well as I could while I was carried along
by the force of the current.
How long I was under water I cannot say. It could not have been long,
for one cannot live long without air, but it seemed ages to me. As I
look back now it seems as though those few seconds were long years. I
will not try and tell the thoughts that passed through my mind, or of
the terrible things through which I thought I went. It is not a part of
this story, neither do I expect I should be believed if I related it.
God in His infinite mercy, however, did not wish me to die, for
presently my head shot above the water, and that without any effort of
my own, and then instinctively I started swimming, after drawing a deep
breath. As soon as I was able I looked around me, but the surroundings
were entirely strange. Above me rose a cliff a good many feet high, and
toward this I swam, being very careful, however, to save myself from
striking against any of the countless rocks, some of which were only
partially covered.
The sea was very calm, and this was my salvation, for presently I was
able to get a footing on one of the rocks without being hurt. This done,
I again looked around me, but all in vain. On the one hand was the sea,
on the other rose the black cliff.
As I said, the night was very calm, only now and then the sobbing,
moaning wind swept along the waters, and it was through this fact that I
ascertained my whereabouts. On listening I thought I heard the sound of
voices, loud, angry voices, but I was so bewildered that at first I knew
not what they meant, but I fancied they were not far away; then I fell
to thinking of the direction from which the sound came, and I imagined
that the current must have carried me to the east side of the island,
not far from the southern extremity where I had been.
This brought back to my mind the reason why I had been thrust into the
water, for those terrible feelings which possessed me as I was sucked
down into the depths of Hell's Mouth had driven from my mind all
thoughts of the purpose which had brought me on the island. And here I
must confess, to my shame, that my first definite thought on realising
my condition was not thankfulness to God for having saved me from
manifold danger, but one of anger and impatience because I had been
foiled in my purpose. It seemed to me as though defeat tracked my steps
everywhere. Ever and always I was outwitted by more clever brains than
my own, and now when I fancied I had wealth and power within my grasp,
it was snatched from me in a moment. I did not remember the probability
that the supposed treasure was no treasure at all, for the improbability
of any one hiding a box of great value at such a place had never
occurred to me. To my mind the whole business had been plain enough.
Granfer Fraddam knew of such a thing, and had kept its whereabouts a
profound secret, and only through the cleverness and affection of Eli
had I become possessed of its secret. Evidently, too, Cap'n Jack
Truscott's anxiety to possess the directions showed his belief in the
reality of hidden riches. Since then, however, I have much doubted it.
It seems to me next to impossible that such a place should be chosen to
hide great riches. Moreover, what was the reason for hiding it? Why had
it not been taken away before? And yet, on the other hand, why had the
box been placed there with so much care, and in such a wild,
unfrequented place, if it did not contain something of great value?
These questions, I suppose, will never be answered now. The box lies at
the bottom of "Hell's Mouth," and all the riches of the world would not
tempt me to try and drag it from its resting-place. I was saved by the
infinite mercy of God, and strong man as I am, I cannot help shuddering
even now at the thought of what I felt as I was dragged by unknown
powers through the depths of that awful place. I write this that any who
may read these lines may not be tempted to venture life and reason to
obtain that iron chest. Not even Cap'n Jack Truscott or any of his gang
dared to do this, and what they dared not attempt is not for flesh and
blood to regard as possible.
At that time, however, I did not think of these things. To me it
contained untold riches; in that grim iron casket lay love, riches,
happiness, home. I had failed to obtain it, even although I had dragged
it from its resting-place, because of the subtlety of Cap'n Jack's gang.
And yet I rejoiced that I had thrown it into the gulf. If they had
foiled me, I had also foiled them. All the same, I was enraged because
of my failure, especially as I saw no means of getting back Pennington.
Then I thought of Naomi at Mullion Cove, and wondered how she fared. I
had told her that when I came to her again I should bring the means
whereby all her difficulties would be removed, and the intensity of my
love for her made my disappointment the greater. I thought how sorrowful
she would be, and yet I rejoiced with a great joy because of her love
for me. Ay, even there, clinging to a rock close to that lonely island,
with enemies near me, I could have shouted with joy at the memory of
her words to me as I left her by the cottage to which I had taken her.
For love overcometh all things.
All these things passed quickly through my slow-working brain; indeed,
they were an impression rather than a series of thoughts. Presently,
too, I was able to distinguish the words that were spoken. I could hear
Eli pouring forth curses, which I will not here write down, while the
stranger seemed to be speaking in my praise. As for Cap'n Jack, he
seemed anxious to appease Eli's anger.
"Come now, Soas," I heard him say, "'tes a pity for sure. I be as zorry
as can be. I be all for paice, I be. I wos a bit vexed when Jasper
thrawed un into the say; who wudden be? But I ded'n main to kill un.
There now, it ca'ant be 'elped now; and Jasper Pennington ed'n the first
good man that's gone to the bottom of the say."
"He's at the bottom of ''Ell's Mouth'!" shrieked Eli. "You thrawed un
there; but you shall suffer, Jack Fraddam. Ef mawther es a witch, I be a
wizard, and you shall suffer wuss than the darkness of thicky plaace. I
ded love Jasper, he was kind to me, he was. He loved me, he ded. He
tooked little Eli round with un, he ded." And then followed words which
I will not write, for, indeed, they were very terrible.
After this many things were said until Cap'n Jack got angry.
"Gab on, you little varmin," he cried, "gab on. You thought you could
outwit Jack, ded 'ee? Well, you be quiet now, or you'll folla Jasper."
"You dar'nt tich me!" shrieked Eli--"you dar'nt. I'd maake your flesh
shrink up ef you ded. I'd make your eyeballs burn like coals of vire, I
wud. Begone from me 'ere now, or I'll summon the devil, I will. He ed'n
vur far from 'ere, I tell 'ee." And then he said things which he must
have borrowed from his mother, for I know of no other who could think of
them.
Anyhow he frightened Cap'n Jack and his gang, for they cried out to
their leader to leave Eli and the madman, because they were afraid. This
they did with many terrible oaths and threats. All the same they left,
although they tried to seem to try and do so in a brave way.
"Iss," I heard Israel Barnicoat say, "Jasper be out of the way now, sure
enough. Ef you can rise un from the dead, Eli, tell un what I knaw 'bout
the maid that he took to Mullion, but she ed'n there now, she ed'n.
She's where he would never git to 'er ef he was livin'." And he laughed
brutally, and yet fearfully I thought.
I believe I should have cried out at this had I not heard a moan of
agony, such as I trust I may never hear again. It was the stranger, I
was sure, whom I had heard.
"Tell me where she is," he cried, and I knew he had followed them. Then
I heard the sound of blows followed by groans.
"Lev us do for thicky little imp, too," I heard a voice say, "and then
nobody 'll know nothin'."
"No," cried Cap'n Jack, "Betsey 'll vind out ef we do." And then I heard
their footsteps going northward.
All this time I had been lying against the rock, and half of my body
being under water, I was chilled to the bone. When I tried to move I
found that all my limbs were numb, and again I began to fear of escaping
from where I was. But this did not remain long. The words Israel
Barnicoat had spoken about Naomi made despair impossible, and quickened
my mind and body to action.
I waited until I judged Cap'n Jack's gang to be out of hearing, then I
gave a low whistle, the nature of which was known only to Eli and
myself. In an instant I heard an answering cry, and a few seconds later
I heard his hoarse, guttural voice overhead.
"Jasper, Jasper, es et you? Thank the Lord!"
"Yes, Eli, that rope you brought."
"Iss, iss, my deear, in a minute."
A few seconds later I saw a rope descending. The cliff was perhaps
thirty feet in height just here. I could not judge exactly, but it was
about perpendicular, so I could not climb it. After much struggling,
however, I reached a point where ascent was possible, and aided by Eli,
who pulled like a madman at the rope I had fastened around my body, I at
length reached a place of safety.
"Oa, Maaster Jasper, Maaster Jasper!" sobbed Eli, "how glad I be! How I
do love 'ee!" And he fondled my wet, clammy hands tenderly.
"Is the madman dead?" I asked.
"I dunnaw. Never mind 'bout he; be you all right? You'n sure et's you?"
"Sure, Eli, safe and sound. Let us go to him."
By the aid of the bright moonlight we found him lying seemingly stark
and dead on the ground. I soon discovered to my joy, however, that he
was only stunned, and a few minutes later he sat up and spoke to us.
"Jasper Pennington not dead!" he cried.
"No," I said, telling him how I had escaped; "but come, can you walk?
Have you any bones broken?"
"No; the fellow tried to stab me, but he failed; I was only stunned."
"Then let us go."
"Go where?" he said, in a dazed kind of way.
"I must go to Naomi," I said.
"Yes, yes," he cried eagerly, "how could I forget? Yes, we must go this
moment, this very moment. I am quite well and strong. Come at once."
He spoke with a kind of dignity, and I looked at him again to assure
myself that he was the madman who had saved me by Trevose Head.
"We ca'ant go to-night, ted'n saafe," said Eli, who continued to fondle
my hands and to utter all sorts of endearing terms.
"We must," he cried, "we must. There's not a second to lose. We must go
straight to the house where you left her, and find her if she is there;
if not we must not rest till she is in a place of safety."
He spoke in a tone of authority, and was so peremptory that I wondered.
"Who are you?" I asked; "what is my love's safety to you?"
"Everything, Jasper Pennington," he replied; "I am Naomi Penryn's
father."
"What!" I said aghast.
"Yes," he repeated, "I am Naomi Penryn's father. Come hither, Jasper
Pennington, and let me tell you."
He led me away from Eli, who uttered strange, low sounds, as he always
did when he was excited, and then the man whom I had thought mad spoke
to me in low, earnest tones.
"You have heard my story, Jasper Pennington," he said--"heard how I
struck my wife when she was in a perilous condition. It is true. I
thought I had killed her, and since then I have never had an hour's
peace. I will not tell you what I have done since or where I have been,
except that I have been in hell. You thought me mad--perhaps I have
been; I think I have. A little while ago I was drawn to come back to
Trevose, but I was afraid to ask any questions. I seemed to be followed
by the powers of darkness, who forbade me to speak. And yet I was
fascinated to the spot. You can guess why. I need not tell you anything
else now, you know what I would say. The thought that I have a daughter
alive and that I did not kill my wife has made the world new."
"And you did not commit suicide, then?" I said, in an unmeaning, foolish
sort of way.
"No. Coward that I was, I ran away, and for years, years--nearly twenty
now--I have been followed by--but never mind, it is gone--all gone. Only
let us go! You love my child, Jasper Pennington. Come, let us find her."
"Yes, yes," I replied; "but why did you follow me here?"
"Why? In my madness I felt sure that you had the secret of my life's
joy, and because my life has been such that I could not bear you to
obtain that which is the price of lost souls. I--I have been--where I
have heard the history of that thing which lies under water. It is not a
treasure, Jasper Pennington, it is damnation. Perhaps I will tell you
more some day, but not now. Let us leave the island."
"But it is not safe to leave it by night."
"Yes; I know the way. I have been here many times--I mean among the
islands, I will take you to the sailing-boat which brought me to St.
Agnes. Come, I will tell you all that needs telling as we go back."
"But Cap'n Jack's gang?"
"Their boat is at St. Mary's."
"How do you know?"
"Enough that I have found out their plans."
After this Eli and I followed him to a little cove where a boat rocked,
and ere long we were landed at St. Agnes. Here we found a good-sized
sailing-boat, and here, too, I dried my clothes in a fisherman's
cottage, wondering all the while at the strange things which had
befallen me.
As soon as morning came we started for St. Ives, for thither Naomi's
father determined to go, for Naomi's father I believed him to be.
He said that we should thus escape Cap'n Jack's gang, and be almost as
near Mullion as if we landed at Penzance. We did not, however, land at
St. Ives. The men who owned the boat consented to take us on to Hayle,
which was five miles nearer Mullion than St. Ives.
During our sail across I reproached myself greatly for placing Naomi in
the care of Tamsin Truscott, for I believed that she had been led to be
unfaithful, and had told Israel Barnicoat of her whereabouts. I talked
much with Mr. Penryn about these things, over whom a very great change
had come. He was no longer violent in language or in deed, rather he
seemed subdued and very thoughtful. He spoke very calmly and
thoughtfully, and suggested many things which would never have occurred
to me. Such was the power of what I had told him that all his fears
seemed to have gone, the wild, haunted look had passed away from his
eyes, while his actions were those of a refined gentleman.
On arriving at Hayle we, after much delay and difficulty, obtained
horses, and rode rapidly toward Mullion, my heart sometimes beating high
with hope, and at others lying in my bosom as though all joy were gone;
for be it known the revelations of the last few hours had made
everything appear in a new light. If this man was Naomi's father, and,
as I said, I believed he was, I could no longer assume the position of
her guardian and protector. She would no longer look to me as her sole
helper and friend. Her father would claim to be first. This led to many
other surmises, not many of which were pleasant, and which made me
ofttimes gloomy and dejected.
But these were not the matters concerning which I troubled the most. I
worried about the words of Israel Barnicoat. What did he mean by saying
that Naomi was where I should never be able to get her?
I had had but little sleep for many hours, but I felt no weariness. My
strength seemed to increase with my difficulties, and I did not once
droop in my saddle or rub my eyes like a drowsy man. It must have been
near a twenty miles' ride from Hayle to Mullion, but we were not long in
covering it; indeed, after we had reached Helston, we rode as fast as
the horses could carry us.
On coming in sight of Mrs. Crantock's house I left my companions, so
eager was I, and thus reached the white house with a green porch some
minutes before they came up. Opening the door without knocking I
entered, and found Mrs. Crantock, looking pale and anxious, but I could
nowhere see Naomi.
"Thank God you have come!" cried the woman.
"Why? Where is she?" I asked.
"She's gone, I know not where."
"How is that?" I cried angrily. "You promised you would care for her,
that you would guard her as if she were your own child."
"Yes, yes. Oh, young man, it is wrong to trust to an arm of flesh."
"Look you," I cried, catching her roughly by the arm, "I want no
religious talk! I left a lonesome, helpless maid with you whom you
promised to protect. Where is she now?" I said this like one demented,
as, indeed, I was.
I heard Eli and Naomi's father enter the room, but I took no heed,
neither did I listen carefully to the story the woman told. I had some
vague remembrance about her saying she went to hear Mr. Charles Wesley,
leaving Naomi with Tamsin, and that on her return that morning both had
gone. She had inquired of her neighbours, and had been told that three
men had come to the house at daybreak, and that when they went away
Tamsin and Naomi rode with them in the carriage they had brought.
It was well Naomi's father was with me, for my mind was too confused to
ask the necessary questions. I reproached myself for trusting Tamsin and
for not taking better precautions. I felt I had by my own foolishness
lost my love and again allowed her to be in the power of my enemies. I
thought of a score of things I ought to have done, while Mr. Penryn
asked many pointed questions.
We were about to take to the saddle again when Tamsin Truscott rushed
into the house. The poor girl's face was as pale as that of a ghost, and
she trembled from head to foot.
"Forgive me, Jasper," she cried.
I did not speak, for I knew not how to control my words.
"Oh, Jasper, I--I could not help it. It was so hard, so terribly hard.
I--I loved you, and I thought that when she was gone you would forget
her, and then--"
She did not finish her sentence, but sobbed bitterly, as though she was
in sore straits and truly contrite, as, indeed, I thought she was.
She went on to utter many words of self-accusation. She confessed that
she had betrayed Naomi's hiding-place, with many other things which I
need not here write down.
"Where is she now?" I cried angrily.
"She is being taken to Padstow," she said. "You know why."
"Is it the priest?" I asked.
"Yes," she answered, "and the Tresidders."
"Let us get to our saddles," I cried, "we may get there before they."
"Yes, you can if you ride hard."
"What about horses?" said Mr. Penryn; "these are poor nags; they were
the best I could get, but they are spent with a twenty miles' ride."
"They will last to Falmouth," I cried, "we must get fresh ones there."
"God forgive me, but I have no more money," he said, and at this I, too,
hung my head, for I was penniless.
I looked to Eli, but before the dwarf could speak Tamsin had caught my
hands.
"I have plenty, Jasper," she cried. "Oh, let me help you! It was all my
fault, let me do what I can now."
"Where is your money, girl?" asked Mr. Penryn.
"It is at Kynance, Jasper," she said, not noticing him; "father is not
yet home, and we can get there before he returns."
"It is scarcely out of our way," I said to Mr. Penryn, and it seemed our
only hope. And so we went thitherward, although I had grave doubts as to
whether Cap'n Jack had not returned.