CHAPTER ELEVEN.
A LADY SPIRITED AWAY--THE CHASE--THE CONSEQUENCES.
In the mean time Harcourt made daily trips to Ryde, and promenaded thepier from one end to the other, and through every street of the town, inthe hope of meeting Miss Manners, but in vain. He met Ribbonsfrequently, but of course he could not inquire after her from him, andconsequently avoided him. Sandgate he encountered several times; but hehad conceived such an antipathy to the man, as well as a suspicion ofhis character, that, as O'Malley was not with us, he did not think itnecessary to recognise him. Harcourt felt all the time that he was nottreating O'Malley and me fairly in keeping about the island, andtherefore promised to start on a long cruise directly after the regatta.The first day of the regatta was cold, and blowing fresh, so none ofthe ladies went. It was the schooner-match round the island, when thelittle "Bianca" carried off the cup from her huge competitors, thoughshe came in last, so much time being allowed for the difference oftonnage. The next day of the regatta the weather was most propitious,and we had the pleasure of meeting Miss Manners on the end of the pierwith Mr Bosley, who saved Harcourt from inviting him, by telling usthat "if we would give him a hundred pounds for every minute he was inthat gimcrack-looking boat, he wouldn't come. Let him have asteady-going steamer, which didn't care for winds and tides." He madeno objection to Emily's accompanying us; though little Ribbons coming upjust as she was stepping into the boat, reproached her for not visitingthe "Dido" instead.
The sight was beautiful in the extreme; for, independent of theracing-vessels, hundreds of other yachts were sailing about in everydirection. The course also being round the Nab light, and a similarlight-vessel moored at the mouth of the Southampton Water, theracing-yachts were the whole time in sight of Ryde. The Royal VictoriaYacht Club-house was decorated with banners, and from a battery in frontof it were fired the necessary signals and salutes, while several yachtsanchored off the pier-head were also gayly-decked with flags. In theafternoon the Queen came from Osborne on board the "Fairy," amid theanimated scene, and made several wide circles; passing close to thepier, and as she glided by, each vessel saluted with their guns orlowered their flags. The whole day the "Dido" had most perseveringlyendeavoured to follow us, and several times we saw her nearly run foulof other vessels. At last, as she passed the "Fairy," Ribbons, in a fitof enthusiastic loyalty, I suppose, loaded his gun to the muzzle, anddischarged it directly at the steamer, the lighted wadding almostfalling on board, while the recoil of the gun upset the little man, whowas looking with dismay at the effect of his achievement. He was nothurt, however, for he picked himself up, and managed to fire anotherwadding on board the "Amethyst." The last we saw of him that day, hewas hard and fast on a mud-bank half-way between Ryde and Cowes.Sandgate's vessel was also cruising about, and passed us several times,though at a respectful distance; but I saw that his telescope wasdirected each time towards Miss Manners. On a sudden it struck me thatGriffiths might possibly know something of the man, and I accordinglyasked him, in a mere casual way, if he had ever seen him before he cameon board us?
"Why, yes, sir, I have seen him more than once," he answered. "Maybe hedon't recollect me, though we've gone through some wild scenestogether."
"How is that?" I asked, with surprise.
"Why, you see, sir, I've done something in the free-trade line myself, Iown, and he's lent me a hand at it."
"What! you don't mean to say that Mr Sandgate is a smuggler?" I asked.
"Yes, I do, sir, though, and many's the rich crop he's run in that erecraft of his."
"Impossible! why she's a yacht," I replied.
"No, sir, she's only a private vessel at the best, and if she was ayacht, she's not the only one as--. Howsomdever, I won't say any thingagain yachts. It's the lookout of the other members of the club thatthey don't smuggle, and more's the shame of them who does."
"But I thought that smugglers were so bound together that they wouldnever speak against each other," I observed.
"So they are, sir; and though that Mr Sandgate has no reason to expectany favour from me, for reasons he well knows, I wouldn't speak toanybody else of him as I do but to you, or my master, because I don'tthink he's fit company for such as you, sir, and that's the truth."
Thinking over what Griffiths had told me, I determined in future to beon my guard against Sandgate. I, however, did not repeat what I hadheard to any one except Harcourt. In the afternoon we returned toCowes, leaving Miss Manners with the Granvilles.
Harcourt having promised to pay some friends a visit at Torquay, thenext morning we got under way, and, though the winds were light, we gotthere on the following day. Taking all points into consideration, Ithink Torquay and its surrounding scenery is the most beautiful part ofEngland. Our stay was short, for Harcourt was anxious to get back toCowes, as he had found metal more attractive than even Devonshire couldafford.
We reached Cowes late in the day, and after dinner went to theGranvilles', for we were now on sufficiently intimate terms to do so. Imissed Emily from their circle, and inquired if she was still stayingwith them.
"I am sorry to say that she left us suddenly yesterday evening,"answered Miss Granville. "It was almost dark when a letter arrived fromher guardian. It stated that he had gone over to Portsmouth on businessconnected with her affairs, and that when there he was taken dangerouslyill; that something had transpired which he could alone communicate toher, and he entreated her to come to him without a moment's delay. Thebearer of the letter was Mr Miles Sandgate, who, it appeared, had metMr Bosley at Portsmouth, and volunteered to carry it, and to escortMiss Manners back. Emily immediately prepared for her departure, thoughshe hesitated about accepting Mr Sandgate's offer. We also sent downto the quay to learn if there was any steamer going to Portsmouth thatevening, but the last for the day had already left. Mr Sandgate onthis requested Emily would allow his vessel to convey her, observing, inthe most courteous way, that he saw the difficulties of the case, andwould himself remain at Cowes till his vessel returned, saying, at thesame time, that he thought he might be of service in escorting her tothe hotel where Mr Bosley was lying ill. Mamma herself would have gonewith her, but she was unwell, and we girls should not much have mendedthe matter. Mr Sandgate all the time stood by, acknowledging that hehimself was perplexed, and would do any thing she wished; till at last Ibethought me of sending our housekeeper, who was very ready to do herbest to serve Emily, and to this plan, as Mr Sandgate is a friend ofyours as well as of Mr Bosley's, Emily had no further hesitation inagreeing. We walked with her down to the quay, and saw her safely onboard."
"And have you heard to-day from her?" I asked in a tone of anxiety Icould not conceal.
"No," answered Miss Granville; "we thought she would have written."
"Good heavens! and has she trusted herself with that man?" exclaimedHarcourt.
Miss Granville stared.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"That I have very serious suspicions of his character," answeredHarcourt. "I wish that she had taken any other means of getting toPortsmouth: not that I for a moment suspect he would not safely conveyher there, but I am unwilling that she should--that any lady, a friendof yours, should have even been on board that vessel."
"You surprise me!" exclaimed Miss Granville, now beginning to be reallyalarmed; and I volunteered to run over to Portsmouth at once, to inquirefor Mr Bosley, but she had not heard the name of the hotel where he wasstaying.
"That shall not stop me," replied Harcourt. "I will inquire at all ofthem till I learn."
She smiled at his eagerness, though, when he told her all he had heardof Sandgate, she saw that he had reason for his annoyance at what hadoccurred. We were engaged in paying our adieus, when the house-bellrang, and directly afterwards Mr Warwick Ribbons was announced.Astonishment was depicted on the countenances of all present, at theappearance of this most unexpected visitor, and all wondered what couldhave brought him there again. He had, by the by, alread
y called in themorning to beg Miss Manners and her friends would take a sail in the"Dido," but hearing that she was no longer there, had gone away. Hegazed about the room, his round eyes blinking with the bright lightafter having come out of darkness, and, with a flourish of his hat, hebowed to the ladies.
"Beg pardon," he said, in a nervous tone; "but I've come to ask whereMiss Manners is."
"She has gone to see her guardian, Mr Bosley, who has been takenseriously ill at Portsmouth," answered Mrs Granville.
"No, she ain't, ma'am," he exclaimed, throwing his hat down on theground with vehemence; "Mr Bosley isn't ill, and isn't at Portsmouth,and Miss Manners isn't with him, for I'm just come from Ryde, and thereI saw him as well as ever he was in his life, and he begged that I wouldcome and ask what has become of her. Your servants this morning told methat she wasn't here, so I made sure that she'd gone back to Ryde, andstarted off to look after her."
We were now seriously alarmed at what we had heard, as were the rest ofthe party in a less degree. Nothing more could we elicit from MrRibbons, though Miss Granville convinced him that the account she gaveof Miss Manners's departure was true, and it appeared too certain thatshe had been carried off for some reason or other by Miles Sandgate. Icould have staked my existence that she had been as much deceived by himas were her friends. I need not attempt to describe what wereHarcourt's feelings on finding that his worst suspicions were more thanrealised. She was in Sandgate's power, and his vessel was large enoughfor him to carry her to any distant part of the world. A bold andaccomplished seaman as he was, he would not hesitate, of course, to runacross the Atlantic, and with the start of upwards of twenty-four hourswhich he had, it would be impossible to hope to overtake him, even if wecould sail at once; but without a good supply of water and provisions,it would be madness to attempt to follow him. This, however, as soon asby possibility we could, we determined to do. Ribbons wanted to comealso, but we recommended him to employ his vessel in a differentdirection to ours; and while I was busy in collecting provisions andstores, Harcourt made inquiries among all the boatmen and revenue peopleto learn any thing about the "Rover," and what course she had steered onleaving Cowes. The wind, it appeared, had been from the eastward, andas the tide was ebbing, she must have gone to the westward, and couldnot have got round by the Nab. At first he could learn nothing abouther; but after some time he met a man who had watched her getting underway, and, after she had stood across as if turning up towardsPortsmouth, had seen her, or a vessel exactly like her, keep away andrun past Cowes, in the direction he supposed. One of the revenue-men,who had been on duty in the guard-boat, had boarded her, and her peoplesaid they were bound for Cherbourg. Harcourt found, also, that hercharacter was suspected, and that a revenue-cutter was on the watch forher. This circumstance, he conjectured, if he could fall in with thecutter, would give him the best chance of learning the course she hadsteered. I believe that he ought to have called in the aid of the law,but of that he did not think; as soon as he found that he could gain nofurther information about the "Rover," he came to assist us in gettingthe "Amethyst" ready for sea. We also shipped six additional hands, andsome cutlasses and pistols, for we felt certain that, should we fall inwith Sandgate at sea, he would resist an attempt to rescue Emily fromhis power. By twelve o'clock at night our preparations were completed,and we determined, in the first place, to run across to Cherbourg, onthe bare possibility of his having gone there, to complete his ownsupplies for a long voyage. At the same time, we dispatched littleRibbons in the "Dido," to look into every port along the coast, and towait for us at Penzance. Miss Granville, with much judgment, undertookto send to every place to the eastward, and to let Mr Bosley know, thathe might take the proper measures to search for the daring scoundrel. Ineed not say that Harcourt was in a perfect fever of excitement, and wewere little less calm, particularly O'Malley, whose indignation atSandgate's conduct knew no bounds, especially as he had acknowledged himas an acquaintance, and introduced him to Harcourt.
Little Ribbons showed that there was something good beneath the mass ofabsurdity, vanity, and vulgarity which enveloped him, by the eagernesswith which he undertook the task we had assigned him; although he musthave been pretty well convinced that he had no chance of winning thehand of the young lady, and we verily believed that, should he fall inwith Sandgate, he would attack him, even with the fearful odds he wouldhave against him. The weather was clear, and the stars and moon shonebright from the sky, as, with a fine fresh breeze from the eastward, andan ebb tide, we got under way and ran through the Needles. We thenhauled up, and shaped a course for Cherbourg, for we had no other clewby which to steer than the vague report that the "Rover" had gone there.We thought also that Sandgate would very probably have selected thatplace, as being the nearest French port to the English coast, and oneinto which he might at all times run, and from which he might as easilyescape. For the sake of his victim he would probably go there, in thehopes that she might agree to the object, whatever it might be, whichhad induced him to venture on the atrocious exploit of carrying her off.We had understood that she was an almost portionless girl, so that herfortune could not have been the temptation: in fact, we were completelyin the dark, and it was a subject too delicate and painful to discuss.
The wind held fair, and at daybreak we were running across the Channelat the rate of eight knots an hour. Just before sunrise, when thehorizon is often the clearest, I went aloft to discover if any vesselscoming from the direction we were steering for were in sight, to give meany information for the chase, but not a sail was visible anywhere aheadof us, though several were seen off island. For the next three or fourhours not a cutter was seen, though many square-rigged vessels werestanding down Channel. Almost worn out with mental and physicalexertion, Harcourt threw himself into his berth, while I took charge ofthe deck, and promised to have him called should there be any vessel insight either like the chase or from which we might gain any informationabout her. He had not been asleep an hour, when he heard a hail, andjumping on deck, just as O'Malley was coming to call him, he found thatwe were hove-to close to a revenue-cutter, and that I had ordered a boatto be lowered ready to go on board her. He jumped in with me, and inanother minute we were on the deck of the cutter. Her commander wasexcessively courteous, and ready to do every thing we might propose tooverhaul the "Rover." From him I found that the information I hadgained about Sandgate was correct; and he told us that, according to hisorders, he had followed the "Rover" at a distance, so as not to excitesuspicion, and that he had seen her yesterday afternoon enter CherbourgHarbour, where, supposing she would remain for some time, he had againstood off during the night.
"Then to a certainty she is still there!" exclaimed Harcourt, in a tonewhich somewhat surprised the officer.
The plan he instantly formed was to run in directly it was dusk, whilethe cutter remained in the offing, and to get alongside the "Rover"before Sandgate could have time to carry Miss Manners on shore. We thusshould not lose much time, for the wind had fallen considerably, and wecould scarcely expect to reach the mouth of the harbour before dark.The best formed plans are, however, liable to failure, particularly atsea; and as we got well in with the land, just put off PointQuerqueville, it fell almost calm. There was still, however, a lightair at times, which sent the cutter through the water, so that bydegrees we drew in with the shore. We must have been for some timevisible from the heights before it grew dark. The flood-tide was nowsweeping us up to the eastward, and before we could get through thewestern passage we were carried past the breakwater. The large fireslighted by the workmen engaged on that stupendous work dazzled our eyesso much, that we were almost prevented from seeing the entrance, andthey totally disabled us from watching the western passage. At last,however, the wind freshened up, and we ran inside the breakwater. Themoon had by this time risen, and we could see across that fine sheet ofwater, which, in extent and the shelter it affords to a fleet, rivalsPlymouth Sound. Harcourt's impatience was excessi
ve. We did notanchor; but as there was a light wind we kept cruising about among themen-of-war and large steamers lying there, in the hopes of finding the"Rover" brought up among them. In vain, however, did we search; she wasnowhere to be seen. At last we determined to go on shore, and endeavourto learn whether the "Rover" had been there at all. Pulling up betweentwo fine stone piers, we landed at the end of the inner harbour, andrepaired at once to the house of Monsieur M--, who obligingly assistedus in making the inquiries I desired. After some time we met a personwho asserted that he had observed the "Rover" at anchor that veryevening.
"Even with this light you can see her from the end of the pier," heobserved; "come, I will show you where she is."
We hurried to the spot, but the space where she had been was vacant.That she had not entered the inner harbour, Monsieur M--was certain, asshe could not have come without his knowledge. Baffled, but stilldetermined to continue the pursuit, we returned on board; and I wasconvinced that we had been seen from the shore before dark, and thatSandgate, suspecting we had come in quest of him, had slipped out by thewestern entrance while we were still outside the breakwater.
On making inquiries among other vessels anchored near where the "Rover"had lain, we found that, as we suspected, a vessel answering herdescription had got under way at the very time we supposed, and hadstood off to the westward. After holding another consultation, we cameto the conclusion that Sandgate would certainly avoid the open sea, andkeep along the French coast, and we thought it probable would make forJersey or Guernsey. At all events, thither we determined to run. Againwe were under sail, and by the time we got clear of the harbour the windhad shifted round to the westward of north, and as the ebb had thenmade, we suspected Sandgate would take advantage of the tide, and runthrough the Race of Alderney. We calculated, however, that by the timewe could reach it, we should have the full force of that rapid currentin our favour, whereas he would only have the commencement of it. Noone on board turned in, for the weather was too threatening, the passagewe were about to attempt too dangerous, and the time too exciting, toallow us to think of sleep.
As we brought the bright light of Cape La Hogue a little before thelarboard beam, the wind increased considerably, and we began to feel theshort, broken sea of the Race. Every moment it increased; rapidly thewater rose and fell in white-topped pyramids, leaping high above ourbulwarks, and threatening to tumble on board and overwhelm us with itsweight. The hatches were battened down and every thing well secured ondeck; and well it was so, for sea after sea came leaping over the side,now on the quarter, then over the bows, and now again amidships. It wasimpossible to say where it would strike the vessel, for not the beststeering could avoid it; yet on we flew with the fast rising breeze,rolling and pitching and tumbling, the water foaming and roaring, andliterally drenching us with spray even when we avoided the heavier seas.The moon, too, which shone forth on the wild tumult of waters, ratherincreased the awfulness of the scene, by exhibiting to us the dangerswhich surrounded us on every side; yet so clear were the lights, both ofLa Hogue on the left and the Casquets on the right, that we had nodifficulty in steering our course. The dark outline of the small islandof Sark at last appeared in sight on the starboard beam, and in order toavoid the wild shoal of the Dirouilles Rocks, towards which the earlyflood sets, we hauled up more to the westward.
Still urged onward by the terrific force of the tide, we continuedplunging through the mad waters, till daybreak showed us the Island ofJersey right ahead, and Guernsey on our weather beam. So strong was thecurrent, however, that we had drifted considerably to the east, and inthe grey light of the morning, not a cable's length from us, appearedthe dark heads of the Dirouilles, while on the starboard hand the sea,in masses of foam, was breaking over the equally terrific rocks of thePaternosters. The wind had now got so far to the westward, and the tideset so strong against us, that finding we were drifting bodily toleeward, we ran close in-shore, and dropped our anchor in a romanticlittle cove called Bouley Bay, on the north-east coast of Jersey. Therewas a narrow sandy beach, on which a few boats were drawn up, and anarrow ravine leading down to it, while on either side lofty cliffstowered high above our heads. On the side of the ravine was situated asmall hotel, the master of which came off to us as soon as he saw usstanding into the bay.
To the first question I put to him, as to whether he had seen any vesseloff the coast that morning, he told us that at break of day he had beento the top of the cliffs, and had observed a cutter standing between thePaternosters and the land, and that he thought it probable she would beable to double Cape Grosnez before the tide made against her, in whichcase she would have little difficulty in getting round to St. Helier's,if she happened to be bound there.
"If she is, we shall catch her to a certainty," exclaimed O'Malley; andhe forthwith volunteered to go across the island to try what he coulddo; and I proposed accompanying him, as I thought I might be ofassistance in getting hold of Sandgate. Of course Harcourt gladlyassented to our offer, although he determined himself to remain in thevessel.
I have not described Harcourt's feelings all this time;--his hopes andfears, his eager excitement, as he thought the "Rover" was within hisreach--his dread lest his Emily should have suffered injury or alarm--they were too intense for utterance.
As soon as the "Amethyst" had made sail, O'Malley and I started awayacross the little island as fast as our legs could carry us. We shouldhave hired horses or a carriage, but none were to be procured at thequiet little spot where we landed, so we resolved to trust to our ownfeet, of which we had by no means lost the use, as the way we made themmove over the ground gave full evidence. As soon as we reached St.Helier's, we hurried down to the pier, when, to our infinitesatisfaction, we beheld the "Rover" at anchor in the outer roads. Weimmediately hurried off to the authorities to give information, and toprocure assistance to rescue Miss Manners. On our way we suddenly cameupon the villain of whom we were in search,--Sandgate himself.Something made him turn round, and he caught sight of us. Without amoment's hesitation he darted off towards the quay, where a boat was inwaiting, and jumping into her, pulled towards the cutter. He had everyreason to fear, we learned; for on his appearance in the morning he hadbeen narrowly watched by the revenue officers, who suspected that somesmuggling business had attracted him to the island. Such in fact wasthe case, as he had gone there to settle with his agents, and to procurecertain stores before he commenced the long voyage he contemplated,little thinking that we should so soon have been able to track himthither. Before we had been able to engage a boat he had got on board,and the "Rover" was under way for the westward. I have an idea thatsome of the boatmen were in league with him. At all events, they seemedto think that it was their business to impede us as much as possible,and to do their best to help the hunted fox to escape. Such a feelingis very general among that class. The more eagerness and impatience weexhibited, the more difficulties they threw in our way; and it was nottill the "Rover" was well clear of the harbour, and pursuit hopeless,that we could obtain a boat. We got one at last, and jumping into it,asked the men to pull away out of the harbour. Much to their vexationand to our satisfaction, we in a short time caught sight of our friend'scutter. She had just got off Elizabeth Castle, which stands on a rockypoint, isolated at high water from the mainland. She hove-to, and in afew minutes we jumped on board, and gave Harcourt the information we hadobtained on shore, and pointed out in the distance a sail which we hadlittle doubt was the "Rover."
Harcourt then told us that after we had started overland, he hadremained two hours at anchor, and then shipping an old pilot, in a Welshwig, who only spoke Jersey French--the oddest _patois_ he ever heard--hegot under way for St. Helier's. The "Amethyst" beat along that rockyand lofty coast, inside the Paternosters, till she rounded CapeGrosnez--which, as she had had a fresh breeze, she had done without muchdifficulty. She was then kept away, passing the rugged and threateningrocks of the Corbiere, rounding which with a flowing sheet, she wash
eaded in among an archipelago of hidden dangers towards the town of St.Helier's. As they were passing the Corbiere, Harcourt observed a cutterstanding away to the westward, as if she had come out of St. Aubin'sBay. He pointed her out to Griffiths, but she was too far off todistinguish what she was, and he was unwilling to make chase till we hadascertained whether Sandgate had been there. He accordingly stood on,eager to receive our report.
Our first act was to tumble the pilot into the shore-boat, and makechase after the cutter Harcourt had before observed. She had a verylong start, but we trusted to the chances the winds and tides mightafford us to come up with her--yet we could not but see that she hadmany more in her favour to aid her escape. There were, however, stillsome hours of daylight, and as long as we could keep her in sight, weneed not despair. From the course she was steering, as much to thewestward as she could lay up with the wind as it then stood, we feltcertain that our worst suspicions would be realised, and that Sandgatefully intended to run across to America, or to some other distant land.
Never had the "Amethyst" before carried such a press of sail as she nowstaggered under; but little would it have availed us had the wind, whichcame in uncertain currents, not shifted round to the northward, whilethe "Rover" still had the breeze as before. It continued, however,increasing till we could no longer bear our gaff-topsail, and so muchhad we overhauled the chase, that, at sundown, we were within two milesof her. Now came the most critical time; as before the moon rose itwould scarcely be possible to keep her in sight, and Sandgate would notfail to profit by the darkness if he could, to effect his escape--he,also, having the wind exactly as we had it, now sailed as fast as wedid. So exciting had become the chase, even to those least interestedin it, that every man kept the deck, and with so many well-practisedeyes, Argus-like, fixed on her, any movement she made would scarcelyescape us. The sky was clear, and the stars shone bright, but the windwhistled shrilly, and the foam flew over us, as the little craft,heeling over on her gunwale, plunged and tore through the foaming andtumbling waves. Thus passed hour after hour. If the "Rover" hauled up,so did we; if she kept away, the movement was instantly seen andfollowed by us, though all the time, as O'Malley observed, he could not,for the life of him, make out any thing but a dark shadow with ascarcely defined form stalking like an uneasy ghost before us; as toknow what she was about, it passed his comprehension how we discoveredit. That she was, however, increasing her distance we became at lengthaware, by the difficulty we experienced in seeing her, and at last theshadowy form faded into air.
Every one on board uttered an exclamation of disappointment, and someswore deeply, if not loudly.
"Can no one make her out?" Harcourt asked.
The seamen peered through the darkness.
"There she is on the weather-bow," sung out one.
"I think I see her right ahead still," said another.
"No: I'm blowed if that ain't her on the lee-bow there," was theexclamation of a third.
One thing only was certain, she was not to be seen. We determined,however, to keep the same course we had been before steering, and as themoon would rise shortly, we trusted again to sight her. The interveninghour was one of great anxiety; and when, at last, the crescent moon,rising from her watery bed, shed her light upon the ocean, we lookedeagerly for the chase. Right ahead there appeared a sail, but what shewas it was impossible to say; she might be the "Rover," or she might bea perfect stranger. On still we steered due west, for, although we feltthat our chance of overtaking Sandgate was slight indeed, yet our onlyhope remained in keeping a steady course. Thus we continued all night;and the moment the first streaks of light appeared in the sky, Harcourtwas at the masthead eagerly looking out for the chase. Far as the eyecould reach, not a sail was to be seen; there was no sign of land,nothing was visible but the grey sky and the lead-coloured water. StillHarcourt remained at his post, for he dared not acknowledge to himselfthat Emily was lost to him for ever. In vain he strained his eyes, tillthe sun rose and cast his beams along the ocean. A white objectglistened for a moment ahead; it might have been the wing of a sea-fowl,but as he watched, there it remained, and he felt certain that it wasthe head of a cutter's mainsail. Taking the bearings of the sail, hedescended on deck, and, as a last hope, steered towards it, sending ahand on the cross-trees to watch her movements. The wind fortunately,as it proved to us, was variable, and thus we again neared the chase.As we rose her hull, Griffiths pronounced her to be of the size of the"Rover," if not the "Rover" herself.
"Well, we'll do our best to overhaul her," I exclaimed; "set thegaff-topsail. The craft must bear it."
And, pressed to her utmost, the little "Amethyst" tore through thefoaming waves. Thus we went on the whole day, till towards the eveningthe chase again ran us completely out of sight. The wind, also, wasfalling away, and at sundown there was almost a complete calm. Stillthe vessel had steerage-way, so we kept the same course as before. Atlength I threw myself on a sofa in the cabin. I know not how long I hadslept, when I was awoke by feeling the yacht once more springinglivelily through the water. I jumped on deck without awaking O'Malley,who was on the opposite sofa. The morning was just breaking, and, bythe faint light of the early dawn, I perceived a large dark objectfloating at some distance ahead of us.
"What is that?" I exclaimed to Griffiths, who had charge of the deck.
"A dismasted ship, sir," was the answer. "I have seen her for sometime, and as she lay almost in our course, I steered for her, as Ithought as how you'd like to overhaul her, sir."
"You did well," I answered. "Rouse all hands, and see a boat clear forboarding her. But what is that away there just beyond the wreck? Byheavens, it's the `Rover,' and becalmed too. Grant the wind may notreach her!"
Awoke by hearing the people called, Harcourt and O'Malley were by myside. I pointed out the wreck and the cutter to them.
"Well," exclaimed O'Malley, "the big ship there may still float, but thebreeze which has been sending us along, may at last reach the sails ofthe `Rover;' so I propose we make sure of her first."
To our joy, however, we found that the wind, instead of reaching her,was gradually falling away, and by the time we were up with the wreck,the sea was as calm as a sheet of glass. We were in hopes also thatkeeping, as we had done, the wreck between us and the "Rover," we mighthave escaped observation, and in the grey light of morning we might comeupon her unawares. There were several people on board the ship, whocheered as they saw assistance at hand; and reason they had to be glad,for from the clear streams of water which gushed from her sides, theyhad evidently great labour to keep her afloat. No time was to be lost,the gig was soon in the water, and Harcourt, O'Malley, and I, with eightmen fully armed, pulled towards the "Rover," while old Griffiths, themaster, boarded the ship in the other boat. My friend's heart beatquick as we neared the cutter. She was the "Rover," there was no doubt,but whether Sandgate would attempt to defend his vessel was thequestion. A moment more would solve it. We dashed alongside; the men,stowed away in the bottom of the boat, sprang up, and before the crew ofthe "Rover" had time to defend themselves, we were on board. Except theman at the helm and the look-out forward, the watch on deck were allasleep, and those two, as it afterwards appeared, were glad to see usapproach. The noise awoke Sandgate, who, springing on deck, foundhimself confronted by O'Malley and me, while half his crew were in thepower of my people, and the fore-hatch was battened over the rest. Apistol he had seized in his hurry was in his hand; he pointed it at mybreast, but it missed fire; on finding which, he dashed it down on thedeck, and before we could seize him, retreated forward, where some ofhis crew rallied round him. With fear and hope alternately racking hisbosom, Harcourt hurried below. He pronounced his own name; the oldnurse opened the door of the main cabin--a fair girl was on her knees atprayer. She sprang up, and seeing him, forgetful of all else, fellweeping in his arms. I shall pass over all she told him, except thatSandgate had behaved most respectfully to her, informing her, however
,that he should take her to the United States, where she must consent tomarry him, and that, on their return to England, he would put her inpossession of a large fortune, to which by some means he had discoveredshe was heiress, and which had induced him to run off with her. It was,I afterwards learned, his last stake, as the reduction of duties nolonger enabled him to make a profit by smuggling; and as he had no othermeans of supporting his extravagant habits, he was a ruined man.
Sandgate's people seemed resolved to stand by him, but not to proceed toextremities, or to offer any opposition to our carrying off Miss Mannersand her attendant. He evidently was doing all he could to induce themto support him; and I believe, had he possessed the power, he would,without the slightest compunction, have hove us all over board, andcarried off his prize in spite of us. As it was, he could do nothingbut gnash his teeth and scowl at us with unutterable hatred. Handingthe young lady and the old nurse into the boat, we pulled away from the"Rover." Of course, we should have wished to have secured Sandgate; butas we had come away without any legal authority to attempt so doing, wesaw that it would be wiser to allow him to escape. We should probablyhave overpowered him and his lawless crew, but then the females mighthave been hurt in the scuffle, and we were too glad to recover themuninjured to think at the moment of the calls of justice.
What was our surprise, as Harcourt handed her on to the deck of theyacht, to see her rush forward into the arms of an old gentleman whostood by the companion-hatch.
"My own Emily!" he exclaimed, as he held her to his heart.
It was Colonel Manners.
"My father!" burst from her lips.
A young lady was reclining on the hatch near him; she rose as she sawEmily, and they threw themselves on each other's neck.
"My sister!" they both exclaimed, and tears of joy started to theireyes.
There were several other strangers on board, who, by Griffiths'exertions, had been removed from the wreck. Our boats were busilyemployed in removing the others, for there was no time to lose, as theship was settling fast in the water. All the people being placed insafety, we proceeded to remove the articles of greatest value andsmallest bulk on board the two vessels, which became then very muchloaded, when, a breeze springing up, another sail hove in sight: shebore down towards us, and, in a short time, the little fat figure of MrWarwick Ribbons graced the deck of the "Amethyst." His delight atseeing Emily in safety was excessive, but, though he looked sentimental,he said nothing; and, when he heard that the colonel was alive, and thatthere was another sister in the case, his face elongated considerably.From motives of charity, I hurried him, with several of the passengersand part of the cargo, on board the "Dido," and the three vessels madesail together for Falmouth. Just as we were leaving the ship, a deepgroan issued from her hold, and, her head inclining towards the water,she slowly glided down into the depths of the ocean. Landing all ourpassengers at Falmouth, except the colonel and his daughters, we had aquick run to Cowes. Colonel Manners established his claim to hisproperty. O'Malley had made such good use of his time during thevoyage, that he won the heart and hand of Julia Manners; while, as maybe suspected, Emily owned, that if Harcourt loved her, their affectionwas reciprocal; and the same day saw them joined respectively togetherin holy matrimony.
Such was the result of my friend Harcourt's summer cruise, and I thinkyou will all agree that the narrative is not altogether unworthy of thename of a romance. The last time I saw little Ribbons he was on boardthe "Dido," which lay high and dry on the mud off Ryde, and I afterwardsheard that he married a Miss Bosley, who, I conclude, was a daughter ofold Bosley's.
"And what became of the rascal Sandgate?" exclaimed Hearty; "by Neptune!I should like to come up with the fellow, and to lay my craft alongsidehis till I had blown her out of the water. Fancy a scoundrel in thenineteenth century venturing to run off with a young lady!" We laughedat his vehemence. Hearty always spoke under a generous impulse.
"Oh, it's not the first case of the sort I have heard of," saidCarstairs; "more than one has occurred within the last few years inIreland; but I agree with Hearty, that I should like to catch MrSandgate, for the sake of giving him a good thrashing. Though I hadn'tthe pleasure of knowing Miss Manners, every man of honour should take asatisfaction in punishing such a scoundrel." Bubble and Porpoiseresponded heartily to the sentiment, and so strong a hold did theaccount take of the minds of all the party, that we talked ourselvesinto the idea that it would be our lot to fall in with Sandgate, and toinflict the punishment he had before escaped. "Will Bubble had taken anactive part in fitting out the yacht, and in selecting most of the crew;he consequently was on rather more intimate terms with them than therest of us; not that it was the intimacy which breeds contempt, but hetook a kindly interest in their welfare, and used to talk to them abouttheir families, and the past incidents of their lives. Indeed, under asuperficial coating of frivolity and egotism, I discovered that Bubblepossessed a warm and generous heart,--fully alive to the calls ofhumanity. I do not mean to say that the coating was not objectionable;he would have been by far a superior character without it. Indeed,perhaps all I ought to say is, that he was capable of better things thanthose in which he too generally employed his time. He returned aft oneday from a visit forward, and told us he had discovered that several ofthe men were first-rate yarn-spinners. The master," said he, "seems acapital hand; but old Sleet beats all the others hollow. If it wouldnot be subversive of all discipline, I wish you would come forward andhear them in the forecastle as one caps the other's tale with somethingmore wonderful still."
"I don't think that would quite do," said Hearty; "if we could catchthem on deck spinning their yarns, it would be very well. But, at allevents, I will invite Snow, into the cabin and consult him."
According to Hearty's proposal, he invited Snow down. "Mr Snow," saidHearty, "we hear that some of the people forward are not bad hands atspinning yarns, and, if you could manage it, we should be glad to hearthem, but it would never do to send for them aft for the purpose."
"You are right, sir, they would become tongue-tied to a certainty,"answered Snow; "just let me alone, and I will manage to catch some ofthem in the humour. Several of them have been engaged, one time oranother, in the free-trade, and have some curious things to tell aboutit."
"But I thought smuggling had been knocked on the head long ago,"observed Hearty.
"Oh, no, sir! of late years a very considerable blow has been struckagainst it; but even now some people find inducements to follow it,"answered the master. "I found it out to be a bad trade many years ago,and very few of those I know who still carry it on do more than live,and live very badly too; some of them spending many a month out of theyear in prison, and that is not where an honest man would wish to be."
However, I have undertaken to chronicle the adventures of the "Frolic,"and of those who dwelt on board her, so that I must not devote too muchof our time to the yarns, funs, witticisms, and anecdotes and goodsayings with which we banished any thing like tedium during our voyage.No blue devils could stand for an instant such powerful exorcisms.
It was not, however, till some time after this that we benefited bySnow's inquiries among the crew.