Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
CHAPTER ONE.
A beautiful island lying like a gem on the breast of the great Pacific--a coral reef surrounding, and a calm lagoon within, on the glass-likesurface of which rests a most piratical-looking schooner.
Such is the scene to which we invite our reader's attention for a littlewhile.
At the time of which we write it was an eminently peaceful scene. Sostill was the atmosphere, so unruffled the water, that the island andthe piratical-looking schooner seemed to float in the centre of a duplexworld, where every cloudlet in the blue above had its exact counterpartin the blue below. No sounds were heard save the dull roar of thebreaker that fell, at long regular intervals, on the seaward side of thereef, and no motion was visible except the back-fin of a shark as it cuta line occasionally on the sea, or the stately sweep of an albatross, asit passed above the schooner's masts and cast a look of solemn inquiryupon her deck.
But that schooner was not a pirate. She was an honest trader--at leastso it was said--though what she traded in we have no more notion thanthe albatross which gazed at her with such inquisitive sagacity. Herdecks were not particularly clean, her sails by no means snow-white.She had, indeed, four goodly-sized carronades, but these were not anextraordinary part of a peaceful trader's armament in those regions,where man was, and still is, unusually savage. The familiar Union Jackhung at her peak, and some of her men were sedate-looking Englishmen,though others were Lascars and Malays, of the cut-throat type, of whomany wickedness might be expected when occasion served.
The crew seemed to have been overcome by the same somnolent influencethat had subdued Nature, for they all lay about the deck sleeping ordozing in various sprawling attitudes, with the exception of the captainand the mate.
The former was a huge, rugged man of forbidding aspect, and obviouslysavage temper. The latter--well, it is not easy to say what were hischief characteristics, so firmly did he control the features of a finecountenance in which the tiger-like blue eyes alone seemed untamable.He was not much above the middle height; but his compact frame was wiryand full of youthful force.
"Lower away the dinghy," said the captain, gruffly, to the mate, "andlet one of these lazy lubbers get into her with a box of figs. Get intoher yourself? I may want you."
The mate replied with a stern "Ay, ay, sir," and rose from thegun-carriage on which he had been seated, while the captain went below.
In a few minutes the latter reappeared, and soon the little boat withits three occupants was skimming over the lagoon towards the land.
On that land a strange and interesting work was going on at the time.It was no less than the erection of a church by men who had never beforeplaced one stone upon another--at least with a view to house-building.
The tribe to which these builders belonged had at first received theirmissionary with yells of execration, had torn the garments from hisback, had kicked him into the sea and would infallibly have drowned himif the boat from which he landed had not returned in haste and rescuedhim. Fortunately, that missionary was well accustomed to a state ofnudity, being himself a South Sea islander. He was also used to apretty rough life, besides being young and strong. He therefore soonrecovered from the treatment he had received, and, not many weeksafterwards, determined to make another attempt to land on the island ofRatinga--as our coral-gem on the ocean's breast was named.
For Waroonga's heart had been opened by the Holy Spirit to receive JesusChrist, and the consequent flame of love to the souls of his countrymenburned too brightly to be quenched by a first failure. The desire topossess the little box of clothes and trifles with which he had landedon Ratinga had been the cause, he thought, of the savages attacking him;so he resolved to divest himself totally of this world's goods and go tohis brethren with nothing but the Word of God in his hand. He did so.The mission-boat once again conveyed him from headquarters to the sceneof his former discomfiture, and, when close to the beach, where thenatives awaited the landing of the party with warlike demonstrations, heslipped out of his clothes into the water and swam ashore--the Bible, inthe native tongue, being tied carefully on the top of his head to keepit dry.
Surprise at this mode of proceeding caused the natives to receive himwith less violence than before. Their curiosity led them to listen towhat he had to say. Then a chief named Tomeo took him by the shoulders,placed his nose against that of Waroonga and rubbed it. This beingequivalent to a friendly shake of the hand, the missionary signalled tohis friends in the boat to go away, which they accordingly did, and lefttheir courageous brother to his fate.
It is not our purpose to recount the whole history of this good man'senterprise. Let it suffice to say that the natives of Ratinga turnedround, childlike--and they were little more than grown up children--swallowed all he had to say and did all he bid them do--or nearly all,for of course there were a few self-willed characters among them whoobjected at first to the wholesale changes that Waroonga introduced intheir manners and customs. In the course of a few months they formallyembraced Christianity, burned their idols, and solemnly promised that ifany more unfortunate ships or boats chanced to be wrecked on theirshores they would refrain from eating the mariners. Thus muchaccomplished, Waroonga, in the joy of his heart, launched a canoe, andwith some of his converts went off to headquarters to fetch his wife.He fetched her, and she fetched a fat little brown female baby alongwith her. Missionaries to the Southern seas, as is well known,endeavour to impress on converts the propriety, not to say decency, of amoderate amount of clothing. Mrs Waroonga--who had been named Betsy--was therefore presented to the astonished natives of Ratinga in a shortcalico gown of sunflower pattern with a flounce at the bottom, a brightyellow neckerchief, and a coal-scuttle bonnet, which quivered somewhatin consequence of being too large and of slender build. Decency andpropriety not being recognised, apparently, among infants, the brownbaby--who had been named Zariffa at baptism--landed in what may bestyled Adamite costume.
Then Waroonga built himself a bamboo house, and set up a school. Soonafter that he induced a half Italian, half Spanish sailor, named AntonioZeppa, who had been bred in England, to settle with his wife and son onthe island, and take charge of the school.
For this post Zeppa and his wife were well qualified, both havingreceived an education beyond that usually given to persons in their rankof life. Besides this, Antonio Zeppa had a gigantic frame, a genialdisposition, and a spirit of humility, or rather childlike simplicity,which went far to ingratiate him with the savages.
After several years' residence in this field of labour, Waroongaconceived the grand idea of building a house of God. It was to be builtof coral-rock, cemented together with coral-lime!
Now, it was while the good people of Ratinga were in the first fervourof this new enterprise, that the dinghy with its three occupantsapproached their shore.
At that particular point of time the walls of the new church had begunto rise above the foundations, for the chief, Tomeo, had entered intothe matter with intense enthusiasm, and as Tomeo was supreme chief,every one else felt bound to follow his example and work hard; but, todo them justice, they required no stimulant; the whole community enteredinto it with inexpressible glee.
Zeppa taught them everything, because no one else knew anything, exceptof course Waroonga, who, however, was not much in advance of his nativecongregation save in spiritual matters. Zeppa showed them how to burnlime out of the coral-rock, and they gazed with open-eyed--andopen-mouthed wonder at the process. Then the great chief Tomeo gave theword to burn lime, and Buttchee, the chief second in command, backed himup by kicking the native nearest to his foot and ech
oing the order, "Go,burn lime!" The entire population began to burn lime forthwith, andwould have gone on burning lime enough to have built a South Sea pyramidequal to Cheops, if they had not been checked and their blazing energiesturned into stone-hewing and dressing, and other channels.
Thus the work went on merrily, and so engrossed were they with it thatthey did not at first observe the arrival of the visitors. Of coursethey were aware of the schooner's presence, and had been off to her theprevious day, before she had furled her sails, to offer fruits andvegetables; but it was some time before they discovered that threestrangers had landed and were gazing at them while they toiled.
Zeppa had a black servant, a negro, whom he had induced to follow him.This man took a prominent oversight of the works. He was by nature acook, but church-building occupied his leisure moments, and he pridedhimself upon being not only cleverer, but considerably blacker, than theislanders.
"Now you keep out ob de road, leetil Za." This was addressed toZariffa, who, by that time, could not only toddle but trowel, besidesbeing able to swim like a duck. "Take care, missy Za, dat clumsy fellerwid the big stone--let him fall, and--oh!"
The negro gave vent to a yell, for the accident he feared actuallyoccurred. The clumsy native let a huge piece of coral-rock fall fromhis shoulder, which just missed crushing the brown little girl. Itdropped on a mass of soft lime, which flew up in all directions, makingZariffa piebald at once, and, what was more serious, sending a lumpstraight into Tomeo's face. This was too much for the great man. Heseized the culprit by the neck, and thrust his brown visage down uponthe lime, from which he arose white, leaving a beautiful cast of hisfeatures behind him.
Tomeo was pacified at once. He burst into a loud laugh, while theguilty man slunk humbly away, not, however, without receiving a salutefrom Buttchee's active foot in passing.
At this moment Zeppa came up, holding his son Orlando, a well-grown ladof fourteen, by the hand. He at once observed the captain of theschooner, and, going forward, shook hands with him and the mate. He hadmade their acquaintance the day before, when the vessel anchored in thelagoon.
"I have come to say good-bye, Mr Zeppa. We have finished taking infresh water sooner than I had expected, and will be ready to sail withthe evening breeze."
"Indeed? I regret this for various reasons" replied Zeppa, in a softmusical voice, that one scarcely expected to issue from such a capaciouschest. There was about the man an air of gentle urbanity and tendernesswhich might have induced a stranger to suppose him effeminate, had nothis manly looks and commanding stature rendered the idea absurd. "Inthe first place," he continued, "my wife and I had hoped to show yousome hospitality. You know we seldom have visitors to thisout-of-the-way island. Then we wanted your advice with regard to thebuilding of our church, which, you see, is progressing rapidly; andlast, but not least, I wished to ask a favour, which it will beimpossible to grant if you sail to-night."
"Perhaps not impossible," said Captain Daniel, whose gruff nature wasirresistibly mellowed by the sweet spirit of the giant who addressedhim. "What d'ye want me to do?"
"I meant to ask a passage in your vessel for my son and myself to theisland of Otava. It is not far off, and you said yesterday that youintend to pass close to it. You see, I am something of a trader, aswell as a missionary-schoolmaster; but if you sail to-night I have nottime to get ready."
"If that's all your difficulty," returned the captain, "I'll delay tillto-morrow night. A day won't make much difference--will it, Mr Rosco?"he said, turning to the mate.
"You know best" replied the mate somewhat sharply, "I don't command theschooner."
The captain looked at the officer with an angry frown, and then, turningquickly to Zeppa, said--
"Well, if that time will do, it is settled. You and your son may gowith me. And, see here, I've brought a box of figs for your wife, sinceyou won't take anything for the help you gave me this morning."
"You shall present it yourself," said Zeppa, with a pleased smile.
"Hi! Ebony," hailing the negro, "tell Marie to come here. She is inthe palm-grove."
Ebony found his mistress and delivered his message.
Madame Zeppa was a pretty little fair woman, of French extraction. Shehad been a lady's-maid, and, having been born and brought up chiefly inEngland, spoke English fluently, though with a slightly foreign accentderived from her mother.
"Missis," said the negro, in a low voice, and with a mysterious look, ashe followed her out of the palm-grove, "massa him wants to go widschooner. Don' let him go."
"Why not, Ebony?"
"Kase I no likes him."
"You don't like the schooner?"
"No, de cappin ob de skooner. Hims bad man for certin. Please don' letmassa go."
"You know I never give master his orders," returned madame, with a lightlaugh.
"Better if you did, now an' den," muttered the negro, in a tone,however, which rendered the advice not very distinct.
The fair little woman received the box of figs graciously; the captainand mate were invited to the abode of Zeppa, where they met the nativemissionary, and soon after returned to their vessel to make preparationsfor departure.
"Marie," said Zeppa that night as they, with their boy, sat down to restafter the labours of the day, "I expect to be away about three weeks.With anything of a wind the schooner will land us on Otava in two orthree days. Business won't detain me long, and a large canoe, wellmanned, will bring Orlando and me back to you in a week or so. It isthe first time I shall have left you for so long since our wedding. Youwon't be anxious, little woman?"
"I would not be anxious if I were sure you went with good people,"returned Marie, with a slightly troubled look; "but are you sure of thecaptain?"
"I am sure of nobody except you, Marie," returned her husband, with asmile that contained a dash of amusement in it.
"And me, father," said Orlando, assuming an injured look.
"Well, Orley, I can't say that I am quite sure of you, you rascal,"returned his father playfully. "That spice of mischief in yourcomposition shakes me at times. However, we will leave that question toanother time. Meanwhile, what makes you doubt the captain, Marie?"
"Ebony seems to doubt him; and I have great faith in Ebony's judgment."
"So have I; but he is not infallible. We should never get on in life ifwe gave way to groundless fears, dear wife. Besides, have we not thepromise, `Lo, I am with you alway?'"
On the following afternoon a fresh breeze sprang up and thepiratical-looking schooner, bowing gracefully before it, sailed acrossthe now ruffled lagoon and stood out to sea, while Marie with themissionary and his wife, and a crowd of natives, stood at the end of thecoral wharf, waving farewell to Zeppa and his son as long as theirfigures could be distinguished. After that, they continued to gaze atthe diminishing vessel until it melted like a little speck at themeeting-place of sea and sky.
That night an event which had been long pending was precipitated.
Captain Daniel had given way to his fierce temper so often during thevoyage, and had behaved with such cruel tyranny to his crew, that theyhad resolved to stand it no longer. His harsh conduct to the mate, inparticular, who was a favourite with the men, had fostered the spirit ofindignation, and the mate himself, being a man of no fixed principles,although good-natured enough when not roused, had at last determined toside with the men. He was a man of fierce passions, and had been rousedby his superior's tyranny and insolence to almost uncontrollable fury;but he had not at that time been guilty of absolute insubordination.
When the vessel's course had been laid that night--which chanced to be aFriday, as some of the crew afterwards remembered--and the cabin lamphad been lighted, the captain sent for the mate, who saw by his looksthat a storm was brewing.
"What did you mean, sir," began the captain at once, "by that insolentreply you made to me on shore yesterday?"
The young man might have answered temperately if they had been alone,bu
t Zeppa was lying on a locker reading, and his son was also present,and Rosco knew that the captain meant to put him to shame before them.His spirit fired.
"Scoundrel!" he cried, "the measure of your iniquity is filled. Youshall no longer command this schooner--"
Thus far he got when the captain, livid with rage, sprang up to rush athim. Zeppa also leaped up to aid in putting down what he clearlyperceived was premeditated mutiny, but the mate sprang out of the cabin,and, shutting the door with a bang, locked it. At the same instant theman at the wheel--knowing what had occurred--closed and fastened thecabin sky-light. The captain threw himself several times with all hisweight against the door, but it opened inwards and could not be forced.
There were two square windows in the stern of the schooner, one of whichwas open. Orlando perceived this, sprang up, clambered through it,gained the deck unperceived, and, running down the companion stair, pastall the men, rushed against the cabin door, and burst it open.
Zeppa was endeavouring at the moment to wrench off the lock and wasnearly thrown back. Recovering, he struck fiercely out at those whothronged the dark passage.
"Oh! father," groaned Orlando, as he fell before the blow.
With a terrible cry of consternation Zeppa stooped to pick up his child.He was felled with a handspike as he did so; the crew then rushed intothe cabin and the captain was overpowered and bound.
"Overboard wi' them all!" shouted one of the men.
There were some among these villains who, having once given the reins totheir rage, were capable of anything. These, ready to act on thediabolical suggestion, attempted to drag Zeppa and the captain up thecompanion ladder, but their great size and weight rendered the effortdifficult. Besides, Zeppa's consciousness was returning, and hestruggled powerfully. It was otherwise with poor Orlando. One of theruffians easily raised the lad's light frame and bore him to the deck.Next moment a sharp cry and splash were heard. Zeppa understood it, forhe had seen his son carried away. With a wild shout he burst from thosewho held him, and would certainly have gained the deck and leapedoverboard had not a mutineer from behind felled him a second time.
When Rosco heard what had been done he ran furiously on deck, but oneglance at the dark sea, as the schooner rushed swiftly over it sufficedto show him that the poor boy's case was hopeless.
But Orley's case was not as hopeless as it seemed. The plunge revivedhim. Accustomed to swim for hours at a time in these warm waters, hefound no difficulty in supporting himself. Of course his progress wasaimless, for he could not see any distance around him, but a friend hadbeen raised up for him in that desperate hour. At the moment he hadbeen tossed overboard, a sailor, with a touch of pity left in his breasthad seized a life-buoy and thrown it after him. Orlando, after swimmingabout for a few minutes, struck against this buoy by chance--if we mayventure to use that word in the circumstances.
Seizing the life-preserver with an earnest "thank God" in his heart ifnot on his lips, he clung to it and looked anxiously around.
The sight was sufficiently appalling. Thick darkness still brooded onthe deep, and nothing was visible save, now and then, the crest of abreaking wave as it passed close to him, or, rolling under him, delugedhis face with spray.