CHAPTER XXXII
THE DELIVERY OF THE LETTER
The sea was smooth and the wind light, and the transfer of provisionsfrom the Black Swan to the pirate sloop, which two ships now lay as neareach other as safety would permit, was accomplished quietly.
During the progress of the transfer Captain Ichabod's boat was rowedback to his ship, and its arrival was watched with great interest byeverybody on board that pirate sloop. Kate and Dame Charter, as well asall the men who stood looking over the rail, were amazed to see a navalofficer accompanying the captain and Mr. Delaplaine on their return. Butthat amazement was greatly increased when that officer, as soon as heset foot upon the deck, removed his hat and made directly for DameCharter, who, with a scream loud enough to frighten the fishes, enfoldedhim in her arms and straightway fainted. It was like a son coming up outof the sea, sure enough, as she afterward stated. Kate, recognisingDickory, hurried to him with a scream of her own and both handsoutstretched, but the young fellow, who seemed greatly distressed at theunconscious condition of his mother, did not greet Mistress Bonnet withthe enthusiastic delight which might have been expected under thecircumstances. He seemed troubled and embarrassed, which, perhaps, wasnot surprising, for never before had he seen his mother faint.
Kate was about to offer some assistance, but as the good Dame now showedsigns of returning consciousness, she thought it would be better toleave the two together, and in a state of amazement she was hurrying toher uncle when Dickory rose from the side of his mother and stopped her.
"I have a letter for you," he said, in a husky voice.
"A letter?" she cried, "from my father?"
"No," said he, "from Captain Vince." And he handed her the blood-stainedmissive.
Kate turned pale and stared at him; here was horrible mystery. Thethought flashed through the young girl's mind that the wicked captainhad killed her father and had written to tell her so.
"Is my father dead?" she gasped.
"Not that I know of," said Dickory.
"Where is he?" she cried.
"I do not know," was the answer.
She stood, holding the letter, while Dickory returned to his mother.Mr. Delaplaine saw her standing thus, pale and shocked, but he did nothasten to her. He had sad things to say to her, for his practical mindtold him that it would not be possible to continue the search for herfather, he having put himself out of the reach of Captain Ichabod andhis inefficient sloop. If Dickory had said anything about her fatherwhich had so cast her down, how much harder would it be for him when hehad to tell her the whole truth.
But Kate did not wait for further speech from anybody. She gave a greatstart, and then rushed down the companion-way to her cabin. There, withher door shut, she opened the letter. This was the letter, written inlead pencil, in an irregular but bold hand, with some letters partlydimmed where the paper had been damp:
"At the very end of my life I write to you that you have escaped the fiercest love that ever a man had for a woman. I shall carry this love with me to hell, if it may be, but you have escaped it. This escape is a blessing, and now that I cannot help it I give it to you. Had I lived, I should have shed the blood of every one whom you loved to gain you and you would have cursed me. So love me now for dying.
"Yours, anywhere and always, CHRISTOPHER VINCE."
Kate put down the letter and some colour came into her face; she bowedher head in thankful prayer.
"He is dead," she said, "and now he cannot harm my father." That was theonly thought she had regarding this hot-brained and infatuated lover. Hewas dead, her father was safe from him. How he died, how Dickory came tobring the letter, how anything had happened that had happened except thedeath of Captain Vince, did not at this moment concern her. Not untilnow had she known how the fear of the vengeful captain of the Badger hadconstantly been with her.
Over and over again Dickory told his tale to his mother. She interruptedhim so much with her embraces that he could not explain things clearlyto her, but she did not care, she had him with her. He was with her, andshe had fast hold of him, and she would never let him go again. Whatmattered it what sort of clothes he wore, or where he had escapedfrom--a family on a desert island or from a pirate crew? She had him,and her happiness knew no bounds. Dickory was perfectly willing to staywith her and to talk to her. He did not care to be with anybody else,not even with Mistress Kate, who had taken so much interest in him allthe time he had been away; though, of course, not so much interest ashis own dear mother.
Then the good Dame Charter, being greatly recovered and so happy, beganto talk of herself. Slipping in a disjointed way over her variousexperiences, she told her dear boy, in strictest confidence, that shewas very much disappointed in the way pirates took ships. She thought itwas going to be something very exciting that she would remember to theend of her days, and wake up in the middle of the night and scream whenshe thought of it, but it was nothing of the kind; not a shot was fired,not a drop of blood shed; there was not even a shout or a yell or ascream for mercy. It was all like going into the pantry to get the flourand the sugar. She was all the time waiting for something to happen, andnothing ever did. Dickory smiled, but it was like watered milk.
"I do not understand such piracy," he said, "but supposed, dear mother,that these pirates had taken that ship in the usual way, I being onboard."
At this he was clasped so tightly to his mother's breast that he couldsay no more.
The boats plied steadily between the two vessels, and on one of thetrips Mr. Delaplaine went over to the brig on business, and also glad toescape for a little the dreaded interview which must soon come betweenhimself and his niece.
"Now, sir," said the merchant to the captain of the brig, "you will makea bill against me for the provisions which are being taken to thatpirate, but I hope you have reserved a sufficient store of food foryour own maintenance until you reach a port, and that of myself and twowomen who wish to sail with you, craving most earnestly that you willland us in Jamaica or in some place convenient of access to thatisland."
"Which I can do," said the captain, "for I am bound to Kingston; and asto subsistence, shall have plenty."
On the brig Mr. Delaplaine found Captain Ichabod, who had come over tosuperintend operations, and who was now talking to the pretty girl whohad seized him by the arm when he was about to slay the naval officer.
"I would talk with you, captain," said the merchant, "on a matter ofimmediate import." And he led the pirate away from the pretty girl.
The matter to be discussed was, indeed, of deep import.
"I am loath to say it, sir," said Mr. Delaplaine, "when I think of thehospitality and most exceptional kindness with which you have treated meand my niece, and for which we shall feel grateful all our lives, but Ithink you will agree with me that it would be useless for us to pursuethe search after that most reprehensible person, my brother-in-law,Bonnet. There can be no doubt, I believe, that he and Blackbeard haveleft the vicinity of Charles Town, and have gone, we know not where."
"No doubt of that, bedad," said Ichabod, knitting his brows as hespoke; "if Blackbeard had been outside the harbour, this brig would nothave been here."
"And, therefore, sir," continued Mr. Delaplaine, "I have judged it to bewise, and indeed necessary, for us to part company with you, sir, and totake passage on this brig, which, by a most fortunate chance, is boundfor Kingston. My niece, I know, will be greatly disappointed by thiscourse of events, but we have no choice but to fall in with them."
"I don't like to agree with you," said the captain, "but, bedad, I ambound to do it. I am disappointed myself, sir, but I have beendisappointed so often that I suppose I ought to be used to it. If I hadcaught up with Blackbeard I should have been all right, and after I hadsettled your affairs--and I know I could have done that--I think I wouldhave joined him. But all I can do now is to hammer along at thebusiness, take prizes in the usual way,
and wait for Blackbeard to comesouth again, and then I'll either sell out or join him."
"It is a great pity, sir," said Mr. Delaplaine, "a great pity--"
"Yes, it is," interrupted Ichabod, "it's a very great pity, sir, a verygreat pity. If I had known more about ships when I bought the Restless Iwould have had a faster craft, and by this time I might have been a manof comfortable means. But that sloop over there, bedad, is so slow,that many a time, sir, I have seen a fat merchantman sail away from herand leave us, in spite of our guns, cursing and swearing, miles behind.I am sorry to have you leave me, sir, and with your ladies; but, as yousay, here's your chance to get home, and I don't know when I could giveyou another."
Mr. Delaplaine replied courteously and gratefully, and by the next boathe went back to the Restless. Captain Ichabod, his brow still clouded bythe approaching separation, walked over to Lucilla and continued hisconversation with her about the island of Barbadoes, a subject of whichhe knew very little and she nothing.
When Kate returned to the deck she found Dickory alone, Dame Charterhaving gone to talk to the cook about the wonderful things which hadhappened, of which she knew very little and he nothing at all.
"Dickory," said Kate, "I want to talk to you, and that quickly. I haveheard nothing of what has happened to you. How did you get possession ofthe letter you brought me, and what do you know of Captain Vince?"
"I can tell you nothing," he said, without looking at her, "until youtell me what I ought to know about Captain Vince." And as he said thishe could not help wondering in his heart that there were no signs ofgrief about her.
"Ought to know?" she repeated, regarding him earnestly. "Well, you and Ihave been always good friends, and I will tell you." And then she toldhim the story of the captain of the Badger; of his love-making and ofhis commission to sail upon the sea and destroy the pirate ship Revenge,and all on board of her.
"And now," she said, as she concluded, "I think it would be well for youto read this letter." And she handed him the missive he had carried solong and with such pain. He read the bold, uneven lines, and then heturned and looked upon her, his face shining like the morning sky.
"Then you have never loved him?" he gasped.
"Why should I?" said Kate.
In spite of the fact that there were a great many people on board thatpirate sloop who might see him; in spite of the fact that there werepeople in boats plying upon the water who might notice his actions,Dickory fell upon his knees before Kate, and, seizing her hand, hepressed it to his lips.
"Why should I?" said Kate, quietly drawing her hand from him, "for Ihave a devoted lover already--Master Martin Newcombe, of Barbadoes."
Dickory, repulsed, rose to his feet, but his face did not lose its glow.He had heard so much about Martin Newcombe that he had ceased to mindhim.
"To think of it!" he cried, "to think how I stood and watched himfight; how I admired and marvelled at his wonderful strength and skill,his fine figure, and his flashing eye! How my soul went out to him, howI longed that he might kill that scoundrel Blackbeard! And all the timehe was your enemy, he was my enemy, he was a viler wretch than even thebloody pirate who killed him. Oh, Kate, Kate! if I had but known."
"Miss Kate, if you please," said the girl. "And it is well, Dickory, youdid not know, for then you might have jumped upon him and stuck him inthe back, and that would have been dishonourable."
"He thought," said Dickory, not in the least abashed by his reproof,"that the Revenge was commanded by your father, for he sprang upon thedeck, shouting for the captain, and when he saw Blackbeard I heard himexclaim in surprise, 'A sugar-planter!'"
"And he would have killed my father?" said Kate, turning pale at thethought.
"Yes," replied Dickory, "he would have killed any man except the greatBlackbeard. And to think of it! I stood there watching them, and wishingthat vile Englishman the victory. Oh, Kate! you should have seen thatwonderful pirate fight. No man could have stood before him." Then, withsparkling eyes and waving arms, he told her of the combat. When he hadfinished, the souls of these two young people were united in anoverpowering admiration, almost reverence, for the prowess and strengthof the wicked and bloody pirate who had slain the captain of the Badger.
When Mr. Delaplaine came on board, Kate, who had been waiting, took himaside.
"Uncle," she exclaimed, "I have great news. Captain Vince is dead. Atlast he came up with the Revenge, but instead of finding my father incommand he found Blackbeard, who killed him. Now my father is safe!"
The good man scarcely knew what to say to this bright-faced girl, whosefather's safety was all the world to her. If he had heard that hisworthless and wicked brother-in-law had been killed, it would have beentrouble and sorrow for the present, but it would have been peace for thefuture. But he was a Christian gentleman and a loving uncle, and hebanished this thought from his heart. He listened to Kate as she rapidlywent on talking, but he did not hear her; his mind was busy with thenews he had to tell her--the news that she must give up her lovingsearch and go back with him to Spanish Town.
"And now, uncle," said Kate, "there's another thing I want to say toyou. Since this great grief has been lifted from my soul, since I knowthat no wrathful and vindictive captain of a man-of-war is scouring theseas, armed with authority to kill my father and savage for his life, Ifeel that it is not right for me to put other people who are so good tome to sad discomfort and great expense to try to follow my father intoregions far away, and to us almost unknown.
"Some day he will come back into this part of the world, and I hope hemay return disheartened and weary of his present mode of life, and thenI may have a better chance of winning him back to the domestic life heused to love so much. But he is safe, uncle, and that is everything now,and so I came to say to you that I think it would be well for us torelieve this kind Captain Ichabod from the charges and labours he hastaken upon himself for our sakes and, if it be possible, engage thatship yonder to take us back to Jamaica; she was sailing in thatdirection, and her captain might be induced to touch at Kingston. Thisis what I have been thinking about, dear uncle, and do you not agreewith me?"
High rose the spirits of the good Mr. Delaplaine; banished was all theoverhanging blackness of his dreaded interview with Kate. The sky wasbright, her soul was singing songs of joy and thankfulness, and his soulmight join her. He never appreciated better than now the blessings whichmight be shed upon humanity by the death of a bad man. His mind evengambolled a little in his relief.
"But, Kate," he said, "if we leave that kind Captain Ichabod, and he benot restrained by our presence, then, my dear, he will return to hisformer evil ways, and his next captures will not be like this one, butlike ordinary piracies, sinful in every way."
"Uncle," said Kate, looking up into his face, "it is too much to ask ofone young girl to undertake the responsibilities of two pirates; I hopesome day to be of benefit to my poor father, but when it comes toCaptain Ichabod, kind as he has been, I am afraid I will have to let himgo and manage the affairs of his soul for himself."
Her uncle smiled upon her. Now that he was to go back to his home andtake this dear girl with him, he was ready to smile at almost anything.That he thought one pirate much better worth saving than the other, andthat his choice did not agree with that of his niece, was not for himeven to think about at such a happy moment. It was not long after thisconversation that the largest boat belonging to the Restless was rowedover to the brig, and in it sat, not only Kate, Dame Charter, andDickory, but Captain Ichabod, who would accompany his guests to takeproper leave of them. The crew of the pirate sloop crowded themselvesalong her sides, and even mounted into her shrouds, waving their hatsand shouting as the boat moved away. The cook was the loudest shouter,and his ragged hat waved highest. And, as Dame Charter shook herhandkerchief above her head and gazed back at her savage friend, therewas a moisture in her eyes. Up to this moment she never would havebelieved that she would have grieved to depart from a pirate vessel andto leave behind a pirate c
ook.
Lucilla watched carefully the newcomers as they ascended to the deck ofthe Black Swan. "That is the girl," she said to herself, "and I am notsurprised."
A little later she remarked to Captain Ichabod, who sat by her: "Arethey mother and daughter, those two?"
"Oh, no," said he. "Mistress Bonnet is too fine a lady and too beautifulto be daughter to that old woman, who is her attendant and the mother ofthe young fellow in the cocked hat."
"Too fine and beautiful!" repeated Lucilla.
"I greatly grieve to leave you all," continued the young pirate captain,"although some of you I have known so short a time. It will be verylonely when I sail away with none to speak to save the bloody dogs Icommand, who may yet throttle me. And it is to Barbadoes you go tosettle with your family?"
"That is our destination," said Lucilla, "but I know not if we shallfind the money to settle there; we were taken by pirates and losteverything."
Now the captain of the brig came up to Ichabod and informed him that thegoods he demanded had been delivered on board his vessel, and that thebrig was ready to sail. It was the time for leave-taking, but Ichabodwas tardy. Presently he approached Kate, and drew her to one side.
"Dear lady," he said, and his voice was hesitating, while a slight flushof embarrassment appeared on his face, "you may have thought, dearlady," he repeated, "you may have thought that so fair a being asyourself should have attracted during the days we have sailedtogether--may have attracted, bedad, I mean--the declared admirationeven of a fellow like myself, we being so much together; but I had heardyour story, fair lady, and of the courtship paid you by Captain Vince ofthe corvette Badger--whose family I knew in England--and, acknowledginghis superior claims, I constantly refrained, though not without greateffort (I must say that much for myself, fair lady), from--from--"
"Addressing me, I suppose you mean," said Kate. "What you say, kindcaptain, redounds to your honour, and I thank you for your nobleconsideration, but I feel bound to tell you that there was neveranything between me and Captain Vince, and he is now dead."
The young pirate stepped back suddenly and opened wide his eyes. "What!"he exclaimed, "and all the time you were--"
"Not free," she interrupted with a smile, "for I have a lover on theisland of Barbadoes."
"Barbadoes," repeated Captain Ichabod, and he bade Kate a mostcourteous farewell.
All the good-byes had been said and good wishes had been wished, when,just as he was about to descend to his boat, Captain Ichabod turned toLucilla. "And it is truly to Barbadoes you go?" he asked.
"Yes," said she, "I think we shall certainly do that."
Now his face flushed. "And do you care for that fellow in the cockedhat?"
Here was a cruel situation for poor Lucilla. She must lie or lose twomen. She might lose them anyway, but she would not do it of her own freewill, and so she lied.
"Not a whit!" said Lucilla.
The eyes of Ichabod brightened as he went down the side of the brig.