Chapter LIII
Trial and execution of two of the principal personages in our history.
We left Sir Robert Barclay on the deck of the cutter, the ladies andwomen sent down below, and Mr Vanslyperken on the point of being draggedaft by two of Sir Robert's men. The crew of the _Yungfrau_, at the time,were on the lower deck, some assisting the wounded men, others talkingwith Jemmy Salisbury and his wife, whom they were astonished to findamong the assailants.
"Why, Jemmy, how did you get a berth among those chaps?"
"I'll tell you," said Moggy, interrupting: "when he was last atPortsmouth, they heard him playing his fiddle and singing, and they tooksuch a fancy to him, that they were determined to have him to amuse themin the cave. So one evening, they _kidnapped_ him, took him away by mainforce, and kept him a prisoner ever since."
"That's carrying the joke rather too far," observed one of the men.
"Mein Gott! yes," replied the corporal.
"But I am at liberty again now at all events," replied Jemmy, taking thecue from his wife; "and if that chap, Vanslyperken, don't command thecutter any more, which I've a notion he will not, I shall enter asboatswain--heh, Dick."
"Yes," replied Short, who was swinging in his hammock.
"Well--when I found that Jemmy couldn't be found, that my dear darlingduck of a husband--my jewel, a box of diamonds (arn't you my Jemmy),didn't I tear my hair, and run about the streets, like a mad woman,"continued Moggy. "At last I met with Nancy Corbett, whose husband is oneof the gang, and she told me where he was, fiddle and all, and Ipersuaded her to let me go to him, and that's why we both are here."
This was a good invention of Moggy's, and as there was nobody who tookthe trouble to disprove it, it was received as not the least apocryphal.But now Mr Vanslyperken was dragged past them by two of theconspirators, and all the men of the _Yungfrau_ followed on deck, to seewhat was to take place.
When Mr Vanslyperken had been brought aft, his legs tottered, and hecould hardly stand. His face was livid, and his lips white with fear,and he knew too well that he had little mercy to expect.
"Now, sir," said Sir Robert, with a stern air, "hear the accusationagainst you, for although we may be lawless, we will still be just. Youvoluntarily entered into our service, and received our pay. You were oneof us, with only this difference, that we have taken up the cause fromprinciple and loyalty, and you joined us from mercenary motives. Stillwe kept our faith with you; for every service performed, you were welland honourably paid. But you received our money and turned against us;revealed our secrets, and gave information to your government, by whichthat gentleman" (pointing to Ramsay) "and many others, had not theyfortunately received timely notice, would have perished by the gibbet.Now, sir, I wish to know, what you can bring forward in your defence,what have you to urge that you should not die the death which you sotraitorously prepared for others."
"Die!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, "no--no--mercy, sir--mercy. I am not fitto die."
"Few are--but this is certain--that a villain like you is not fit tolive."
"On my knees, I ask mercy," cried the frightened wretch, dropping down."Mr Ramsay, speak for me."
"I will speak," replied Ramsay, "but not for you, I will show you, thateven if you were to escape us, you would still be hung; for all yourextracts of the despatches, I have, with full explanation, put into thehands of the English government. Do you expect mercy from them--theyhave not showed much as yet."
"O God--O God!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, throwing himself down on thedeck in despair.
"Now, my lads, you have heard the charges against this man, and alsothat he has no defence to offer, what is your sentence?"
"Death!" exclaimed the conspirators.
"You men, belonging to the cutter, you have heard that this man hasbetrayed the present government of England, in whose pay and service hewas at the time--what is your opinion?"
Hereupon, Obadiah Coble hitched up his trousers, and said, "Why, as amatter of opinion, I agrees with you, sir, whomsoever you may be."
"Mein Gott! yes, sir," exclaimed the corporal.
And all the crew cried out together, "Death--death!" which, by-the-bye,was very mutinous.
"You perceive that you are doubly condemned as a double traitor," saidSir Robert. "So prepare to die; the religion you profess I know not, butthe time you will be allowed to make your peace with your God isfifteen minutes."
"Oh!" groaned Vanslyperken, with his face to the deck.
"Up there, my lads, and get a whip on the yard-arm," said Ramsay.
Some of his party went to obey the order, and they were assisted by theseamen of the _Yungfrau_. But while they were getting the whip ready onthe starboard, Jemmy Ducks was very quietly employed getting another onthe larboard yard-arm, which nobody took notice of.
As soon as the whip, and the cord with the hangman's noose made fast toit, were all ready, it was reported to Sir Robert by Corporal VanSpitter, who stepped up to him with his usual military salute. SirRobert took off his hat in return. His watch had been held in his hand,from the time that he had passed sentence upon Vanslyperken, who stillremained prostrate on the deck.
"It is my duty to inform you, sir, that but five minutes are left ofthe time awarded to you," said Sir Robert to Vanslyperken.
"Five minutes!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, jumping up from the deck, "butfive minutes--to die in five minutes," continued he, looking up withhorror at the rope at the yard-arm, and the fatal noose at the end ofit, held in the hand of Corporal Van Spitter. "Stop, I have gold--plentyof gold--I can purchase my life."
"Kingdoms would not purchase it," said Sir Robert, scornfully.
"Oh!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, wringing his hands, "must I leave all mygold?"
"You have but two minutes, sir," observed Sir Robert. "Let the rope beput round his neck."
This office was performed by Corporal Van Spitter. The corporal wasquite an amateur.
"Mercy, mercy," cried Vanslyperken, again falling on his knees, andholding up his hands.
"Call upon Heaven for mercy, you have but one minute left."
But here an interruption took place.
A female made her appearance on the other side of the deck, dragging, bya cord, the hero of our novel, Snarleyyow, who held back with all hispower, jerking his head to the right and to the left, but it was of nouse, he was dragged opposite to where Vanslyperken knelt. As the readermay guess, this person was Smallbones, who had tied on a bonnet, andmuffled up his face, so as not to be observed when he first went onboard. Jemmy Ducks now assisted, and the whip on the larboard yard-armwas made fast to a cord with a running noose, for the hanging ofthe cur.
The sight roused Vanslyperken. "My dog!" exclaimed he, "woman, leavethat dog alone--who are you that dare touch my dog?"
The female turned round, threw off her bonnet and handkerchief andexhibited to the terrified lieutenant, the face of the supposed departedSmallbones.
"Smallbones!" exclaimed the crew of the _Yungfrau_ in a breath.
"God of mercy--help me, God of mercy!" cried Vanslyperken, aghast.
"I suppose that you do come for to go to know me now, anyhow," saidSmallbones.
"Hath the sea given up its dead?" replied Vanslyperken, in a hollowvoice.
"No, it arn't, 'cause why? I never was a drowned," replied Smallbones;"no thanks to you, though; but if so be as I supposes, you be a going tobe hung--as I'm a good Christian, I'll forgive you--that is, if you behung, you know."
Vanslyperken, who now perceived that Smallbones had been by some miraclepreserved, recovered himself.
"If you forgive me," replied Vanslyperken, "then pray do not ill-treatmy dog."
"I'se not forgiven him, anyhow--I owes him enough, and now I'll have hisaccount settled, by gum. When you goes up there, he goes up here, assure as I'm Peter Smallbones."
"Be merciful!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, who, strange to say, forgot hisown miseries in pleading for his darling cur.
"He be a convicted traitor, and
he shall die, by gum!" cried Smallbones,smacking his fist into the palm of his hand.
During the conversation, the time allotted to Vanslyperken had longexpired, but the interest occasioned by it had inclined Sir Robert towait till it was over.
"Enough," cried Sir Robert, "your time is too long expired. Commend yoursoul to God--let the rope be manned."
"Now Jemmy, stand by to toddle forward," cried Smallbones.
"One moment--I ask but one moment," cried Vanslyperken, much agitated,"only one moment, sir."
"For what?"
"To kiss my poor dog," replied Vanslyperken, bursting into tears;strange and almost ridiculous as was the appeal, there was a seriousnessand a pathos in Vanslyperken's words and manner, which affected thosewho were present like a gleam of sunshine, this one feeling which wasunalloyed with baser metal shone upon the close of a worthless andwicked life, Sir Robert nodded his head, and Vanslyperken walked withhis rope round his neck over to where the dog was held by Smallbones,bent over the cur and kissed it again and again.
"Enough," cried Sir Robert, "bring him back."
Corporal Van Spitter took hold of Vanslyperken by the arm, and draggedhim to the other side of the deck. The unfortunate wretch was whollyabsorbed in the fate of his cur, who had endeavoured to follow hismaster. His eyes were fixed upon Snarleyyow, and Snarleyyow's were fixedupon his master, thus they were permitted to remain for a few seconds,when Sir Robert gave the signal. Away went the line of men who hadmanned the starboard whip, and away went Jemmy Ducks on the larboardside, and, at the yard-arms' of the cutter were suspended the bodies ofVanslyperken and Snarleyyow.
Thus perished one of the greatest scoundrels, and one of the vilestcurs, which ever existed. They were damnable in their lives, and intheir deaths they were not divided.
By the manuscript records, found in the Jacobite papers, it appears thatthe double execution took place on the 3rd of August in the year of ourLord, 1700.