chances of her living a year are somewhatremote."
Poor Mr Hall was silent and sad. He would soon be a lonely man indeed,with none to comfort him save little Matty, and she would grow up andleave him too.
Shortly after the arrival of the _Erebus_ at California, a sensationalheading to a Scotch newspaper caught the eye of the old Laird McLeod, ashe sat with his daughter one morning at breakfast:
"Remarkable Discovery. The Supposed Murderer of Craig Nicol Found on a Cannibal Island."
The rest of the paragraph was but brief, and detailed only what wealready know. But Annie too had seen it, and almost fainted. And thisvery forenoon, too, Laird Fletcher was coming to McLeod Cottage to askher hand formally from her father.
Already, as I have previously stated, she had given a half-willingconsent. But now her mind was made up. She would tell Fletchereverything, and trust to his generosity. She mentioned to Jeannie, hermaid, what her intentions were.
"I would not utterly throw over Fletcher," said Jeannie. "You neverknow what may happen."
Jeannie was nothing if not canny. Well, Fletcher did call thatforenoon, and she saw him before he could speak to her old uncle--sawhim alone. She showed him the paper and telegram. Then she boldly toldhim that while her betrothed, whom she believed entirely innocent of thecrime laid at his door, was in grief and trouble, all thoughts ofmarriage were out of the question entirely.
"And you love this young man still?"
"Ay, Fletcher," she said, "and will love him till all the seas run dry."
The Laird gave her his hand, and with tears running down her cheeks, shetook it.
"We still shall be friends," he said.
"Yes," she cried; "and, oh, forgive me if I have caused you grief. I ama poor, unhappy girl!"
"Every cloud," said Fletcher, "has a silver lining."
Then he touched her hand lightly with his lips, and next moment he wasgone.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
THE CRUISE OF THE "VULCAN."
The next news concerning what was called the terrible Deeside murder wasthat a detective and two policemen had started for New York, that thencethey would journey overland to San Francisco, and there interview thecaptain of the _Erebus_ in order to get the latitude and longitude ofthe Isle of Flowers. They would then charter a small steamer and bringthe accused home for trial--and for justice.
It is a long and somewhat weary journey, this crossing America by train,but the detective and his companions were excited by the adventure theywere engaged on, and did not mind the length of the way.
The _Vulcan_, which they finally chartered at 'Frisco, was a small, butclean and pretty steamer, that was used for taking passengers (a fewselect ones only) to view the beauties of the Fiji Islands.
Many a voyage had she made, but was as sturdy and strong as ever.
It must be confessed, however, that Master Mariner Neaves did nothalf-like his present commission, but the liberality of the payprevailed, and so he gave in. His wife and her maid, who acted also asstewardess, had always accompanied him to sea, and she refused to beleft on this expedition.
So away they sailed at last, and soon were far off in the blue Pacific,steering southwards with a little west in it.
And now a very strange discovery was brought to light. They had beenabout a day and a half at sea, when, thinking he heard a slight noise inthe store-room, Captain Neaves opened it. To his intense surprise, outwalked a beautiful little girl of about seven. She carried in her handa grip-sack, and as she looked up innocently in Neaves's face, she saidnaively:
"Oh, dear, I is so glad we are off at last. I'se been so very lonely."
"But, my charming little stowaway, who on earth are you, and how did youcome here?"
"Oh," she answered, "I am Matty. I just runned away, and I'se goin'south with you to see poor Regie Grahame. That's all, you know."
"Well, well, well!" said Neaves wonderingly. "A stranger thing thanthis surely never happened on board the saucy _Vulcan_, from the day shefirst was launched!" Then he took Matty by the hand, and laughing inspite of himself, gave her into the charge of his wife. "We can't turnback," he explained; "that would be unlucky. She must go with us."
"Of course," said Matty, nodding her wise wee head. "You mustn't goback."
And so it was settled. But Matty became the sunshine and life of all onboard. Even the detective caught the infection, and the somewhatsolemn-looking and important policeman as well. All were in love withMatty in less than a week. If Neaves was master of the _Vulcan_, Mattywas mistress.
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Well, when that ominous whistle was heard in the bay of Flower Island,although utterly shaken and demoralised for a time, Reginald soonrecovered. Poor Oscar, the Newfoundland, had laid his great head on hismaster's knees and was gazing up wonderingly but pityingly into hisface.
"Oh, Queen Bertha," said Reginald sadly, as he placed a hand on thedog's great head, "will--will you keep my faithful friend till all isover?"
"That I shall, and willingly. Nothing shall ever come over him; andmind," she said, "I feel certain you will return to bring him away."
Next morning broke sunny and delightful. All the earth in the valleywas carpeted with flowers; the trees were in their glory. Reginaldalone was unhappy. At eight o'clock, guided by two natives, thedetectives and policemen were seen fording the river, on their way tothe palace. Reginald had already said good-bye to the Queen and hisbeautiful brown-eyed dog.
"Be good, dear boy, and love your mistress. I will come back again inspirit if not in body. Good-bye, my pet, good-bye."
Then he and Dickson went quietly down to meet the police. The detectivestopped and said "Good-morning" in a kindly, sympathetic tone.
"Good-morning," said Reginald sadly. "I am your prisoner."
The policeman now pulled out the handcuffs. The detective held up hishand.
"If you, Grahame," he said, "will assure me on your oath that you willmake no attempt to escape or to commit suicide, you shall have freedomon board--no irons, no chains."
The prisoner held up his hand, and turned his eyes heavenwards.
"As God is my last Judge, sir," he said, "I swear before Him I shallgive you not the slightest trouble. I know my fate, and can now faceit."
"Amen," said the detective. "And now we shall go on board."
Reginald took one last longing, lingering look back at the palace; theQueen was there, and waved him farewell; then, though the tears weresilently coursing down his cheeks, he strode on bravely by Dickson'sside.
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Arrived on board, to his intense surprise, Matty was the first to greethim. She fairly rushed into his arms, and he kissed her over and overagain. Then she told him all her own little story.
Now the men came off with their boxes, and Dickson with his traps. The_Vulcan_ stayed not two hours altogether after all were on board. Steamwas got up, and away she headed back once more for 'Frisco, under fullsteam. I think that Reginald was happier now than he had been formonths. The bitterness of death seemed to be already past, and all helonged for was rest, even should that rest be in the grave. Moreover,he was to all intents and purposes on parole. Though he took his mealsin his own cabin, and though a sentry was placed at the door everynight, he was permitted to walk the deck by day, and go wherever heliked, and even to play with Matty.
"I cannot believe that the poor young fellow is guilty of the terriblecrime laid to his charge," said Mrs Neaves to her husband one day.
"Nor I either, my dear; but we must go by the evidence against him, andI do not believe he has the slightest chance of life."
"Terrible!"
Yet Mrs Neaves talked kindly to him for all that when she met him onthe quarter-deck; but she never alluded to the dark cloud that hung sothreateningly over his life. The more she talked to him, the more shebelieved in his i
nnocence, and the more she liked him, although shetried hard not to.
Matty was Reginald's almost constant companion, and many an otherwiselonely hour she helped to cheer and shorten.
He had another companion, however--his Bible. All hope for this worldhad fled, and he endeavoured now to make his peace with the God whom hehad so often offended and sinned against.
Captain Dickson and he often sat together amidships or on thequarter-deck, and the good skipper of the unfortunate _Wolverine_ usedto talk about all they should do together when the cloud dissolved intothin air, and Reginald was once more free.
"But, ah, Dickson," said the prisoner, "that cloud will not dissolve.It is closed aboard of me now, but it will come lower and lower, andthen--it will burst,