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^ APPLIED IIVMGE

^653 tast Main Stfeel

Rochester. Ne« rorn U609 USA

(716) «82 - OJOO - Phone

(716) 288 - 5989 - Fox

4 Captain
Raleig

GET

EOiiiiPF

/^-

A CAPTAIN OF RALEIGH*S

tt'ORKS OF

G. E. THEODORE TiOBERTS

^8«-

^ Caplain of %aUlgh '$
Jl Cnalicr of VirgMa
Captain Loot ....
iBfolhtn of 'PeHl . .
Hemming, Iht Jldotnturtt

Comtade* of the TtaiU
'Che lied Feathert .
Flying Vlovet . .

$1.50
1.50
1.50
1.50
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1.50
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1.00

-6Q>-

L. C PACE er COMPANY

53 Beacon Street, Boston. Moms.

/ 'U'lulit v,hi- my lilt iiiiil my sl/if) for von ,' "

A CAPTAIN OF
RALEIGH'S

A TiOMANCE

Q. E. THEODORE ^ROBERTS

JIulhoT of •• Jl CmaHer of Virginia," " Comrades
of the VruiU." " lied Feather*, " etc.

With a frontispiece in full odor
from a painting by

JOHN QOSS

BOSTON ^ L. C "PAGE &
COMPANY ♦ MDCCCCXI

262287

ir-

(.incorporated)

Entered at Stationers' Hall, London

First Impression, February, 191 1
Second Impression, April, 1911

Eteetrctypid and Printed hf
THE COLONIAL PRESS
C. H. SimmtU A* Co., Bolton, U.S.A.

TO HT ISLAND FRIENDS

or NEW FOUNDLAND IN THE NORTH

AND BARBADOS IN THE SOUTH, THIS

INACCURATE ROMANCE OF BISTORT

IS AFFBCTIONATELT DEDICATED

CONTENTS

CHAPTEB

II.

III.

IV.
V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.
XVIII.

XIX.
XX.

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

— •

PAGE

At Home with the Governor 1
Aboard the " Good Fortunis " . . 17
The Passenger and the Miutary Com-
mander 29

A Disturber of the Sea ... 47

Master Coffin Discovers an Old

Friend 59

This Governor's Bad Day ... 74
More of the Governor's Bad Day 88

Two Gentlemen at Odds . .103

The Unwelcome Visitors . . .118
A Fight for Posterity . .13.3

The Fight Continues . . .149

A Friend in Need 163

With the Prisoners 177

Captain Percy to the Rescue .192

On Board the " Jaguar "... 209
Captain Percy Has to Face a Serious

Proposition 223

The Ruined Colony 238

Master Duwaney's Wtll Is Found 2.54

The Executor's Arrival .... 269

The Magic Hour 284

The Duel at Dawn 299

A Taste of Glory 311

Another Case of Kidnapping . . 326
Southward Ho! 338

CAPTAIN OF RALEIGH'S

CHAPTER I

AT HOME WITH THE OOVEBNOB

Master Thomas Duwaney, late an alder-
man of the city of Bristol and now governor,
under the Company of Western Adventurers
and Planters, of the plantation of Bristol's
Hope, sat before his house and gazed east-
ward across the blue waters of Conception
Bay. The winter was gone; and now May
was well advanced and any day might lift
the topsaDs of the Company's ship *' Good
Fortune " above the horizon. Since the mid-
dle of April many vessels had come to the
bays of the Newfoundland — ships of Eng-
land, France, Spain, Portugal and the Neth-
erlands — honest ships and freebooters of
the sea — galleys of twenty tons, and great

- -^

A Captain of Raleigh's

craft with forecastles and poops as high as
houses, of three hundred and even four hun-
dred tons. Around in St. John's (so Du-
waney ha I heard from a Devon shipmaster),
as many as a hundred and twenty sail, great
and small, lay in the harbor on the same

day.

In Conception Bay the fishing was already
going briskly forward. At Guy's Colony two
vessels, with supplies and new colonists, had
already arrived. Captain Mason, the gov-
ernor of G .y's Colony, had sent a boat-load
of flour, dried fruits and wine around to
Bristol's Hope, a gift to Governor Duwaney.
Even now Duwaney had a mug of that wine
at his elbow as he sat in the spring sunshine
in front of his house and gazed seaward.
Now he would lift the silver mug to his lips
and now a great, brass telescope to his eye ;
but alert as was his outlook for the *' Good
Fortune," his slow mind was busy with a
do^en other matters. He had worries great
and small, public and private, to occupy him
— the cares appertaining to the position of
a forerunner of civilization and commerce, of

At Home with the Governor

a magistrate with the powers of life and
death in his hand, of the head of an infant
colony threatened by buccaneers and lawless
fishermen, and of the father of two mother-
less children — and, atop the responsibilities
arising from these honorable situations in
life, the great toe of his left foot was begin-
ning to make itself a factor to be reckoned
with in the ordering of day and day. Gout
had marked him for its own long ago at
municipal banquets, and had come to him, at
last, in this unluxurious outpost of human
activity. So, you see, this stout, middle-aged
man, with his mug of wine, which he should
not have tasted, and his telescope, had the
cares of empire, of the law, of military lead-
ership, of fatherhood and the trials of the
flesh all with him at once. How he main-
tained his fat and (save on occasion) his good
humor, under these trying conditions, baffles
imagination.

A twinge in the offending toe shifted tlie
channel of the governor's thoughts from the
expected ship to the sufferings of three sick
men of the colony. Another twinge brought

A Captain of Raleigh's

the threatening sea-rovers, and the Devon
fishers who denied his authority, to his mind.
Another stab of pain — and purely family
matters occupied his attention. Never were
the governor's mental activities so diversi-
fied as when the gout was prodding at his toe
with its invisible, red-hot lancet. This fam-
ily matter was not of a heartening nature.
It was of his children, who were twins and
now close upon twenty years of age. Their
names were Thomas and Elizabeth. Of
course they had been left behind in the big
house in Bristol, in the care of a maiden aunt,
a capable housekeeper and a trusty man-
servant. The thing that worried the gov-
ernor was Thomas's weakness of spirit and
wit. To a prosperous fellow like Duwaney,
who had dreams of founding a gentle famih
on the rich harvests of his tradings, to have
to acknowledge, — even if but to himself, —
that his only son was lacking in both shrewd-
ness and courage, was a dismal experience.
But, having arrived at this decision in the
autuiiin, he had sent word by the last ship
eastu ard bound for Tom to come to him on

At Home with the Governor

the " Good Fortune," in the spring. He
meant to try to beat some manhood and com-
mon-sense into him, with the help of rough
and stirring events, dangers and exposures,
and young Donald MacAllister. Aye, if the
lad would but take MacAllister for his model,
there would be hope for him. In MacAllis-
ter, who was second in command at Bristol's
Hope, Duwaney saw what he had once hoped
to find in his own son — courage, high spirits,
energy and strength.

It appeared to him hard that these quali-
ties should have been granted to the heir to
a Scotch house of long-established distinction,
and denied to his own son, who required them
as the very foundation on which to rear aloft
the House of Duwaney. In the matter of
worldly gear the MacAllisters of Glenroe
could not compare with ex-Alderman Du-
waney, governor of Bristol's Hope; but that
the MacAllisters outdid him in possessions of
another kind, the governor was the first to
admit.

Duwaney was still thinking of his son when
young MacAllister came to him from down

A Captain of Ralcigh*s

by the edge of the water, wliere he had been
Buperintending the repairing of a boat that
had been damaged by the ice earlier in the
season. The young Scotchman was not
fleshy, but of a strikingly robust appearance.
He stood over six feet high in his heavy sea-
man's boots, was broad of shoulder, lean but
broad of face and long of arm. His eyes
were dark brown; and his hair, which he
wore plainly tied and unpowdered, was also
dark brown, but with a tint of richer color in
it. His sun-tanned brow and cheeks were
freckled, and wind and weather had rough-
ened and reddened the skin on his long nose.
But he had a pleasing look, in spite of these
things — a pleasant smile, a light of more
than ordinary intelligence and honesty in his
eyes, strength in brow and bearing, and an
air of courage and breeding over all. He
wore serviceable clothes, a faded hat, and
carried an axe in his right hand.

Duwaney was glad to have his lieutenant
interrupt his dismal train of thought.

** We have mended the broken boat," said
MacAllister. ** She is tight as a drum."

At Home with the Governor 7

" I wish you could mend my poor foot,
lad," replied the governor.

Donald glanced at the silver mug at the
other's elbow, and smiled.

"Tut! Tutl " exclaimed Duwaney, inter-
preting the glance. - A tun of that thin,
mean wash would do a man no barm save
for the distending of his waistcoat. Pooh!
that will never heat the blood. Go get a
measure of it fo. yourself, lad, and bring it
out here in the sunshine."

The young Scot stepped into the house,
and soon returned with a stoup of the Por-
tugal wine and a three-legged stool. He
seated himself close to the governor.

"The work goes well, sir," he said.
" Five boats are at the fishing this very
minute; Jordan is eased of his colic; Polly
Dawes is recovered of her sore hand, and
Martin, Smith and Paul March are in the
woods cutcing poles for the new stages. If
the ' Good Fortime ' but arrive, and with a
fair passa^o. before the West-countrymen
crowd into ihh bay, 'twill be a hopeful out-
look for the plantation."

A Captain of Raleigh's

The governor nodded. '* Aye, if the ship
would but hasten," he said. *' I am eager
to have the lad Tom ashore here, that we
may clear his brain of some of the foolish-
ness that swashes about in it like bilge-water
in the well of a leaky ship."

*' May I ask, sir, how your son exhibits
this — this lack of solidity of mind of which
you complain? " queried the Scot, politely.

The governor breathed heavily through his
nose and scanned the east with his telescope
before replying. ** He writes verses! —
verses to the moon — aye, and to ancient
Romish goddesses! " he said, thickly.

** Sol " exclaimed MacAllistjr. Then he
smiled. ** But 'tis not such a bad sign, after
all," he said. ** Think it over, sir, and the
na^es of a number of the bravest and most
distinguished gentlemen of our time, who in-
dulge in the same harmless frivolity, will
come to your mind. 'Tis considered a very
polite accomplishiixent. "

** A scurvy trade," said the ex-merchant,
scornfully.

** Not at all, sir," replied MacAJlister. ** I

At Home with the Governor

cannot hold with you there, sir. A most ele-
gant pastime, I assure you, and played by
men of the best breeding and most daring
occupations in life. Who will turn you so
neat a rhyme as a soldier or a sailor! What
of our sweet Sidney and our brave Walter?
Why, 'tis a game for kings, sir, like chess,
military campaigning and stag-hunting."

But Duwaney shook his head. ** You
speak of Sir Walter Raleigh," he replied.
" Then tell me, what has all this scribbling
of rhymes done for that adventurous knight?
He is a failure — a man who has let great
opportunities slip through his fingers while
he sat and scratched with his quill at har-
monizing words. Love and dove! Bah! He
has been in prison, who had the world at his
feet — and his love and dove to thank for it.
And now how does he stand? He is still the
plaything of chance. After all this glory and
hardship a poor voyage will break him — a
whisper overthrow him. I could name you
a hundred quiet merchants who enjoy more
stability of fortune than this great admiral,
this glorious general. Even now he throws

10 A Captain of Raleigh's

his last main — rattles the ivory cup for the
last time. 'Twas in the wind last smnmer
how nearly the game draws to an end — how
his tropical colonies are ashes, his mines of
gold and of silver nought but air, and his
ships abroad upon the sea, lawless and mas-

terless."

MacAllister flushed darkly under his
freckled skm. '' Sir, I have sailed a voyage
with that great knight," he said. " He has
succeeded in a hundred ventures — in bat-
tles, in plantations, in voyages and affairs of
state. Great he is, and has been, of heart
and mind — and by what authority do you
name him a failure? You would measure his
accomplishments in life by the commercial
fortunes of some petty traders. You might
as wisely go measure the sea yonder with a
linen-draper's yard-stick. What said my
Lord Bacon of the proper management of
colonial affairs? He said — "

♦'Tut! Tut! " cried Duwnney. "I'll hear
no more, Master MacAllister! Mind you,
sir, that T am the governor of this plantation.
Though the Tree of Knowledge itself be pic-

At Home with the Governor 11

tured on the coat-of -arms of your family, 1 '11
not be browbeat by you. You bear yourself
in a high and disrespectful manner towards
me, Master MacAUister. "

'• If so, I beg your pardon, sir," said the
Scot.

" Enough said," replied the governor.

** I spoke without diplomacy," admitted
MacAUister. *• That knight stands higher in
my eyes than any liviag man."

** And right, too. A gentleman of great
parts is Sir Walter Raleigh," said Duwaney.

For several minutes the two sat in silence,
each busy with his own thoughts. The sun,
high in the southeast, beat warmly down
upon the half-dozen rough buildings of the
colony. The boats were out on the blue
waters of the bay, in plain sight, taking fat
fish with hook and line as fast as the fisher-
men could haul in and lower away. From the
woods of spruce and fir up the little river,
came the faint, concise thnp-thup of axe-
blade upon wood. From the cluster of build-
ings near at hand arose clearer and sharper
sounds of human activities — the clash and

^WBmB«IW!B-i!«?-f

rrr

A Captain of Raleigh's

ring of John Cope's sledge on white-hot iron,
the lighter note of Bill Cope's hammer shap-
ing spikes, springing away from the soft
iron after every stroke to clatter twice upon
the anvil. And there came a noise of tapping
upon staves from Peter Cooper's little coop-
erage, and from one of the dwellings the
harsh outcry of a metal spoon scraping
around the edges of an iron pot.

** Homely and comfortable sounds," re-
marked Donald MacAllister.

'* Prosperous sounds," responded the gov-
ernor.

'* I think," said Donald, '* that the foun-
dations of a colony, set in this bleak land,
lie securer than those set in less rigorous
climes. Here a man must work before he
may eat; and so he is taupht industry by
that most insistent of teachers — his own

belly."

** Aye, lad," replied Duwaney, " *tis a
fair enough habitation, this, for him who has
en ample wood-stack and a full storehouse,
and a-plenty of work to occupy mind and
body. Here are no wild and bloodthirsty

?S5S;

At Home with the Governor 13

savages to fear, for the Beothics are a harm-
less people. The roaring fishers from Devon,
and the black-hearted, grasping pirates, are
the curse of the place; and they, Heaven
knows, are not native evils. A deal of rogu-
ery is carried on in the name of trade — and
safe enough, too, with all these wide, salt
miles awelter between the rogues and Eng-
lish gallows. In truth, I know not which be
the more dangerous to honest commerce and
the plant ; ions — the Devon men who come
in the guise of law-abiding fishers, yet, in
their greed of the fishing, hate to see any
foundation of dwelling fixed upon the land, or
tlie slashing, glass-chewing freebooters. The
gentlemen of fortune are, in truth, the more
honest in their wickednesses. For robbers
they know themselves and for robbers they
are known. When one espies a gentleman of
that kidney he loads his culverins and fal-
conets without compunction, and, perchance,
obtains the advantage of the first shot ; but
we cannot fly so openly to arms against our
own countrymen, who come witli fish-lines in
their left hands — though well we know that

A Captain of Raleigh's

their right hands are clasped upon the hafts
of their knives and the butts of their pis-
tols."

** 'Tis like reading a book, to hear you
talk, sir," said Donald, with the frankness
of the period and of his own nature. '* Be-
yond a doubt, the West Country fishermen,
and the powerful gentlemen behind them, are
a great menace to the planting of these colo-
nies. They have no aspirations above the
filling of their pockets with the wealth of the
fishing-grounds. They are lawless. I have
heard that they make no more bones of spoil-
ing a Frenchman of his catch or his salt than
of buying a flask of wine. Might is right
with those bully fellows, as sure as their ugly
faces grow whiskers. I hope, sir, that you
will use a strong hand to control their go-
ings-on in the waters and harbors of this
^ lantation."

'* Aye, lad, you may trust me to show them
who is master in Bristol's Hope, if they come
here with any of their piratical tricks and
their talk of harbor admirals. I'll show them
that the days of harbor admirals and fishing

^^■■2-7^^^'^

mr^^'ahst'wmf

-'fr' f^^aFi-w

At Home with the Governor 15

admirals are deud and gone, now that
Thomas Duwaney is here, with the King's
commission, and the Company's commission
under the Royal Charter. They'll learn that
they are not dealing with any weathercock
dreamer like Gilbert."

AfacAllister was pleased with the gov-
ernor's spirit. He was of fighting stock him-
self, and liked to see instinct for combat
warm in the stout ex-merchant. To keep him
up to the proper pitch of combative ardor he
had played upon his temper frequently,
tliroughout the past winter, with talk of the
insolence of pirates and Devon fishermen.
And the talk was true. Of pirates one ex-
pects few virtues; but of one's fellow-coun-
trymen it is surely not unreasonable to look
for fair treatment, at least. But fair treat-
ment was a thing that the struggling colo-
nists of Newfoundland had long ceased to
expect from the men who had no interests
in the island save full cargoes of fish. The
burly fellows from the West Country looked
upon every settler in the harbors as a men-
ace to their time-honored privileges of fish-

A Captain of Raleigh's

ing rights and harbor and shore rights. The
fishers had strong court influence behind
them. Even though the plantations were
under charters directly or indirectly from the
sovereign, the Devon skippers mishandled
them without fear of the consequences.

■K^', iX'-'vt'rr^^y £^,^im^imamire^'^->^.^s^Km3mr^^z^Mf'!S^^Bi^r''r^^:s>

CHAPTER II

ABOARD THE ** GOOD FORTUNE "

While Governor Duwaney and the men
and women of his colony were recovering
from the loneliness and confinement of the
long winter far away beyond the western
ocean, in the big house in Bristol a queer
thing happened and shrewd plans were un-
done. Three hours before the " Good For-
tune's " westward sailing, Elizabeth Duwa-
ney went to her brother and whispered a
startling suggestion into his ear. But Tom
was not startled. Though poets are often
shocked and disturbed by such matters as
false rhymes and a halting rhythm, they as
frequently remain cool and uncomprehending
amid the tumult of mobs and the tottering of
thrones. For a minute, Tom stared blankly
at his sister and continued to mumble a line
that was not yet quite to his fancy. Then
he threw down his quill (for he was in the

A Captain of Raleigh's

heat of a fine lyrical composition), sprang
to his feet and embraced her.

"Bess, you are a jewel!" ho cried.
•' This is the best thing I've heard in a
twelve month. Aye, and you'll play the part
a deal better than I ever could."

*' 'Twill suit every one but our dear father;
and even he, no doubt, will accept our way
of looking at it after he recovers from the
first stroke," replied the young lady.

Tom Duwaney rubbed his brow reflectively
with the tips of his scholarly fingers. " Per-
haps not every one," said he. '* What about
that old jackanapes Sir Stephen? He'll
make a disturbance, I warrant you, next time
he calls. But let hiin ramp, the old idiot! "

So it happened that Mistress Elizabeth
Duwaney went aboard the Company's ship
** Good Fortune," dressed in her brother's
best suit of velvet and lace, his finest hat and
his longest cloak. And Master Tom returned
to his lyrical task, at peace with the fantastic
world inhabited by his poetic soul, and dis-
turbed by not so much as a twinge of con-
science at the f'''ngerous and unusual course

Aboard the " Good Fortune " 19

which he had permitted his si'^ to under-
take.

Elizabeth went straight to the little cabin
that hud been reserved for Master Tom, and
stayed there, behind a closed door, for sev-
eral hours. She felt no regret at turning her
back upon the city of Bristol, for life with
her brother and her aunt, the model house-
keeper and the trusty man-servant, had
proved a dull affair. Her only acquaintance
among the gentlemen of the city and sur-
rounding country was Sir Stephen Morris,
a middle-aged baronet of ancient family.
ITo himself seemed as ancient as his famj'v,
to Elizabeth. For a year past she had known
that the baronet was anxious to marry her,
and that he had her father's consent and
encouragement. But she entertained finer
ideas of life and love than her ambitious par-
ent the ex-alderman — otherwise I'd not be
writing this history.

Elizabeth's cabin was well-nigh filled with
her boxes and bags, for she had brought
complete and generous outfits of both femi-
nine and -lasculine attire. She sat quietly on

"*"W

A Captain of Raleigh's

one of the boxes, waiting for the ship to get
well away from the harbor before running
any risk of having her disguise pierced by
the master until such time as their distance
from port should weigh materially on the
side of her arguments against turning back.
She had noticed that the shipmaster was an
old man — older, even, than Sir Stephen.
But, young or old, mariners are men; and
Elizabeth need have entertained no fear of
being sent back to Bristol against her will.
She sat on the box and smiled a little at the
thought of how Sir Stephen would behave at
the news of her departure ; and she pictured
her father's amazement, and rage, upon her
arrival at Bristol's Hope — and even at that
she smiled. She was a merry and high-
spirited young woman, beyond a doubt. Also,
she was quite as beautiful and attractive as
any mortal has a right to be. Even to see
her in that narrow, clutterea cabin, rigged
out in Tom's clothes and cloaked and booted,
was to understand poor Sir Stephen's feel-
ings in the matter. Her eyes were blue —
or gray! Nobody seemed to be quite sure

Aboard the " Good Fortune " «l

which, even at the tirae of looking. Her hair
was of a shade believed to be gold by Sir
Stephen and pronounced brown by her
brother. Now she wore it clipped to less
than one half of its usual length ; and it lay,
bright and waving, on her shoulders, in the
style affected by the fashionable cavaliers of
the time. I am at a loss for new words and
terms with which to describe her face and
iigure. Anyway, descriptions of this kind
are seldom successful. Her features were
charming, and her complexion was satisfac-
tory and neither very light nor very dark.
She was neither fat nor lean; and though
she was taller than many women, she was,
UDdoubledly, not so tall as many. I hope I
have made myself clear.

At last Elizabeth left her seat on the box
and opened the door of her cabin. She
moved stumblingly in her brother's great
.iack-boots, despite the fact that she had
stuffed them about the toes and ankles with
silk handkerchiefs, to improve their fit. She
had not discarded the long cloak and hat.
Her room opened into the main cabin under

TnrfBgw .ijv, ' .^ I.

22 A Captain of Raleigh's

the high poop-deck. The place was dhnly
lighted by the s(iuare port in the steru ; and
by that dim light she saw the figure of a man
stooped over the table in the centre of the
cabin. At the sound of the door complaining
on its hinges, the man glanced up from the
chart unrolled on the table.
" Good day to you, Master Duwaney," he

said.
" And to you, sir," replied Elizabeth,

pleasantly.

The man uttered an exclamation of amaze-
ment at the silvery tones of Master Du-
waney 's voice. The girl understood, in a
moment, what the matter was. A step each
brought the two within clear view of each
other. "What the girl saw was a pale young
man, thin as a wand, with pale hair and pale,
spiritless eyes, a large, gentle mouth and a
receding chin. His clothes were somewhat
shabby but pretentious of cut and color, and
at his side hung a light rapier. The expres-
sion of bewilderment on his gentle face was
laughable. Wliat the young man saw — and
knew that he saw — was a charming and

??ssBm?3affSS'Ssr^.

Aboard the " Good Fortune " 23

undismayed youug lady dressed up in what
was evidently the pick of some wealthy gen-
tleman 's wardrobe.

" I — I beg your pardon," he staiimKred.

The girl laughed softly. ♦* You d.:-.] not
do that," she said. '* I am the oifender. I
nmst beg your pardon, and Master Spike's
too."

The young man continued to stare at her
with an amiable but abashed regard, his thin
cheeks aflame and his feet shuffling uneasily.
The girl blushed for his confusion.

"No, no!" he cried. - I am sure that
you have offended in nothing! Allow me,
madame — sir — at least, madame — that h,
which you will — to most respectfully intro-
duce myself. I am Harold Coffin, an un-
notable gentleman-adventurer and your hum-
ble servant, madame."

Elizabeth saw that the game of disguise
was at an end - at least as far as this shabby
young Master Coffin was concerned. She
stepped forward and frankly extended her
hand, showing none of tliose signs of silly
confusion and coyness tliat were fashionable

A Captain of Raleigh's

among the young ladies of the day in all
parts of England save the court in London.
(Even pretended shyness was not noticeable
in the court of King James the First.)

*♦ My name is Duwaney," said the girl.
" But it is Elizabeth in place of Thomas."

Coffin took her hand very lightly upon the
back of his own, as if she were a queen or
a princess, bowed low and raised it to his

lips.
" I cannot find it in my heart to regret the

change," he said.

After that, they stood in silence for almost
a minute, looking inquiringly at each other
and smiling nervously.

** What course do you advise me to follow.
Master Coffin? " asked the girl, at last.

" None other than that which will carry
you all the way to the Newfoundland in our
company," replied the young man, squaring
his narrow shoulders and touching his hand
to the guard of his rapier with an air of
gallantry.

♦' On that T am already determined, sir;
but what do you advise in the matter of this

■ /■> --''Wk^

Aboard t he " Good Fortune " 25

pocr disguise? " returned Eliza jeth. '* Siiall
I try to maintain it, or shall I throw myself
upon Master Spike's mercy and good nature
and beg him not to put the ship about and
pack me back to Bristol? "

" Will you tell me first, my dear lady, why
you have undertaken this long and hazardous
voyage? " queried Coffin.

" Simply for change and excitement," con-
fessed Elizabeth. ** My brother was willing
that I should take his place, as he is very
busy with writing verses; and I am not
afraid of either the voyage or my dear fa-
ther's anger, for I doubt not this stout ship
will accomplish the one and Governor Du-
waney's sense of humor will allay the other."
" In that case," replied Master Coffin, " if
you will take the advice of a very poor gen-
tleman — of one who has been cheated of his
fair estate and cast abroad penniless — you
will forsake the idea of this disguise, becom-
ing as it is. I think that even from old Spike
you could not hide the truth for long. That
you are not — ah, your brother — my dear
Mistress Elizabeth, is a fact impossible to

A Captain of Raleigh's

conceal unless you choose to wrap yourself
in blankets from the crown of your borrowed
hat to the soles of your borrowed jack-boots.
Though I am no courtier, I knew the truth
at the first note of your voice. A glance of
your eye would tell all even to Spike, more
accustomed though he be to the gleam of sun
on water than to that finer illumination. So
I advise you to immediately confess your
play to the shipmaster. And you need enter-
tain no fear of the " Good Fortune " being
put about against your wishes, for even
should old Spike prove such a monster as
to contemplate returning you to Bristol, I
have authority enough aboard this craft to
stay his hand."

" You are very kind to me," murmured
Elizabeth, allowing her eyes to dwell, for a
moment, on Master Coffin's face. '* I thank
you with my whole heart," she continued,
lowering her gaze from his eyes to his well-
worn foot-gear. ** I cannot understand why
you champion me so readily, sir, for T am
nought but a total stranger to you."

Harold Coffin bowed, and smiled with a

■Mf'vr^'u^^.K'.'z-^

Aboard the " Good Fortune

light in his eyes that was almost pathetic in
its whimsical tenderness. ** It is a gentle-
man's privilege to champion any woman who
may stand in need of his services, ' ' he said.
" In this case the privilege is an extraordi-
nary pleasure." He paused for a moment;
then, in a slightly higher tone, ** Poor, un-
successful and weak as I am," he continued,
" I cannot pretend to remain untouched by
such beauty and grace as yours. Do not
think me impertinent, my dear lady, I beg
of you, for I speak with all respect — aye,
with homage ! Miserable outcast that I am,
robbed of my inheritance and abandoned by
my class, the sight of you has gone to my
sorry head like wine. ' '

He stood staring at her for a moment, as
if listening to the echo of his mad words —
then flushed crimson and averted his face.

Elizabeth's tender heart was sharply
touched. The gentle and pensive smile, the
pale face, narrow shoulders and shabby at-
tire, were enough to excite pity in even a less
sympathetic breast than this honest young
lady's.

) i

A Captain of Raleigh's

" You cannot, you must not think, for a
moment, that I am offended with you, Master
Coffin," she said, tremulously. " Your words
show a noble nature, and I thank you from
my heart for them. I am glad that you con-
sider me — ah, not repulsive in appearance.
But your unhappiness distresses me. Why
has injustice been your portion? Have you
no friends to stand with you against your
oppressors? By your manner and your
name I know you to come of a distinguished
family in the West — in my own country.
Please tell me your trouble, Master Coffin."

** It makes but a shabby tale, my dear lady,
and I should think shame of myself if I were
brought to inflicting it upon you, worthless,
poor-spirited apology for a man that I am, ' '
replied the youth, with open bitterness.
** But hark ye, I hear the shipmaster's boots
in the outer cabin."

Both turned their faces toward the door,
which opened at that moment and admitted
the bulky person of Benjamin Spike, master
mariner.

■•^y^-lKM

CHAPTER III

THE PASSENGER AND THE MILITARY COMMANDER

Master Coffin stepped forward. " Ben-
jamin, old shipmate," said he, " have you
given good day to our passenger, the gov-
ernor's child? "

Old Spike advanced, with a great hand ex-
tended.

*' A good day to ye, master," he rumbled.
'' YeVe fetched a fair wind aboard with ye
to blow us off the coast, an» I thank ye for
it."

Elizabeth clapped her strong, slender hand
into the great paw.

" If I bring you not good luck for the
whole voyage, then you may toss me to the
fishes, Master Spike," she said, merrily.

The old mariner gaped at her, holding
tight to her hand and blinking his deep-set
eyes as if he were looking into a furnace
door.

IJ :1

30 A Captain of Raleigh's

" I hope you are not angry," said Eliza-
beth, withdrawing her hand. *' My brolLar
could not come, so I came along in his
stead."

'* You will observe, Benjamin, that Master
Duwaney is not exactly what we expected —
in other words, that the young gentleman has
turned out to be a young lady," said Master
Coffin, speaking very ({uickly and laying his
hand on the old man's arm. '' But you may
take my word for it, old sea-dog, there's
neither treason nor mutiny in it — nothing,
I do assure you, that even a bishop could take
exception to. But Mistress Elizabeth will
state the case herself, and so ably that you'll
wonder how it was that we ever expected any
other sort of passenger."

"It be in no part o' my orders. Master
Coffin, to take for gospel every tale ye may
see fit to tell me," replied Benjamin Spike,
with a rasp of displeasure in his voice. " It
be for me to sail this here ship, sir, an' for
you to fight her if need be — but never a
\.'ord in the orders as to what yarns ye may
ciioose to spin nor me to believe. What I

iii''r>hltj^^ i —J

The Passenger and the Commander 31

want to know, young lady — aye, an' you too,
young gentlei ^an — be, what's become o' my
lawful passenger, the son o' Governor Du-
waney o' Bristol's Hope Plantation in the
Newfoundland? "

" This lady is the worthy governor's
daughter, my good Benjamin," said Coffin,
"and if you will but keep cool you'll hear
everything to your entire satisfaction."

** Yes, I will explain everything to you,
clear as day, if you will but listen to me, my
dear Master Spike," cried Elizabeth. ** You
see, it is this way. My brother and I are
twins ; but we are not alike in our natures,
for he cares nought for the sea and brave ad-
venturing, but mightily for books of poetry
and the penning of rhymes, while I dote upon
seafaring and such things to distract ^'on but
take small heed to poetry unless it be in com-
memoration of brave deeds. So, dear Master
Spike, we thought it would be wiser — and
much more agreeable — for Tom to remain
in Bristol, with his poetic frenzies, and for
me to sail the voyage to the Newfoundland.
To save argument, I came into the ship

32 A Captain of Raleigh's

<iuietly, disguised in these garments which
belong to my brother, and have remained in
my cabin until now."

** I take it, mistress, that ye be a friend o'
Master Coflin," said Benjamin, with a shrewd
glance from one to the other.

" How say you? " cried Coffin, wheeling
upon the master.

** I ax ye a civil question, sir. Be this
young lady a friend o' yours or be she not? "
returned Spike, stolidly.

The thin, shabby youth clapped his hand
to the iron hilt of his rapier. F* colorless
eyes flashed dangerously and his ,...le cheeks
flamed. In the glow of his indignation he
looked imposing.

** And who are you, fellow, to make so free
with your questions?" he cried. *♦ Know
you nothing of discipline! I pray you to
remember who is military commander of this
ship."

" Keep your bilboe in its scabbard and
your temper under your skin, master,"
warned the other, with a ponderous serenity
of manner. " Right well do I remember the

I?- --

The Passenger and the Commauder 33

military commander o' this ship, and as well
do I remember her master. Fly no flights
meward, young falcon, or perchance ye'll find
the heron too heavy for ye."

** Hush, hush I " cried Elizabeth, grasping
the old mariner by the wrist. ** You must
not speak so to Master Coffin — indeed you
must not. My father would never allow it,
I am sure. As for your question, good Mas-
ter Spike — I, for one, can see no cause for
anger in it. But I am not a man, ready to
ruffle at every clink of the eye. Yes, Mas-
ter Coffin and I are friends, though we met
for the first time in this cabin, only a few
minutes ago. His family stands high in my
father's regard. I know that my father
would have nothing to say against our friend-
ship."

Coffin bowed elaborately to the girl. Spike
scratched his whiskers, hemmed and hawed,
and at last said, ** If ye '11 both swear to me
that you, young lady, be none other than
Master Duwaney's daughter, an' that nought
of evil has befallen young Master Thomas,
an' that this mad fancy bo clear o' all manner

A Captain of Raleigh's

o' treason a^aiust King, Company an' ship,
master, captain or crew, an' that ye 'II both
stand atween me an' the governor's wrath
when we stei) ashore, then I'll make no more
objection to havin' ye for my honored pas-
senger to the Newfoundland."

" Honestly said, and like a true heart-of-
oak," replied the girl. '* And so I answer
you as honestly. Master Spike. As I fear
God and honor the King I do swear to you
that I am the only daughter of Master
Thomas Duwaney, one time an alderman of
Bristol and now governor of Bristol's Hope;
and I also swear that, to my best knowledge
and belief, no harm has come to my brother
and that he has remained at home of his own
free will and pleasure. And I promise to
stand between you and my father's fleeting
anger, so that no harm may come to you in
return for your courtesy."

" And I," said Master Coffin, " do assure
you, on my honor as a gentleman and a sol-
dier, that every word Mistress Elizabeth Du-
waney has spoken is as true as the Book of
Job."

The Passenger and the Commander 35

** Enough said," replied Benjamin Spike.
" I trust I have not offended ye, mistress,
an* I crave your pardon for any seeming
churlishness. A shipmaster must exercise
every caution for the protection of his ship.
An' as for Master Coffin," he added, turning
upon that young gentleman with a slow smile,
** I humbly beg liirn to remember that his old
shipmate Ben Spike holds him in all respect
due to his blood an' rank an' soHi^rly re-
nown an' would liefer lose his left hand than
come to point-an 'edge with him."

Coffin clapped the old sea-dog on the
shoulder. " Aye, Benjamin, that you would,"
said he. *' But your attitude of a moment
since is already forgotten. I can well afford
to forget it. So I'll say nothing of what
would most assuredly happen to you were
we to come to cut-and- thrust. Enough, lad!
I've soldiered in the Low Countries, and
know a trick or two of which I'll say nothing.
Out with the best flask in our stores, Benja-
min, and let us pledge hearts and hands to
our fair and gracious passenger."

" Aye, ye be in the right o' the mat

A Captain of Raleigh's

If i

f; !

U '.

'I i

i i

ter again, cap'n," replied Spike, good-hu-
moredly.

A flask of Spanish wine, red as a ruby,
was produced from a secret corner of the
locker under the stern window. The wine
was i>orred, and the three ill-assorted ship-
mates drank to mutual good-fellowship and
a fair voyage. The beautiful young woman,
aglow with health and zest of life, and clothed
so riclily yet so grotesquely, just touched
her lips to the rim of the glass. Unlike the
beauties of Whitehall, she seldom drank even
so mild a vintage as this red wine of Spain.
Master Coffi" gave his glassful a shorter
shift ; but he disposed of it with such an air
that the lady felt that it was the toast rather
than the flavor of the liquor that commended
the draught to him. Benjamin Spike mum-
bled something, tipped his head back and the
wine down, and smacked his lips with frank
appreciation. Master Coffin winced at such
an exhibition of low breeding in the presence
of a lady.

** And now,** said Spike, ** since friend-
ship an' fair play be drunk so sociable

The Passenger and the Commander 37

atween the three o' us, an' I have spoke my
mind like an honest shipmaster, I'll make so
bold as to leave ye, mistress, an' step out
upon the deck to have an eye to the workin'
o' the ship."

And so he went, highly pleased with him-
self, and clapped his cap upon his head be-
fore he reached the door.

Later in the day the " Good Fortune " ran
into dirty weather ; and for three days after
that neither the military commander nor the
master saw anything of Mistress Elizabeth
Duwaney. But on the morning of the fourth
day she appeared again, pale but smiling and
courageous, her eyes brighter than ever, and
wearing her own clothes. She had been
charming before, in spite of her unsuitable
attire ; but now her beauty and grace struck
old Spike to a gaping dumbness and brought
a flush of red to Master Coffin's cheeks.
Elizabeth saw and instinctively understood
the effect of her appearance on the two men ;
but she only smiled the more pleasantly
(though she felt weak and dizzy, and far
more like crying than smiling), and took her

A Captain of Raleigh's

seat at the cabin table with a matter-of-fact
air.

" I trust that the French cordial I sent
you by my man James was to your taste, my
dear lady," said CoflRn.

"An' the rum I sent ye by the cook's boy,
mistress," said Spike, anxious not to be out-
done by the gentleman. ** I hear that there
be nought like it for the settling o' a delicate
stomach."

Coffin glared at the shipmaster and trod
heavily on his toe under cover of the table.

** What now, master? " cried Spike.
" Why do ye grind your heel into my toe
as if it was the flank o' a charger? "

Coffin ignored him and turned to the lady
in renewed confusion,

" The cordial," he said, " was recom-
mended to me by no less a personage than
that great and unfortunate admiral, Sir Wal-
ter Raleigh — God rest his soul."

By this time the lady was hungrily munch-
ing a ship's biscuit.

" They were both very good, I do not
doubt," she said. *♦ But I did not feel equal

The Passenger and the Commander 39

to them; and what became of them I am at
a loss to say. You must forgive me, ship-
mates. If your messengers had brought me
measures running over with diamonds and
rubies, instead of with cordial and rum, I
should not have so much as lifted my head
from the pillow to take note of them. But
now the trouble is past. This biscuit is won-
derfully hard but of excellent flavor."

** Ye be a brave lass," said the old ship-
master, with frank admiration in face and
voice. Master Coffin said nothing, for he
was so deeply moved by pity and other dis-
turbing emotions that he could not lay his
tongue to a word.

By this time, news of the lady's presence
aboard was common throughout the ship.
Every one was delighted with the knowledge
that the " Good Fortune " carried a charm-
ing young lady, and ''' daughter of the gov-
ernor of Bristol's for passenger, feel-
ing that it would bi ., jood luck to the ship.
The story of her arrival in her brother's
stead and also in his clothes quickly went
the rounds; and she immediately became

A Captain of Raleigh's

11 ) (

a heroine to the rough and honest fellows.
Nothing was so worshipped by the Brit-
ish seaman of those days as pluck. And
that the lady was beautiful, too, appealed to
every man-jack of them. Sea-chests were
dipped into by tarry hands, and every odd
and end of finery in possession of the crew
was brought into every-day use. This brisk-
ing-up process made some of the men look
more like pirates than honest Bristol mari-
ners. Master Coffin donned a plum-colored
doublet with rusty gold lace at collar and
cuffs, and old Spike trimmed his tempest-
tangled beard and curled his mustaches into
his eyes after the manner then coming into
vogue among military gentlemen who had
seen service abroad.

For ten days from the lady's reappear-
ance from her cabin the ship sailed westward
undisturbed and the weather held fair. All
went merrily, aloft and alow. Elizabeth
spent most of her time on the high poop-
deck, and in the bluster of salty winds and
glinting sunshine soon regained her natural
gaiety of temper. The color and roundness

■^nm

mmn

mmm

The Passenger and the Commander 41

came back to her cheeks — and the memory
of those three painful days grew faint as a
dream. She was in love with seafaring, and
vowed that there was not a house ashore
that she would not blithely forsake for the
narrow deck of the *' Good Fortune." Spike
was tremendously flattered by all this; but
Master Coflfin, though rejoicing in her friend-
ship and nursing a grand passion in his heart
f ^ her, felt that she was soM.ething too par-
tial to sailoring. So he would spend hours
in telling her of the glorious opportunities
for valor to be found in a soldier's life.
Sometimes they argued. Elizabeth main-
tained that a sailor's life was fundamentally
for good, though misfortune and chance
might force him to bloodshed upon occasion;
but that the career of a soldier depended for
its very existence upon death and tyranny.
She spoke of the discoveries of new lands,
of new races and of new enterprises that had
been accomplished in the past and were still
being accomplished by seafarers. She named
some great names in this connection. But
though Master Coffin worshipped the lady

A Captain of Raleigh's

i I

4 I

1 ■

;T f

he could see very little merit in her argu-
ment; and he was far too honest to pretend
a conversion of opinion that he did not feel.
So he talked back, upholding the honor of
the man of the sword desperately. Beaten
at every point — for how could the poor fel-
low prove that it is a finer thing to kill men
than to carry food and civilization across
thousands of miles of trackless tide — he was
once driven to such an extremity as to call
the girl's attention to the fact that, as proved
by his own presence aboard the ** Good For-
tune," sailors were sometimes glad to make
use of military men. At that she had ad-
mitted, very gently, that she had nothing to
say against soldiers individually — at least
against none that she knew at all intimately
— and that she, for one, felt very glad of
Master Coflfin's protecting presence aboard
the *' Good Fortune." As this was said
without irony he had felt ashamed of his
big talk.

In spite of these arguments, Mistress Du-
waney's admiration for Master Coffin grew
day by day. There was something heroic

tmm

The Passenger and the Commander 43

even in his feeblest argument — a nobility of
attitude, a fine loyalty to a wobbly god, a
heart that saw valor, fortitude and victory
and looked too high to notice the huddled
shapes on the ground or to suspect the sordid
motives behind the massing of the armies.
She saw his bravery and his simplicity as
plain as pictures in a book. She knew that
he was one who would die for a friend or
a cause without asking himself if the friend
or the cause were worth the loss of his life.
Reposed in so frail and pathetic a body as
Master Coffin *s, these heroic qualities seemed
the more remarkable in her eyes. So the
friendship of these two was quick and true,
conceived in mutual admiration and respect
and so safe from disaster from whim, vanity
or misunderstanding.

It was not until the ship had been at sea
a matter of fourteen days, however, that the
young man told the girl the story of his mis-
fortunes. But let it be said to his credit that
he showed io eagerness to tell it and that his
narrative was of a commendable brevity.
Though an unadorned statement of facts it

A Captain of Raleigh's

ill

lost nothing of its pathetic quality and af-
fected Elizabeth keenly.

The second son of a gentleman of ancient
holdings but reduced fortune, Harold Coffin
had suffered the desolation of orphanage
while still a child at school. After the death
of his father and the settling of the estate,
there was found to be nothing at home for
Master Harold ; so an uncle, a brother of his
mother and a childless man, had taken charge
of him. It was an open secret that the
uncle's intentions toward the child were of
the most generous nature — that he meant to
a'^opt him as his son and heir as soon as a
fuller knowledge of his character and nature
should warrant his doing so; and that, in
any case, a liberal education and a fair start
in life were to be his portion. There was
justice in this, for the uncle's only near rela-
tives of his own blood were his dead sister's
children. But this Uncle Hawley had a wife
— and the wife, who had been married be-
fore, had a son named Peter Hard. And
though this Peter Hard was well established
in life with property of his own, both he and

tmm

MMi

The Passenger and the Commander 45

his motlier had their hearts and eyes cov-
ertly set on such of the Hawley possessions
as were intended for Harold. This matter
soon hecame apparent to the orphan, though
it was kept hidden from Hawley, who was
slow to see things that were not flaunted in
his face and whose mind was of an unsus-
picious cast. Harold was sent to a very good
school near his new home ; and things went
well enough with him so long as his school-
time lasted. On his seventeenth birthday
Hawley asked him his choice of a career,
saying that a young man should have a defi-
nite object in life no matter what his pros-
pects. Harold Coffin chose the army without
a moment's hesitation ; and within the month
he was gazetted to a regiment of the line that
was stationed in London — a regiment of
that new and swiftly growing regular or
standing army that the people looked upon
with distrust. Harold went to London, his
heart beating high with hope — and there
was Master Peter Hard, living the life of a
fashionable dandy and eager to take Harold
under his wing and show him the town. The

I I

A Captain of Raleigh's

young ensign's military duties were not ar-
duous and he had plenty of time to devote
to pleasure and the company of Peter and
his friends. And Peter Hard made himself
very agreeable to the boy. His pockets were
full of money. He was always delighted to
lend to Harold, whose allowance from his
uncle was no more than reasonable. With
gold always at his command, Harold quite
lost his head for a time. Along with Peter
and a set of brisk companions he frequented
the ordinaries and gaming-houses, dicing and
playing with industry but ill fortune. The
end came swiftly. Peter, the false friend,
had done his work well. A letter from his
uncle brought the house of cards tumbling
about Harold's ears. He was disowned, cast
out. He resigned his commission and be-
came a soldier of misfortune. He fought in
the Low Countries. For seven years he had
been a homeless fellow, selling his sword and
wandering, unbefriended.

a\U

CHAPTER IV

A DISTURBER OF THE SEA

Having explained his misfortunes to a
sympathetic listener, Master Coffin felt
greatly cheered. He confessed to the girl
that, within the last week or two, life had
turned a more hopeful face to him. " For
I must be worth something," he said, *' to
have won your sweet friendship." He ex-
plained to her that this was his second voy-
age with Spike; but that he hoped to sail
soon to the West Indies, in a privateer, and
there take toll of the spoilers of those rich
seas, at one and the same time dealing justice
out to pirates and amassing a modest for-
tune for himself. And perhaps, some day,
he would buy an estate in the island of Bar-
badoes and with plow and cane-knife increase
the winnings of his sword.

One bright morning a sail appeared to
windward of the " Good Fortune " and grew

A Captain of Raleigh's

swiftly from a flake of gray to i tov f^r of
white. Master Spike soon boffan to show
signs of anxiety and turned his telescope
upon it several times in every miniUi' Al
last he came to Master Coffin, who was on
the poop with Mistress Duwaney, and ''> ggei
for a private word with him in the abiU.
The two went below, leaving the girl to v atch
the distant sail without suspicion.

** It be no fish-ship," said Spike, " nor yet
of the cut o' any carrier I ever see in these
waters. I take her to be a tall ship o* five
hundred tons or thereabouts, an' English
built."

*' Name it, shipmate. What do you
fear? " said Coffin, c^Unily.

" Something too big for us to handle —
that be what I fear," replied Spike.

** An English pirate," suggested the other.

** We miglit stand a v^ ate off, for they
be light-timbered an' light-metalled in these
parts; but this here looks to me as if she
might prove to ^d the ship o' one o' Raleigh's
captain \ * replied the mariner. " They do
say a f w they hunt the seas like wolves.

.A-lSBSfl

A Disturber of the Sea

since the adinirarH misfortu? -, caring^ noujrht
for any kiiiir or any law, . roady to haul
alonpsule o' any craft that i«)ats, \h> npb itr
mercha tiuan or ship o'-wa;'."

" Nor iio I blanio them." said CoH a.
•* They show a luyal aiifl noble spirit m f >t-
tinr thoraseives a«rains' the ;<ing - d the
country who inu'-ierAd thtir uoble ca| .lin

• Thih soi.uds like treasori, ih 'ster, wh
pered Hpike, uneasily.

" Nay, you need ha-e ^ <» fee of • it,"
ref'iied the other. '* R <'ig. wa nevt p-
tain of mine, and <o 1 n w u ^ nv But
I tell yoi Ben imm. that ha<i I e\- 'iled
under that grcaJ; knii/nt T sh. iild no\^ )e risk-
ing my neuk as eageriy as w of th( heroes
in strikinsr a i)iow or two in h mory.

But my senti lents will not h- s in as

case, I fear. V^hat do yon sugge f "

" We aust even b^r onrselve-^ as honest
English sea- U rd hese ireebooters,
whoev' they " sai the uld man, vaguely.
** Bravely sa= ? r>T jamir but what the
devil oes it n can? " r i^iu d Coffin.
" Hone English seamen have so many

MM*

Am^amtttmA

«tt

A Captain of Raleigh's

ways of bearing themselves that I must con-
fess that I am still in doubt as to your in-
tentions."

** This be no time for playin' with words
an' twists o' speech," remarked Spike, se-
verely. *' We must make ready to give bat-
tle to the stranger should she force us to it.
If she be the ship o' one o' they erring cap-
tains she may do us no harm beyond helping
herself to wine and dainties from our laza-
ret — if to another o' these same gentry we
may be swinging from our o%vn yard-arm
afore sundown, or walking the plank. I have
heard that several o' these treasonous gen-
tlemen are no nicer in their habits nor more
merciful in their actions than the bloodiest
Sally Rover afloat. So we must stand ready
for her — ready of hand and wit — ready
to fight to the death or make a gift of wines
and spices, according to what the signs may
be as to which way the cat be going to
jump."

** Then I'll see to the clearing and man-
ning of the great guns and the arming of the
fellows," said Coffin. " But I tell you, lad,

ii.

A Disturber of the Sea

that if the stranger is commanded by one of
Raleigh's captains we'll come by no injury."

•' Be not too sure o' that, master," replied
the old seaman, smiling gloomily. ** Many
a ship has been sunk and many a throi •■. has
been slit by them that was gentle born."

" But we have a lady aboard," returned
Coffin. *' No officer of Sir Walter's, no mat-
ter how low he may have fallen since the
knight's death, would do any injury to a
lady for all the gold of the Indies."

*' God grant you may be right," said the
shipmaster.

Before seeing to the preparation of the
cannon, falcons and falconets, or to the arm-
ing of the ship's company. Coffin went to
where Elizabeth still stood on the poop gaz-
ing in the direction of the approaching ves-
sel.

" What is it? " she asked. " She hoiJs
on a course that brings her steadily upon

>»

Without preamble, he told her Spike *8
fears of the nature and intentions of the
strange vessel. The color left her cheeks but

^.1^^

■luiBtii

A Captain of Raleigh's

K . i

! "1

i :

her eyes did not flinch. Then he reassured
her with his own opinion of what they had
to fear from the big ship. ** At the very
worst," he said, '* we'll have to part with a
little of our cabin-stores, and smile about it
as if the presenting of a gift of wine and
gimcracks was our own idea. I am ready to
pledge my word that nothing more serious
than this will come of the approaching en-
counter. Even I can see at a glance that she
is not an ordinary pirate ship — so we may
safely take her to be the vessel of one of these
erring captains. With you aboard, r ^-^dame,
we have nothing to fear from a gentleman,
no matter how desperate his condition."

'* All men of gentle birth may not bear
measuring by your standards, Master Cof-
fin," said Elizabeth with a wan smile. Of
course she did not feel at all like smiling;
but she was determined that the cool and
fragile young man at her side should not
discover that she was afraid. This meeting
with ships of doubtful intentions was an
experience of seafaring thnt she had not
counted upon. She had heard many tales of

■■

A Disturber of the Sea

pirates and their deeds, but they had all
sounded like fiction to her. She had never
suspected that a vessel that was in any way
connected with so solid and well-regulated
a man as her honored father could possibly
be molested either on the high seas or in any
harbor.

'* Let us trust that the gentleman may
prove to be as polite as you anticipate,*' she
said, quite steadily.

** Have no fear, my friend," replied Cof-
fin, looking at her for a moment with that
in his eyes which he had hitherto man-
aged to keep hidden. After a moment their
glances wavered.

** I must go throu^ the formality of pre-
paring the ship for action," continued the
young man. ** Whatever the intentions of
that vessel, we must not be caught napping.
If there should happen to be any gun-play
— just by way of an exchange of compli-
ments — I shall come to you and lead you to
a safer place than this. But have no uneasi-
ness. Should it come tc ' » attle — though
I can see no chance of v ■— i give you my

A Captain of Raleigh's

word of honor that I'll raako a drifting wreck
of that tall ship.'*

With that, Master Coffin passed forward
to attend to his work as military commander
of the " Good Fortmie." He had meant
every word of his assurances and boastings
to the lady. Poor and frail though he was,
his heart was bigger and braver than most
men's. Also, he was young and in love. He
felt that if circumstances called for a fi^ht,
in her protection he would be strong enough
and skilful enough to administer a drubbing
to the other ship, no matter what her weight
of timber and metal, no matter how expert
her gunners '^r how determined her com-
mander.

The course of the " Good Fortune " was
changed, and she ran fairly away from the
craft that was so unmistakably interested in
her. Strongly as she forged along, however,
the larger and taller ship overhauled her
steadily. All the great guns aboard the
** Good Fortune " were loaded with round-
shot. Cutlasses and pistols were unlocked
from their racks and dealt out to the men.

!t^i

mHn

mutm

A Disturber of the Sea

The red ensign of England and the blue and
white flag of the Company of Western Ad-
venturers and Planters were run up to the
" Good Fortune's " tops. In reply, a square
of bright bunting flashed above the rounded
sails of the pursuer.

** What make ye of that? " inquired Spike
of the commander.

Coffin studied the bunting through the
master's telescope.

"It is Raleigh's flag,'* he said. "We
have nought to fear."

Even as he spoke, a white roll of mist
hid the port bow of the stranger, a dull,
thumping noise assailed his ears and a
round-shot dropped into the sea about fifty
yards astern of the " Good Fortune." In si-
lence, the mist of smoke spread and dissolved
in the wind and sunshine.

** There goes your fine gentleman ashowin'
us his lamb-like manners," remarked Spike,
unpleasantly. ** I never see a bloodthirsty
pirate pop out his compliments any quicker
than that."

** I still maintain that we are in no danger

A Captain of Raleigh's

:s f

It
li

;pi:

: .(■
•I'l

of anything worse than a brief delay in our
journey," replied Master Coffin, nettled by
both the unexpected round-shot and the old
sea-dog's manner. ** I still maintain that
we have no villainy to fear if yonder sails
one of the dead knight's captains, as we both
believe. Rest assured, worthy Benjamin,
that when he learns of the presence of a
lady aboard this craft he'll let us go on our
way without so much as a scratch. I speak
with authority, Benjamin, knowing well the
spirit of such gentlemen as Sir Walter Ra-
leigh was in the habit of drawing to his
service."

" Ye may be right, master. Aye, ye may
be in the right o' the matter — but I'll be
danged if I think so," said Spike, turning on
his heel and hastening forward to speak to
his mate.

Master Coffin hurried to Elizabeth and
begged her to descend to the cabin for a
little while.

** It is possible that they may fire a few
more shots before we have an opportunity to
make known our position," he explained.

A Disturber of the Sc::

** And as a chance shot might bring down
some of our spars, you will be safer in the
cabin than on deck."

"I — I am not afraid,'* said the girl,
faintly.

" But you must consider our feelings,"
said the young soldier, gently, at the same
time offering her his arm and glancing
swiftly into the troubled depths of her bright
eyes. She took his arm and descended to
the waist of the ship and entered the cabin
without a word of protest.

The vessel that flew the flag of the dead
knight continued to draw down upon the
smaller ship. Soon she was well within gun-
range; but fortunately for all concerned,
she refrained from trjang another shot at
the pitching stern of the ** Good Fortune."
It was evidently the intention of this erring
cap+ain to deal lightly with the merchant-
man and, nt the same time, save his ship and
his powder. Perhaps? he wanted nothing
more thaii a few flagons of spirits and a few
bags of ship's-bread. Even old Spike began
to take heart at his forbearance.

'I i

11! ii

A Captain of Raleigh's

Now the heads and shoulders of several
men could be seen in the bows of the pur-
suing ship, like painted toys under the high-
pitched bowsprit and square, full-bellied
head-sails. She was an inspiring sight with
her climbing canvas swaying against the
blue and the froth of torn waves boiling
white under her leaping stem. Indeed she
had more the air of a king's ship than a free-
booter of the sea. The crew of the " Good
For* e ** gazed at her with open admira-
tioiL

ifi..

1 f *

ii't

CHAPTER V

MASTEB COFFIN DISCOVERS AN OLD FBIEND

Master Coffin put a speakmg-trnmpet to
his lips and hailed the pursuing ship from
the stem of the ** Good Fortune.'* Hia voice
carried clear above the slobbering of the seas
against the speeding hulls and the working
of yard and cordage. He named his ship,
her home port and destination, himself as
her commander and Spike as her master.
The reply soon came to him across the nar-
row strip of lively water. " This ship is
the ** Jaguar," from the port she last left
and bound for wherever she pleases. She
is commanded by Captain John Percy.**

Coffin's face brightened at that name.
Again he raised the great trumpet to his lips.
" Dr. Captain Percy remember his Christ-
mas d, ^ner of two years ago? ** he cried.

*' Yes,'* came the answer.

«0

A Captain of Raleigh's

I »

'i!

;|.|

*' The roasted horse-flesh, the raouldy
beans and the flask of stolen wine? "

" Yes, yes! "

" And the figlit next morning between the
big Dutchman and the thin Englishman?
And the Dutchman's funeral? '*

** He remembers it all."

** 'Tis the thin Englishman that speaks —
Harold Coffin. Come aboard, Captain Percy,
for old sake's sake. There will be no need
of drinking stolen wme to-day."

** With pleasure, comrade. Come into the
wind and I'll pnll over to you."

A few minutes later the two vessels were
rocking idly on the brisk seas. A boat was
lowered from the " Jaguar " and smartly
pulled away for the " Good Fortune." Six
seamen sat to the oars and three gentlemen,
in long cloaks and wide hats, occupied the
stem-sheets. Soon the boat was alongside
and a Jacob's ladder lowered to her. One by
one the gentlemen ascended the swaying lad-
der to the waist of the '* Good Fortune."
Captain Percy was the first to reach the deck.
Master Coffin was on tlie spot to welcome

An Old Friend

him, and the two embraced cordially like old
messmates.

** How now, comrade!" exclaimed the
visitor. " Little did I think to find the fire-
eater of Bragg's Brigade bouncing across
the western ocean in the round belly of a
merchantman. ' '

" And little did I expect to have a round-
shot pitched after me by John Percy, captain
of hussars," replied Coffin.

The smile left Percj^'s face. " Much wine
has been drunk since then," he said, gravely;
" aye, and much blood spilt. One is for-
tunate to meet a friend at all, no matter
under what unusual circumstances. Since
our last meeting, comrade, I have lost the
best friend mortnl man ever had."

At that moment the second of the visitors
arrived over the side. Percy presented him
to Coffin as Master Horace Down, another
of Raleigh's gentlemen. Next moment, the
third visitor leapt to the deck. ** Master de
Verney — another of the masterless men,"
said Captain Percy. Coffin welcomed them
both with every indication of sincere cor-

A Captain of Raleigh's

1^1

ill!'

:i'

diality and friendship. In fact he was over-
joyed, what with the vanishing of thicatened
danger and the sight of three men of his own
class and kind.

•' Let your lellows ascend and go forward.
They shall be well cared for, I promise you,"
he said to Captain Percy.

Percy leaned over the bulwarks and
shouted the word down to the men in the
pitching boat. Then Harold C'oflfin took him
by the arm. ** Gentlemen," said he, looking
first at Percy and then at the others, '* we
have a passenger aboard — Mistress Eliza-
beth Duwaney, the daughter of the governor
of Bristol's Hope plantation."

** Thunder and shot! " exclaimed de Ver-
ney, shaking the wrinkles out of his cloak
of fine blue cloth.

** By Heaven! " cried Master Down. " I
wear my oldest doublet! "

" Now I understand why the fire-eater has
undertaken so dull an expedition," remarked
Percy.

** You are mistaken," said Coffin, flushing.
** This is my second voyage as military com-

An Old Friend

iiS

rnnnder of the *' Good Fortune." I had no
knowledge, before embarking, that we were
to carry a passenger on this trip."

'* I understand, comrade. Had you pos-
sessed the knowledge you would have found
another command, the lady being iii fa-
vored."

*' You are as sharp as ever, captain. Or
can hide nothing from you," returned Har-
old Coffin, smiling quietly.

*• So this lady is old and ill-favored, is
she! " remarked Master Down, disconso-
lately. ** Then perhaps it had been better
for all of us if we had sent a few more i j iud-
shot after the first."

** You are mistaken, 1 assure you," aaid
Coffin, gazing fixedly at Master Down.
'* Whatever a lady's age or aj pea ranee, she
must be treated with every mark of respect
and consideration so long as she occupies my
ship. Had other round-shots followed that
first I should have believed that T had a com-
mon pirate to deal with — and so I should
have dealt with him. Now I trust your
understanding is clearer, sir.**

•m Bn

Mta

A Captain of Raleigh's

ill «

j;j
1

,t:

" And I hope so, too, Horace," said Cap-
tain Percy, frowning at the offender. " xVnd
let me warn you, lad, that I have seen this
gentleman, our host, dispatch a gigantic
Dutch bully before breakfast without so
much as laying aside his cloaK."

Down and de Verney gazed at Master Cof-
fin in open astonishment.

" To the cabin, gentlemen," cried the com-
mander of the ** Good P'ortune," leading the
way with his hat in his hand.

The cabin was ill-lit, having no skylight.
The three visitors followed Coffin witiiin and
stood blinking. Elizabeth stood with her
back to the window and her face in shadow.
She guessed that these strangers were of the
class of men — gentlemen-rovers of the sea
— of which Harold had told her. So the
sight of them relieved her fears vastly. This
polite visit, hat in hand, could mean noth-
ing but that all danger of hostilities was
past.

*' Madame," said Master Coffin, *' T beg
to present to you the commander of the good
ship ' Jaguar,* Captain John Percy, and two

r 1

^^_

An Old Friend

of his comrades. They have come aboard
to pay their respects to the daughter of Gov-
ernor Duwaney — and Captain Percy is kind
enough to wish to renew old acquaintance-
ship with me, for we oncft served together in
the Low Countries."

The gentlemen bowed profoundly and the
lady curtsied

" Come to the table, gentlemen. Madame,
be seated, I pray," continued Master Coffin.
Then he shouted for his man James, who
appeared at the door in a raoment. " Bring
candles, and glasses, and two flasks of the
best wine of Oporto," he ordered. " Also,
tell Master Spike that we await his pleasure
in the cabin."

James saluted and hurried away. Turn-
ing to the company, Coffin saw that his guests
had at last obtained a clear view of Mistress
Duwaney 's face. They showed their sur-
prise and admiration in r ttitude and expres-
sion. Percy stood with one foot advanced,
motionless, his dark eyes fixed steadily upon
the lady's face. Master Down huddled his
warm cloak tightly around him, to keep his

A Captain of Ralei*gh*8

III

hf-

shabby doublet out of sight. De Verney was
still bent forward in a second impressive sal-
utation. Master Coffin smiled quietly. He
had been quite right in his opinion of the
spirit of Raleigh's gentlemen.

James entered with the candles and placed
them on the table. With this additional illu-
mination the girl increased in attractiveness
— at least, every charm of her face was dis-
closed. Her eyes shone like stars in the soft
yellow lig'^ Coffin himself ^ad never seen
her look q ; so beautiful. To the others,
who perhaps had not seen an English woman
for many months, she appeared a very mira-
cle of loveliness. The sight of hor recalled
the best and happiest days of their lives —
some wonderful days of childhood, i^orhaps,
or of golden days of love that had been long
ago, before the rough adventures an<l disillu
sions of the world had hardoned them. A
faint sigh escaped do Verney. At tliat, all
three ptarted and -rlanced about them, as if
the spril were broken that had so siKidenly
come upon them.

"It is kind of you to receive us, my dear

An Old Friend

lady,'* said Percy, in a voice not entirely free
from agitation.

'* It is kind of you to go to all this trouble
to call upon me," replied Elizabeth, smiling
brightly.

A look of shanae and confusion passed be-
tween Down and de Verney. Coflfin saw it
and understood. No wonder they felt
ashamed of themselves. They had fired a
shot at the vessel carrying Mistress Du-
waney; and, but for the happy chance of
Coffin making himself known to Percy, they
might have engaged the merchantman in
furious and bloody combat.

Snike entered the cabin and the visitors
were named to him. James placed wine,
cakes and glasses on the table. Stools were
drawn up and everyone was seated. Coffin
poured the wine, for James was not to be
trusted in so delicate an undertaking.

" My masters,'* said Spike, ** Uiis be a
happy ending to the morning's adventure. T
feared something not so sociable. Well, here
hv luck to ye, gentlt-men, an' may ye be as
polite in your intentions towards all honest

h^vis^

A Captain of Raleigh's

r 1

:1 i '

f i

merchantmen as ye seem to be towards the
' Good Fortune.' " So saying, he tossed the
wine into his mouth and giilp<'d it down.

Captain Percy frowned. ** What feared
you, my good master sliipmanf ** he inijuired,
looking coldly at the ancient mariner.

** Hoity-toity, my fine gentleman, I've iived
too long on salt water to fear a puff o'
wind," replied Spike. ** If T told ye what
I expected when 1 sighted your lops 'twould
be no news to ye. One picks up a stick when
he sees a strange dog. One lays his hand on
his purse when he meets a masked man.
One looks for something other than compli-
ments when a strange vessel drops a round-
shot under his stam."

** What do you meant " asked Captain
Percy. ** Would you imply that you took
my vessel for a pirate ship? "

" That I did," said Spike, helping himself
to wine. ** T wasn't thinking ye'd fire a
shot at us just hy way o' lettin' us know
ye was comin' aboard to drink a glass o*

wine.

At this, Coffin laughed outrjght. ** Don't

ii!

An Old Friend

be so put-about by Master Spike's talk, Cap-
tain Percy," he said. " He has a habit of
saying what ib m his miud — and his own
way of saying it."

" 80 I see," said Captain Percy. ** And
he takes me for a common pirate."

'* Not for a common one, master," re-
marked Spike. " Common pirates don't at-
tack ships o' war. An' that, I have heard,
he what gentry o* your kidney have been
known to do. Oh, ye be finer birds nor com-
mon sea-robbers — but none the safer to
meet for all that, maybe.'*

*• You are, evidently, ignorant of the dif-
ference between a pirate and a privateer,"
said Percy.

** Your ship is not a privateer," retorted
Spike.

** la she not? How so, my good fellow? "

*• An English privateer does not molest
English shipping.'*

** This argument is useless," interrupted
Coffin. ** Spike is in the right of it, Percy,
and you may talk until this wine turns sour
and you'll not put him in the wrong. Your

■■■■i

ifiiiiiiirtlA.

A Captain of Raleigh's

ship is neither au honest merchantman nor
yet a privateer. But, to give the levil his
due, you have a sufficient excuse for your
new and hazardous way of life. Let us
change the subject."

*' 1 nmrit seem persistent, even ill-man-
nered, comrade, " replied Percy; " but change
the subject of discussion I will not until I
have made my true position clear to Mistress
Duwaney."

He looked across the table straight into
Master Coffin's eyes, and Coffin returned him
glance for glance. Captain T rcy's face was
thin and dark, pensive and possessed of ex-
traordinary charm. The source^ of this charra
was the strange part of it, for his fine nose
had been broken and showed an unnatural
bump in the bridge, and his mouth, of gen-
erous width, had the air of being slightly
one-sided. A few people thought him ugly,
many though f him exceedingly rine-looking,
and all who knew him acknowledged the rare
charm of his appearance and manner.

"As the lady wishes," said Coffin, com-
posedly.

mmm

iliiaBli

An Old Friend

" Certainly," replied the captain of the
** Jaguar," bowing slightly.

** I am anxious to know Captain Percy's
true position," said Elizabeth, faintly.

♦* Thank you, madame," said Percy. " I
feel that you and Master Coffin will see
my argument immediately — but this good
mariner has a head as solid as the oaken
frame of his ship."

" Never mind my head nor my ship, mas-
ter, but show us your position," said Spike,
pulling at his trimmed beard.

•* I have been a soldier and an honorable
fighter all my life," began Percy, " and have
fought in many lands and under many flags.
Master Coffin can vouch for my reputation
as a gentleman and an honest officer in the
Low Countries, for there wo were comrades
in arms. For the past two years T have fol-
lowed my military career on shipboard. At
first, as commander of the * Jaguar,' T served
the King and that noble knight, Sir Walter
Raleigh. T carried colonists to the knight's
plantations, explored the hearts of tropical
jungles by his orders, and fought Spaniards

^snm

'!P&'

A Captain of Raleigh's

l.i

I :li|

and pirates on the sea. WTien the King
caused my beloved captain to be put to an
ignoble death, by such base and cowardly
means, to curr} favor with Spain, I foreswore
all alliance to that treacherous and merciless
monarch and vowed that the world should
feel something of the sting of ray grief. The
gentlemen who were with me and every man
of my crew were of my way of thinking.
Other commanders of the dead knight 's ships
couunitted themselves to the same course of
action. They, too, have made their anger felt,
since then. We have showed the weak-
minded James that Raleigh still lives — but
now to destroy instead of to build — in the
hearts of his captains. But I am not a pi-
rate. Spnin may call mo so, but Spain ahme.
T have fonerht and looted two Spanish ships;
but they were as Inrire as the ' .Tagimr ' and
as heavily armed. T did not put any of their
men to death after the vioiories, and T let
them sail away — and tliey sailed all the
better for their empty holds. T have engatred,
despoiled and seuttlod a notorious pirate. T
have engaged openly with a king's ship ; but

t I
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dfisS^-M^Jk^

An Old Friend

I let it crawl away to nurse its wounds.
From any merchant-ship other than the
Spanish vessels of which 1 have spoken, I
have never taken more than a few bags of
provisions. I have destroyed no voyage nor
shed the blood of any honest sailor-man.
Twice have I come between a pirate-ship and
her intended prey. This is the full tale of
ray activities as an erring captain — and I
ask you whether or not I deserve to be named
for a desperado of the sea? "

*' You have behaved very nobly, sir,*' said
Elizabeth, shyly.

** You have followed a course worthy of
your name and your lofty character, com-
rade," said Coffin, flushing with generous
emotions.

" Tf what the gentleman says be true, then
he be ihc most remarkable pirate I ever
heard tell of," said Spike.

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CHAPTER VI

THE OOVEBNOR's BAD DAY

" You do not mean to be insulting, ship-
master? " queried Percy, looking at Spike
with his mouth a trifle more to one side than
ever.

" Insulting? Nought could be further
from my intention, sir," replied the old nav-
igator, honestly. Elizabeth laughed — and
in a moment Captain Percy and the others of
the little company joined in the mirth. And
so, for half an hour, good-fellowship and
perfect understanding prevailed in the cabin
of the'* Good Fortune."

Wlien tho visitors were ready to return to
their own ship, Coffin drew the commander
of the ** Jaguar " aside. ** Do yon lack any-
tliing, comrade? " he asked. " How are you
supplioil with provisions? '*

Captain Percy blushed and laughed uneas-
ily. ** We Inck notliing; but it is like your
good heart to ask it," he said. ** We lack

»k^

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The Governor's Bad Day

nothing to eat and nothing to drink — but
only QUI great commander. That loss my
heart cannot forget. But you have treated
iiie well, comrade ; and 1 hope you have for-
given me that round- shot, which was in-
tended as notliing more than a request to
lieave to, so that I might come aboard and
learn your business. And I hope that Mis-
tress Duwaney does not hold me in distrust."

** The shot is forgiven, comrade — and I
feel sure that our passenger knows you for
the bra VI and honorable gentleman that you
are," replied Harold Coffin, generously.

When the gentlemen of the '* Jaguar "
were over the side and in the stem-sheets of
their small boat and Elizabeth, Coffin and
Spike were gazing down at them, Percy
stood up and removed his hat. '* I shall give
myself the pleasure of keeping you in sight
until you reach your harbor, for these are
dangerous waters," he said. Then, at a ges-
ture of his hand, his stout fellows bent their
backs to the oars and the little boat drew
away from the ** Good Fortune."

Three days later, the lookout sighted the

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A Captain of Raleigh's

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grim and desolate coast of the Newfoimd-
land. Spike knew his exact position at a
glance and headed his ship a few points
northerly. He had made his landfall near
the hidden entrance to the harbor of St.
John's. The great bay of Conception lay to
the northward. Though the distant coast
was bleak and forbidding of aspect, the gen-
eral outlook from the sea-weary ship was
enlivening. The sun shone from a clear sky
and there was no sign of fog in any direc-
tion. The small seas flashed in the spring
radiance and a great iceberg, drifting ma-
jestically southward, seemed tipped with
white and blue flame at every point and
angle. The rocky coast of the island changed
in hue from smoky gray to purple and warm
brown. Several little fishing-boats, with
dingy sails, moved over the green waters.
Astern, the white tower of the guardian
** Jaguar's " canvas gleamed like pearl in
the sunlight.

Elizabeth and Harold went forward and
ascended to ttie high forecastle-deck, Eliza-
beth found a comfortable seat on a great coil

The Governor's Bad Day 77

of rope. The yoimg man stood close beside
her, leaning his shoulders against one of the
taut stays that supported the high-pitched
jib-boom. He was doing his best to conceal
from his companion a terrible depression of
spirits from which he was suffering. The
voyage was almost over. The separation
was soon to take place — the separation that
was for a life-time. And yet a life-time, so
far as he was concerned, might prove to be
a very brief period of time. If the fog and
cold of the north did not kill him before many
years had passed, it was altogether likely
that bullet or knife in the West Indies would
accomplish the inconsiderable business.
These desperate reflections on the part of
the frail young gentleman were entirely due
to the fact that he was in love with Elizabeth
Duwaney. Fully aware of his shortcomings
— of his poverty, grotesque figure, undis-
tinguished face and ill-health — he realized
that though the lady might feel friendship
and pity for him she could never love him
as a man who loves has a right to be loved
in return. Well he knew that the qualities

A Captain of Raleigh's

ill

that enabled hun to take his place in rough
camps and aboard rough ships were not such
as to put him on an equal footing with so
good and beautiful a young woman as this
daughter of the ex-alderman of Bristol. Oh,
it was no thought of social inequality that
disturbed. Socially, things were quite the
other way — for, despite his poverty, he was
what her worthy father was not — a gentle-
man. But no foolish thought of this kind
entered his head for a moment. It was the
sense and knowledge of personal inequality
that occupied his mind and depressed him
unspeakably. He saw his duty plain. He
must hide his heart and show only a reason-
able friendship. In a day or two they would
part — and then he must forget, in hard-
ship and adventure, that they had ever
met.

" Now that the voyage draws to its end
I begin to feel some uneasiness on the score
of my reception," confessed Mistress Du-
waney.

Thus recalled from the bitter shades of his
reflections, Master Coffin looked down at her

• '

The Governor's Bad Day 79

upturned face with his insignificant features
twisted into a tragic smile.

** I cannot believe," said he, *' that you
can possibly have any grounds for uneasi-
ness. I am sure that your father will be
delighted to see you after the long, dull win-
ter which he has endured."

** I pray you may be right," returned the
girl, in anxiety not entirely pretended.
** That is exactly how I felt when I set out
on this daring enterprise; but now, when
Bristol and Tom are so far astern and the
plantation and my father so close in front,
my courage and assurance waver a little. It
is an excellent joke, of course; but for all
that, here am I where I am not wanted, and
there is Toni still snug at home — in exactly
the place which my father intended to draw
him from. We are accustomed to the joke —
but I fear it will be a notable surprise to my
dear father."

*' If I were he I should consider it a de-
lightful surprise," returned the infaiiuated
youth.

" If you were my father," laughed the girl.

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A Captain of Raleigh's

Then Master Coffin remembered himself
and gazed straight ahead of him at the flash-
ing sea. ** I do not think his anger will last
more than a few minutes," he said, with a
huskiness in his voice which he could not
overcome. Elizabeth looked up at him,
quickly and with anxious inquiry in her eyes.
Without seeing them, Harold was aware of
both the movement and the glance. He
ti'.-ned, avoiding her eyes, and looked di-
rectly aft.

'* What is it! " asked the girl. " Are you
iu pain? " The consciousness of his narrow
chest and pale cheeks was always with her
and, though he never mentioned his health,
she often feared that he was suffering.
Startled by the strange tone of his voice, this
question had slipped, unwe.^^jed, from her
lips.

He looked down at her — and that he was
in pain she could not doubt. Their eyes met
for only a second — but in that second she
understood. A bripf bi,*; potent silence fol-
lowed in which they stared separate ways
but saw nothing.

» I

The Governor's Bad Day 81

** Percy continues to keep us well in
sight," remarked the young man, in a voice
that, for all its studied calm, could not ae-
ceive the girl 's anxious and sensitive ear.

** Such devotion is truly remarkable," she
replied, giving no thought to her words. * ' A
comrade like that is worth much hardship in
the winning."

By now Harold was outwardly himself
again. He laughed shortly but without bit-
terness. *' Do you not think, my dear lady,
that it is for yo"v safety rather than for that
of his old comrade-in-arms that he has con-
voyed us so far? "

"It cannot be!" exclaimed Elizabeth,
honestly surprised and genuinely confused.
" It cannot be so, Master Coffin. Surely his
friend's safety is more to him than that of
a strange young woman? Why, he knows
nothing of me but my name — and I think
that would make no great impression upon
him."

** He has seen you," said Harold, with un-
natural levity.

The girl, blushing, smiled thoughtfully to

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A Captain of Raleigh's

herfswlf. And thus, all unheeding, did Master
CofiSn sow the seed that was to blossom in
due season.

And now to return to the plantation of
Bristol's Hope. Master Duwaney, awaking
from a nap before the fire of birch logs on
his wide hearth, took his telescope from its
slings against the wall and hobbled out to
l-flvo another look for the topsails of the
'• Good Fortune." The time was mid-after-
noon. He seated himself on the bench beside
the door and began to polish the lenses of the
telescope with a silk handkerchief. Not once
did he raise his head for an inspection of the
bay with the naked aye. It was his intention
to look through : ' f ;ope — therefore he

would not look a i until the glass was
ready. Such was the governor of Bristol's
Hope. He was still polishing vigorously
when three men came up from the shingle,
halted in front of the governor and knuckled
their caps.

" Here be the ' Good Fortune,' yer wor-
ship," said the senior of the three.

s <

The Governor's Bad Day 83

** How say yout Where awayT *' cried
Duwaney, letting the handkerchief flutter to
the ground and lifting the telescope to his
eye. But he did not see the ship, for in his
excitement he had pointed the glass fair at
old Bill Wing's expansive chest.

" She be that handy, sir," said Bill, " that
ye '11 glimpse her as well with yer eye as
through that there fine horoscope."

" How so, fellow! " cried the governor;
but in spite of his indignation he lowered the
glass and looked down the bay — and there,
sure enough, was the ** Good Fortune," her
anchors already let go and her sails swiftly
furling.

"Bless my soul!" exclaimed the gov-
ernor. ** That's just like that old fool of a
shipmaster! Here I've been watching for
him for the past two weeks, night and day,
so to speak, and as soon as I take a wink of
sleep, in he crawls. Where is Master Mac-
Allister? "

" He was off to the woods, yer worship,
when we left for the fishin*," replied Bill
Wing.

A Captain of Raleigh's

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•* Then pull me out to the ship, lads," said
the governor.

Now it happened that Wing and his two
companions had come straight in from the
fishing to warn the governor of the approach
of the " Grood Fortune," and so their boat
was half-full of fish. The ship had sailed so
close on their heels that they had not paused
to unload on reaching the laud-wash. Their
haste may be explained by the fact that by
an unwritten law of the plantation the first
man to give word of the arrival of a ship in
the bay wab entitled to a gallon of home-
brewed ale. Even a gallon of ale is worth
dividing by three.

** How is this? " cried the governor, upon
reaching the skiflF. ** I)o you think that I,
the representative of His Majesty's author-
ity in these parts, can go out to receive the
Company's ship, and in my official capacity
at that, perched atop a heap of slimy cod-
fish? "

" 'Twon't take us two shakes o' a ram's
tail to heave 'em out, yer worship, an* put
all ship-shape," said Bill Wing.

The Governor's Bad Day 85

*' I'll thank you not to make suggestions
to nio," snapped the governor. ** You forget
yourself, William. As for this fellow Spike,
I'll let him see that though he may dawdle
the precious weeks away in crossing the
ocean I am ready for him on the minute. So
shove off, my good fellows, that I may be
alongside before the shipmaster has time to
lower a boat."

That the " Good Fortune " had slipped
into port while he indulged in his afternoon
nap rankled in the worthy governor's mind,
for it pleased him to have people think that
the responsibilities of his position kept him
always alert and awake. And now, to add
pepper to his temper, he was f( reed to take
his seat on a folded sail a tp a pile of ^ limy
fish. Also, his offending .oe began t( -ob.

Governor Duwaney was in a pipin^ hot
humor when the skiff reached the anf'*»wed
ship. He found the ladder already 1. !

for him and Spike and Coffin gazing o\ **
side, hats in hand, and arrayed in their st
clothes. In ascending the ladder he suffe 1
agony in his toe and scraped his knucklt

A Captain of Raleigh's

1 :

The commander and the master received him
ceremoniously, with the whole ship's com-
pany drawn up at attention in regular man-
o'-war style. This show of respect would
have chased away his ill humor on ordinary
occasions; but this was not .in ordinary
occasion.

" You are late," he cried, glaring- from
the uneasy master to the yet more uneasy
conmiander.

*' The ways o' the wind an' the sea be in
the hand o' the Lord," replied Spike, with
an effort to maintain his usual stolidity of
manner.

Duwaney gave no heed to the master's
words. " Where is my son? " he cried.
" Why is he not here to receive me? What
is the world coming to when a son dare treat
his father with such lack of respect? "

Coffin and Spike glanced anxiously at each
other, and even the hardy mariners, standing
arow in honor of the governor, felt a chill of
apprehension pass through their hearts of
oak.

** Where is he, I say I " cried the governor,

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The Governor's Bad Day 87

adding fuel to his internal fiies by stamping
his gouty foot upon the unyielding deck.

" Sir, your son," began Coffin — and
stopped there for lack of anything mori to
say.

'* Out with ) >t with it, Master Coffin 1

Wliat have you • ..ay of my son? The truth,
sir, I command you! Is he alive or is he
dead? Is he aboard this ship, or is he not?
Has the sea got him, or have pirates carried
him away? Out with it I Out with it! "

The old man was in a terrible state, for
now paternal anxiety was mixed with his
anger. His face was red as a squid. He
st<'j)ped close to the dismayed Master Coffin

d clutched the front of his doublet with
.ioth hands.

** What have you done with my son? Tell
me, or I'll shake it out of you," he shouted.

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CHAPTER Vn

MOBE OF THE GOVEENOB'S BAD DAT

" 'PoN my word, sir, you forget yourself.
Unhand me. Your son? I have never set
eyes on the worthy youth," returned Cofl&n,
his anger beginning to overwhelm his em-
barrassment.

Diiwaney shook him violently. ** How say
you? Never set eyes on himf Then you
have not brought him? "

'* Away with you! Unhold me, lest I do
you an injury. D'you think you're back in
your warehouse, handling a sack of corn? '*

At this the furious magistrate looked as
if he were about to have a fit. ** You insolent
rascal! You penniless whipper-snapper!"
he bellowed, shaking Master Coffin backward
and forward by the front of his doublet.

** You go too far," cried Spike. ** Have
a care ! " He saw a light in the commander's
pale eyes that meant danger. Without apol-

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More of the Governor's Bad Day 89

ogy he grabbed Duwauey by the shoulders
and jerked him away from the other. At
that moment Elizabeth appeared from the
cabin, where she had been waiting in trepi-
dation for her father to find her. His furi-
ous cries, however, had drawn her from her
retreat. She ran to him and clutched his
hands. For a little while he gaped at her
with protruding eyes and open mouth. But
this crowning shock was too much for him
and he suddenly fell flat on the deck. The
girl sank to her knees on one side of him and
Harold CoflRn on the other.

** It is nought but a fit," babbled the young
man, ashamed of his part in exciting the gov-
ernor. ** He'll be right as a trivet in a few
minutes. He has too much blood — and it
has all flown to his head. He was in a flurry
when he came aboard and would listen to
nothing.*'

But the girl was weeping bitterly and
heard nothing of his words. " Oh, what have
T done? T have killed him with my wicked
prank," she cried, brokenly.

Now Master James, the commander's body

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A Captain of Raleigh's

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servant, appeared upon the scene, pushing
his way through the ring of mariners that
surrounded the prostrate and unconscioas
governor. In his hands he carried a metal
bowl, some strips of linen and a small box.

'* Allow me to attend to him, mistress,"
he said. ** During my years of soldiering in
my master's sers'ice I have learned a deal of
surgery. His worship has too much blood
and it be too hot. Let me get at him and
I'll have him cool as a candle and lively as a
cricket in ten mortal minutes."

" James speaks truly. He is skilled with
the lancet," whispered Harold, reaching
across the bulky governor and taking one of
the girl's hands in both of his.

And so Master James was allowed to prac-
tise his military surgery on the governor of
Bristol's Hope. That he made the most of
his opportunity you may well believe, and
was not satisfied until he had drawn such a
quantity of blood from the over-charged
veins as would have left an ordinary man dry
as a bone. This simple and heroic treatment
did the trick, however. Within ten minutes

I*!}

MMH

More of the Governor's Bad Day 91

of the moment of his fall the governor sighed
and opened his eyes. Truly he was cool as
a candle, though not quite as lively as a
cricket. His blind rage of a few minutes
before had vanished entirely as if it had been
a poison in the blood that James had so
deftly released and caught in his metal dish.

** I fear I have had a seizure — the result
of worry and overwork," remarked the gov-
ernor in a small, mild voice.

" That is indeed the case, sir," said Har-
old.

* * And I was unduly wrought up, I believe,
concerning the whereabouts of my son," con-
tinued Duwaney. ** Even now 1 am not
quite clear on this point — owing, no doubt,
to my disturbed state of mind at the time of
making inquiry."

** Allow me to feel of your pulse, your
worship," said James.

This favor was allowed without protest
from the great man.

** Steady as marching and strong as a
horse," announced James.

** I seem to have a misty sort of recoUec-

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A Captain of Raleigh's

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tion — or maybe 'twas a dream — of seeing
the face of my daughter for a moment, be-
fore my emotions overwhelmed rae," said the
governor.

** Your daughter is here, sir. She could
not r jmain away from you a moment longer
and dared to risk your displeasure for very
love," said Master Coffin, carefully avoiding
the other's glance.

** Where is she? " inquired the patient in
a dove-like voice.

He had been carried from the deck to the
cabin and now lay on the wide locker under
the stem window. Elizabeth, who had been
standing behind his head and out of his range
of vision, now moved forward and knelt be-
side him. " Here I am, dear father," she
murmured.

He laid his hand very gently on her bowed
head. " You have played me many pranks,
Sweetheart ; but this last certainly beats the
devil for madness and impudence," he said,
mildly. " If this obliging surgeon had not
deprived me of at least a bucketful of hot
blood I*d be sorely tempted to give you a

More of the Governor's Bad Day 93

whipping, my dear, just by way of discipline.
But as it is, it is. I hope you are in good
health, my dear? "

*' Yes, sir, in far better health than I de-
serve, ' ' replied the girl in trembling accents,
raising he head and gazing through a mist
of contrite tears at her father's face.

" Auvt Tom? Did you leave him in the
enjoyment of his usual good health and be-
fuddled state of mind? " inquired the gov-
ernor.

** Yes, sir. He was still busily engaged in
writing poetiy, " replied the girl. '* But this
is not his faiilt," she added, after a brief
pause. '* It was ray idea entirely — this of
making the voyage in his stead. But for me
he'd be here now, according to your orders."

" I could forgive him disobedience more
easily than this tomfool lack of spirit and
will power," said the governor. ** He could
be taught to oll^ ^^ A rebellious spirit could
be curbed and ^ xded. But if the Almighty
saw fit to create him without a backbone I
fear that it is beyond my power to make good
the deficiency."

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A Captain of Raleigh's

Hf e Master James (at a nod from Har-
old) again possessed himself of the jatient's
wrist. * ' You must calm yourself, your wor-
dhip," he cautioned, with a very solemn air.
" If you ar.ow your mind to dwell upon un-
pleasant subjects your blood will again heat
and rise to your head, in which case, your
worship, I shall feel it my duty to draw off
another quart or two of the poisonous
liquid."

" "What is this? " returned Duwaney, rais-
ing his head from the pillow. " How dare
you name my blood for poisonous liquid? A
pretty way to talk of the governor of Bris-
tol's Hope, I must say, and fair in his face,
at that."

** I spoke of your blood, your worship,
purely from a surgical point of vievv," an-
swered James, hastily.

** Then speak no more of it," snapped the

governor.

((

And mark ye," he added,

** that if I see you draw that little knife
within a league of my person I'll have you
hung from the flagstaff in front of my
house."

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More of the Governor's Bad Day 95

' ' His worship needs rest and quiet, ' ' whis-
pered the crestfallen James to his master.
Then he went swiftly and quietly from the
cabin.

Duwaney at last consented, under the
combined pleadings of his daughter and
Master Coffin, to remain a few hours longer
in the cabin of the " Good Fortune." To
tell the truth, he was in no great hurry to
move — though he pretended to be vastly
anxious concerning the safety of the colony
during his absence. One would think that he
was afraid that it would be carried away,
rocks, roofs and people, by some enemy of
the Company. I must confess that the
worthy governor was something of a hum-
bug. Plenty of good men are humbugs in
harmless ways. It is usually due to a mild
vanity of one kind or another. Duwaney was
vain of a reputation which he believed him-
self to possess for hard work and unflagging
\ngilance a& a colonizer. That he really did
not possess such a reputation is neither here
nor there.

Master Donald MacAllister boarded the

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A Captain of Raleigh's

'* Good Fortune " within an hour of the
governor's recovery from the seizure and
the remedy. Bill Wing, who had returned
to the shore without waiting for orders to
that effect, had told him a mad and wonder-
ful story. Acording to Bill, the governor
had accused Master Coffin of having mur-
dered his son and had attacked Master Cof-
fin in a violent manner. Then, of a sudden,
a young lady had dashed from some hiding-
place and knocked the governor flat on the
deck. At this point old Bill AVing and young
Bill Wing and Ken Wood had pulled swiftly
away from the ship, not wanting to become
involved in affairs of state.

MacAllister sprang to the deck of the
" Good Fortune " with his naked sword in
his hand and five armed men at his heels,
afire with anxiety and furj% and fearful of
he knew not what horrid act of treason.
Tliree men of the " Good Fortune's " crew
who happened to be loitering about the main
deck stood their ground for half a second,
gaping in astonishment and convinced that
they had anchored off a nest of pirates, and

More of the Governor's Bad Day 97

then turned and fled to the security of the
forecastle. Word flew through the ship
that six pirates — or madmen — had come
aboard. MacAllister, shouting the govern-
or's name, made straight for the after-cabin
with his five supporters close behind him.
His hand was extended for assault upon the
door when it was opened for him by Eliza-
beth Duwaney. He halted so sharply that his
men collided against him. He snatched his
hat from his head and tried to get his sword
out of sight behind his back.

** Who are you? Why do you shout my
father's name? " faltered the girl, her
nerves, already overwrought, grievously
shaken by the warlike appearance of the
visitors.

For a second or two MacAllister continued
to stand there gaping and staring, with his
astonished fellows pressing against him. He
could command neither his tongue nor his
wits. True, Bill Wing had mentioned a
young lady as the governor's murderer; but
he had expected nothing like this. What he
had expected he did not know — and as to

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A Captain of Raleigh's

what he had found he was still more in the
fog. His wits were so clouded that he had
not heard a word of the girl's speech. The
spell was hroken by Master Coffin, who ap-
peared suddenly beside the invaders, having
swung himself down from the deck of the
poop.

"Good day to you, Master MacAllister,"
he said. '' May I ask why you have been
pleased to come aboard in such a furious
manner? "

The Scot turned with an exclamation of
sharp relief. "Coffin," he cried. "By
heaven ! it is good to set eyes on a sane man.
Tell me, am I asleep or awake? And where
is the governor? And what has happened to
him? And what is all this trouble about? "
" The governor had a rush of blood to the
head, but is now himself again," replied
Harold. " But dismiss your boarding-party
and step within and we'll explain everything
to you. One moment! Mistress Duwaney,
allow me to present you Master Donald Mao-'
Allister, your father's lieutenant in this
plantation."

More of the Governor's Bad Day 99

As tlie three entered tlie cabin, the gov-
ernor turned his head on his pillow. ** Ah,
Donald, lad," said he, faintly, "I'm glad
to see you again. It seems days instead of
hours since I last clapt eyes on you. I lost
my temper, lad, and suffered a seizure; but
I feel better now, though infernal weak. I'll
be fit to go ashore in a few minutes."

" I am thankful it is no worse, sir,'* re-
turned MacAllister, with a note of genuine
anxiety in his voice. ** By old Bill Wing's
story T believed that you had been done for.
He as good as said that — that some one
knocked you prostrate on the deck. I feared
murder and treason and I know not what
beside. I thought the world had gone mad —
and so, to be with the majority, went mad
myself."

Here he laughed shamefacedly and shot a
glance at the girl.

*' We have all been mad, I think. It has
been a mad day," said she, blushing.

" And a great part of the madness still to
be paid for," grumbled the governor.

MacAllister asked permission, and re-

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100

A Captain of Raleigh's

"U ,1

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ceived it promptly, to send his boat back to
the shore with a true account of what had
taken place aboard the ♦' Good Fortune,"
that the apprehensions of the settlers might
be quieted and old Bill Wing put to shame
for his outrageous story. Then the three
young people — the girl, Coffin and Mac-
Allister — se -d themselves on stools close
to the locker on which the governor lay.
The old gentleman looked them over with a
calculating eye.

*' Master Coffin," said he, " I'd be inter-
ested to hear how a man of the world like
yourself came to allow my daughter to make
such fools of us all — of the Company, the
colony and the ship."

" Well, sir, I am forced to admit that I
was helpless," replied Harold, in confusion.
" It may be that I have a knowledge of camps
and cities, sir; but in what way was such
knowledge to lielp me? Yon can see how it
was, sir - that is, you could if you did not
happen to be her father. She wanted to
make the voyage. All is said."

" Nay all is not said," returned the gov-

i«

More of the Governor's Bad Day 101

ernor, trying to hide a smile that titJcied his
lips. '* I thouglit better of you, Master Cof-
fin. You are the military commander of this
good ship. Owing to your reputation as an
able officer and a courageous fighter you hold
this position of trust. Then how is it that
you let yourself be made a fool of hy the
whim of a chit of a girl? I tell , sir, you
lack courage — aye, though , at me alive
for it! Bah ! — to be afraid ♦^ a girl. But
what of Spike T Where is the old sea-dog?
I'll wager he is hiding from me, fearful that
I'll put a few plain questions to him as to
why he failed to obey my orders. He is old
enough and ugly enough, I should think, to
withstand the poutings and eye-twirlings of
V* self-willed girl.'*

The young men gazed at their feet in a
fever of embarrassment. Elizabeth stooped
forward and rested a light hand on her
father's shoulder. '• My dear," she mur-
mured, " neither Master Coffin nor Master
Spike are to blame in any way for my dis-
obedient and foolish action ?"'pHher of them
knew that I was aboard, or }i;i 1 e^ti ^o much

1 I

102 A Captain of Raleigh's

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as set eyes on me — to their knowledge —
until the ship was far out at sea. They saw
me come aboard, — but as I wore Tom's
clothing, and his great cloak and boots, and
went straight to my cabin, they mistook me
for him. That, of course, was what I in-
tended them to do."

" I suspected as much," said the gov-
ernor, with a gleam in his eye that was not
of anger. "I'd give five thousands of golden
pounds, Bess, if I might transfer some of
your spirit to your brother. Aye, that is
heart 's-truth, you madcap! " He lay silent
for a few moments, blinking his round eyes
at the deck-timber overhead. Then, '* Send
for Benjamin Spike to come to me," he or-
dered, shortly.

ii*

? i

CHAPTER VIII

TWO GENTLEMEN AT ODDS

MacAllister, who felt that his presence
could well be spared from a discussion that
promised to become of a purely family na-
ture, took it upon himself to find Master
Spike and send him to the governor. He
was glad of an excuse to get out of the cabin ;
but rather for the girl's sake than for his
own. He felt how awkward for her must be
the presence of a stranger at her father's
exposure of family troubles. So he all but
ran from the cabin and slammed the door
behind him as if an imp of darkness were
at his heels. He found Spike on the fore-
castle-deck, gazing shoreward in feigned ab-
sorption.

** Welcome back to Bristol's Hope," clap-
ping the old navigator on the back and then
grasping his hand with the utmost cordiality.
An* a right queer welcome yeVe give

103

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'111

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■i" *

■1.

104 A Captain of Raleigh's

me, Master MacAllister, " returned Spike,
** what with the governor boardin' me like
a raginVroarin' lion, so to speak, seekin'
whom he may devour, as the Scriptures has
it, an' layin' holt o' poor Master Coffin as if
he would make an end o' him, an' then fallin'
on the deck in as furious a fit as ever I see.
Aye, a rare, warm welcome, master, ye may
well name it I Then over the side comes you
an' your rascals, with cold iron in your fists
like so many Sally Rovers, ready to spit us
all like Christmas geese."

MacAllister laughed. ** I'll explain it to
you later, Benjamin; but now the governor
wants a word with you in the cabin."

'* Lord help me! " exclaimed the mariner.

Spike went to the cabin feeling that he*d
far rather walk into a den of thieves. Cap
in hand, he stood before the governor. The
great man gazed up at him for some time
without speaking. At last he said, " What
do you think you are, Benjamin — an honest
shipmaster or a military ruffler from the TiOw
Country wars? Where is your fine wide
beard? And why are your great mustaches

Two Gentlemen at Odds

105

curling up against your nose? Rip me, Ben-
jamin, but an amazing change has come over
you I What d'you mean by it, man? Is it
for the better sailing of the ship and the
better serving of the Company? "

" Your worship," returned Spike, ** I
made so bold as to trim up my whiskers a
bit in honor o' the lady who came across as
our passenger. I meant no harm by it, your
worship."

" You, too! " exclaimed the governor, in
mock severity. ** You, Benjamin Spike, with
grandsons sailing the seas, trimming your
whiskers with the intent of catching the eye
of a young lady. Tut, tut, man! I thought
you were old and ugly enough to have more
sense. I'll wager, now, you spent your time
in writing poetry instead of your log-book."

" Ye be in the wrong of it there, your wor-
ship, ' replied Spike, gravely. " I but tried
to make myself look less rough, so that the
young lady might feel the more at her ease
while seated at table with me. As for poetry,
I leave it for them as has nought else to do."

,!•

** An honest answer, by my wig I " ex-

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106 A Captain of Raleigh's

claimed the governor. " You are forgiven,
Benjamin, for the trimming of your whisk-
ers. But tell me now, if you can, how it
comes that my daughter is here in the colony
of Bristol's Hope and my son remains in
Bristol? "

*'I have explained that, father!'* cried
Elizabeth.

** Silence, child. I desire to hear Master
Spike's expianation," said Duwaney, sha-
king a fat finger at her.

" Your worship," said Spike, deliberately,
" I can make no fine tale o' the matter. T
can't explain it, sir. The young lady wanted
to come — an' T made so bold as to think
ye'd be glad to clap eyes on her again. Also,
your worship, old Ben Spike has a heart in
his breast — an' no man with a heart, be he
old or young, ugly or handsome, simple or
jrenllo, could refuse a wish o' that beautiful
vouTia- ladv's. I'd have give her the whole
blessed ship if she'd wanted it, your wor-
ship."

" This is all very irregulnr," said the gov-
ernor, trying hard to conceal his satisfaction

m^nviiwvnai

MMH

MMM

Two Gentlemen at Odds

107

at the old shipmaster's praise of his daugh-
ter. Well he knew the old man's keenness
of vision into the human heart and honesty
of utterance, and praise from him he knew
to be of more value than from many a be-
ribboned courtier. "As to giving her tlie
ship, Benjamin — why, 'twould be a piratical
deed, and I'd have to pay for it. But I'll
say nothing more to you about this matter,
for I see that the girl alone is to blame and
that men who are capable of withstanding
the cannon and cutlasses of pirates are as
putty in the hands of a clever girl. But to
oblige me, Benjamin, kindly let your whisk-
ers expand sideways again and haul the
points of your mustaches out of your eyes."

And that was the end of the governor's
open displeasure over the matter of his
daughter's arrival in the place of his son.

At an early hour of the morning following
the " Grood Fortune's " arrival in the little
harbor of Bristol's Hope, far up the great
Bay of Conception, Harold Coffin stood in
the ship's waist, with his elbows on the gun-
wale, and gazed shoreward at the primitive

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108

A Captain of Raleigh's

buildings of the little settlement. Particu-
larly did he fix his glance on the largest of
the houses, for that was the residence of the
governor. The house was low and long, with
a door and four small windows facing the
water and a squat chimney at each end. In
the east the light was growing and flooding
into the little anchorage from the gleaming
wastes of the outer bay. What the fisher-
folk call a '* loom " was on the water. The
ship with her furled sails and taut cables,
the skiffs and bullies swinging at the weed-
hung stairs, the rocks and the fish-flakes at
the edge of the crystal tide were all as if
they hung in air. By some strange trick of
light and atmosphere everything seemed to
swim at twice its actual height from the
water. This was not due to inverted reflec-
tions — but to what it was due go ask some
ancient fisherman or some youthful scientist.
I'll wager that their explanations of the phe-
nomenon will differ as widely as east is from
west.

The light grew steadily, evenly, as if a
wind of ethereal flame blew in from the

!♦ '

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Two Gentlemen at Odds

109

golden reaches of the Atlantic without sound
and without perceptible motion. The sky-
above the rocks and climbing forests of fir
was washed from slate gray to frailest blue.
The treetops up the river, the rough tidges
of the barren above the low cliffs and the
chimneys and roofs of the houses glowed as
if tipped with saffron fire. Azure streamers
ascended straight and unbroken from the
quiet habitations. Now even the governor's
chimneys offered their sacrifice to the morn-
ing. Soon a pleasant sound of homely occu-
pations drifted across the water from the
hamlet to the ship. Men came down to the
land-wash, the skiffs and bullies were un-
tethered and headed for the open bay. From
the dark of the fir-woods beyond the mouth
of the little river came the cheery chant of
the axes.

Harold Coffin, gazing at the governor's
house, took little note of these things. He
was sunk deep in meditations that were at
once sweet and bitter.

An hour later, Coflfin went ashore. Donald
MacAllister met him on the shingle and

110 A Captain of Raleigh's

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walked up tho path with him to the door of
the governor's house. Though these young
men had spent several months of the pre-
vious summer together in this same out-
corner of the world, working, exploring and
hunting in company, evidently in the best of
agreement and good-fellowship, yet no unde-
niable flame of friendship had sprung up in
their hearts. Coffin had no such feeling of
comradeship toward the Scot as he had
toward John Percy — yet he and Percy had
been comrades for little more than ten days
amid the toil and excitements of a military
campaign. With a man like Percy, as with
a half dozen others he could name, he would
share a last loaf or a full purse, a blanket,
glory or death with unshaken good humor;
but he had no desire to share anything with
Master Donald MacAllister. He could find
no explanation for this. He knew of nothing
against MacAllister and did not suspect that
there was anything against him. The Scot
was brave, capable and industrious. Ho had
sailed a voyage with the groat Raloij^h — a
more or less uneventful voyage, 'tis true —

r.i-

Two Gentlemen at Odds

111

and had not been found wanting. Perhaps
the Scot was too evidently proud of his big,
strong, flawless body and his musty family;
but with the last weakness, or fault of char-
acter, Coffin could find nothing wrong, for
both he and Percy could show pride of blood
with any bare-legged Highlander from the
rocks. But this pride of robust health, dis-
played in every glance and gesture — this,
beyond a doubt, stuck in poor Master Coffin's
crop more sickeningly than a knowledge of
crime.

Why MacAllister did not feel a warm
friendship for Coffin is, perhaps, less difficult
to understand. Poor as they were, his rea-
sons were positive. He disliked the thin
youth's personal appearance. He disliked
his eyes, his narrow chest, and his occa-
sional long-winded stories of his remarkable
swordsmanship. Having heard from other
sources that these stories were true he dis-
liked them all the more heartily. He could
acknowledge, without rancor, the prowess of
a big, deep-chested cavalier; but to know
that a frail, unhealthy lad like Harold Coffin

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112 A Captain of Raleigh's

was his equal in any manly accomplishment
went sorely against his pride.

These two young men walked elbow to
elbow across the rocky beach and up the
narrow path to the governor's door. They
smiled at each other and asked and replied
to questions with charming affability. But
MacAUister was out of spirits. In his bud-
get of news from home, which he had spent
half the night in reading, he had learned of
the execution of Sir Walter Raleigh. The
thought of it lay like a burden on his mind,
for he had sailed with that great man and
known him in the height of his energy and
glory. But pride — Scotch pride — forbade
his speaking of the tragedy to his companion.
Coffin had never sailed with Sir Walter.
MacAUister did not want either his pity or
his views on the matter.

At the door the Scot turned aside, for he
was on his way to the woods where the chop-
pers were at work. But Coffin made a re-
mark that brought him back,

" We received a visit from Captain John
Percy, of the * Jaguar,' " he said.

Two Gentlemen at Odds

113

"Tercy!" exclaimed the other. "He
was my commander. I made a voyage to the
Orinoco aboard the ' Jaguar.' "

This was old news to Harold, who had
heard it several times during the previous
summer and always somewhat in the manner
of a boast. He was tired of this boast of
one uneventful voyage.

•* What did he want with the ' Good For-
tune '? " asked the Scot.

'* He came aboard to see me," replied Cof-
fin. '* We were both of Bragg 's Brigade, in
the Low Countries, some years ago."

This was no news to Donald, who had
heard it before from the same source. He
had never fought in the Low Countries him-
self — nor anywhere else, for that matter —
and was not interested in the subject.
** How did he know you were aboard? " he
asked.

" The truth is, T told him so myself,*' re-
plied the other, smiling. " He overhauled
us and sent a round-shot after us, evidently
mistaking the * Good Fortune * for some-
thing else. When we came within hailing

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114 A Captain of Raleigh's

distance things took a change for the hetter.
Percy and two of liis gentlemen came and
had wine with us; and tiiroughout the re-
mainder of the trip the ' Jaguar ' kept us in
sight, for protective purposes, until we got
well inside the bay."

" "Where was he bound fori " iucpiired
MacAllister, in wonder.

** That would be hard to say," replied
Harold, *' for he has cast his fortunes on tho
high seas and iiolds neither himself nor his
ship responsible to any man. Our old com-
rade is one of these erring captains of which
the world is now beginning to talk."

** A pirate, d'ye mean? " exclaimed Don-
ald.

*' No, T should not give him that dishon-
orable name," replied the other. " He has
robbed, I think, but never shed innocent
blood. He fights as honestly now as ever he
fought. He preys upon tho pirates even as
an eagle may prey upon a hawk. The hum-
ble little merchant-ships go free of him, or
at most contribute n few pounds of provisions
to his stores. John Percy strikes high, look-

Two Gentlemen at Odds

115

ing fearlessly for game worthy of his repu-
tation and the guns and spirit of his ship.
Embittered by the unjust death of his
old captain — and yours — he engaged the
King's ship * Heroic ' and trount-ed her so
severely that she was thankful to be allowed
to crawl away."

'* A shij) of King James's! The poor fel-
low must be mad! " exclaimed Donald Mac-
Allister.

'* lie considers the violent death to which
Sir "Walter was brought as nothing other
tlian murder. In fighting the * Heroic ' lie
felt that he was striking a blow at the mur-
derer," said Coffin, quietly.

** It is treason — high treason," whis-
pered the Scotchman. ** I should have given
Percy, my old captain, credit for more loy-
alty and strength of character than to thus
turn traitor to his king for a private cause.
Yes, a private cause, no matter how pitiful
it may be. T, too, have loved that gentle
knight. Blithely would I have faced death
for him. But T do not say ijea or nay to the
king's action. Who am T to judge the work

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116

A Captain of Raleigh's

of my liege lord and sovereign — and who
is John Percy to judge it? "

*' Raleigh was his friend," said Colin,

*• And King James? "

** I fear that His Majesty is guilty of
weakness rather than of viciousness. He is
the tool of unscrupulous courtiers."

Donald MacAllister stared at the speaker
in amazement and anger. He could scarce
believe his ears. ** Are you speaking of the
king? " he asked.

" Of the king and no other — God save
His Majesty and enlighten his wits," replied
Harold Coffin, with composure.

** It seems to me, Master Coffin, that your
wits are more in need of enlightenment than
His Majesty's," said MacAllister.

** Which concerns nobody but myself and
my friends. No foolishness of mine could
ever result in such a crime against individual
and national rights as the ex'9cution of Sir
"Walter Raleigh," returned Coffin, gazing
steadily upward into the other's face.

" Have a care! " cried the Scot. ** This
sounds like treason! "

Two Gentlemen at Odds

117

" Better treason against one's foreign-
bred king than against a comrade and
friend," replied Harold Coffin.

For a little while the two young men stood
motionless and silent, staring into each
other's eyes. Then Donald MacAllister
turned and strode away. With a deep sigh
— whether of relief or disappointment who
shall say — Harold Coffin rapped on the door
of the governor's house with his gloved
knuckles.

' "

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CHAPTER IX

: Vl

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THE UNWELCOME VISITORS

Master Duwaney was in his bed, still suf-
fering from the excitement and loss of blood
of the day before. It was Elizabeth who
brought his regrets to Harold. They talked
together for a few minates in a friendly but
commonplace manner. The girl said that
she already lov^ed Bristol's Hope but sorely
missed Master Coffin and Master Spike from
the breakfast table. Harold kept his eyes
from her face and allowed neither her voice
nor her words to strike deeper than his ears.
He felt nervous and restless. As if the hope-
less love for the girl were not enough for
him to bear now the aggrav^ating discussion
with the Scotchman had given a fresh shock
to his nerves. Pleading the need of his help
aboard the ship, where the work of discharg-
ing the stores had already commenced, he
excused himself to the girl and went away.

118

The Unwelcome Visitors 119

Pausing at the top of the path that led down
to tlie shingle, he noticed three small vessels
in the bay bearing in toward the harbor of
Bristol's Hope. In these times and in these
waters, three strange shii)s, no matter how
innocent in appearance, claimed the attention
on sight. After one glance, Coffin continued
to descend the path, but at a quickened pace.
Just as he readied the land-wash MacAllis-
ter and six of his men came upon it by an-
other route. The men still carried their
axes in their hands; but the Scot had a
musket across his shoulder.

** What do you expect? " asked Coffin.

*' Ti Devon fishermen — our worst ene-
mies," .jplied MacAllister.

'* Then I suppose the discharging of the
cargo had better be stopped for an hour or
so, until we know more of these fellows' in-
tentions! "

" T should recommend it, certainly. And
will you be so kind as to tell our men and
boats to pull ashore iinmediately."

The " Good Fortune's " gig was still at
the edge of the tide, with two of the ship's

!.'

120

A Captain of Raleigh's

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crew standing beside her bow. Coffin ran
to her and sprang aboard. The men, without
waiting for any word of command, pushed
the little boat off the pebbles, sprang in and
took their places on the thwarts. They bent
their backs to the heavy oars with a will,
sniffing excitement in the mild, sunlit air.
As the gig raced under the ship's stern and
swung around it, the boats that had been at
work ferrying the stores pushed clear and
headed shoreward, weighted gunwale-deep.
They, too, had read the situation at a glance.

Spike met Coffin the moment he sprang
from the rail to the deck. A cutlass was
belted to his great thigh. ** Ye may take
my word for it that yonder come three o'
these accursed fishin' admirals,*' he ex-
claimed, pointing seaward.

" But the day of those gentry is gone.
The reign of the fishing admiral is dead,"
replied Harold, though he put no faith in the
statement which he so glibly made. Though
a law of the Crown, he knew it to be but lit-
tle more than a theory, owing to the strength
and impudence and greed of the West Coun-

ii,.

The Unwelcome Visitors

121

try fishermen. Only in those harbors in
which the planters were stronger than the
fishers did the new and enlightened law hold
good.

" The day o' the high-handed, high-bellied
fishin' admirals be gone — on paper," re-
plied Spike, bitterly. " But I tell ye, mas-
ter, they care no more for paper laws than
for empty pistols. If we don't let 'em have
a squint at the muzzles o' our big guns
they'll be dumpin' their ballast into the an-
chorage afore a half -hour be gone."

** I agree with you, Benjamin. I'll go the
rounds now and see that the pieces are ready
to show to advantage at any moment," said
the commander. " These greedy, lawless
fellows are from my own country ; but I am
firm for the plantations."

*' For my part," replied Spike, " I like a
full-fledged, glass-chawin ', blood-spittin' pi-
rate better nor these harbor-hogs o' fishin'
admirals. They'll rob as quick, an' kill as
quick as any Sally Rover — an' they'll set
lire to a plantation for Jhe sake o' a quintal
o'fish."

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122

A Captain of Raleigh's

Harold looked to his batteries, found them
all in good order, and then took up a position
on the poop from which he had a clear view
of the approaching vessels. Th'^y were
blunt-nosed craft, of two masts with heavy
yards and wide, weather stained sails. They
were low amidships, but raised fore and aft
to the height of two decks. They rode high
in ballast. They raced in on a fair, brisk
wind, with not more than half a mile from
the bow of the leader to the stern of the hind-
most. That they were West Country fishing
ships but newly arrived on the coast, and
therefore eager to find anchorage, harbor-
room for boats and stages and convenient
fishing grounds, Harold entertained not a
shadow of doubt.

Soon the leader of the three new arrivals
began to lessen sail and «peed, and swam
easily into the harbor of Bristol's Hope and
let an anchor splash down from her star-
board bow with a fine air of assurance. Then
a square of blue bunting crawled up to her
mast-head and flapped impudently in the
wind. At that old Spike, who had joined the

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The Unwelcome Visitors

123

commander on the poop, clapped his great
right paw on the rail.

" What did I tell ye? " he cried. ** 'Tis
the flag c' the harbor admiral! "

Coffin laughed. But he was puzzled.
** But even if the old laws concerning such
matters still held, the * Good Fortune ' would
be the flag-ship of the harbor, being the first
ship in," he said.

*' Not by the old law," replied Spike.
** The old, dead law called for a fishin' ship
— an' they'd class us as a supply ship."

** The governor will be in danger of an-
other seizure when he discovers the audacity
of these bold visitors, * ' remarked Harold.

" Aye, 'twill rouse him worse nor drop-
pin' a keg on to his sore toe," returned the
other.

Up in the governor's house the trouble had
already begun. The first word of the sight-
ing of the three strange vessels had roused
Master Duwaney to a sitting posture in his
snug bed. The word that the leading ship
had actually entered the harbor of Bristol's
Hope, without so much as "by your leave,"

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1S4

A Captain of Raleigh's

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had sent the wo 'thy magistrate hobbling to
the window. Tne sight of the blue flag —
the flag of the harbor admiral — had driven
all memory of yesterday's loss of blood from
the governor's mind. He shouted fcr Mas-
ter MacAllister; he shouted for Elizabeth;
he bundled himself in blankets and swore
he'd not dress himself properly until the im-
pudent fisherman had learned the power of
the Company, the colony and the governor.

Elizabeth was the first to come to his cry,
and was sent away to find the lieutenant.
The lieutenant soon appeared, looking al-
most as indignant as his superior.

" They've begun to throw their ballast
over — in the anchorage!" he exclaimed.
" They were warned from the ship, but paid
no heed. And now the second has come to
anchor and run up the flag of the vice-ad-
miral."

*' Give me my sword," bellowed the gov-
ernor. " Give me my stick, and your arm
as well. And my wig and hat. Where is
the commission? Bring it along, together
with the laws and the bylaws. Eip me!

The Unwelcome Visitors

but they'll discover who is governor here,
and who owns this harbor I "

Swathed in robes and blankets, with his
gold sword-belt buckled around his great
waist and his lame foot wrapped in flannel
and the other in a boot, with a powdered wig
on his head and a cocked hat atop that, lean-
ing heavily on MacAllister's arm and stri-
king the ground wit' the iron-shod point of
his stick, the governor issued forth to strike
dismay and a knowledge of the law into the
hearts of those high-bellied men of Devon.
MacAllister carried a copy of the Company's
charter, Duwaney's commission, the laws of
England and the laws and bylaws of the
colony. And he had a sword at his hip and
a brace of pistols in his belt, though he had
no hand to clap to them at the moment.

The men of the colony, numbering twenty
in all, were on the shingle. Half of them
were already fully armed with muskets ind
cutlasses, and the rest were only awaiting
the order to run for their weapons. At sight
of the governor, and in spite of his amazing
appearance, they pulled off their caps and

t >

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I*-
I'

126 A Captain of Raleigh's

cheered. At the same moment, the " Good
Fortune's " gig touched tiie beach and Bob
Sill, master's mate, sprang ashore and hur-
ried up to the governor.

*' Master Coffin has sent me to learn your
worship's pleasure and to get your worship's
orders concerning these trespassers," he
said, bowing three times to Duwaney and
twice to MacAJlister.

*' Tell him to stand to his guns and await
further orders," replied the governor. Bob
Sill bowed again, returned to the gig and so
back to the " Good Fortune," thinking he'd
made a trip ashore to very little purpose —
for the gimners had been at their stations
for the last twenty minutes. The governor
and his lieutenant entered the largest of the
plantation's skiffs, and with four stout lads
at the oars and another holding aloft the
red and gold flag of the Company in the
bows, pulled out toward the innermost of
the three unwelcome vessels. By this time
the third of the visitors had crowded into the
harbor and let go her anchor. From the
little settlement, from the strip of shingle,

The 'Jnwclcoinc Visitors

127

from the " Good Fortune " and the deck8
of the bold invaders, the governor's boat
was watched with keen interest and various
emotions.

At a iiod from the governor the skiff lay-
motionless, distant about thirty yards from
the lawless brig " Peep 0' Day." Over the
side of the shameless brig the ballast was
still Hying and splashing. Duwaney got
painfully to his feet in the stern-sheets of
the skiff, about to hail the brig with his own
authoritative voice. But there was no limit
to the impudence of these fish-hungry in-
vaders. Even as Duwaney opened his mouth
a husky voice from the brig roared, " Boat
ahoy! What boat be +hat? An' who be the
fat old lady in the cocked hat? "

A silence followed during which the wind
seemed to baffle and the sunlight to tremble.
Donald MacAllister gasped. The governor
grew purple in the face. Suddenly his voice
got clear of his throat.

** This is Bristol's Hope I " he roared,
" and I am Thomas Duwaney, the governor.
I give you five minutes in which to get your

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128

A Captain of Raleigh's

auchors up and twenty niiniilcs to get out
of this harhor. Lads, pull 'round and back
to shore."

As the skitT turned and gathered way the
same voice cried from the brig, " Ye look as
if ye'd hopped out o' bed in a desi)erate
hurry, Tom. Mind the wind don't carry
away them blankets."

Rage shook the governor and he sat down
heavily. Donald could think of nothir.- to
say. The men at the oars kept their eyes
upon th^ bottom of the boat or the sky over-
head. Duwaney twisted himself around and
glared back at the brig. " T mean what I
say, you rascals," he bellowed.

** Ye flabby oyster o' a figger-head! Ye
keg-paunched mistake for a governor! Ye
bull-voiced, cliicken-hearted mattress o' a
blue-nosed alderman! Go back to bed — or
ye '11 be carried there for the last time! I
be admiral o' this here harbor for the nex*
seven daj's, an' I care no more nor a snap o'
my fingers for you nor your company,"
bawled the ill-mannered ruffian on the ** Peep
O' Dav."

The Unwelcome Visitors 129

The governor trembled, but from the
agony of his rage could find neither words
nor voice for reply. But he managed to wave
a shaking hand toward the " Good Fortune."
The skiff ran close under the ship's bows.
Coffin looked over the rail. *' What orders,
sir! " he asked.

Duwaney tried to speak, but managed
nothing more intelligible than a gurgle.
MacAllister looked at him keenly and then
up at the commander of the ship. ** You'll
please show your teeth to them, Master Cof-
fin," he cried. '* And ye'd better let fly a
round or two, high and harmless. ' '

The governor nodded, in confirmation of
his subaltern's words, and Coffin waved his
hat and disappeared from the ship's rail.

That side of the ** Good Fortune " which
lay toward the " Peep O' Day " lifted two
heavy lids, like : ne fabulous monster awa-
k«ined from sleep, and full upon the brig dis-
closed two staring eyes the pupils of which
were muzzles of great guns.

" An ancient trick," remarked the master
of the brig to his mate. ** Their furious can-

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t«»£- H I jmnt !utfc----.,Mu ^fc

m " ^

■ , 1 '•^.

130

A Captain of Raleigh's

non be no more nor logs o' painted and
graven timber. She carries no piece greater
nor a falconet."

This had been true of the ** Good For-
tune " on her first voyage; but thanks to
Harold Coffin's foresight and able statement
of conditions and requirements to the Direct-
ors in Bristol, it was true no longer. The
teeth he bared to the would-be harbor ad-
miral had jaws and muscles behind them and
exceedingly sharp edges.

The master of the " Peep O' Day " spoke
confidently, and his burly mate heard him
with faith and admiration. They leaned
their elbows on the rail and grinned across
at the open ports of the " Good Fortune."

** This here sore-toed marchant, Tom Du-
waney, thinks to fright tliree ships o' the
AVest Country with a loud bellow o' wind an*
two sticks o* oak," said the master.

*' That he do," replied the mate, with
relish.

'* The friglit will bo t'other way, I'm
thinkin', when we gets that fine house o' his
fairly abhize," said the master.

; t

The Unwelcome Visitors

181

'* Aye, that it will," agreed the mate,
staining the green water of the harbor with
a liberal contribution of the juice of the Vir-
ginian weed. Even in his way of expecto-
rating he showed that he was entirely sat-
isfied with himself and his commander.

" We'll root out this here dog-in-the-
manger 0* a colony, an' open this handy lit-
tle harbor to honest fishermen, as sure as
grog warms a man's heart an' puddin' com-
forts his belly," said the master.

The mate rolled his quid between his jaws,
seeking in his hea\'y mind for some reply
suitable to this last splendid flight of elo-
quence of the master's. But he did not find
what he sought. The "Good Fortune"
replied instead !

With one banging, clapping whoop that
set the very rocks ashouting; with two fan-
shaped flashes of yellow flame and two belch-
ing clouds of white smoke; with two solid
shot awhistling between the brig's masts did
the *' Good Fortune " make reply to the
master of the ** Peep O' Day." From inso-
lent self-assurance the three brigs fell into

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1S2

A Captain of Raleigh's

the most desperate state of confusion. Com-
mands were bellowed. Two boats were low-
ered from each vessel, manned by unarmed
fellows straining on long oars. Capstans
were manned. By the time that the smoke
of the ship's guns had vanished on the wind
the three brigs were crawling slowly toward
the mouth of the harbor, each towed by her
own two boats. Then a ringing, taunting
roar went up from the ** Good Fortune "
and the men of the colony clustered on the
beach.

I ,'

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ill

^\m

CHAPTER X

A FIGHT FOB POSTEBITT

The three brigs cleared the northern cape
of the entrance of Bristol's Hope, rounding
it close in-shore and so vanishing from the
sight of the ** Good Fortune; " but from the
elevation on which the hamlet stood their
tops could stni be seen. It had been easy
enough to drive them oi't of the harbor, for
nowhere in the harbor would they have found
anchorage out of range of the guns of the
Company's ship — of the guns that had
proved themselves to be cast of the right
metal. But now they were in free water
and, owing to the intervening ridge of rocks,
out of danger from the *' Good Fortune's "
batteries. And yet they threatened the col-
ony more seriously in their present berths
than they had when anchored in the harbor.
Until they commenced open hostilities Di-
waney could make no fresh move again

188

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134 A Captain of Raleigh's

them, for the waters of the great bay were
free to all honest fishermen, and along the
unoccupied coast they were entitled to such
space as they might require for fish-sheds
and drying-stages. As Duwaney had said to
MacAllister, weeks before, in this respect
the fishers of Devon were a greater danger
to the colonies than pirates and other
freebooters and murderers by profession.
Though the governor felt sure that these fel-
lows had come to Bristol's Hope with the
intention of destroying his plantation, now
that they were out of his own harbor and
not actively and openly striking at him, he
could not interfere with them. If he should
catch them discharging their ballast within
a certain distance from the shore, or killing
people without sufficient reason, or tearing
down other honest folks' stages and stores,
his power as a magistrate and as governor
of the colony would enable him to fine them,
to hang them, to put them in irons or to drive
them forth from the Bay of Conception —
or, at least, to try to do these things. But
so long as they remained in apparent quiet,

f .4 ,

A Fight for Posterity

1S5

even though he knew they were planning an
attack upon him, he must await their pleas-
ure and keep the *' Good Fortune " swinging
idly at her anchors.

Master Duwaney felt the injustice and fu-
tility of his position keenly. By all that was
reasonable and fair he should be allowed to
send the ** Good Fortune " out and drive the
insolent brigs clear over the horizon. As it
was, he must patiently wait for the men from
the brigs to sneak ashore and make a bloody
attempt at the overthrow of the settlement.
But he did not sit and twiddle his thumbs.
The insults of the master of the " Peep O'
Day " had aroused him far too thoroughly
to allow of any inactivity on his part — at
least while they still held fresh in his mind.
Accompanied by Donald MacAllistcr, he hob-
bled to the ridge of the cape and studied the
three brigs, now lying peacefully at anchor,
throui 'ns telescope. Already a score of
men ha landed and were busy felling small
fir trees with which to construct stages
whereon to dry their fish.

" I think they will play this game for a

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■0-

136 A Captain of Raleigh's

couple of diys, to quiet my mind before they
strike. They are as full of guile as of impu-
dence and wickedness," said the governor.

'* If they would but fell a few trees of
greater dimensions, they would save us a
deal of trouble, sir," remarked MacAllister,
gazing sternly down, between narrowed lids,
at the busy fishermen.

"Riddles!" exclaimed the governor.
* * Dang your riddles ! Tell me what you
mean, lad, in plain English."

'* Timbers for the gallows-trees," re-
turned the other, crisply.

" You have a pretty wit, Donald," replied
Duwauey. " But I'd enjoy it better if my
poor toe wasn't so confounded hot. But
'twas aptly said, I must admit. I only hope,
lad, that 'twill be the deserving ones who
grace tlie trees. It may be that our own
precious necks get into the ropes. These
fellows are bitter, strong, and heart and soul
against the peaceful settlement of this land.
Greedy for to-day, they give no thought to
posterity. They'd hang us, quick as wink-
ing, if they ever got the upper hand of us."

•n^-.

A Fight for Posterity

137

" We are too strong for them," replied
the Scot, with conviction in his tone. ** With
the guns of the ship and the help of the crew
we are too heavy for them. We could stand
off a force of almost double their number,
in our present condition. But it would be
wise, I think, to land two or three of the
lighter pieces from the ship and set them up
so as to guard the rear and left flank of the
settlement."

•' Well thought of," replied Duwaney. " I
had the same plan in my own mind, you may
be sure. It shall be done without loss of
time. And you are right — if they do not
catch us napping they'll make nothing of us.
As you say, we are reinforced in the nick
of time. They have come a day too late
The ship will save us from a front attack
and her crew will more than double our
strength. And if all I've heard of him is
true, young Coffin will prove a host in him-
self."

" So one would judge from his own tales,
at any rate," replied Donald MacAllister.
But he was ashamed of himself the moment

138 A Captain of Raleigh's

P ' f

014

r-i

I • f '*

the mean words were passed his lips. His
natural manliness — and the very pride that
was hiy greatest fault — rebuked him swiftly
for this petty, underhand stroke.

Duwaney looked at him curiously, witli a
half -smile twitching the corners of his clean-
shaven lips. He considered himself a keen
reader of the liearts and minds of men. ' ' So
the trouble shows itself so soon, does it? "
he mused. " The two young blades are ri-
vals and enemies already, are they? This
jealousy is worse than powder and shot —
the weapon of the devil himself, I do believe.
This is the second fruit of Bess's mad prank,
the first being the fit that all but brought me
to my death. 'Twill be worse before 'tis
better, no doubt — and both these young
fools as poor as vestry mice." On the face
of it the worthy man was wrong, for we know
that these youths had never felt any real
friendship for one another and that their
present trouble was due to a purely polit-
ical difference. Yes, the governor was
wrong. But who shall say that he was not
right, for all that? Being an older man, per-

A Fight for Posterity

139

haps he kuew more about it than the youths
themselves.

" I have heard something in his favor
from another source," said the governor.

" I do not doubt it for a moment, sir. I
believe he has proved his courage, and his
skill as a soldier, on more than one oc-
casion," replied MacAUister, with forced
heartiness in his voice.

Duwaney nodded. ** Well said, lad. Now
we'll step back to the house and perfect our
plans for defence. We must send for Coffin
and Spike to join the council of war. Coffin
is a seasoned campaigner and old Spike has
mixed in more broils, afloat and ashore, than
we have fingers and toes."

He leaned heavily on the young man*s
arm, and prodded in front of his game foot
with his stick, as they moved slowly down
the rough flank of the hill. His humor was
lightening. " Let them strike when they
please, they'll find old Tom Duwaney ready
for them," he said.

** Does it not seem to you, sir, that it would
be wiser for us to plan the defence of

•if

140 A Captain of Raleigh's

Bristol's Hope without assistance from the
ship? " asked Donald, diffidently.

" Why so, lad? what is your idea? "

" We are responsible for the safety of the
colony, sir."

** And they are responsible for the safety
of the ship, and for the money invested in
her. They might escape with the vessel if
the colony fell — though, mark you, I don't
believe they'd try to escape — but where
would the voyage be? How would they get
a cargo to take home to Bristol? And what
sort of a story would they have to tell of
the overthrow of the colony — perhaps of
the death of inv daughter — while they
sailed out of the harbor because they were
not responsible? Tush! Twaddle! You
talk foolishness, sir! They are in this
trouble as deep as we are, and they'll not
shirk their duty. They are better able to
get us out of the trouble than we are to get
out ourselves. I am neither a soldier nor
a sailor, and T doubt if you are much of
either yourself, lad."

" Have it your own way, sir, of course."

A Fight for Posterity

141

*' 1 certainly intend to do so, Master Mac-
Allister."

•* 1 nm all for the safety and progress of
the colony and the best interests of the Com-
pany, sir. But I take it unkindly of you to
say that I am neither a soldier nor a sailor.
I have had both military and naval training
under Sir Walter Raleigh."

" The gentleman who so recently lost his
head!"

" Yes, sir; Ibut an able man for all that."

•* So you have often told me, lad. Indeed,
before we knew that his career had come to
such e disastrous end you seemed to be a
deal warmer in championing him than you
are now."

" My admiration for his memory is still
warm, sir. But he was found guilty of a
grave misdemeanor and has suffered the
penalty. He offended greatly in carrying
on a private war against Spain when Spain
and England were at peace. To defend him
in this one must discredit the king. I hold
my loyalty to the Crown above friendship."

"A noble sentiment, lad — but one that

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142 A Captain ol Raleigh^

exhibits strengtli of hi i rather than
streri4rth of t vart," n plie« Duwunev ♦' Uxt
here we are; nm} now for wor) lusteHj ut
words ' He halted and gazed ><'urchin dy
in( ' the young mau's face. •' A-mI hy he
same token, I'.riald M.. Allis^ff, y, I now
fo7-et your p^-tty |.=rivaic j*> nsy a- 1 giv^
jourself hc^ntil^ t^ the best rotec^i o
tlk coloijy and the shi,-."

■' Y<.u do me an injustice. ? r, ' i*omplr ined
T)oi!ald. " I assure yo. tiiat I feel nv , al-
ou.-y toward anybody.'

The gover/)or pu'Ted it hi ei ai iven
lips as if le were ai "it to ^histlo. 'inen
so much the more cott lort; hie for i\V f us, "
he said.

A council of war. c mposed >f the g 'z-
ernor, MacAl' ler, Coffin and ^e. ^ ts
held in Mu- g -fn'or's I use. I'uwaney's
plans we • afirrr . upon wit iout h ,s of time
and wit^ but t n. .^nts. The men

of the iony re ra» 'ered under arms,
inspect. ' and told oii in fou- tc^.p'^ of five
men to t c watch, hhen the aiids were
present, \, th their- m.uskets on their shonl-

A Fight for r )steritv

143

more bcacil.lui

ders, finding tlu* evpitor^^nt
to tlioir healths tlian any atnount of physic.
Ej? 'h of these guards, or wntcln s, was rein-
forced by tliroe men from the " Good For-
tune." One watch, in chaige of John Cope,
tiie colony's smith, went on guard and sentry
duty at sunset. After receiving brief in-
str "ons in their duties from Master CofRn,
the; -cnpied the ridge on the left of the
settl- (nent wliich comman< ed the anchorage
of tho three brigs, and the top of the low
cliff in the rear. Anotlu-r watch and a boat's
ere from the siiip were set to the heavy
)f landinir tliree falconets and such am-
ion as might be required. The remain-
'•hes were not employed at the time;
was to go on sentry duty at eleven
nd the other at three in the morning.
Spike returned to the ** Good Fortune; "
but Harold CofBn, feeling that his services
were required ashore more urgently than
aboard the ship, remained with the governor
and MacAll ster. By ten o'clock two of the
guns were mounted on th" ridge overle
the brigs. Then thp governor im-^-^

task

bu!

o'el^

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144

A Captain of Raleigh's

two officers to partake of a bowl of punch
that was being prepared by his body-servant,
who was a master-hand at the brewing of
drinks. They made their way down ' the
house, the two young men all but carrying
the governor bodily — for the old man Lad
been on his feet almost continuously since
the first bout of words with the fishermen.
The door was opened to them by Elizabeth.
She stood for a second with the warm illumi-
nation of fire-light and candle-light behind
her, peering out anxiously.

" What is it? Is any one hurt? " she
asked, anxiously.

** We are tired and thirsty. Is the punch
ready? " replied the governor, hoisting his
lame foot high as his companions, lifting
on his elbows, raised him to the threshold.
Elizabeth stepped back and the three mov 1
slowly into the warm and cheerful room.
Harold, loosing his hold on the governor's
arm, turned to close the door.

" Hark! " he exclaimed. Then he clapped
his hat on his head and dashed to the outer
darkness, leaving the door swinging wide

A Fight for Posterity

145

behind him. The girl uttered a low cry.
Duwaney and MacAllister stared at each
other, listening intently. Duwaney ran the
tip of his tongue along his dry lips. * * What
is itf What pricked him? " he whispered.
As if in answer, a musket-shot banged out
from the direction of the ridge, starting
thumping echoes on every side. This was
followed by an irregular fusillade of great
and lesser reports, mad yella* and loud shout-
ing. MacAllister snatched his sword from
its scabbard and sprang through the door-
way. The governor bawled, *' To arms! To
arms! " Then, in spite of his daughter's
protests, he picked up his heavy walking
stick and stumped out of the house.

To return to Harold Coffin. The sound
that had caught his attention when he was
about to close the governor's door was a
faint, muffled cry. He was at the foot of
the rising ground, running and stumbling,
when the fusillade broke out. " To the de-
fence! '* he cried. He heard men running
and scrambling beside him, and even saw
the dim shapes of the nearest. He managed

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146

A Captain of Raleigh's

to gather a dozen of them about him as he
ascended the long, rough slope of the ridge,
and cautioned them to make no mistake be-
tween friend and foe. Arriving at the sum-
mit he found the guard still in possession
and the little battei-y of falconets undis-
turbed. The attack had been sharp and
short, one sentry had been killed with a
knife-thrust, and most of the firing had been
done by the defenders. The invaders had
retreated half-way dovrn the seaward slope
and from among the rocks were discharging
their muskets and pistols irregularly and in-
effectually. The colonists replied to them
with firing efpially irregular ana harmless.

Harold could make nothing of the situa-
tion. He could not bring his knowledge of
the fishermon and their half-hoarted attack
to agree in his mind. He ordered the men
to scatter along the ridge and to ceaso firing.
The three brigs below were invisi])lo in the
dark and showed no lights. Presently Mac-
Allister came scrambling up. close at hand.

♦'Coffin! Where are ; -r " he called,
guardedly.

A Fight for Posterity

147

((

This way," replied Coffin. The Scot
found him in a minute.

** Did they attack? ^\^lat are they doing
now? Where are tliey? " he asked, stam-
mering with excite- i it. Harold understood
his emotion, remembering liis own first ex-
perience of a night attack. He told him what
he knew.

** And what d'ye make of it? " inquired
MacAllister, breathlessly.

*' Some trickery, I fear. This was but a
pretence at attack, to cover something more
determined," replied Coffin. " They may
try to board the * Good Fortune ' and cap-
ture her, knowing that many of the crew are
ashore. As almost all the stores are still in
the hold, that would prove a shrewd stroke
to the colony."

" For heaven's sake, suggest some-
thing! " exclaimed the other. *♦ This sort
of thing is new to me. My brain seems
flying in a dozen directions."

" Then let me take six men and a boat and
start out for the ship," returned Coffin.

Then bring your battery to bear on that

\>h\

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lA^aAiAB&^A^BiAi

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1 .« r-

148

A Captain of Raleigh's

point, about where the brigs are riding at
anchor, and open as heavy a fire as possible.
Keep the gunners strongly supported by lads
with cutlasses and clubs, for close-quarter
work. If I find the ship in danger I must
remain aboard to fight her. Whatever the
enemy is about, your gun-fire on the brigs
will distract him from his purpose."

" I will do as you say," replied Donald
MacAllister.

CHAPTER XI

THE FIGHT CONTINUES

With six of his own men at his heels,
Harold Coffin hastened down toward the vil-
lage and the harbor, eager to get aboard the
** Good Fortune." His fears for her safety
grew with every second. His suspicion that
the attack on the ridge was but a blind to
hide the striking of a more deadly blow was
now a conviction. In his excited imagination
he could hear the muffled, stealthy oars of
the fishermen creeping in upon the unsus-
pecting ship. He passed the governor puff-
ing and grumbling up the slope; and though
the great man bellowed a volley of questions
after him he hurried on without pausing to
reply. He saw Elizabeth standing in the
open doorway of the governor's house.
There he halted for a moment, letting his
men pass him and turn ahead of him into

> 1.

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150

A Captain of Raleigh's

the narrow path that led between the tum-
bled rocks down to the narrow beach.

*' The attack on the ridge has been re-
pulsed; but I fear the ship may be in dan-
ger," he said.

She put out her hand and touched his.
" It is a great comfort to me to know that
you are here to help us," she said.

' ' If you hear hot firing from the ridge do
not feel alarmed, for 'twill be nothing but
a ruse," was all he could think of by way
of a reply. Then he lifted his hat, turned
and followed his men down to the land-wash.

The beach was deserted. Coffin and his
men moved quietly down to the water and
along the edge of the tide until they found
a boat. They climbed aboard, cast her loose,
and moved out toward the ship's riding-
light. At a whispered command, the rowers
sat motionless. What was it they heard
somewhere in the blackness on the left, low
on the hidden water? Was it the creak of
ash on birchen thole-pin or the cry of a bird?
Was it the dip and splash of a carelessly
bandied oar-blade or the breaking of a little

di-tawkywjy-i

The Fight Cont'Hues

151

wave against a rock? '• Pull ahead, lads.
Soft and steady," whispered Harold.

Just then, one of the little cannon on the
ridge 1 id out its thunder and flame.
While t-ie choes still shook the harbor the
other gun banged tremendously. Again
Harold allowed his boat to drift idly. The
echoes of the second report died away and
in the silence that followed Coffin and his
men heard a faint stir of life upon the
shrouded water — the soft forging along
of invisible boats, a furtive splashing, a
guarded exclamation. Then they knew that
the boats from the brigs were close about
them. Some, perhaps, were already under
the side of the ** Good Forti ne." That the
purpose of the nearer boats was somewhat
shaken by the fire of the falconets was very
evident. Again the little battery on the
ridge shook the night with its racketing
voices. With the return of quiet, TTarold
heard unmistakable sounds of human adiv-
ity around him — the creak of oars, the dip-
ping of blades and anxious questions and
whispered replies. He drew a pistol from

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152

A Captain of Raleigh's

his belt, corrected the priming, extended it
in the direction of the stealthy noises and
pulled the trigger. The bang and flash of
it acted like magic. The prow of a boat ap-
peared, close at hand, a black shadow against
the blackness, and vanished again. Wood
thumped on wood. Oars churned the black
water. A torch flamed above the rail of
the " Good Fortune," amidships. Another
blazed angrily in her high bows and still
another astern. In the red light on the water
close under her side lay two boats full of
men. And all these things — the confused
sounds, the flaming of the torches and the
sudden i)icture of the ship and the little
boats — conjured out of the darkness by the
banging of a pistol !

The voice of old Spike challonging the
boats rang across the outer dark from the
red-lit hull. More boats swam into the nar-
row strip of illuminated water. Muskets
and pistols gave tongue. The fight was on.
To ad 3 the tumult of the real battle, Mac-
Allister .ontinuod to fire his falconets at the
invisible brigs.

ii ;

fcWHft.k-:-.-..''L.I ! ilJ gi H- T'

■flJJlU W P

The Fight Continues

153

Harold Coffin gave whispered instructions
to his men. The boat circled the ship, un-
seen but seeing everything. The boarders
were being driven back at every point. Cof-
fin's boat crept closer, nearing a point amid-
ships on the shoreward side where the attack
was strongest. A ' i sign, his men drew their
oars inboard and took their muskets in their
bauds. None of these weapons were of the
new flintlock pattern but all were old and
tested matchlocks. A light was struck under
the shield of a cloak and the matches were
lit. Then a volley belched forth that shook
the boat and struck dismay into the hearts
of the fellows clawing for a foothold on the
ship's rail. Only one of them was hit, 'tis
true; but in sheer terror at being attacked
in the rear so unexpectedly, a dozen or more
dropped back, some into the boats and some
into the water. Coffin's men laid aside their
muskets and again took to the oars. They
rounded the ship and drew in on her other
side where a brisk hand-to-hand struggle
was going forward alon^ the low bulwarks.
They drew closer this time and the muskets

" ! «

154

A Captain of Raleigh'.J

were discharged with even greater execution
than before.

This second stroke from tlie outer dark-
ness, together with the stubborn defence of
the lads aboard the ship, ended the attack
for the night. Leaving eight of their men
and one of their boats in the deep water
under the ** Good Fortune," they pulled sul-
lenly away from the illumination of the
torches. They were puzzled and furious.
Who was it, they asked from boat to boat,
with daring and wit enough to put out from
the shore, warn the ship of her danger by
discharging a pistol and then join so rffect-
ively in the engagement? The more reckless
and angry of them were for landing and at-
tacking the plantation from the front; but
their leaders, knowing that the colonists had
been reinforced by men from the ship, and
having suffered sufficiently already for one
night, urged them to return to the brigs.
So they pulled out of the harbor — and
Coffin's boat followed them close, unheard
and unseen, until they rounded the little
cape.

livW^

maai

The Fight Continues

155

Coffin returned to the " Good Fortune,"
hailed lier elaborately for fear of being mis-
taken for an enemy, and went over the side.
He was waniily welcomed by Spike. Moved
out of his customary stolidity, the old man
grasped both his hands and then, as if
his feelings were not yet satisfactorily ex-
pressed, embraced him affectionately.

" I heard ye, master! " he cried. '* Ye
don't have to tell me who let fly that pistol
an' put the shots into them beggars' backs.
I knowed ye'd not forget the old ship in the
hour o' her tribulation. We'd have had our
hands full — an' maybe more'n we could well
hold, if ye hadn't come along an' peppered
'em in the stam-sheets. "

" But how did you know who it was, old
shipmate? " asked Harold, quite forgetting
his weariness in the satisfaction derived
from Spike's words and manner.

** Would I think it was the governor? "
returned the mariner. ** No; for he'd ha'
come in a lighted boat, a-roarin' like a bull.
Nor would I take it for Master MacAllister?
No, sir — for he'd not ha' come at all."

'a.

156

A Captain of Raleigh's

I I

•' Come now, Benjamin, why d'ye say so of
Master MacAUisterl " asked Harold.

'* He'd never think on it," answered Spike.
'• He'd be stand in' on tlie shore a-wavin' his
sword 'round his head, bless his heart."

Three of the men of the ship had btcu
severely wounded and seven had received
slight injuries ; but not any had been killed.
Coffin remained aboard for more than an
hour, helping James with t 'rgical work,
seeing to the comfort of the sufferers, lend-
ing a hand in the shifting of two of the guns
and arranging a dozen things in anticipation
of another attack. Then he wen* ashore,
reported to the governor, went the rounds
of the sentries and guards, and worked for
a while with the men in the construction of
a small stockade for the protection of one
of the guns. The sun was out of the eastern
sea when he at last unbuckled his sword and
pistols and lay down beside the hearth in the
main room of the governor's house. His
folded cloak made a comfortable pillow.
The glow from the birch coals touched liis
face deliciously and crept through his damp

The Fight Continues 167

lu a minute l.e was sound

clothing,
asleep.

The day and night '>f fatigue, excitement
and exposure had acted like a tonic on Mas-
ter Duwaney. Righteous anger against the
lawless fishermen glowed in liis belly like a
coal, and lieart and brain were enlixened by
military exhilaration. He was proud of the
defence made by the colony and the ship, and
honestly believed that to his own generalship
was due the success. He felt that he had
missed his vocation in following mercantile
pursuits all his life. He siiouM have been
a military man. Though he had not retired
to his he<^ until close upon dawn he was out
of it again and fully dressed even to both his
boots before poor Coffin had enjoyed an
hour'- -!(-ep. A desire to start the machin-
ery ( ■ CiUibat to activity again — a thirst
for another draught of the excitement of
laitle- Irove him from his warm blankets.
He was determined to reverse the position
of things this morning — to take the offen-
sive part - to strike first and to strike hard.
The fishermen had played into his hands.

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A Captain of Raleigh's

They had staked all on one throw, and so
had lost as heavily as they had risked. Had
tbey succeeded in destroying the colony they
might easily have escaped the punishment
of the law in distant England ; but in failing
they had put themselves on the footing of
con Jion pirates and had left intact the very
power whose duty it was to punish them.

The governor found Harold asleep by the
hearth in the main room of the house. The
young man's slumber had not been disturbed
by the servant who had replenished the fire
with logs an<l tidied the hearth. Duwaney
stood silent for a full minute, gazing down
with compassion at the pale-faced sleeper;
but his anxiety to begin operations against
the enemy was stronger than his compas-
sion.

" The poor lad looks like notliing but skin
and bone," h',: murmured. ** He worked
hard, and needs rest and sleep; but for the
good of the colony T must disturb him."

So saying, the governor of Bristol's Hope
gently prodded the slioulder of the com-
mander of the " (lood Fortune " with his

The Fight Continues

150

walking stick. The effect of the gentle prod
was not at all what the governor had ex-
pected. In a flash, and almost hefore his
eyes were open, Coffin was on his feet and
had Duwaney by the throat. So they stood
for a second. Then Harold became sensible
of what he was about and dropped his hand
with an exclamation of dismay.

'* Ton my soul! " cried Duwaney, puffing
out his lips and steadying himself against
the back of a settle.

*' I beg your pardon, sir. I thought the
harbor admirals were upon me," explained
Harold.

" Enough said, lad," replied the governor,
rubbing his throat with his hand. •* 'Tis a
soldierly trait, this springing into action at
a touch. Now to business. We must break-
fast and then commence operations against
the freebooters. You must take your ship
*round and give battle to them outside the
harbor. D'ye feel strong enough to engage
the three of them? "

" Yes, sir. Then T had better breakfast
aboard," replied Coffin.

160

A Captain of Raleigh's

" But you need all your men, lad."

** No, sir, I think we have enough still
aboard to sail the ship and fight the guus.
The plantation must not he left short-handed,
for you may depend upon it that when we
strike at one point they will strike at an-
other. Their hearts are set on breaking this
colony."

Just then there came a loud clatter upon
the outer door of the house and, without
waiting for an invitation, one of the men
from the guard then on duty rushed into the
room.

" Two more fish ships be a-comin' up the
bay, sir! " he cried. " They be fly in' flags
already to them that lays at anchor, an' they
be flaggin' back to them. An' the men
aboard the brigs be a shoutin' an' a-singin',
sir."

'* The devil! " exclaimed Duwaney.

" Of what size are these vessels? " asked
Harold.

" Luggers, master. Smaller nor they
brigs, sir, but fine, stout craft for all that,'*
replied the colonist.

The Fight Continues

161

'• We must attack the three at anchor be-
fore the luggers ar« ready to help them,"
said Harold.

** As you think l^est, lad. Fou are her
commander," replied the governor, shaking
the younger man's hand with cordial en-
ergy.

Harold caught up big .^word and pistols,
his hat and cloak, and hurried frorn the
bouse. He saw MacAlliHter and a dosen of
the men running up to the ridgf of the little
c;ipe, and others were iHsuing frftm the build-
ings around with their great BN^wketa on
their shoulders. The sun was shining high
in a clear sky and u pleasant breeze fanned
out of the west. Half way down fhe narrow
path he fi^t old Bill Wing ascending. He
stopped him with a gesture.

** Tell the governor, with my compli-
ments," said he, *' that a guard should be
kept on the water-front here. Wlien the ship
moves out the luggers may get past her into
the harbor. And the third falconet, that's
in the woods there, should be mounted before
the governor's door."

ill

■MM

ma^mttibmmmmimt^

162

if j _'

A Captain of Raleigh's

** Aye, aye, captain," said old Bill, knuck-
ling his cap.

Harold took a bOiall skiflf from the foot of
one of the drying-stages and rowed himself
out to the " Good Fortune." Spike was
waiting for him.

*' We be in for trouble now," said the mas-
ter. " There be two more o' these here fish-
law pirates a-beatin' up the bay. It be a
well i)lanned game, sir, ye may lay to that.
If they'd all got here yesterday we'd all been
done for last liight."

'* We'll just go out and have a smack at
the brigs before the luggers come up," said
Coffin.

" Wen sai<l. It be a sweet wind for pretty
sailin'," cried Spike, immediately bellowing
an order to his mate. Men leaped into the
shrouds and forward to the capstan. Lusty,
bare legged fellows tailed on to sheets and
hnlynrds. Square sails fla|)i)ed out and were
sheeted taut. The anchors were walked up
to a roaring chanty and the " Good For-
tune " moved toward the mouth of the little
harbor.

CHAPTER Xn

A FRIEND IN NEED

The brigs were strongly manned but car-
ried only two small cannon api<>"e. TMiat
Spike had to guard against wer^ the grap-
pling-irons and the boarders. He emer-
tained no fear of the result (^f an open fts^ii,
with aea-room to work the ship to the b^st
advantage of her guns. The brigs, warned
by the commotion in the harbor, were w^t-
ting away from their berths with all posf^e
dispatch when the " Good Fortune " t nndtKi
the cape. With their anchors just clear of
the water and a sail bulging here and the«,
they were drawing into deep water when th«>
ship's heavy bow-gun, trained on the mn^k
by her commander's own hands, sent a bnf!
low over the taflFrail of the " Peep O' Da>. *
It was a chance shot but a deadly one. The
man at the brig's tiller reeled and fell,
splashed with his own blood; and the little

UtS

164

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i ■,■■

A Captain of Raleigh's

vessel swung off her course fair before the
wind and drove her bow-sprit and compli-
caed square-rigged jibs crashing and tearing
into the starboard fore-rigging of one of her
companions. Fouled and helpless, the two
drifted slowly out after their more fortu-
nate associate. Their crews worked like mad
to clear the one from the other. Close past
their nnpotent, furious struggling sailed the

Good Fortune," steady as a church; and
as she swam as smootl.ly by she hulled the
unfortunate " Peep O' Day " with three
round-shot. After the third brig she sent
her starboard broadside and brought a mass
of top hamper swaying an,l crashing down
And so - Sister Joan," whidi was that third
brig, found herself sorely clipped about the
wings at the very commencement of her
flight. She showed her displeasure by knock-
ing a hole through one of the " Good For
tune's "jibs; and in return for that she
received a discharge of slugs and scrap-iron
that dropped two of her men.

The luggers wore heating .wiftlv up to the
danger zone; and Spike and Coffin realized

A Friend in Need

165

the need of quick action. Coming about with
a fine display of seamanship, the " Good
Fortune " returned to the crippled brigs and
served to each another round of hot iron.
But this time she received some pepper in
reply in the form of a chain-shot that cut
through her fore-top and brought it sagging
down until it tangled in the fore-stays. Now
the " Peep 0' Day " and the *' Plover " were
clear of each other and under all sail forged
down upon the ship, eager to got alongside
and grapf«le.

The good ship sailed sluggishly now, and
was dull in replying to the promptings of her
tiller. Two men went aloft to cut away the
wreckage but founc, it no easy matter to
clear the tangle. Musket fin, opened from
the ship and the bri/a^ T!ie big gunfe of the
" Good Fortune " bellowed and t^hook. Har
old Coffin, smoke-begrimed and happy, called
for a hot dish from the galley. It came in
an iron basket, carried slung <» a capstan
bar between two men — a pie of heated shot
glowing white and red. The plums from this
pie were served to the approaching brigs

^g^if-

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■)

It
h

^^g A Captain of Raleigh's

from guns nicely sighted by Coffiu him-
self.

The luggers came along, studied the situ-
ation and then rounded the cape and beat up
the little harbor. By this time, two of the
brigs had fleshed their iron claws in the gun-
wales of the ♦* Good Fortune." The third,
the unfortunate '* Sister Joan," lay about
twenty yards distant from the ship's bows,
dismasted and smoking like an autumn bon-
fire. Her men were pulling away from her
in the boats. The " Peep O' Day " and the
•• Plover," one on either side of the ship
like hounds on the flanks of a stag, seemed
to be in a fair state of preservation but in
reality were suflFering shrewdly in their
oaken vitals. The battle along the ship's
rails was terrific. Still a great gun roared
in thunderous agony, now and then ; but the
muskets were quiet, the pistols had all spoken
and cutlasses and hand-spikes carried on the
terrible work.

It was two hours past noon. The
*' Plover " had cast loose from the ship and

A Friend in Need

167

was drifting helplessly into the great bay.
Her boats were splintered. The survivors of
her crew flung pieces of wreckage overboard
and sprang after them into the cold, bright
water. The " Peep 0' Day " would will-
ingly have loosed her hold on the ship and
drifted clear; but for her sins she was held
tight in the embrace which she had so eagerly
solicited. At last, however, the ♦' Good ^^r-
tune " spurned her from her side — pushed
her sluggishly away from her own torn side,
a battered, blazing wreck full of .. »or aud
death.

Tattered and torn aloft and splintered and
bleeding below, cluttered with her wreckage
and her dead, the " Good Fortune " drew
lamely away from the place of her desperate
victory. With only twelve living men aboard
and only seven still able to haul on a rope or
swing a cutlass, full-fed with danger, a very
bedfellow with death and disaster, she
crawled away from safety and rounded the
cape into the little harbor where fresh dan-
ger awaited her.

As the " Good Fortune *' dragged her bat-

* 1

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I.^f 1 •

II-

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168 A Captain of Raleigh's

tered hull into the harhor, one of the luggers
slipped past her, speeding eastward into the
open bay. The ship crawled on, unable to
arrest or follow the swift, uninjured little
vessel. In the colony the unequal fight still
raged; but now it was confined to one or
two of the huts. The falconets had been
captured, the fish-sheds and stages, the gov-
ernor's house and the mill on the river were
all in flames. The battle was narrowed to
a tragic, twisting core. A number of the
victorious freebooters had drawn off from
the centre .)f activity, unable to find room
among their comrades for the striking of a
blow at the remnant of the defenders. At
sight of the ship, which they had thought in
the hands of their allies long ago, these fel-
lows rushed down to the beach. They massed
on tlic land-wash, ready to cheek any attempt
at landing that might be made by the sur-
vivors of the crew. They wanted to wipe
out the colony of Bristol's Hope once and for-
ever. Their lugger lay close to the beach,
empty. A liandful of men waded out and
climbed aboard her, with the intention of

A Friend in Need

sculliug her out of the way of any possible
danger.

Then the - Good Fortune " spoke again!
Two brimming, screaming charges of can-
nister struck and broke and mangled the
cluster of men on the shore. A round-shot
ripped the lugger between wind and water.
Yells of terror and pain arose. The fight in
the village opened. Some of the enemy came
rushing toward the water and others ran
for the woods. Tiie ship grounded lightly and
let her anchors go with a splash into shallow
water. Then the seven men of her crew who
could still swing a cutlass, with Harold Cof-
fin leading, lowered themselves over the side
and swam ashore.

Stout fellows stood knee-deep in the tide,
ready to repulse Coffin and his six followers!
Coffin's head was bandaged. His doublet
was gone and his shirt was tattered and
blood-stained. His pale eyes flashed like
white fire and he shouted shrilly and harshly
as he advanced through the shallow water.
In his riglit hand he held a rapier and in his
left a dagger, both driiij^ing with brine that

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170

A Captain of Raleigh's

were so soon to drip with a warmer fluid.
The big fellow who faced him went down as
swiftly as if the wrath of God had found
him. A second stumbled, sobbing, from the
young man's advance. They gave way sul-
lenly. The cutlasses of the six beat them
down and passed on. Coffin, without turning
his head to see if his men followed, sped up
the narrow path between the rocks. Some-
one opposed him — but he continued on his
way. He found the last combat — the last
fragment of the great fight. A dozen fisher-
men still beat and cut at MacAllister and
five of the colonists. He dashed into the
melee, striking furiously with both death-
shod hands. A terrific dread burned in him,
hurting more searchingly than his wounds
and the agony of his panting lungs. He
fought like a madman, but still with the fury
and skill that made him more dangerous in
battle than three men. His six were close
behind him. In a minute the day's fighting
was over.

*' Where is she? " cried CoflSn, grasping
MacAllister 's shoulder.

A Friend in Need

171

The Scot swayed, let fall his sword and
sank to the ground. He breathed noisily,
with his mouth wide open. A trickle of blood
veined his left wrist and was dry as powder
on the back of his hand. He suffered the ex-
treme agony of exhaustion. He could neither
think nor speak.

Coffin leaned against a rough wall of logs
and stared down at MacAUister. He had
dropped his dagger, his sword hung from
his wrist by a thong and both hands were
pressed against his aching chest. He mois-
tened his lips with his tongue. ** Where is
she? " he asked, again.

The other young man made an effort to
speak, but could do no more than raise his
right hand for a moment.

" Where is she, I say! "

Donald MacAUister struggled dizzily to his
feet. His brown, healthy face was the color
of chalk. He clutched fumblingly at the
other for support. '* They carried them
away — the governor — and the women," he
gasped.

*• And Elizabeth T '»

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172

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A Captain of Raleigh's

" Yes."

** You worthless, big, strutting wind-
bag! " cried Coffin, huskily.

He put out his left hand and pushed Mac-
Allister weakly. The Scot stumbled and fell.
Coffin glared down at him, sneering,

** You had artillery. They had none," he
said, bitterly. ** You had the fortifications
— and the hill. You had one to three —
enough to hold them off for a year. Why
did you let them land? Oh, you miserable
fool!"

MacAllister once more scrambled to his
feet. ** We did our best," he said, hoarsely.
** We fought — you saw how."

** Like the beasts of the fields," returned
Coffin.

MacAllister steadied himself with his
shoulder against the wall and struck the
other across the face with his open hand.

** D'ye know what that means? " he asked.

"I'll expound you the meaning later —
after I've caught up to the lugger and
brought back the prisoners," replied Coffin,
steadily. He slipped the leather thong from

.-''«« t

A Friend in Need

17S

his wrist, wiped the blade of his sword od
his sash and returned it to its scabbard.
Then he stooped and picked his dagger from
the ground. " MacAllister," said he, ** you
are as rash as you are vain and stupid. But
I am willing to forget that blow, for I have
no thirst for blood."

** Be careful, or I may strike you again 1 "
cried the Scot.

'* Not now. We must let this disagree-
ment lie until we have recovered the gov-
ernor and his daughter," replied Harold
Coffin.

MacAllister nodded. " Yes, we must get
to work again," he said, falteringly. '« My
head spins with weariness. My bones ache
— my sinews are on fire. Yes, we must sail
after them. We must call the men — they
are working in the woods. Lord, I'd like to
lie down and sleep for a year." He reeled
against the wall and slid sideways to the
ground.

Coffin dragged the unconscious MacAllis-
ter into one of the remaining huts. " Lie
there, you great weakling," said he. " Your

f ,1

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ill

174 A Captain of Raleigh's

muscles are too big and your nerves are too
small. Your head is full of wood and your
belly of clay. Lie there, you poor unfortu-
nate bungler! "

He held the young Scotchman to blame for
the capture of the governor and the women,
for the fellow was supposed to be a soldier.
With such men and such a position, the place
should never havc been taken by the crews
of the luggers. But his rage against him for
his bungling was now half turned to pity.
He left MacAllister and collected his six
heroic lads and the survivors of the colony.
Only four of the men who had taken part
in the defence of the plantation could stand
on their feet. Six more still had the breath
of life in them. The wounded, including
ISfacAllister, were carried down to the beach.
Two boats were found adrift in shallow
water and in these they pushed across to the
" Good Fortune." Coffin found Spike on the
locker in the cabin, faint from loss of blood.

*• How fares it, Ben? " he asked, tenderly.

" Nought but flesh wounds, shipmate," re-
plied the master.

A Friend in Need

175

" Is the ship hulled? "

** She be tight as a pint-pot."

** Can she sail? "

** 'Twill take a day to get her clear o'
wreckage, lad ~ an' even then she'd no more
nor crawl."

'* Then I must set out in a small boat,"
said Coffin.

** Where for?" asked Spike, lifting his
bandaged head.

*' After the lugger. They have carried her
away — the governor and the women," said
the commander.

The old man sat up and swore an oath.
" The fools! " he cried. '' Lad, we must go.
We must desert the old ship an' chase after
them." He waved r great fist; then he
saL'- back on the locker.

" Lie still, old heart-of-oak," said the
commander, gently. ** With this quest in
front, I cannot tarry even to set cup to the
lips of my tested and proven comrade."

He left the cabin and went on deck. He
found his servant James pnd sent him below
to revive the master with spirits. Then he

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176 A Captain of Raleigh's

called for volunteers to join him in the chase
of the lugger even into the harbor of St.
John's, if need be. Every sound man came
forward, and many who were not sound
crawled to him along the deck. The brave
fel'ows believed that Harold Coffin could suf-
fer neither death nor defr n action.

"Lads," said he, " ^our devotion and
courage swell my heart with pride — and
'tis a sore heart, too. But in reason I cpr.
not take more than four of you away froiu
the old ship."

Then he selected four of the six who had
followed him so heroically up to the last slash-
ing of blades in the plantation. A skiff was
provisioned. The five dropped into her and
the little red sail was hoisted. As they sped
into the great bay an angry shouting from
the " Good Fortune '* reached their ears. It
was MacAllister demanding to be taken
along with them. The men looked inquir-
ingly at their commander. Harold Coffin
shook his head ; and the skiff continued to
race along on her course.

CHAPTER Xni

WITH THE PRISONERS

Governor Duwaney, Elizabeth and the
women of Bristol's Hope sat in the waist of
the lugger, disconsolate, and huddled close
like sheep in a ferry. The governor was in
a terrible state of mind, and it was only in
consideration of the feelings of his daughter
and the other women that he refrained from
falling upon his captors and forcing them to
kill him. Elizabeth sat beside him on the
deck, with her cheek against his shoulder,
dry-eyed but white as paper. Some of the
women sobbed; some lay in the listless si-
.<}nce of despair. Old Susan March, who had
seen her husband cut down before her eyes,
sat with her corded, knotty hands clinched in
her lap, muttering curses. Sometimes her
eyes met the glaring orbs of the governor,
and so for a little while they would curse in
unison.

177

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178 A Captain of Raleigh's

The littlo vessel slid along over easy seas.
The rough fellows who manned her were
sullen, in spite of the fact that the colony
was destroyed and that they themselves were
safe away with a valuable cargo of prisoners.
These prisoners were worth two thousand
pounds to them if a penny. Their plan was
to take them to a little, hidden cove with
which they were familiar, there to keep them
until Duwaney's blood was sufficiently cool
to permit of his penning an order on St.
John's or Guy's Colony tor the desired sum.
Then would the honest sons of toil cnsh the
order, after which tliey would feel free to
liberate the prisoners somewhere witliin a
day's march of a convenient plantation. But
they were sullen. They had seen the burn-
ing brigs and sliattered lugger of their
friends, and many a sine^vy messmate lying
stiff. Also, to tell the truth, the sobs of the
women and the wliite, terrified face of the
governor's daughter touched them unpleas-
antly deep down in their bully liearts. They
were of the West Country — and so were
these sobbing women, and this pale young

With the Prisoners

179

lady. Sacred was the fish-trade and sacred
were the rights of the Devon fishermen in
the Newfoundland, and detestable were all
plantations and all colonies in the foggy
island; but these women were painfully like
other women far away beyond the rocking
seas.

The men of the lugger were crowded for-
ward and aft. The skipper, unable to con-
tain his discomfiture at the distress of the
women any longer, spoke down to the be-
draggled, muttering Duwaney. " Iley, you
Governor Rum-and-water, " he hailed, *' tell
the poor lasses as how no harm be a-comin'
to they. Tell 'em as how we'll land 'em all,
safe an' sound, as soon as ye sets yer hand
to a order for two thousands o' pounds."

"I'll set my hand to a very different sort
of order, you black-hearted, murdering pi-
rate," replied Duwaney. "I'll put my pen
to an order that'll set you all a-swing by
your dirty, treasonous necks. I'll set you
flapping in the wind! I'll feed you to the
lobsters! "^ou'll dance the devil's horn-pipe,
you misguided ruffians! "

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180 A Captain of Raleigh's

4 if »

<«

Not 8o fast, old punch-an'-pap," re-
torted the skipper. '• In a day or two ye '11
talk with yer other jaw. When ye've had
nought to drink but water for a while ye '11
not feel so close-fisted. \\Tiat be a few bits
o' dirty gold agin the salt tears o' yer daugh-
ter an' all them poor women? Tell me that,
ye old sinner."

" Do you talk to me I " cried the governor.
*' Do I hear you talk of women's tears —
you who have fired their homes and slain
their lads ! By that same word will I see the
fear of death upon you yet, as surely as
there is a God in heaven. Oh, you miserable
fool! Do you not know that the lads who
sank your brigs and killed your beastly com-
rades will soon be at your heels? Mark my
words, you ruffians — Coffin and Spike will
be putting the point and edge to you afore
you are two days older."

" Easy does it. Ye '11 be rilin' my bilge
if ye don't mind yer tongue, old sherry
cask," returned the skipper. His men grum-
bled uneasily, staring down at the governor
and the women with something not unlike

With the Prisoners

181

almighty

shame in their eyes. '* Them
discomfortable names — Coffin
said one.

" Aye, there'll be no good come o' this
dragvrin' the poor lasses and the old women
about, sure's blood's red," muttered an-
other.

The skipper turned and silenced the grum-
blers with a sneer and a curse.

The governor felt easier in his temper, if
not in his mind, after his argmnent with the
skipper. Withdrawing his attention from
his captors he spoke quietly to his fellow-
sufferers, assuring them that he intended to
do everything in his power to sa^^e them from
further misfortune. Some of thr women
stilled their sobbing; but old Susa March,
who had neither moaned nor shed a tear,
fixed her bright old eyes r»u the gov-
ernor.

" It be a late day now to save us, sir —
now that the lads be dead an' the roofs fallen
in," said she. "An' for why be they dead?
Didn't they fight like heroes, the poor ladsT
Aye, old an' young, straight an' crooked,

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182 A Captain of Raleigh's

Ihey plied the steel like men. Not for lack
o' courage nor lack o' strength be they dead
an' bleedin' now, but for lack o' fit men to
head 'em, poor dears. To ye an' MacAllis-
ter did tliey look for guidance — to a bumble-
brained marchant an' a struttin' young cock
who has no more knowledge o' soldierin'
than me o' sailin' ships. A fool could see
it, sir — aye, or an old woman. Ye did not
keep the lads together. Ye called 'em away
from the rocks an' crowded 'em into the
houses. Ye lost the cannons — an' then,
when they was pointin' fair at us, ye sent
the lads out to win 'em back. Lord ! Lord !
An' ye with a sword at yer side an' not
enough wit to beat off a pace! o' fishermen!
I tell 'e, sir, if Master Coffin had bin ashore
ye'd be settin' snug in yer own house this
very minute — an' my man — aye, ye fat
hound, ye may well hang yer head! "

Yes, Master Thomas Duwaney, governor
of Bristol's Hope and a one-time alderman of
the great town of Bristol, had his chin on his
chest, beyond a shadow of doubt. Further-
more, his fat hands were pressed to his fat

With the Prisoners

188

a vain attempt to conceal his

face in
tears.

At this extraordinary and pitiful sight of
the governor so utterly broken in spirit, all
the women became silent and motionless.
The men of the lugger, who had not caught
the import of the old woman's low-spoken
words, did not see that anything unusual had
taken place among the captives. Elizabeth,
without so mucli as a glance at the old
woman, tried to comfort her father. Now
there was color in her cheeks again. She
patted the poor gentleman's quaking shoul-
der, murmured words of comfort in his ear
and touched her lips to his forehead. At
last Duwaney lowered his hands from his
wet and twisted face and clutched the hands
of the girl ; but it was at old Susan March
that he looked. «* Susan, you speak truth -^
God forgive me ! I was not fit to have charge
of those fine lads."

But the old woman did not reply. She,
too, was crying at last.

The lugger held steadily eastward. The
sun went down and night flooded over the

184 A Captain of Raleigh's

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great bay, and still she fled on the wind.
The skipper tried to rouse the governor
again, but found him unresponsive. Blan-
kets and tarpaulins were spread over the
captives. Elizabeth slept, with her head on
her father's shoulder and his right arm
around her. The governor did not sleep, but
sat with his back against the cold timber of
the bulwarks and stared blindly into the
shadowy night. The lugger showed no
light, but slipped along the dim coast
like the shadow of a bird upon the
water.

The hours crawled by, and no minute of
them found the governor nodding. Wide-
eyed, motionless and humble, he kept watch
in the crowded waist of the lugger. His poor
foot ached and burned; but so severe was
liis mental suffering that he gave no heed to
the physical. He was cold and sore in every
bone and fibre. A cut in his left shoulder,
awkwardly bandaged, had benumbed the arm
from wrist to collar-bone. His other side
was stiff from the constrained position that
it had maintained for so many weary hours.

With the Prisoners

185

But in the bitterness of his soul he felt noth-
ing of all this. Again he lived through those
humiliating, frenzied scenes of defeat ; again
he saw the futility of his and MacAllister's
untrained efforts to withstand the attack;
agaiii he saw the strong position lost, the
brave men sacrificed, the blunders commit-
ted. Coffin and Spike had won a victory
against appalling odds, whereas he had suf-
fered defeat with the odds heavily in his
favor. Never before in all his long career
had his pride been laid so low. Having
lacerated his soul with a pitiless review of
the past day's work, he at last began to grope
forward in a half-hearted search for some
means of making a partial recovery of his
people's fortunes. Neither money nor the
best will in the world can resurrect the dead ;
but burned houses can be rebuilt with new
timber. Thanks to Coffin's and Spike's valor
and skill, the snug harbor was still in the
hands of the Company. In this respect, at
least, the victory of the fishermen had proved
a fruitless one. First of all, Duwaney de-
cided to write the order for two thousand

188 A Captain of Raleigh's

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I '

pounds at an early hour of the next day and
so secure the women from further suffering,
as far as was in his power. But he sorely
begrudged that good money to the robbers,
for two thousands of pounds would go far
toward re-establishing the plantation. Per-
haps daylight ^ould disclose some pleas -
anter and cheaper way of settling with the
ruffians. Great was the old man's faith in
Harold Coffin since his glimpse of the burn-
ing, shattered brigs ; and he would have felt
no surprise if Coffin had suddenly stepped
aboard Ihe lugger, miraculously out of the
shadowed waters, and smitten the crew to
submission single-handed.

At last dawn broke gray over the gray sea.
The lugger was out of the Bay of Concep-
tion, rounding the southern cape. Eliza-
beth awoke and sat upright. The governor
groaned and slipped sideways to the dew-
wet deck, in a swoon; and at the same mo-
ment, in the growing light, a large vessel
was seen about a mile to seaward of the
lugger, heading northward under easy sail.
The sight of this ship caused such uneasiness

With the Prisoners

187

in the hearts of the skipper and crew that
only Elizabeth and the women gave heed to
the governor's trouble. The girl chafed her
father's cold, limp hands between her own
chilled palms. Old Susan March screamed
to the skipper to bring rum quickly or he
would lose his prize. The fellow cast a hur-
ried glance at the prostrate governor and
again turned his gaze to the seaward ship,
but, realizing the truth of the old dame's
words, he sent a man into the waist with a
flask of rum.

And now action was swift, like a fine,
stamping scene on a play-house stage. The
ship altered her course and drew in upon the
lugger. In silent reply, the lugger shook oiit
a reef. The ship crowded dowTi upon her,
as if determined to force her ashore, and let
fly with her bow-chaser. The shot skipped
twice on the water and ^^anished in a ^purt
of white spray. One of the women screr.med ;
and the governor, having admitted about a
gill of rum between his teeth, coughed vio-
lently and opened his eyes.

"Lord ! my poor foot ! " he cried. Clutch-

188 A Captain of Raleigh's

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I' I

ing Elizabeth with his uninjured arm, he sat
bolt upright and glared around him. His
eyes fixed immediately upon the ship with
the plume of white smoke thinning at her
bows. " Mark you, 'tis the ' Good For-
tune,' " he cried. *' Coffin has oome to our
rescue! Did I not tell you so? " In his ex-
citement he tried to get to his feet ; but his
cramped limbs would neither lift nor support
him.

The skipper headed the lugger for a nar-
row break in the low cliffs and sneered sar-
donically at Duwaney. " What, the * Good
Fortune* ' " he exclaimed. " Nay, nay, my
rare old rum-butt. Ye be out o' the pan an'
into the fire now, for certain. Yonder craft
he's a pirate ship as sure as ye '11 smell brim-
stone in hell."

Duwaney 's heart sank at that and the
lightings of triumph faded from his protu-
berant eyes. ** But what are you about, you
flea-bit, mangy knave? " he cried. ** Would
you drown us all in the surf, you benighted
son of a hook-an 'liner! Have a care where
you steer to, for the love of Heaven! "

I '

With the Prisoners

180

Ye'U not drown, I promise ye, ye foul-
mouthed old bag o' malt," replied the other,
viciously, ' ' 1 bain 't such a fool, quite, as to
spill two thousands o' golden canaries into
the surf. If death overtakes ye, old rum-
an '-water, 'twill be high an' dry ashore, I
do assure 'e. If ye die to-day, 'twill be of
a slit gizzard more like nor a paunch-full o'
salt water."

The governor's bravado evaporated in two
winks. '* Save us all from the pirates and
there'll be another thousand on the order,"
he begged. The skipper nodded. The lugger
sped on toward the narrow, spray-hedged
portal in the rocky ramparts of the coast.
Already the ship had come rbreast of her and
two boats were being lowered away. Then
a strange, sweet conviction awoke suddenly,
full-flamed, in Elizabeth's heart. She
crouched upon her knees, slipped her arms
around her father's neck and set her lips
close to his ear.

** It is not a pirate ship," she whispered.
"It is the 'Jaguar' — Captain Percy's
ship — I know. We are saved, dear, as

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190 A Captain of Raleigh»s

surely as if it were the * Good Fortune.'
Thank Godl Thank God for sending
him!"

The governor had heard the story of
Percy's visit aboard the ** Good Fortune."
He had said some bitter things, at the time,
in reference to masterless men and erring
captains in general and John Percy in par-
ticular; but now, at the name, he looked
across the water with hope mightily renewed
in his breast. ** My prayers have been
heard," he murmured. Perhaps so. Who
knows? The girl, however, gazed at him in
open amazement even in that time of stress,
for though she had frequently heard the
name of the Creator on her father's lips it
had never been in the form or manner of
prayer.

The lugger flew between the spouting rocks
and into the haven of a little cove. At the
back of the cove the cliff was broken and
tumbled seaward, and devious rock-encum-
bered passages led upward at a sharp slant
to the edge of a brown barren. Down came
the great sail ; oars were thrust overside and

With the Prisoners

191

Btrong arms seized the prisoners and dragged
them to their feet. Then the lugger, with
much bumping, grindinj? and quaking, set-
tled a full quarter of her length on the grad-
ual land-wash.

! ,

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hill

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CHAPTER XIV

CAPTAIN PERCY TO THE RESCUE

Now the morning sunshine was gilding the
tops of the rocks that hemmed in the little
cove. The edge of the barren above the
broken cliff was warm and aglow. The round
of sky overhead was blue as a noon-day
shadow on March snow. Though the surf
spouted and thundered at the rocky portals
the little waves broke softly along tlie shingle
within. Nature was at peace in this corner
of her vast dominions — but not so the sons
of men.

All was confp 'on and strenuous effort
aboard the beached lugger. Some of the men
caught up cutlasses, muskets and ammuni-
tion, leaped ashore, ran across the narrow
shingle and began the steep and twisting
ascent to the barren. Others seized roughly
upon the women and the governor, lifted
them overside and dragged them through the

192

Captain Percy to the Rescue 193

shallow water. One of the women uttered a
scream so shrill and strong that the eelioes
of it rang back and forth, from rock to rock,
with 80 terrific a note that a dozen gulls
dashed from their retreats in the cliffs and
beat out of the cove or circled high above it.
The offending woman was gagged in a sec-
ond; and a burly fellow hoisted her to his
shoulder as if she were a bag of meal and
started up the difficult path without more
ado.

The skipper and nnother brought Duwaney
wallowing and spluttering to the beac^^ like
a wounded walrus. One can imagine the
effect of such treatment on a fat, aching,
hot-tempered man with a gouty foot. The
ex-alderman of Bristol was fighting-mad,
blind-mad. He roared like a monarch of the
polar ice, reeled against the skipper, knocked
him flat and beat him on the bearded face
with his fat fists. His rage was so reckless
and the pain in his foot so agonizing that he
was past caring (for the moment) whether
he was killed or set free so long as he did
some damage to his captors. His movements

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194 A Captain of Raleigh's

were like those of a bear, heavy but swift.
He snatched a dirk from the belt of the pros-
trate skipper, flung himself around upon the
man who had hohl of his collar and sent that
astonished imli\idual to glory with five
inches of steel between his ribs. He bellowed
a challenge, squatting and glaring around
him; but now the beach was empty of both
captors and captives. One fellow turned,
half-way up the boulder-strewn slope, and
discharged a pistol at the old man. But the
bullet flew wide. The skipper suddenly
rolled over, scrambled to his feet and fled
upon the way his men had gone. Duwaney
hurled the dirk after him; but it fell short
and clattered harmlessly on the stones.

At that moment one of the boats from the
ship appeared at the entrance of the cove,
between the spume-flinging jaws of rock,
weighted to the gunwales with armed men.
The eight long oars bent, flashed and bent
again, and the boat raced in between the hiss-
ing white and green. Then the second boat
appeared. Duwaney stood up for one dizzy
moment, waved his right hand, staggered

Captain Percy to the Rescue 195

and fell unconscious. His recent activities
had opened the wound in his left shoulder,
and for the past five minutes his blood had
been escaping freely, all unheeded.

Captain Percy was first ashore; but his
men were close at his heels. He paused, for
a second, above the unconscious governor.
•' I do believe 'tis old Duwaney, of Bristol's
Hope," he murmured. Then he turned to
one of his lads and told him to see to the
old gentleman's hurts. He stepped across
the body of the fellow whom Duwaney had
killed, with no more than a downward glance,
and ran across the beach and up the slope
that led to the barren. All his men followed
hard save the lad who was busy with binding
the governor's shoulder. The second boat
touched the beach and disgorged La eager
crew; and these too went hot-foot on the
trail of the fugitive kidnappers.

By this time Elizabeth had ceased her
frantic efforts to fling herself from the arms
of her carrier. A great ill-smelling blanket
over her head had stifled her screams; and
now she neither cried out nor struggled. The

i ..

196 A Captain of Raleigh's

first panic had spent itself and now she was
alert and clear-headed. She did not doubt
that the ship that had changed its course and
given chase to the lugger was the *' Ja-
guar; " and her heart told her that John
Percy was not the man to turn aside from
a pursuit to which he had once set his feet.
She had seen the boats lowered from the ships
and knew that the rescuers must now be hot
on the trail of the kidnappers. The fellow
who carried her held her doubled over his
right shoulder face downward. He had be-
gun to run as soon as the desperate scramble
up the broken cliff had been accomplished;
and still he ran, though heavily. Sometiuies
he stumbled, jolting Elizabeth painfully.
Even through the blanket she could hear his
gruff voice raised in curses at her weight.
She was no wisp of womankind, 'tis true;
but no man in a decent frame of mind would
have grumbled at the burden. Now his feet
rang on rocky hummocks and now they
squashed through marshy levels. At last he
halted, stood for a few seconds swaying and
gasping, then slid the girl to the ground,

Captain Percy to the Rescue 197

seized her again and hoisted her to his other
shoulder. As he stumbled forward again a
musket-shot rang out. This sent him along
at an astonishing and dangerous pace. Other
shots boomed and banged in the rear, the
reports thumping dully upon Elizabeth's
muflBed ears. The fellow tripped and stum-
bled to his knees, and loosed his clutch on
his prisoner. Her feet touched the ground.
Quick as a flash, she hurled all her weight
against the kneeling, unbalanced kidnapper.
Breathless and surprised, he toppled side-
ways between two granite boulders. The
girl threw the blanket from her, glanced
around and then began to run at top speed
in the direction of the firing.

The scene was strange and thrilling — at
once inspiring and appalling, full of life and
marred by death. On one hand lay the blue,
sun-shimmering spaces of the sea and on the
other the smoky ramparts of distant hills.
Overhead curved the flawless sky of spring-
time and the north ; and around spread the
treeless barren, warm-brown and tenderly
green over the moist levels and gray and pink

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198 A Captain of Raleigh's

on the knolls of granite. Here were men run-
ning, with burdens in their arms; and here
were men pursuing. There a fugitive had
turned and discharged his pistols and was
now dragging a struggling woman forward
again. And here was Elizabeth Duwaney
running with swlT-ling skirts and flashing
ankles, bare-headed and dishevelled — and
close behind hrr the man from whom she had
escaped, clutching at her flying garments.
But the rogue's hairy paw did not gain a grip
— for Captain Percy, appearing suddenly on
the top of a hummock on the left and catch-
ing sight of the race, discharged a pistolet
with such amazing success that the pursuer
pitched forward like a shot rabbit. His head
struck one of the girl's heels and she, too,
pitched violently to the ground.

Elizabeth lay still, uninjured but breath-
less and desperately shaken. Percy, think-
ing that the fellow had struck her with a
knife at the very moment that the bullet had
collapsed him, uttered a cry of consternation
and ran swiftly to where she lay. He
dropped his sword and pistol, knelt and ten-

Captain Percy to the Rescue

199

derly raised her head upon his arm, thus
disclosing her fair face to his anxious scru-
tiny. Their ghmces met and held. Messages
of light, wonderfully clear and intimate,
passed between them in that magic time of
silence and communion.

'* Thank GodI " breathed John Percy, at
last.

The girl's eyes turned from his and her
pale cheeks and brow flamed red. A faint
sigh escaped her.

" Heavens! are you hurt? " cried Percy.

** No. No, I am not hurt," she replied, un-
steadily. ** But my poor father! Where is
he? I fear — T fear I forgot him — for the
moment. ' '

" He is safe, I assure you," replied Cap-
tain Percy, tenderly. *' He is on ihe beach,
with nothing ailing him, I think, but a cut
in the shoulder. Do not move, I pray you.
You are weak — and your father is being
cared for."

She let her head sink back again upon his
arm. " And the others? Are they safe? "
she whispered.

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200 A Captain of Raleigh's

** My lads are seeing to that, even now,'*
replied Percy.

Elizabeth sat up, remained so for a little
while and then got slowly to her feet. She
felt shaken and sore in every bone but
strangely light of heart. The man arose,
too, and stood very close to her, eying her
anxiously and with a tender air of protection
and liomage. " You are weak," he said.
** You must be careful not to exert yourself
just now. Let me support you, Mistress
Duwaney."

She looked at him and smiled. She swayed
a little with weariness. For a moment he
hesitated ; then, swiftly and tenderly, he put
his arm about her round and slender young
waist and drew her against his shoulder.

" You were about to fall in a swoon," he
stammered. And then, ** On the very in-
stant that I sighted the lugger a voice cried
within me that you were in danger," he
added, hastily.

The girl's heart was in a delicious turmoil
by now. She wondered if he could feel her
body shaking with the mad, uncontrollable

Captain Percy to the Rescue £01

pulsing of it. Iler cheeks were aglow and
her breath seemed to catch in her throat.

Percy felt her tremble against him and in
wonder and concern saw her lift her hands
to her fjice.

" You are cold," he exclaimed. *' We
must have a fire. No, we must hasten aboard
the ship, where you can get warmth and
food."

** Please take rae to my father," she said.
" He was wounded yesterday and suffered
dreadfully throughout the night. He needs

So they moved toward the top of the
broken cliff that led down to the cove, walk-
ing very slowly, the young lady still sup-
ported by the captain's arm. His silver-
mounted pistolet and proven rapier lay
wliere he had dropped fliem, forgotten. This
was the first and only field on which Captain
John Percy had ever left his weapons behind
him.

At the top of the steep and rugged slope
the two halted, and the girl moved a step
from Percy's side. They saw Duwaney on

202

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A Captain of Raleigh's

the beach, sitting facing them with his back
against a i .ck. He waved a limp hand to
them; and Elizabeth waved back to him.
Then she turned to her companion, her beau-
tiful eyes shaded from his glance by droop-
ing lids.

" How can we ever thank you? " she said
— " and the merciful God who willed it that
you sliould happen to be on this coast."

"Aye, God be thanked," replied Percy,
'' that I was in time to be of service. But
'twas not chance that bronglit me to this
coast. In St. John's a whisper reached me
that the fisliermen had planned an attack
upon Bristol's Hope. :\ry informntion was
not exact, and so I was a day too late to save
the plantation; but I thank God that tlie
lugger did not pass me in the night."

" It was but a lugger, after all," said
Elizal)eth. " A common craft in those wa^
ters, I should tliink. How came you to sus-
pect it of — of having anytliing to do with
the attack on the settlement? "

" At the first sight of hor." replied Percy,
*' a terrifying thought flashed to my mind

Captain Percy to the Rescue

203

that I was too late — that you were already
iu danger. 1 turned my glass upon her and
saw the waist crowded witli women. Then
I knew all as surely as if it had been spoken
into my ear."

The girl was silent for a moment. She
raised her glance to his and he saw gratitude,
tears and a tender radiance in her eyes.

" By God! " he cried, impulsively, " I
would give my life and my ship for you."

The girl turned away from him, very, very
slowly, as if vastly against her wish. " See
my poor father," she murmured. "Tie is
still waving his arm like a flail. He will cntch
his death, I fear, sitting on those chilly
stones."

With Percy's assistance, she made her
way down the rough path to the beach ; but
as soon as her feet were on the level she ran
forward and sank on her knees beside the
governor. She bent and kissed him; and
then, raising her face, she caught sight of
the dead fisherman sprawled close at hand.

" Did you fight, dear? Are you
wounded? " she asked, anxiously.

^ A Captain of Raleigh's

it: ^

" Nay, lass, I got no fresh wound. But I
fought! Oh, yes, I fought," rei)lie(l the gov-
ernor, with spirit. " Two to one, it was —
and there lies one o' the rascals, an' t'other
shammed dead for a little while an' then
scrambled up an' ran as if the devil was after
him. Your old dad has the stuff o' a first-
class fighting-man in him." Then he
groaned. " But he has proved himself a
poor general," he added, dolefully, and he
stared unseeingly at his daughter and
groaned again.

John Percy stood before the two, silent,
observant, hat in hand. At last, catching thj
governor's glance, he ventured to speak,
though he did not feel entirely at his ease in
Thomas Duwaney's presence and with the
young lady for audience. He had heard,
more than once, of the old ex-merchant's
narrow-minded worship of everything, good
or bad, that was legally established, from a
king to a parish bylaw, and of hh. corre-
sponding distrust of everything irregular,
masterless or lawless. Though he despised
these pettinesses in the substantial ex-alder-

Captain Percy to the Rescue 205

man with true Percy disdain, he was anxious
now to impress the old man favorably.

'* I trust, sir, that I find you but little the
worse for your misadventure, ' ' he said, bow-
ing.

" Alive, sir, alive. I can say no more,"
returned the governor, ungraciously. It irri-
tated him to see this lawless captain, this
exiled, piratical son of supercilious earls
bending his back and sweeping his hat to him.
Had this Percy so accosted him in England,
law-abiding and on his own heath, then
should the worthy governor's sensations have
been f the most lively satisfaction; but here,
and now, and a traitor with a halter await-
ing his neck — ah, it was a different matter.
And now that the consequential old fellow
was safe out of the hands of the kidnappers
his humility was evaporating like mist before
the sun.

" My dear," said Elizabeth, ** Captain
Percy can see for himself that you are alive
— and but for his timely arrival and assist-
ance you might be dead.'*

** Tut ! Tut ! " retorted the governor, pain-

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goo A Cap tain of Raleigh's

fully altering the position of his lame foot.
" There was no talk of death, my dear girl.
The rascals meant nothing more serious than
robbery— yes, and a stroke at my political
power. But they'd never have dared to kill
me — me, Thomas Duwaney! "

*• And yet, dear, they killed many a brave
lad of the colony," said Elizabeth. " In your
relief at having me and the poor women
safely returned to your care, you forget the
danger we all were in so short a time ago.
Indeed, I can say without exaggeration, that
I owe my life at least to Captain Percy."

Duwaney grunted. Girls get queer no-
tions in their heads. He turned a distrustful
glance upon the captain. '' I believe, sir,
that your name is Percy," he said.

" John Percy, at your service," replied
the other, with all the warmth and diffidence
gone from his voice. The girl glanced at him
apprehensively, appealingly.

" Well, sir, you have saved mo two thou-
sand pounds by your providential and timely
arrival on the scene," said the governor,
'' and if you will return us all to Bristol's

Captain Percy to the Rescue 207

Hope I will repay you for your trouble. I
am even willing to give you a full half of the
sum you have saved to me — one thousand
fat canary birds."

Percy's face flushed darkly and he stared
down at the governor with so fixed and stern
a glance that, for all his insolence of improv-
ing condition, the old man felt misgivings
and began to fidget and lose color. If the
flashings of an eye could singe hair, then
should Master Duwaney's scalp most assur-
edly have twisted and smoked.

** Yc make a mistake, my good sir," said
Percy, at last. *' You are pleased to blunder
seriously. Perhaps you have not caught my
name aright? It is Percy — John Percy —
of the Northumberland family. You have
heard of the people, I suppose. And let me
tell you this — if it were not for this young
lady I'd pick you up and pitch you into the
sea for your impudence. For her sake I
swallow your insults."

The governor gasped ; but he had no ap-
propriate reply to make. "V^Hiat was the man
raving about? he wondered. He had done

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208

A Captain of Raleigh's

nothing to him but offer him a thousand
pounds. And to hear him rant and ravel
Lord! he must be a foo! as well as a knave.
And yet here he was firm in his hands — and
his daughter and the women, too. As was
natural with the worthy man, the ease of
Elizabeth and the women had Pome to him
as an afterthought.

Elizabeth stood up and looked at Captain
Percy. She even bent toward him an<l laid
hor hand on his arm. '* You must forgive
him," she said, gently. *' He is suffering
terribly in mind and body and does not know
what he is saying. Think of his loss — of
the ruined colony and dead men — and for-
give him his mad words. Forgive him —
please — for my sake."

Percy turned his eyes from the governor
to the girl. All the scorn and hot indignation
went out of his face and adoration, and some-
thing like shame, shone in their stead.

" It is for you to forgive me — for my vile
temper. It is for you to be merciful," he
said.

CHAPTER XV

ON BOARD THE ** JAOUAB "

DuwANEY, Elizabeth and the women of
Bristol's Hope, were given the best of every-
thing aboard the "Jaguar " — the best
<iuarters, food, drink and care. The ruffians
who had attempted to carry them off were
left in the wilderness, free to find their own
way out of the difficulties into which their
greed and lawlessness had led them. A few,
who had resisted the lads from the ship, lay
as quiet and stiff as the fellow whom Du-
waney had knifed in his brief fit of valor;
but the majority of them, scattered here and
there behind hummock and boulder, were
suffering from nothing more serious than
anger and chagrin when the " Jaguar "
turned again to her northward course. Du-
waney, had he thought of it in time, would
have urged Captain Percy to have every
mother's son of them strung up to the yard-

209

210 A Captain of Raleigh's

.; !

arm by the neck; but it is certain that the
captain would have turned a deaf ear to the
governor's commands, entreaties and threats
in this connection. For the brisk, give-and-
take business of soldiering had not hardened
so much as a fibre of John Percy's heart.
Battles, marches and voyaging had toughened
him, of course, and numbed a few tender sen-
sibilities; but as strong as ever was his ab-
horrence of taking the lives of his fellow-
men in any other way than in fair and open
fight. Even in the name of justice he had
never ordered a hanging. Pirates who had
fallen into his grasp red with murder and
rapine, fiends in human shape whose very
existence tempted the wrath of Heaven, were
sent to a higher judge with bullets through
their hearts.

Duwaney and his daughter sat in the after-
cabin of the " Jaguar." They had eaten of
the best the lazaret afforded, and the gov-
ernor had disposed of a punch which (though
he was too vain a man to say so) was the best
admixture of liquors, spiced and sugared, he
had ever set his lips to. The girl leaned back

On Board the "Jaguar" 2il

ngin\:<\ t>i^ bulkhead and closed her eyes.
Du -iwoy toUh-'i his hands on his stomach,
raited iiis lam. foot to a padded locker and
sank his fat ciiin on his fat chest. And then,
when skirting the very margin of the delec-
taHe country of sleep, a queer thought
prodded his mind. He sat up with a
grunt.

*'Hah!" he exclaimed. "I'd entirely
forgotten them."

This brought Elizabeth back from the de-
licious verge of slumber.

" What is it, dear? What have you for-
gotten? " she asked.

Her father answered the question in his
own way. He thumped on the table with
his fist and shouted, ♦' Captain Percy! Hi!
Captain Percy! "

Percy appeared immediately — and the
girl — leaning against the bulkhead and veil-
ing her eyes again, wondered if he had been
waiting at the cabin door.

" Anytliing wrong, sir? Ta your daughter
ill? " cried the captain. He did not so much
as glance an eye at the governor, but strode

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212 A Captain of Raleigh's

close to the table, leaned half-way across it
and gazed anxiously at the girl. This was
not what Duwaney had expected; so, in his
displeased astonishment, he gaped for a sec-
ond or two in silence. The girl felt the cap-
tain's scrutiny. She tried to keep her face
composed, the coloring normal and the closed
lids steady. But this proved more than she
could do. The warm blood tingled in cheeks
and brow, the white lids flickered up and, for
a momentous second, her eyes shone upon the
captain's from their wonderful, secret depths
— shone full into his, lit fathoms deep by the
same magic light that illumined his own.
Then the white lids veiled them again. But
John Percy did not move by so much as an
inch or shift his gaze by a hair's breadth.
He stood with his hands on the table among
the glasses and dishes, his body bent for-
ward, and his eyes fixed upon the girl's face
with all his heart and life in them.

"What the devil!" exclaimed the gov-
ernor, at last. " Rip me! what d'ye mean
by it? There's nothing wrong with the girl.
I called you. Take your eyes off her, sir,

On Board the "Jaguar" 213

an' listen to me. What d'ye mean, sir, by
standiix^ there like a field-dog at a par-
tridge? "

Captain Percy sighed, his eyes wavered
and his figure relaxed. He turned to Du-
waney, his face very red and his mouth
twisted in an apologetic smile. "I — I beg
your pardon, sir," he stammered. " I was
thinking of something else — of the dangers
you have gone through, and so on. My
nerves are not what they were. Of late, sir,
I've been under an extraordinary severe
strain."

" I called for you. Captain Percy speak
of our prisoners," said Duwaney. * Have
you disposed of them yet? "

" Our prisoners, Master Duwaney? Oh,
you mean the fellows of the lugger," re-
turned the captain.

The governor nodded. ** What have you
done with them? " he asked.

John Percy had quite recovered himself,
by this time. Now he was the self-possessed
commander of the ** Jaguar " — and that
was a very different person from the fins-

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214 A Captain of Raleigh's

tered lover of a few moments before. ** Ton
my word, Master Duwaney, I don't catch
your meaning," he said, coolly.

** I speak King's English. I ask a simple
question," replied the other.

" King's English? " repeated Percy, with
a bland though somewhat crooked smile. ** If
you speak King's English then 'tis no won-
der I fail to understand you, for I am an
Englishman — not a wild Scot."

The governor glared and began to breathe
heavily through his nose. " This smacks of
treason," said he. " Mark you, sir. His Maj-
esty is the Lord's anointed, and as an officer
of the Crown I'll listen to — to none of your
treasonous levity. Again I ask you, young
man, in what manner have you disposed of
the piratical fellows who attempted my
life? "

** They were after your purse, not your
life," replied Percy.

" I ask you a question," roared Duwaney.

" Which I have no intention of answer-
ing," returned the other.

A strenuous oath exploded from Duwa-

On Board the "Jaguar" 215

ney's lips. "D'ye forget who I am? " he
cried.

" By no means," said the captain, quietly.
" You are Thomas Duwaney, governor of
Bristol's Hope. I must call your attention
to the fact that I am John Percy, commander
of this ship — and that, at the present mo-
ment, you are my guest."

For a few seconds the governor main-
tained a thrilling, high-breathing silence.
Then he said, with a fair attempt at self-
control, " I knew you to be a rascally pi-
rate; but I did not suspect, until now, that
you were in league with the fellows who
burned my plantation, slew my men and car-
ried me off for a ransom of money."

The smile flashed away from the captain's
lips and eyes and the color dwindled from
his cheeks. Before he could set his tongue
to a word in reply to the old man's astound-
ing and outrageous accusation, however, Eliz-
abeth sprang to her feet and confronted her
father with flashing eyes.

" Oh, for shame," she crierl, breathlessly.
"You know — you know — that what you

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216 A Captain of Raleigh's

say is untrue. He came to our rescue — and
now you heap insult upon his head. He feeds
us and sails us homeward in his ship — and
you sit at his table and revile him." She
turned to Percy with a little gesture of the
hands, as if she begged for mercy. " Please
forgive him," she whispered. " He does not
realize what he says. Oh, forgive him, I beg
of you."

John Percy caught her hands impulsively
in his. " I understand," he said. " He has
suffered, and is overwrought. I let it pass.
Blithely do I forgive him this — aye, and a
thousand times as much — for your sake."

Elizabeth looked fairly into his eyes for a
fraction of a second — and so he felt no need
of any worded thanks. Then, gently — it
seemed reluctantly — she withdrew her hands
from his.

" What is this? " exclaimed the governor,
his mind diverted from the original subject
of insult. ** What do T see? D'ye make love
to my daughter, sir, under my very nose!
Lord, whnt's the world coming to! Mv
daughter cries ' shame ' upon me, treats me

On Board the "Jaguar" 217

like an imbecile, and then — and then — Rip
me, but I'll not put up with it."

" My dear sir," stammered Percy, with
every trace *" indignation melted from his
voice and the licmor of confusion in its place,
" 1 hope that our rough fare and poor
li«luors have not proved altogether disagree-
able to you. My own berth is at your dis-
posal whenever you care to retire. You must
be worn out after the anxiety and hardships
of yesterday and last night. I promise you,
if this wind holds, we'll make Bristol's Hope
soon after sunset."

Duwaney's rage had subsided and he knew
that he had made a fool of himself. Also,
he knew that Percy's righteous indignation
had turned to pity — to the kind of pity that
strong men feel for dotards and w-eaklings;
but he shrewdly suspected that, but for the
captain's interest in Elizabeth, he would
have had to answer for his insult. Yes, his
blind rage was gone, but a terrible gloom
en.gulfod him, brain and spirit. He pressed
his shaking hands to his face for a second,
withdrew them and .£,azed sullenly at his host.

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218 A Captain of Raleigh's

** I appreciate the obligation under whici
you have placed me," he said. " I spoke
rashly, just now, for I am old and of an un-
certain temper, and of a nature that can-
not stand reverses. Yes, I will accept the
offer of your berth, for every ounce of my
body cries for rest."

But Fate was dead against the governor's
intention of retiring just then; for at that
moment a knock came to the cabin door, and
a mariner thrust his head within and an-
nounced that a skiff containing Master Coffin
and four men of the " Good Fortune " was
close aboard.

" The brave soul! " cried Elizabeth. " He
followed us — in a skiff — with only four
men! "

" I must speak with that young man. He'll
have news of the colony. He knows how the
fight went — at the last," exclaimed Du-
waney, with tragic eagerness.

Percy excused himself and hurried from
the cabin. A line had been thrown from the
" Jaguar's " bows to the skiff and carried
amidships; and by the time Percy had

On Board the "Jaguar" 219

reached the deck the skiff was alongside and
Coffin was climbing over the rail. The com-
mander of the " Good Fortune " had heard
of tbe rescue as soon as he was within hail-
ing distance of the ship. He lowered himself
stiffly to the deck and grasped Percy's ex-
tended hand. " Thank God you overhauled
them," he exclaimed fervently.

" You would have done it if I hadn't,"
replied the other, generously. " What my
friend Harold Coffin goes after he usually
gets — whetner in a skiff with four men or
in the saddle with a squadron of hussars
behind him."

Coffin smiled at him wistfully. *' Can you
tell me what the devil I'd have done, even
if T liad managed to overhaul them? " he
asked, leaning weakly against the bulwarks.

** You would have cut their combs, some-
how or other, I'll swear," replied Percy.
" But come aft, lad, and let me fix you up.
You look fit to drop."

Master Coffin made a sorry figure, and no
mistake. His face was the color of bleached
bone, his colorless eyes were dim, his shoul-

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ggP A Captain of Raleigh's

ders sagged forward and his linil.s trem-
bled. Around his head he wore a great,
untidy oh)th, once white but now stained
dark red with blood and black with grime of
battle. His clothing was torn and stained
and his left boot sodden with blood.

'• Yes, I'm nigh spent. I feel as if I could
sleep a year," he said. - I'll come along
with you, blithely; but may I order my lads
aboard? — they have followed me through
the whole game."

'^rcy gave orders for the men from the
" wood Fortune " to be treated to the best
and for the skiff to be hauled aboard.

Then he slipped his hand under Harold
Coffin's arm and led him aft toward the
cabin. - The old cock is anxious for a word
with you; but I'll not let him bother you
long," he said. -He is an inconsiderate
old fellow -but the liquor is right there on
the table and I'll pour a glassful into you
before he has time to ask you a question."

Coffin smiled wanly. ''How is Eliza-
beth? "he asked.

" I believe she is none the worse for the

On Board the "Jaguar

221

adventure," r ^lied Percy. " But tell me,
lad," he continued, nervously, ** is — is she
free, d'ye know? "

As he s[3oke he halted at the closed door
of the cabin and gazed anxiously and some-
what foolishly at his old comrade-in-arms.

" Free? " queried Coffin, leaning heavily
against him and smiling wistfully. ** Why,
my friend, you freed her yourself, this very
day."

" Don't laugh at me," pleaded Percy.
" You know what I mean. Is she? — is she
heart-free? "

" Blows the wind from that quarter? "
returned Harold, pleasantly. " Well, com-
rade, she is heart-free for all I know to the
contrary."

" She makes a hero of you, lad,'* said the
other.

" Aye, a hero," answered Coffin. " That
is as much as any woman would care to make
of me, I think. Oh, you need entertain no
fear of her heroes."

Percy nodded, opened the cahin door and
stepped inside with his hand still under Har-

««« A Captain of Raleigh's

old Coffin's arm. At sight of the pitiful
figure made by the ** Good Fortune's " com-
mander Elizabeth got swiftly to her feet
and the governor uttered a grunt of aston-
ishment and concern.

'• I was after them — though I don't think
I should ever have caught them," said
Harold.

Percy helped him to the locker. " Sit
down, lad. Lean back, and never mind talk-
ing," he whispered. He reached for a flask
on the table and poured some brandy into a
glass ; but even as he turned with it, Harold
Coffin waved a hand feebly, closed his eyes
and slid sideways until he lay prone and
unconscious on the cushioned locker.

CHAPTER XVI

CAPTAIN PERCY HAS TO FACE A SERIOUS PROP-
OSITION

The combined attentions of Elizabeth I)ii-
waney and Jchn Percy soon brought the
comiiiuader of the " Goc^ Fortune " to his
wits again. He sat up, b» iiss as a corpse,
and brushed his pale hair back from his
paler brow. The governor was ready for
Iiim.

" Are any alive? " he asked, leaning for-
ward.

** A few," replied CoflSn, wearily.

'* And the ship, lad? "

*' Battered and undermanned, sir — but
sound i' the hull."

" And Donald MacAllister? "

"He is alive, and aboard the ship," an-
swered Coffin. Then, " He wanted to come
along with me," he added, honestly, " but
I thought it better to leave him behind. He

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224 A Captain of Raleigh's

shouted after us. I suppose he is very-
angry."

" You think Donald's a fool? " queried the
governor.

" No, sir. I do not think that of anyone
who is honest and courageous. But he has
not proved himself of much use as a sol-
dier."

John Percy looked at Elizabeth. " What
of this MacAllister? " he whispered.

** A vain young man," she murmured,
flashing a shy but reassuring glance into his
anxious eyes.

Duwaney was for putting a hundred more
questions to Harold Coffin; but the others
would not allow it. Percy stooped above the
suiferer, gathered him up in his arms as if
he were a child and carried him to the berth
which, so short a time before, he had put at
the governor's disposal. The governor no-
ticed this, but was in no mood to resent it.
He was not thinking of himself or his own
importance now, but of the broken planta-
tion and the poor lads with whom he had
spent the long winter and who were now

A Serious Proposition

225

uerveless clay. Even his wounded shoulder
and lame foot were forgotten.

Percy laid Harold Coffin in his own narrow
sleeping-place, tenderly examined, bathed
and rebandaged the gash on his head, and
discovered and attended to a cut in his left
leg, just above the ankle. Then he undressed
him and covered him warmly with blankets.

" Do you want some broth now, lad! Or
some more brandy? " he asked.

" Not now. I want to sleep. I want to
sleep for a year," replied the forlorn hero,
weakly.

Master Duwaney and Elizabeth retired
soon after this, too, for they, too, were sorely
in need of rest. The berths to which Percy
showed them were in no way inferior to that
in which Coffin lay and, like it, opened off
the commander's cabin. One belonged to
Master Horace Down and the Other to Mas-
ter de Vemey. Captain Percy wished his
guests refreshing slumber and went on deck.

Percy found his gentlemen, Down and de
Vemey, and one Timothy Barlow, master of
the "Jaguar," on the poop-deck, r «p in

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2!26

A Captain of Raleigh's

discussion. Upon the appearance of the
commander wliatever subject they were busy
with seemed to suffer a sudden exhaustion.
"Howls Coffin?" asked Down. "Heav-
ens, but he looked his name all right when
he came aboard."

"He is asleep," replied Percy, glancing
around at sea and shore, up at the sails and
then at the faces of his three officers.

" That gentleman must have ten lives in-
side him, sir, like a cat," remarked Barlow,
" for if ever I see a man look like a corp
who wasn't, 'twas him when he crawled over
the side. Blood an' powder-stain from head
to foot, he were, as sure as we sail salt water.
An' he left his footprints on the deck in red
blood."

"Will he die, d'ye think?" asked de
Verney.

^ " Not he, thank God," returned Percy.
" He has a giant's life — not the lives of
nine cats - in that miserable little body of
his. Had I a shipload like Harold Coffin
I'd not be afraid to sail up th. Thames and
let fly a broadside at the Tower of London.

A Serious Proposition

227

I'd put Raleigh's murderers to the block and
an English king on the throne."

*' If this young man is such a wonder, why
don't you get him to join us? " asked Master
Down, with an unpleasant sneer in his voice.
He was of a jealous disposition, was Master
Horace. Captain Percy paid no attention to
the question. In fact, he did not hear it.
He stood with his elbows on the taffrail and
his eyes fixed unseeingly on tne lively bub-
bling of the ship's wake, deep in thought.
He had spoken of revenging Raleigh's death
— an old cry with him — and even now he
saw his life, and even the trend of his ambi-
tion, changing, and recklessness and bitter-
ness slipping away from him. It all lay with
the girl in the cabin beneath his feet. Had
he read love in her eyes? — then, if that were
so, the voyaging and fighting of the " Ja-
guar " were drawing to an end, as far as
he was concerned. He was aroused by de
Vemey touching him on the shoulder.

** I suppose we'll be done with these wa-
ters as soon as we return the colonists to
their harbor? " he said.

•}i

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III

(i!

228 A Captain of Raleigh's

'* What do you hold against these waters?
Why are you in such haste to get away
from themf '- asked the captain. '* We have
struck some shrewd blows hereabouts to keep
the memory of Raleigh's valor awake in the
world."

"But we cannot live by engaging war-
ships, chasing pirates with rothing but
stolen cod-fish in their holds and taking a
few pounds of provisions, now and then,
from these beggarly traders," replied dJ
Verney. «* This is a dangerous game we
play — and so the stakes should be wortli
the risk. There are fat rewards awaiting
our valor in the south, John — our old-time
enemies, heavy witli gold, and all manner of
murdering gentry ripe to be relieved of their
ill-got cargoes anc' strung up by their necks
in just punishment for the honest blood they
have spilled. And if you want us to fight
a king's ship occasionally for glory rather
than profit and to keep the knowledge of our
anger alive, we'll find more of them among
the Caribbees and up and down the main
than in these fishy waters."

A Serious Proposition

229

John Percy looked troubled and dis-
pleased. " Greed! Greed! " he exclaimed.
" I do believe that you three would have had
me accept old Duwaney 's oflFer of a thousand
pounds for our services of to-day."

" Did he offer a thousand pounds? " asked
Down.

Percy nodded. " One half of the sum for
which the fishermen intended to hold him and
the women," he remarked.

'* The impudent old tallow-chandler," ex-
claimed Master Down, indignantly.

" So I told him," said Percy.

"And rightly, too," cried de Vemey.
** 'Pon my soul, I'd have pinked him for it."

Timothy Barlow, the shipmaster, smiled.
** An' yet, my masters, he but offered fair
wages for fair service. We did him a good
turn, an' he was willin' to pay th( iptain
for it. I be but a common man— plain,
tarry-pawed Jack — but to me it looks like
as honestly earned a thousand o* canary
birds as any we've touched since we took
to free voyagin'."

"What!" cried Percy. "Would you

^^Q A Captain of RalHgh's

;; \-)

have had me accept payment for rescuing a
young lady from distress? Stop me, man,
but you must think I've fallen devilish
low!'»

'* Think nought o' the kind, sir!" ex-
claimed Barlow. "Low, do ye say! If such
was in my mind, mark ye, Tim Barlow would
sail with ye no more. But I hold, sir, that
in these poor times an' in these waters where
we finds more glory nor pickin's, 'twas a
thousand pound cleanly an' easily earned.
But I may be wrong — for I be nought but
a common son o' a sea-cook, baptized with
bilge- water an' brung up at a rope's end,
an'^ I make no pretence to all the foolish
whims o' folks gentle-born. AJl I say is,
the lads for'ard would ha' been desperate
glad for their share o' them yellow canary
birds, for they be sick with longin' for prize
money."

"So! It seems to me they have not done
badly," said Percy, reflectively.

Down turned to the shipmaster. '' Tim-
othy," said he, "I'll make the matter of the
thousand pounds clear to you in half a min-

A Serious Proposition

231

ute — as clear as if you saw it with the cap-
tain's own eyes. Here's a young lady — the
daughter of this Duwaney! We three had
the pleasure of meeting her aboard the
' Good Fortune,' not a great while ago.
Fine looking? Beautiful? Spirited? By 'r
Lordy, man, she struck us all dumb as shell-
fish with a glimpse of her eyes! You have
that, Tim? Well, lad, the captain here, with
some help from us, saves her (and, inci-
dentally, her father and a crowd of squeal-
ing women) from a crew of kidnappers.
Then the old dog offers him money for it,
— for saving the lady. He refuses. What
do you make of it? "

" Why, sir, that the captain done right.
I'd do the same myself was I in love with
such a fine young lady," responded Barlow,
heartily.

Percy flushed and turned hotly upon them.
" Have a care! Mind your tongues, both of
you! " he exclaimed. Horace Down bit his
under lip in vexation at being thus cavalierly
addressed before the shipmaster and the lad
at the tiller, and honest Tim Barlow grinned.

M/i

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g32 A Captain of Raleigh's

Percy began to pace the narrow deck, from
rail to rail, the three officers and the helms-
man watching him covertly. Presently he
halted in front of Barlow.

" So the lads are beginning to fidget, are
they? " he asked.

"Aye, sir," replied Timothy. *' They
wants to haul alongside a Spaniard or a
Spanish-fed pirate again, an' no mistake."
•* I have put them in the way of some fat
geese to pluck before we began this under-
taking," said Percy.

" Yes, sir, that ye have — an' not a soul
aboard, gentle or simple, denies the same,"
returned the master. - But we hold that 'it
be a risky way o' livin', even under your
command, sir, an' the sooner we make our
piles an' win safe ashore the better. Spain
is our enemy; every raurderin' robber and
pirate on the high seas is against us, for the
damage we've done 'em; and the war-ships
o' our own Merry England be on our heels
as if we was the devil himself. Aye, and
with good cause, too! Whoever catches us,
we hang — whether they slip the noose in

^mm

A Serious Proposition

233

the name o' piracy, sheer dislike, revenge or
treason. So we feel, sir, that we have no
time to waste, but had better do our work
quick an' then vanish from the face o' the
waters."

Percy turned to the lad at the tiller.
** You hear what Master Barlow says,
Truxby. Is this the way you feel in the
forecastle? "

** Only if agreeable to yer honor, sir,**
replied Truxby. *' But for this matter o* the
war-ships, yer honor, we'd feel no uneasi-
ness about sailin' the sea with yer honor for
the rest o' our lives, sir. But as things
stand, yer honor, an* if it be agreeable to
yer lordship, we feel as how we'd like to have
a few more cracks at they Spanish treasure-
ships an' then go quickly ashore an' settle
down afore we be hanged, sir."

" And T don't blame you, Truxby," re-
plied the captain. " That we run a shrewd
risk of the halter, every man of us, I'll not
deny. We play a game that the world does
not understand ; and all are against us, high
and low. But they cannot hang us until

I* '

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I I

234

A Captain of Raleigh's

they catch us, and though many have tried,
not one has grappled with us yet. I'll make
my plans known in two days."

Percy went down the starboard ladder and
entered the cabin. He moved quietly so as
not to disturb the sleepers in the narrow
berths so near at hand. He filled a long clay
pipe with Virginian leaf, sat down at the
table and gave himself to thought. That
he would not leave these waters unless Eliz-
abeth Duwaney asked him to, or left them
herself, he was determined ; but as to every-
thing else his plans were in a fog. That he
was gloriously and helplessly in love Wi;li
the daughter of the hot-tempered governor
of Bristol's Hope he knew, and e\ jry faculty
of thought and feeling within him accepted
the knowledge. Also, he did not struggle
against this wonderful love, though he saw
at a glance what mighty changes it was to
make in his life, whether it should prove suc-
cessful or hopeless. But he could not find
it in his heart to believe it a hopeless passion.
The light that he had seen in the depths of
her eyes — surely that had been the tender

A Serious Proposition

23-5

radiance of love ! If ho, he would make every
effort to win her. He was guilty of treason
against the king, 'tis true, but he considered
his honor unstained in this matter, for this
treason was honest enmity against a king
wliom he despised and considered as no bet-
ter than the murderer of his old commander.
He had been born a gentleman; and he had
lived as one, according to his lights. Though
he had fought in many battles and skir-
mishes, afloat and ashore, he had never in-
jured a defenceless or wounded man or ill-
treated a prisoner. Even of late, after
openly proclaiming himself an enemy to his
sovereign and a free agent upon the seas,
he had confined his operations to such craft
as were a menace to commerce and a dis-
grace to civilization and an occasional fling,
just to show his spirit, at an English war-
ship. Indeed, had an accurate account been
kept of hi ork as an erring captain, it
would have shown plainly enough that for
every honest or harmless person incoi.^-
moded by him the fangs had been drawn
from 3 dozen murderers and ravishers. So

v.;

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236 A Captain of Raleigh's

Captain John Percy looked back ovor hit
dflring career and decided that he was uo
moro miwurthy of the love of a goo i and
beautifiu voraan than most men. This, lip
kne\\ , was i» )i a high standard by which t<.
raejsjie his moral worth — the nworthi-
nes.s o ' oil - men ^ but, as it fell i i with his
desire he a^eci^ted it gladly and ^eally lelt
quite a glow i,f > irtuf.

He -was still (»o< upied with thoughts set
astir by his love chen Down md .ie Verney
entered the cabin and joined him at the
table.

" What's in the wind? " inquired Down,
guardedly. *' Why d^ you ^ang fire on this
matter of running south? "

** One can see with half an eye, that you
do not relish the dea of the islands - an,!
yet there Is where prizes are big and r ks
small,*' said de Verney.

John Percy looked from one to the ner
with a somewhat discomfited expre ion.
He leaned close to them. ** It's — it's he
girl," he whispered.

Dov.-n sighed draraati' ally. " I suppof^ },

«S7

A Serious Proposition

John, ou've let her melt your maDiy heart,'*
sai'^ tio.

John iio<i'^ed.

*• -^he haf ml ted mine, tOO " b tid ^e Ver-
^eyj -nit Ms-n. h&i^ hu* got to do with our
outbora voya "^t "'

** IT) ot iw. rom her unles 'e

s ids mt awu re ' Pc y, quietly. I
Cufi't run the - ja'm er. And i I

/'/ t h her v.uich G> grant — I'm
'■' ' wi ! akui^ toll of Sp; aiards and pi-
rai 6, nd I'm done with revengt 1 "

4 =.

ri '

, I '*

•||-

'I I

« I 1 : ; f -'^ t
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H|:i

CHAPTER XVn

THE RUINED COLONT

Captain Percy's disclosure of his inten-
tions and the state of his heart astonished
his friends — nay, more than that, it filled
them with dismay. They glared at him, their
eyes wide with amazement and darkling with
displeasure.

'* Then what the devil are you going to
do? And what the devil are we to dot "
asked Horace Down.

** Keep your temper, Horace, I am a free
man. You are not my guardian," returned
Percy.

"Yes, you are a free man, John — but
with a very handsome price on your head,"
said de Vemey. ♦' You'll not feel so free
and frisky if some diligent officer of the king
gets his fingers on you."

** You say truly that I'm not your guard-
ian—and I thank my stars for that I — but

238

h .

The Ruined Colony

239

you must allow me to take some interest in
your affairs," said Master Down. '* We've
been in a i out of some devilish tight places
together, John."

" You arc right, lad, and I'm not forget-
ting our friendship," replied the com-
mander. ** My own brothers are no dearer
to me than you two, for our blood has run
together in more than one rare engagement
againv«l; odds. But for all that I cannot tell
you what I do not surely know myself ! 'Pon
my soul, you might be more considerate!
Can 't you give me a few days ' grace in which
to discover my own position? It may be that
the lady cares nothing for me; or again, she
may care, but not want to — to have things
move too swiftly. Then who is to answer
for old Duw.' ley's attitude towards me? By
what I've seen and heard of the old fellow,
T believe he'd rather have his daughter marry
a Turk than a poor, adventurous gentleman
who has had the audacity to openly proclaim
his enmity against James, the Lord's
anointed. I make a shrewd guess, comrades,
that he considers us not a whit better than

i <:'

III

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i II

240 A Captain of Raleigh's

a pack of murdering pirates. So how can
I name you the course I intend to sail in the
future in the wink of an eye? If you love
me, comrades, give me a few days in which
to work it out."

" But let us suppose that both the lady
and old Duwaney are satisfied with your suit.
Even then, John, how are you going to sup-
port a wife and retire from your present
honorable but dangerous occupation at one
and the same time? " asked Down.

'' I have never been a spendthrift," re-
plied Percy, '* and though England and the
family possessions are lost to me, I own a
snug little place in the most beautiful and
retired of all the islands of the Caribbean
Sea, and a house and some firm friends in
the New England Colonies. So, you see, my
shares in this ship and in the treasure in
the lazaret are not the whole of my worldly
possessions."

*• That is all very well — for you," said
de Verney. " But it does not help us. If
you give up command of this ship, what's
to be done? Though I blush to say it, the

The Ruined Colony

241

lads forward do not put much faith in Hor-
ace and me — they don't think us naval or
military geniuses. So if you desert your
charge, who is to command the ship for long
enough to give us a chance to empty the
holds of a few more iniquitous traffickers in
blood and goldf "

"By Heaven!" exclaimed Percy, impa-
tiently, " do yoi think I can read the future?
Come, be reasonable! Give me two da>a In
which to discover my own position and then
I'll do what I can toward helping you with
your plans. Two days! Can't you give me
two days? "

** Certainly, certainly," replied de Ver-
ney, daunted by the flash in the other's
eyes.

** You ask no more than is reasonable,
John," said Master Down. •' So I promise
that you'll not be badgered again by these
questions until this time day after to-mor-

row.

The wind held, and in time the " Jaguar "
entered the little harbor of Bristol's Hope
and let go her anchor. The stars were shi-

k
III

11
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f ■ •

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lil

242

A Captain of Raleigh's

nmg, the - Good Fortune " showed light
aloft and alow, but ashore, where the plan-
tation had so lately stood, all was darkness.
Harold Coffin, clothed sumptuously from the
comlmed wardrobes of Percy, Down and de
Verney, and with his head and left leg still
m bandages and the pallor of death still on
his cheeks, went directly aboard the - Good
Fortune " with his four men. Word that
the governor and his daughter, and the
women of the colony, were safe went from
end to end of the battered ship as quick as
light; and all of the ship's depleted company
and such of the survivors of the settlement
as could stir from their berths collected in
the waist and cheered tlie " Jaguar - The
men of the other ship, and presently some
of the women, cried back to them The
v^omen began to call the names of their own
men -and sometimes the cry was answered
from the - Good Fortune; - but more often
It was followed by a pitiful silence. So the
ist of the casualties was soon known aboard
the Jaguar; " for the voices of the sur-
vivors were heard, and the names of the

The Ruined Colony

243

wounded men were shouted across the black
water by their comrades — and silence spoke
the names of the dead.

Harold Coffin and Benjamin Spike stood
on the poop-deck, gazing across at the shad-
owy bulk of the other ship, each occupied
with his own gloomy reflections. Both were
thinking of the dead sailors and colonists,
of the widowed women, of the battered ship
and wrecked colony. In the sight of others'
sufferings Coffin had dismissed all thought
of his own trouble from his mind — yet he
knew that the woman he loved was lost to
him as inexorably as if he lay dead, along
with so many of his brave lads, under
the harbor water or among the broken
houses.

Old Spike heaved a groan. ** I could weep
at thought of it," said he — " at thought o'
all they stout lads butchered for nothin'.
We suffered cruel, 'tis true ; but we won the
fight an' saved the ship. But the poor lads
ashore I — Lord, I'd shoot myself for a
worthless hound if I was that paunchy gov-
ernor! "

iAmi

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344

A Captain of Raleigh's

" And yet it is not fair to blame him. He
has had no military training," said Cof-
fin.

"Then what of MacAlIister? He pre-
tends to be a soldier," retorted Spike.

" He is brave enough, but has no knack of
leadership, I take it, in either attack or de-
fence," answered Coffin. - I am sorry for
him, Benjamin, for witli more experience and
a cooler head he'd make a good commander
The lad has the right spirit and the right
blood in him, somewhere under the untarred
pride and unpricked conceit."

"Unpricked? Nay, for the wind is not
o' his vanity now," said Spike.
'* Where is he? " asked Coffin.
" He went ashore, fair frothing at the
mouth, soon after ye left," replied the ship-
master. '« He was swearing, he'll have your
blood for not taking him along with ye "
He paused and laid a hand on Coffin's shoul-
der. " Mark my words, master, this wild
Highland gentleman be smitten desperately
with love for the youn^ Indy-nn' so that
makes him none the fonder o' ye."

The Ruined Colony

245

" How so? " asked Harold. ** He has
nought to fear from me, Benjamin."

"An' why not, comrade? " rp+^-^ied
Spike.

The other laughed grimly. ** Wn\ not,
d'ye ask!" he exclaimed. "Look at me,
Benjamin. The light is bad, but 'twill serve.
A veritable heart-breaker, am I not? Mark
my fine features, glowing cheeks and flashing
eyes ! Mark my commanding figure ! Lord,
man, I'm a thing to excite disgust — or
maybe pity — in the heart of a dairy maid !
A corpse would make as effective a lover."

Master Spike was silent for a little while.
At last he said, haltingly, " But ye be worth
the lot o' us in a skirmish or a battle. Big
as I be I'd never match ye in a fight. Mao-
Allister, Percy, Duwaney — ye'd eat them
all. There be a devil in ye, when blades
flash, that no bulk o' muscle or length o*
arm can withstand.'*

" Though you exaggerate, my friend,
there is a grain of truth in what you say,"
replied Harold, with quiet bitterness in his
voice. "I am a remarkable fighting-

I .,11 ;

.:t.iJ

^ A Captain of Raleigh's

machine, 'tis true. And death overlooks
me — strikes too high for my ugly head —
and the tall men go down. But do the hearts
of maids warm and flutter to fighting-
machines? Then shall they set their desires
on culverins and falconets — which are
shapely engines of their kind — rather than

on me.

No one went ashore from either of the
ships during the night; but, a few hours be-
fore dawn, Donald MacAllister returned to
the - Good Fortune." The poor fellow was
almost mad with grief, anger and wounded
pride. All day he had toiled desperately
about the ruined plantation, striving to
deaden the memories of his humiliating
failure. He had dug graves in the woods by
the river — grave after grave, toiling with
pick and spade in the tough soil until his
hands grew raw and his head light as smoke
- and carried *he dead men in his arms, one
by one, and buried them deep. It had proved
a bitter and heartrending tap —for he
could not blind himself to the fa, that, but
for his own inefficiency, many of these brave

I ■ 1

The Ruined Colony

247

fellows would still be alive. So he had
worked and suffered all day, without a
thought of food or drink. Now, in the chill
and darkness before dawn, he paced the mid-
ships deck of the "Good Fortune," ex-
hausted but restless, dreading the return of
daylight. He had seen the " Jaguar " come
in and heard of the rescue of the governor
and the women; but he was in no mood to
feel thankful for anything. An incompetent
bungler, he had disgraced his name! What
of his pride now, when even the sailors could
not hide their contempt for him as a weak-
ling? Well he knew — for it needed no tell-
ing! — what Coffin and Spike thought of him.
And Elizabeth? What would she make of his
ignominious defeat — and of Harold Coffin's
victory in the " Good Fortune," against tre-
mendous odds? Even as he had earned dis-
grace so had Coffin won glory. Lord, it was
a bitter draught for his Highland spirit!
He thought of how Coffin had gone after the
lugger without him, and had refused to turn
back for him, and in the inflamed state of his
mind this seemed worse than a slap across

248 A Captain of Raleigh's

the face. His gorge rose at that memory,
almost choking him; and he swore he would
settle his score with Harold Coffin before the
passing of another day.

Dawn lifted in the east and flooded into
the harbor from the seaward vastness. Mac-
Allister looked around at the gray desola-
tion, felt a sudden weight of weariness op-
press both body and spirit, stumbled into the
cabin and sank to sleep on one of the lockers.
Aboard the " Jagi.ar " the governor was
early astir, and a fearful curiosity drew him
out to gaze upon the site of his beloved plan-
tation. He limped across the deck and
leaned upon the rail, and for a full minute
stared in silence at the charred timbers and
broken roofs. At last a mournful cry es-
caped his purple lips, harsh and dismally
prolonged. He swayed on unsteady legs,
clutched the rail and glared. Then curses
flew from him, childish in their futility but
terrible. Men ran to him; but he met them
with oaths and strokes of his fists. They
closed with him, fearing that he might do

■ I

The Ruined Colony

249

himself an injury, and bore him back to the
cabin. They laid him on the floor, and at
that moment Percy followed them in from
the deck — he had slept in the forecastle —
and Elizabeth appeared from her berth,
wrapped in a great cloak, her feet bare and
her hair streaming upon her shoulders. The
men drew back. Percy, reaching the gov-
ernor first, knelt beside him and raised his
head on his arm. Elizabeth knelt on the
other side and caught her father's hands.

Duwaney's great face was purple. He
breathed thickly, his shaven lips making in-
ward and puffing outward noisily. His eyes
were closed at first ; but presently he opened
them, gazed at the girl and then at Percy.
** Ood forgive me my sins! " he murmured.
He rolled his head from side to side on the
commander's ami. ** My devilish temper —
it is my undoing," he whispered. He lay
quiet for .- moment, staring up at his daugh-
ter. " Go home," he gasped, *' an* marry
— Sir Stephen. Tt is already planii'd. My
last will — under the hearth -stone."
He flung himself upward into a sitting

• J

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^0 A Captain of Raleigh's

position, swayed so for an instant, and
tben fell heavily back into John Percy's
arms. Au.i that was the last of Master
Thomas Duwauey in this world !

The shock of her father's death, striking
upon nerves already overstrained by fati^e
and HufferiuK, pn^strated Elizabeth. Percy
carried her ba.k to her berth, spoke a few
halting words of sympathy -but by the last
speech of the governor his tongue was fet-
tered - then went forward and sent one of
the women to wait on her. Duwaney's body
was carried to the poop-deck, laid out on an
improvised bier and covered with a flag, and
a ^'iiard of two armed marines was set over
it. Then Percy crossed to the '♦ Good For-
tune " with the startling news, which was
received with astonishment and regret by
Toffin and Spike -but the regret was not
for the death of old Duwaney so much as for
Elizabeth's grief. Neither of them had
loved the governor or greatly respected him.
The spirit of many a better man liad been
sped within the last two days. While the
three spoke together, Donald MacAllister

The Ruined Colony

251

left liis couch and appeared on deck .Jiahev-
elled, pallid and red-eye«l. Harold Colliu,
wiio had seen him wliile nsleep but had not
spoken to hirn since returning from tlie pur-
suit of the lugger, sai<l, " Master Duwaney
is d'jaJ! He passed away within the lialf-
hour."

MacA .cr halted, aghast. " Dead! " he
exclaimed. " The governor dead! By the
eternal, how is this? "

Percy explained the thing to hhn minutely.
The Scot listened with evident impatience
and suspicion.

the bod;-?" he demanded,
^d c ..i speaking. * Are
H -pon it? — no treasonous
r. sf«^ it, by Heaven! '*
The commanuer of the ** Jaruar " fell
hack a pace as if he had been struck in the
face. Coffin ^^lared angrily ai the speaker
and even Spike .< >.ked astonished and un-
comfortable. After a moment of tense si-
lence, John Percy found his voice. " You
are young, Master Mr- Mlister, and sorely
overwrought," he said, " ad so I let your

" Where is
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there no r ic
wounds? I i

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^^ A Captain of Raleigh's

•♦ i

words pass. But be careful, I beg of you.
Guard your tongue, Master MacAllister. "

The Scot flushed darkly. *♦ I spoke with-
out any intention of insulting you," he said.
He pressed his hand to his forehead. " So
Duwaney died — in a fit," he muttered. *• T
was fond of that old man." He looked at
Percy. " What of the young lady? A3 her
father's lieutenant, I consider myself her
guardian until such time as she can be re-
turned to her home."

" The young lady is not in good health,"
replied Percy.

" As to the young lady's guardianship, I
believe she is of an age to select her own
protector and adviser," remarked Coffin,
drily.

MacAllister turned on him and looked him
up and down with a scrutiny more galling
and insolent than spoken jeers. Harold Cof-
fin stood quiet under it for a few seconds;
then, unable to bear it any longer in silence,
he said, " Have a care, MacAllister. Don't
brew any more trouble, T pray you, for we
are already burdened with it."

The Ruined Colony

253

" Of what am I to have a care? " asked
the other.

Coffin sighed, turned on his heel and
walked away. Spike touched MacAllister's
arm. " Don't bait that poor lad, for God's
rcercy's sake," he whispered. " We be too
few, Master, an' too sore already, to shape
a course for more bloodshed."

-I
* •

CHAPTER XVm

MASTER DUWANEY'S WILL IS FOUND

•' Yes, this little matter can wait," said
Donald MacAlIiHter. - Now 1 must think of
my friends and ignore my enemies."
^^ '' Eneniies! " exclaimed Spike in disgust.
Let me tell ye, sir, man to man, ye talk
like a witless child."

" You are all against me," said MacAllis-
ter-'«aye, and yoM were all against the
s:osGrnor, down in your hearts. Rut he was
»n honest man and stood to his king -and
no damn professional cut-throat "

Master Spike turned away from the young
man, fearing that he might forget his own
plea for pence if he remained to hear anv
'"ore. But at this naming of rFaroId Coffin
as a professional cut-throat his thick hlood
boded and his great phest heaved.

MacAllister went aboard the "Jaguar,"

Master Duwaney's Will Is Found

felt a twinge or two of real sorrow at sight
of tlie dead governor, and then sent word to
Elizabeth, by the woman wlio waited upon
her, that it was of grave importance that he
should see her for a few moments. The girl
did not keep him waiting, but entered the
cabin, from her narri)w berth, the instant
she heard his name. Her face was deadly
pale and her eyelids red and swollen with
weeping. In silence, calmly and without any
lightening of expression, she extended her
hand to the Scot. He pressed his lips to it
passionately; but she seemed utterly una-
ware of the warmth of his ad<lress.

" I have come to ^ell you how deeply I
grieve for you," he said, " and that — now
— T pray you to consider mo as your |>ro
lector until T return you safely to your home.
He would have it so, I think, foi he trusted
me. We were friends — lie and T."

" Yes," replied the girl, vaguelv. " You
are kind - and he was fond of you. T am
in the hands of my friends. You are all
kinder than I deserve."

This reply distnrljed MacAllister. His

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A Captain of Raleigh's

jealous Dature took alarm. *' But it seems
to me," lie said, " that, as your honored
father's assistant - that I have first c;.um
to — to devote myself to your service. He
would have it so, I am sure."

She looked at him, for the first time, and
there was a gleam of wonder in her eyes.
" But — but I have so many friends," she
protested, mildly. " You, and Master Coffin,
and Master Spike and Captain Percy. All
are willing to befriend and protect me, I
know. I thank Ood that I find myself in the
care of so many brave gentlemen."

"Master CofTin," said MacAllister, with
no inflection in his voice to give meaning to
the words.

" Yes, yes," replied Elizabeth, quickly.
** He has proved himself a — a noble friend.
He is dear as a brother to me."

The young man smiled grimly. ♦♦ But re-
member that I, too, am eager and ready to
serve you," he said.

The colonists were divided between the
two ships, and nothing was done that day
toward re-establishing (garters ashore. Im-

Master Duvvaney's Will Is Found 257

mediately after his interview with Elizabeth,
MacAilister sent two men around to Guy's
Colony to obtain help and advice from Cap-
tain Mason, the governor of the older plan-
tation. Bristol's Hope was but an off-shoot
of Guy's — a fact which both Duwaney and
his lieutenant had ignored in the past but
which came to MacAilister 's mind now with
a sense of relief. Mistrusting the loyalty of
Coffin, and knowing that Percy was an oat-
law, he suddenly felt the need of both moral
and material support from such a man as
Captain Mason.

Percy told MacAilister the governor's last
words, feeling it his duty to do so as the
Scot was now in command of the colony.
Poor MacAilister could not conceal the ef-
fects of the shock.

** Sir Stephen," he whispered, hoarsely.
** Wlio the devil is he? "

** I don't know. 'Tis the first I ever heard
of him," replied Percy, eying the other with
mingled pity and scorn. *• But this is not
the point," he continued. " Duwaney spoke
of his will being under the hearth. That

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A Captain of Raleigh's

would be under the hearth of his own house
1 take it." '

" Ves," replied MacAllister. " We must
go ashore and look for it."

The governor's house had been ransacked
and partially demolished. The main room
was filled with timbers from the roof and
walls. Through this wreckage Percy, Mac-
Allister and two of the men from the - Ja-
guar " worked their way. It was a diffi-
cult undertaking, and the sun was behind the
western hills by the time they reached the
great hearth. The stone was a mighty slab
of granite fully six feet long and deeply im-
bedded in clay. A candle was lighted; and
bv that feeble illumination, hemmed in by
great, criss-crossed timbers and fragments
of broken roofing, they set to work on the
hearth-stone with a pick and two crowbars
A corner of the slab was soon raised from
|ts be,l and blocked up. Then MacAllister
lay flat and thrust his arm into the cavity
beneath the stone. For some time he fum'-
bled about in a breathless silence. Percy
bent above him with the candle. The sailors

Master Duwaney's Will Is Found 259

leaned on their crowbars, eager and puzzled.
They had got the idea into their simple
minds that the gentlemen were after the
dead governor's money — and this was not
what they had expected from their com-
mander.

" Here is something," said MaoAllis-
ter, at last. He thrust in the other hand
and pulled hard. " A box," he grunted.
"But it is stuck fast. Ah! here it
comes."

Then they discovered that the box was
too large to pass through the opening, and
so they had to set to work again and block
the edge of the stone six inches aigher.
When this was done, and while the Scot was
engaged in pulling the box from its hiding-
place, the older of the two sailors turned to
Captain Percy.

'* Axin' yer pardon, sir," said he, nerv^-
ously, " but be ye arter the old man's — the
the old man's money? "

" You know better than that, lad," re-
plied Percy, quietly.

Aye, sir, we knowed better; but we was

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A Captain of Raleigh'j

wooderin- We was th^kia' o' the youag
lady, sir," replied the man.

" We are all thinking of her, lad. It is

kliy.' "' '" """"^ """•" ^-^ P"-=y.

By this time, MacAllisler had the box out
of the hole It proved to be an important
lookmg casket, abont sLx inches in depth,
half that again in width and nearly two feet
long It was of iron, heavily banded, and
weighed amazingly for its size.

"A. devilish heavy will," remarked Mac-
Alhster straightening his long back and
wpmg the sweat from his brow with a grimy

Percy stared at the thing for a few sec-
onds i„ pensive silence. No doubt it con-
tamed gold as well as the valuable docu-
ment; and this thonght recalled to his inind
the offer the old man had m„de bim of a
thousand pounds and the rage with which
he hod met the offer. He was sorry, now,
that he had let his anger flare at the old
man; and he wondered uncomfortably if
that exhibition of temper had injured him

Master Duwaney's Will Is Found 261

in the girFs eyes. But wliat did it matter
now, since he had heard of this Sir Stephen?
** Shall we take it aboard tiie ' Jaguar '
or the * Good Fortune,' for the night? "
asked MacAUister. lie did not take a high
hand with Percy, for though he knew him
to be an outlaw he could not forget tliat he
had been one of Kak-igh's most trusted of-
ficers. And there were other things about
this captain that called for courteous treat-
ment — his beariTig and appearance and his
name. Also, the Scot did not think that he
had any personal grievance against this
man as he felt sure that he had against Har-
old Coffin. So his words had contained a
note of reserved friendliness.

*• Aboard the * Good Fortune,' by all
means ; and I suppose you will bring it over
to the lady in the morning," said Percy.

** Very well," returned the other. ♦' I
shall guard it well, you may be sure."

The mariners made way through the ruins
with the precious box and carried it down to
the boat. The gentlemen followed.

*' About this Sir Stephen," remarked the

262 A Capiain of Ralcij^irs

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Scotchman. " Now why should the gov-
ern(»r have set his heart ou su«-h a thing as
that? Does tlie hidy agree, 1 wouderl "

" That is more than I can say," replied
Percy. " 1 know nothing of of her af-
fairs. If she l(»ves this Sir Ste[>hen — who-
ever he is -- no doubt she will marry him all
in good time." lie spoke indifTerently.

" He is rich, 1 suppose," said the other.
*• But do you know, I do not believe she is
-- very fond of him. A (jueer thing for me
to say, of course, and especially to you, who
do not seem to be interested."

"Oh, yes — I am interested," replied
Perc>, calmly.

" It seems to me," continued MacAllister,
•' that her heart is not so far away. Some
ono nearer — "

'* What do yon mean? " asked the captain,
quickly.

"It is absurd — it sounds ridiculous —
but I am afraid that Coffin has played upon
her pity," returned MacAllister.

"Ah- Coffin. Perhaps you are right,"
said Percy. But his heart lightened, for he

Master Duvvaney's Will Is Found 263

kuow that if her love was anywhere in Bris-
tol's Hope it was not his poor friend Coffin
who held it. And he considered it a hopeful
augury that this honest but unobservant
youtii had seen soniething to cause him to
doubt the girl's devotion to Sir Stephen.

Now the box was in the skiff and the men
wore waiting to push off. The gentlemen
stepped aboard ; and so busy was each with
his own hopes and thoughts that not another
word passed between them that night.

At an early hour of the next morning the
box was taken aboard the *' Jaguar " and
given to Elizabeth. The girl looked at it
sadly and without any exhibition of interest.
" T have brought some keys. One of these
may open it," said MacAllister. But, to the
young man's disgust (for he was determined
to let the others see that he considered him-
self her natural protector), she refused to
toucli the box until Percy, Coffin and Ben-
jamin Spike were summoned to the scene.
They came, greeting her tenderly but wMth
few words. Even old Spike kissed her hand
— though it was a saying of his that a

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maid's lips were what the Lord had intended
men to kiss.

As no key could be found to fit the box,
tho lock was shattered by a pistol-shot. The
smoke cleared, and all drew close to the
table.

'• I do not want to open it,'' said Eliza-
beth, disconsolately. " Please open it for
me, Master Spike."

Benjamin, immensely flattered by this
mark of special favor, laid his great hands
on the casket and had the cover turned back
in a moment. A number of plump canvas
bags were disclosed to view. At a sign from
Elizabeth, Spike removed these one by one
and set them down on the table. Each
struck the board with a solid, metallic chunk.
Gold coin, beyond a doubt! Elizabeth did
not even glance at the bags. It was her
father's will that she waited for with breath-
less anxiety and a shadow of dread. Well
she knew the old man's plans and hopes for
her future. There would surely be some-
thing in the fatal message to threaten the
promises of sweet, new happiness that had

p1!

Master Duwaney's Will Is Found 265

come to her — promises so sweet and
strange that even her grief could not en-
tirely deaden her heart to the music of them.

Spike drew a long, flat packet from the
box. It was wrapped in parchment and fast-
ened with three seals of red wax. On the
face of it was written, ** The Last Will and
Testament of Master Thomas Duwaney, of
Oak House, Bristol, Governor of Bristol's
Hope in the Newfoundland.'*

Spike placed it in the girl's trembling
hands. She turned it over and over, staring
down at it with tears in her eyes and a grip
of fear at her heart. With visible effort she
broke the seals and let the enclosed docu-
ment fall upon the table. Every one eyed
the thing apprehensively, for Elizabeth's
manner had set all their nerves alert as if
for some unknown danger.

" Please read it to us — you. Master Mac-
Allister," she whispered. Her agitation was
so extreme that she was forced to sink to
the locker and lean back against the bulk-
head. Percy stepped quickly to her side,
pale with concern.

! i

266

A Captain of Raleigh's

MacAllister began to read, in a voice that
was at first husky with nervousness and
presently harsh with indignation, Duwa-
ney's very considerable fortune was divided
between his son and his daughter, two-thirds
of it for the boy and one-third for the girl.
There were conditions, however. Elizabeth
was to marry Sir Stephen Morris, Baronet,
according to an agreement arrived at be-
tween Duwaney and Morris on a certain date ;
but should the girl refuse to marry the bar-
onet of her father's choice, she was to re-
ceive nothing more from the estate than a
yearly income of one hundred pounds. Sir
Stephen Morris, of Bristol, and Captain
John Mason, of Guy's Colony, were named
as executors of the will.

The girl had closed her eyes during the
reading; and so they remained for some
minutes after MacAllister 's voice had ceased
its harsh proclaiming.

"Outrageous!" cried Coffin. The Scot
turned upon him slowly, showing a face
aflame with scorn and anger. In his self-
righteous blindness he believed Harold Coffin

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Master Duwaney's Will Is Found -'07

to be an unprincipled fortune-hunter. Ben-
jamin Spike, glaring at the offending paper,
choked out an oath, crashed his great fist on
the table and fairly spluttered with rage.
Percy, pale as death, made no sound. He
stood like one in a trance, gazing down
at the girl's colorless face and drooped
lids.

** Unsound mind. Unsound mind, as I be
a livin' sinner," muttered Spike.

The girl opened her eyes. " Though it
was his last wish — his dying wish — I will
not marry Sir Stephen," she said, staring
straight ahead of her. ** He has threatened
me — with poverty."

A loud rapping sounded on the cabin door.
The gentlemen started nervously, as if the
spirit of the autocratic governor, arising in
anger from the shrouded body reposing in
the starboard gangway, had demanded ad-
mittance. After a moment's hesitation, Cof-
fin went to the door and opened it. He was
confronted by nothing more formidable than
the ship's cabin-boy.

" There be two bullies an* a skiff

f
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268 A Captain of Raleigh's

a-roundin' into the harbor, sir, a-flyin' Mas-
ter Guy's flag," said the boy.

His words reached the others in the cabin.

" Quick work," said Spike, in his every-
day voice. " That there Cap'n Mason be a
smart man."

" Mason. One of the executors," re-
marked MacAllister, dully.

Percy, swiftly and furtively, touched Eliz-
abeth's wrist with his hand.

t (

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CHAPTER XIX

THE executor's ABBIVAL

The gentlemen and the surviving colonists
hurried ashore to receive Captain Mason and
his relief expedition with some show of cere-
mony. But the ships* flags were not dipped,
for they flapped at half-mast.

Captain Mason was a man of considerably
past middle-age, square of build but some-
what stooped in the shoulders, hard of fea-
ture and keen-eyed. He was dressed more
like a shipmaster than the governor of a
colony, wore his own hair clubbed sailor-
fashion, walked with a slight limp and car-
ried a common ship's cutlass in his belt. In
reply to the elaborate bowings and respect-
ful salutations of the little group awaiting
him on the beach, he lifted his weather-
stained hat about two inches from his head
ard instantly jammed it back again.

MacAUister stepped forward. Captain

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270

A Captain of Raleigh's

Mason fixed his keen, gray eyes upon him,
barely touched the other's extended hand
and immediately began to relieve his mind
of that which was troubling it.

" You and old Duwaney have made a fine
me-^s of things," said he.

r or MacAllister flushed and stammered.
- ercy and the others turned their eyes away
from the two. They were sorry for Mac-
Allister now tb..t the redoubtable, out-
spoken Captain i..ttson had hold of him.

" Imbecile! " exploded Mason. He looked
up at the wreck of the colony. '* Good work
thrown away," he continued. " Honest lives
wasted. I warned the Company a year ago.
Incapables, you and Duwaney. No more fit
to lead men than two infants. . . . " ^ the
old man died in a fit, did he? ^ - Jads
told me. Well, 'twas the best thin^ lie could
have done, after letting a few score fisher-
men rush his defences and slaughter his peo-
ple. Oh, you need not say anything, young
man. Coffin and his lads did the only work
of the engagement that bears speaking of —
and then along came this other vessel and

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The Executor's Arrival

271

rescued the women. You must feel damn
proud of your performance. Master Donald
MacAllister. If you belonged to the navy
or the army you'd be shot like a dog for your
infernal uselessness and stupidity. Yes, by
Heaven — that's the ugly truth of it."

MacAllister stepped bacif, all the pride
and insolence gone out of him, pain and hu-
miliation tearing him, his face twisted like
a mask. He walked away, and up the path
to the wrecked village, without a word
or a gesture, like a man walking in his
sleep.

The others gazed blankly at their visitor.

** For shame," said a quiet voice.

"Hey! What's that? Who spoke?"
snapped Mason, his eyes glinting from face
to face.

** I spoke," said John Percy.

** And who are you, to speak before yon
are spoken to? "

** John Percy, of the * Jaguar.* "

" I have heard of you — and nothing to
your credit. It will be wise of you to keep
a civil tongue in your head."

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A Captain of Raleigh's

' ' My tonrrue is as God made it — and I
am its only master, ' '

*• You are a damn, dirty traitor, sir, that's
what you are."

•' True, I no longer pretend allegiance to
the person now on the throne of England,"
replied Percy, calmly. ** On that point you
cannot ruffle me. I cried shame on you just
now because I felt that your behavior toward
MacAUister was shameful — and I usually
say what I feel. You spoke heartlessly —
and the Scot is honest and brave enough, as
you know. But as you have come to help
these unfortunate people and I have re-
mained in the harl)or for the same purpose,
we are wasting our time and theirs in stand-
ing here insulting each other. There is work
to he done — and to begin with, you are one
of the executors of Master Duwaney'a will."

** An executor of Duwaney's will? Im-
possible! " exclaimed Mason.

Then Percy told him of the governor's
last words, of the discovery of the will and
of its purport. Also, he had to explain Eliz-
abeth's presence in Bristol's Hope.

The Executor's Arrival

273

Captain Mason was astonished. ** Mad! '*
he exclaimed. "A mad ♦*;'milyl And yet
the old man displayed a glimmering of sense
when he arranged tliat the young lady is to
marry Sir Stephen Morris. A substantial
man is Sir Stephen. I know him well. 'Twill
be a fine upward step for old Tom Duwa-
ney's daughter. But it takes two to make
an arrangement of that kind — and I won-
der what Sir Stephen will think of it."

" You need feel no uneasiness on that
score," replied Percy, coldly, ** for this man
and Duwaney had planned the thing to-
gether without the lady's knowledge."

** You don't seem to be on friendly terms
with the baronet," said the governor of
Guy's, sharply.

Percy was about to retort in a way t^ it
would have made hot blood again \v hen . ,en-
jamin Spike stepped in front of him and
addressed Mason. ** Will ye give us per-
mission to distribute the food an' blankets
ye brought along, sir, whilst ye take a look
at the young lady an' the will, sir, aboard
the * Jaguar? ' "

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274

A Captain of Raleigh's

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*' And something warming, sir, before you
begin business," said the artful de Verney.
*' You have made a long journey — and we
have some excellent stuff aboard the ' Ja-
guar.' "

Percy, seeing that his friends were work-
ing in the cause of peace, choked down hia
anger at the visitor and seconded de Ver-
ney 's suggestion.

"As it is plainly ray duty to go and read
this will and see this young lady, I'll go,"
said Captain Mason.

And so he went, in one of the " Jaguar's "
boats and with the affable de Verney beside
him.

** By the eternal! " exclaimed Percy, " if
I hear that he says one unkind word to her
I'll have his life for it."

** Leave him to her, an' don't ye worry,'*
returned Spike. " He'll not frighten her,
ye may lay to that. An' he'll larn the truth
o' how she feels about that there godless
document from her own lips. ' '

" Yes, she knows her own mind too well
to be disturbed by John Mason's snarling.

The Executor's Arrival

276

Whatever she thinks to be right she will
stand by, — and to hell with the doubloons,"
suid Coffin, with frank admiration. ' ' So you
need not worry, Jack," he added, looking
straight into Percy's eyes. " She's not the
kind to be frightened into fo" . siting either
her friends or her own hep''

Just then, Donald MacAJii.ier came run-
ning down to the group. lie looked more
like a maniac than a presumably sane Scotch
gentleman.

"You heard him!" he cried. "God's
mercy ! he must pay for it. I bungled — but
he spoke to me like a dog. He will answer
for it."

" He is yo *• senior officer," said Percy.
" If you fight im, 'twill be the end of your
career in the Company's service."

The "i ot laughed hysterically. " Damn
I'.e Company! " he replied. " Though he
were the King of England, and I hung for
it next day, I'd singe him for that. T am a
bungler — and if it were only for myself I'd
swallow the insults; but what of my family!
— of my ancestors ? — and of the dead gov-

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ernor I He insulted and reviled the unburied
dead, by the eternal 1 ' '

*' You are right," said Coffin. ** A gen-
tleman cannot be expected to stand that sort
of thing from any one. But he is your senior
officer, as Percy says. Also, he is no match
for you. He drags one foot — and he is not
as large as you. Let me represent you in
this matter, MacAllister. I'd consider it a
great compliment — and no trouble with the
Company, later. Your hand need not show
in the affair, at all; and I promise you I'll
square the thing for you, your family and
the dead governor."

MacAllister stared at him with blank as-
tonishment. '* But you are as much in the
Company's service as I am," he said. '* And
why should you fight him ? He did not insult
you — far from it. "

' * I have no career ahead of me ; and I
intend to give up my command as soon as
this trouble is over — as soon as these peo-
ple are provided for in some way."

** But — but this thing is impossible," re-
turned MacAllister. "To be honest with

The Executor's Arrival

277

you, Coffin, I — I intend to engage you, too,
before long. When you went after the lug-
ger you left me behind, though you heard
me shouting after you. That was treating
me like dirt. You must give me satisfaction
for that, Coffin."

" It would have been a waste of precious
minutes to turn back, ' ' replied Coffin, quietly.
" But of course, if you feel that I have
slighted or ruffled you in any way, I'll do
what I can to — to mend matters. I am the
last person in the world to refuse satisfac-
tion to any gentleman who feels that I have
injured his dignity. But this has nothing to
do with Captain Mason. Ours is a private
affair, between intimates you might say. So
let us agree to let it rest until we have dealt
with Mason, who, in words and manner, in-
sulted every man and woman of this colony,
alive and dead. Mason and I are somewhat
on equal terms, physically. Let me deal
with him — and after that I'll be ready for
you. I promise you not to kill him — for
that would be going too far, and I am not
a man of blood — and I also promise not to

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278 A Captain of Raleigh's

let him kill me. Come, MacAllister, be rea-
sonable. Be generous. This arrangement
would suit everybody concerned — including
Captain Mason. You, with your hot temper,
might give him a mortal stroke, inadvert-
ently. Then there 'd be the devil to pay."

" By Heaven! " exclaimed Percy, '* you
two are talking like madmen. ' ' Then, catch-
ing a glance from Coffin, he understood. He
knew a great deal of his friend, and he
guessed more. MacAllister, with his uncon-
trollable temper and imperfect skill with
both sword or pistol, would pr( ')ably kill
Captain Mason or suffer death himself if
the affair were left in his hands. But Coffin,
clear of head and a master of both weapons,
would bring the trouble to a safe finish.

'* But if you are determined that Mason
should be called to account for his unwar-
rantable language and bad manners," he
continued, " I think it would be well for Cof-
fin to deal with him."

After a great deal of argument and per-
suasion, MacAllister was convinced (he was
not in a fit state of mind for clear reason-

The Executor's Arrival

279

iug) that it would bring trouble to everybody
in the colony, and many people in England
and Scotland, if he were to engage Governor
Mason. So it was agreed that Harold Coffin
should find or make an opportunity, some-
time after Duwaney's funeral, to bring Ma-
sou to book.

Spike and Coffin set to work at distrib-
uting the provisions from Guy's Colony
among the sufferers. MacAllister helped
them at this job for a little while, and then
called two of the colonists and set them at
the task of digging a grave for their late
governor.

Percy returned to the " Jaguar." He had
no more than stepped to the deck than he
was accosted by Captain Mason, who had
just issued from the cabin.

" I cannot understand that girl! " ex-
claimed iSfason. " She is stark, staring mad,
T do believe. Bless my soul ! she treated me
like — like nothing. And the things she said
about her father's will, and about Sir Ste-
phen Morris were — well, damnably unnat-
ural."

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280 A Captain of Raleigh's

" This way, sir, where we can talk more
privately," interrupted Percy, leading the
way to the little round-house which stood on
the main deck just forward of the mainmast.
He opened the door and bowed his visitor
within. Mason paused for a second on the
threshold, eyed Per-y keenly as if a sus-
picion of treachery had suddenly come to
him, then entered and sat down on the locker
that ran around the little apartment. The
other, having read the meaning of the
glance, smiled quietly and left the door
open.

A small table stood in the centre of the
round-house, bolted to the deck. Percy
placed a flask and two glasses on the table;
but his guest refused to drink. " I have
already had a glass with that young man
who came aboard with me," he said, ungra-
ciously. Then, *' I was speaking of my in-
terview with Mistress Elizabeth Duwaney,"
he continued. " She behaved like one men-
tally deranged. If it was not for the help-
lessness of her position I'd wash my hands
of the affair. She treated me most disre-

The Executor's Arrival

281

spectfuUy. But I will do my duty by her,
whether she likes it or not. I'll take her to
luy own house at (Juy's, where Mistress
Mason will socn bring her to her senses."

' So ! And have you suggested this to the
young lady ? ' ' inquired Percy, unable to con-
ceal his anxiety.

" All in good time. I'll speak to her again
after we have put her fi^^uer underground,"
replied the other.

" Did she refuse to comply with the con-
ditions of the will! " asked the commander
of the '* Jaguar."

" Point-blank," answered Mpson. ** She
said she never cared for Sir Stephen Morris
and that now, since she iias found him guilty
of underhand methods, she despises him.
Of course shr will change her mind — unless
she is a hopeless fciol." He paused and
turnc 1 his ^een glar.ee on Percy's face. * I
suspect," he continued, *' that her affections
have been tampered with by sot ■ dishonor-
able adventurer. She a«! much arlmitted,
UTi guardedly, that she loved some one not
very far away. Well, I'll put a stop to it.

' 111

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282 A Captain of Raleigh's

Do you think MacAllister has caught ?ier
silly fancy? "

'* I — I am sure I don't know. How the
devil should I know? " replied Percy, star-
ing at the deck and uncomfortably conscious
of the blood tingling in his chieks.

** Or young Coffin, perhaps? "

" I don't know, I tell you."

" Ah, so you don't know. Captain John
Percy," sneered Mason. ** Well, sir, I do
know. I saw the truth in her face when I
mentioned your name — and now I see it in
yours. Guilty! Aye, guilty as hell! "

Percy sprang to his feet. «' Do you say
that she loves me? " he cried, glaring down
at his visitor with a flaming face. For all
his sharpness of vision. Mason mistook the
expression on Percy's face for the fire of
guilty rage. Flurried but undaunted, he
clapped his hand to the butt of a pistol in
his belt.

" And what if I do? " he cried. " Have
a care what you are about. Stand back, or
I'll blow your head off ! "

Without a word in reply to this gentle

The Executor's Arrival

£83

threat, Percy stepped quickly from the
round-house, slammed the door behind him
and ran aft for the cabin. He was actually
afraid of Captain Mason — afraid that the
overbearing fellow would delay his meeting
with Elizabeth, or perhaps stop it entirely
with a bullet. Fear was foreign to his na-
ture; but he felt it now with a vengeance.
He must see Elizabeth, immediately, and
learn the truth. That was the ouly thing in
the wide world that mattered now; and yet
that fool in the round-house, suspecting trea-
son, might catch him with a bullet before he
reached her. He entered the cabin without
pausmg ^o make known his arrival, closed
the door after him and shot the bolts. He
was safe. He could hear Captain Mason
shouting his name outside.

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CHAPTER XX

THE MAGIC HOUR

The cabin was empty. John Perc^ stood
quiet for a little while, peering around in the
gloom and half-lights, listening anxiously.

This had the air of a sacred place to him
since it had been given over to Elizabeth's
sole use. Without raved the governor of
Guy's and lay the nerveless body of the
governor of Bristol's Hope. Without, anger
and death; and within Youth listened for
the sound of Love's breathing.

Percy moved forward to the centre of the
cabin. He saw that the door of the berth
that had once been his own stood ajar. Now
he was to test his fate, and a sharp trembling
possessed him like unto nothing he had ever
experienced before in stress of danger or
exhilaration. " Elizabeth," he called, in a
voice that broke scarcely above a whisper.
The narrow door of the berth opened

284

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The Magic Hour

285

noiselessly and the girl stood there, motion-
less and silent, with downcast eyes. Her
splendid hair hung loose and tumbled upon
her shoulders, and in her clear brow and
perfect cheeks a tender radiance was light-
ening and expanding. From throat to feet
she was draped in her brother's great cloak.

Percy advanced swiftly and sank on one
knee before her. He did not look up but
knelt so, with bowed head, motionless as a
cavalier carved from stone.

" Elizabeth," he began, huskily, slowly;
and then, " I love you," he whispered. ** As
God sees me, I love you ! I am yours — body
and soul — to make or mar. God hav^
mercy on me ! "

" Look up," she breathed.

He raised his face and looked up into her
eyes. They were beautiful, steady, pleading
and demanding, and at once shadowed and
illumined to unfathomable depths. And he
knew that she was reading him, heart and
soul ; seeing the truth, the fibre of his spirit,
the true metal of his heart. He knew that
she was testing the reality, proving the fu-

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286 A Captain of Raleigh's

ture and not prying nto the past. And
kneeling so, motionless and scarcely breath-
ing, he unshaded the windows of his being —
of his very soul — to that tender and glori-
ous inquiry.

Her hands moved toward him from the
folds of the great cloak. She stooped and
laid her arms about his neck and pressed
her lips to his forehead. "Oh! I love you
so," she breathed.

The strong man trembled, closed his eyes
and clutched a fold of lier garments for sup-
port. They remained thus for a little while
— for a life-time, perliaps — for a dozen
heart-beats. Then he arose mightily to his
feet, raising her with him, pressed her to
his breast and kissed her lips and her eyes
again and again. And all the while, un-
knowingly, he murmured her name, and the
name of God, and strange little oaths tliat
were surely recorded in Heaven as prayers
of thanksgiving.

At last Percy brought his mind back to
earth and its petty necessities and complica-
tions; but his heart remained aloft in that

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The Magic Hour

287

region of gold and rosy miats, starry high-
ways and azure battlements and Youth's ira
perishable pleasure-gardens — a region that
only the hearts of lovers and saints and
poets may ascend to, above the dust and
clangor of this life, until the final releasing
of the spirit.

*' But the sacrifice," he whispered. ** I
win all. You relinquish all — the wealth —
the great and sheltered life."

Elizabeth smiled fleetingly. The white
lids fluttered up for an instant and drooped
again. She had andwered him in unmis-
takable terms.

** But it is a serious matter," continued
Percy, gravely yet joyously. ** I am an out-
law, an exile from my own country, a crim-
inal in the eyes of the English law. I hunt
— and I am hunted.'*

" And you are poor," said the girl; ** and
wicked, smug persons have set a price on
your head. You see, Dearest Dear, how T
know everything. You are brave, and true
to your friends, and gentle, for all the tales
thev tell of battle and bloodshed. And you

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288

A Captain of Raleigh's

love me, and I love you ; and would you ask
me to trade away our love for a great house,
and gold and heartache — and a slieltered
life? "

" As God sees me," replied Captain
Percy, *' I love you as I never thought a
man could love a woman. The glory and tlie
wonderful miracle of it blind ' f». I loved
you when I first saw you — and iiie love has
grown with the passing of every hour, near
you or afar from yon, day and night."

** I saw it," she answered. ** It flashed
into your eyes when they first met mine,
aboard the * Good Fortune.' "

"And you?"

'* Yes, I loved you then — and more and
more, ever since."

After these important matters had been
dealt with to their mutual satisfaction, he
told her of his plans for their future — of the
embowered place in the southern island and
of the safe retreat in the New England col-
ony; of how all act and intention of revenge
were now put by and his only wish was to
live for her.

The Magic Hour

289

A sharp rapping on the outer door of the
(•al)in interrupted their planning of the won-
derful future. With a sigh an«l the hun-
dredth embrace, Percy released the girl from
his arras, stepped to the door, noiselessly
withdrew the bolts and opened it. There
stood Master de Verney.

" Mason is on his high horse again and
has gone ashore in a fury," he said, with
evident relish. " He has been damning ai.
of us up and down — and you in particular,
lie has read your little secret and swears
that he will take the young lady to his own
house, and the protection of Mistress Mason,
if he has to resort to force. He even sug-
gested that he might hang us all by the necks
for pirates; bu he implied that he will let
us live until after Duwaney's funeral, which
is to take place in an hour."

" Oh, let the poor old boy have his fling.
Tt does hira good, no doubt, and it does
not hurt us," replied Percy, stepping out
of the cabin and closing the door behind
him.

" You seem to be in an amazing sv

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290

A Captain of Raleigh's

frame of mind," remarked de Verney, eying
him inquiringly.

The captain laid a hand on his friend's
shoulder. "I am," he said --and no
wonder. She loves me. She is willing to
marry me. And yet she knows that I am an
outlaw — she knows everything."

De Verney congratulated him warmly and
sincerely. Under the worldly veneer and
foppish airs of this offspring of a French
father and English mother there was a gen-
uine fibre of manhood. '' You are a lucky
mortal," he said. *' By the eternal! she is
a woman in ten thousand. I have seen
a-many, John, here and there, but never a
one her equal. If it wasn't for fear of your
uncouth great bilboe and your disgusting
temper I'd not let you win the prize so easily.
But there — I am a man of peace. But what
are we to do? — we poor devils who have
no lady to love us and no good comrade to
command us and a risky undertaking to hand
whereby we must fill our pockets? Who will
take your berth aboard the old * Jaguar '
now, John?

»»

The Magic Hour

291

«' My dear friend," replied Percy, deeply
moved, '* that is a question I could not find
the courage to deal with but for the great
joy that has come to me. The thing must be
faced, however; and I think we'll be able
to decide everything to-morrow. Of course
it is for me to suggest only and for you to
decide. What think you of young Coffin? "
" The little fellow is a hero," returned
de Verney. * ' Our lads have learned to wor-
ship him — as a fighting-man — from the
talk of the crew of the * Good Fortune.'
And even Horace admires him. There has
been a good deal of quiet talk of asking him
to join us for this last cruise. If we must
lose you I believe we could not find a better
substitute than Coffin. He is all fire and
lightning, that little bag of bones ! I do be-
lieve he'd flash his iron on the devil him-
self! "

" You are right, I will find out what he has
to say to the suggestion," returned Percy.

The funeral of the late Master Thomas
Duwaney took place about two hours before

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292

A Captain of Raleigh's

sunset, with pomp and circumstance that
would have warmed the old ex-alderman's
heart. Governor Mason would have it so,
for the honor and the glory of the great Com-
pany and the Royal Charter under which it
had its being; and among the others private
feelings were cloaked for the time for the
sake of Elizabeth. The body was rowed
ashore in the "Jaguar's" largest Voat,
stitch-d in sail-cloth, sea-fashion, wrapped
about in the red ensign ; and eight men pulled
on the oars and Captain Mason and Master
Coffin sat elbow to elbow in the stem-sheets.
MacAllister had not been able to nerve him-
self to take his right place beside the gov-
ernor of Guy's. He was afraid that he
might forget himself so far as to pitch
Mason overboard; an insult to his dead
commander and Mistress Duwaney which he
quaked to think of. So he followed in an-
other boat with Spike and John Percy.
Every soul from the two ships, save the
wounded, Elizabeth and one of the women,
attended tlie funoral. Since the disolosuro
of the will the girl felt that her father had

The Magic Hour

293

behaved trercherously toward her; and her
grief for this was greater and far more bit-
ter than the grief of her loss. And, for all
her brave heart, she was afraid to meet the
hard eyes of Captain Mason across that poor

clay. -

A iiring-party was made up of the sur-
vivors of the ruined plantation. As soon as
the leading boat reached the shore the gra-
ting on which the body lay was lifted by
four of the rowers and carried up to the open
grave, escorted by the firing-party and the
gentlemen. The others crowded close be-
hind. On the deserted ships the ensigns
hung at half-mast. For all the clutter of
people, there was no sound above a whisper
and the scrap*^ of heavy feet. Up the steep
and twisting path moved the bulk of sense-
less clay in its glorious shroud, with the
heavy grating lurchi-'g like a raft on a
stormy sea and the brawny fellows puffing
and straining. On either side scrambled the
lads with the muskets, doing their best to
maintain the required militarj' formation.

The raw, unlovely trench was surrounded.

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294

A Captain of Raleigh's

Governor Mason, plain and formidable, with
his weather-stained hat placed carefully on
a mound of fresh earth at his feet, opened
his book and read the words that are there.
From force of habit, he delivered those pas-
sages that are intended for burials at sea.
His voice rang level and clear, but without
feeling.

'* Man that is bom of a woman hath but
a short time to live, and *s full of misery.
He Cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower ;
he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never con-
tinueth in one stay. ... In the midst of life
we are in death; of whom may we seek for
succor but of Thee, Lord, who for our sins
art justly displeased. . . . Thou knowest,
Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not
thy merciful ears to our prayer. . . . For-
asmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to
take unto himself the soul of our dead
brother here departed, we therefore commit
his body to the deep, to be turned into cor-
ruption, looking for the resurrection of the
body when the Sea shall give up her
dead.'*

The Magic Hour

395

The mistake passed unnoticed by the ma-
jority of the people. The four sailors at
the grating did their part in true seaman
fashion; at a sign from Mason they hoisted
one end of the grating with a will, as if the
shadowy deeps in truth awaited the offering
of clay, and slid the red-shrouded body vio-
lently into the trench. A woman screamed
at that. Captain Mason turned and raised
his hand with a magnificent gesture, and she
crouched against a companion and was si-
lent. Then one of the sailors jumped down
into the grave, straightened the body and
withdrew the flag from the long, white shape.

*' Leave the flag! " cried Coffin.

Governor Mason shot a withering glance
at him. ** Bring up the ensign," he com-
manded.

Governor Mason's voice was clear and
hard ; but evidently the mariner did not hear
it. He spread the red bunting over the body
again, reverently and slowly arranging the
glowing folds. When the thing was done to
his satisfaction he vaulted out of the grave
and returned to his place beside his com-

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296

A Captain of Raleigh's

rades of the " Jaguar," without so much as
a glance toward the keen-eyed, hard-jawed
autocrat from Guy's.

The more observant of the company felt
decidedly ill at ease, for they fully expected
an angry scene between Mason and Coffin.
But Coffin stood straight and unconcerned,
with his glance on the ground; and Mason,
with a visible effort, went on with the work
in hand.

Three volleys were fired above the grave
by the brave but untrained squad; and at
the sound of the last the flags were hauled
down by the wounded aboard the ships. A
strange burial this, for a respectable ex-
aldernian of Bristol — a queer jumble of
naval and military honors. But it would
hn^■o jileased Duwaney vastly, could he have
but seen aud heard it.

The deep trench was filled in with the
rocky soil and a wooden cross was set up.
Tlien the men were ordered back to the
ships.

Governor Mason turned to Master Harold
Coffin. ** I have decided to remove the sur-

The Magic Hour

297

vivors of this plantation around to my own
harbor," he said. *' Is the * Good Fortune '
in a fit state to make the trip? "

♦' You must ask Master Spike," replied
Coffin.

" How so? "

" I resign my command of her; therefore
you must address any inquiries, or orders,
to Spike."

" What d'ye mean? "

" I mean that I have decided not to remain
in the Company's service another hour, since
sening the Company means serving under

you,"

" This is mutiny! — treason! " cried Ma-
son. " You have no right to throw up your
command at a moment's notice. You will
suffer for this — and for other things. I'll
have you in irons, by Heaven ! I'll hang you
at sunrise! "

Coffin smiled bitterly. " You are a low,
foul-mouthed dog," he said, quietly. " You
liave an amazing fine voice and a red, ugly
face, Ood knows!— but your liver is white.
You would hang me, would you? Let me

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298 A Captain of Raleigh's

hear you give the order to your men — and
see what happens."

Mason was fairly beside himself with rage.
He saw at a glance that it would be madness
to order the handful of men he had brought
with him from Guy's to arrest the offender;
for his observant eyes had seen, from the
first, that this sickly, insolent youth was a
great person to the crews of both ships and
to the survivors of the colony.

** You are a coward," he cried. " You
take advantage of the strength of your fol-
lowing to insult me."

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CHAPTER XXI

THE DUEL AT DAWN

This charge seemed to pain Harold Coffin
acutely. " I hope you do not think so poorly
of me," he said.

«* Not more poorly of you than of any
other damn traitor and rogue," retorted
Mason, quickly.

*' I am sorry that you think I defy and
insult you because I am surrounded by my
friends," continued the other. "It is not
so, I assure you, Captain Mason. I am
neither a coward nor a bully. I have a sword
here — or a pistol, if you like — and I look
no farther for assistance. If I have insulted
you, it has been but in return for your own
insulting words and attitude toward the dead
man, his daughter, myself and my friends."

" Do you mean that you want to fight
me!" sneered Mason. "You rogue! do
you expect to be treated like a gentleman? It

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A Captain of Raleigh's

would be less than you deserve if I drew my
pistol now and shot you through your black
heart. And even if you were an honest man
I could not meet you. I do not match my-
self against either cripples or children."

A low sigh escaped the little group of spec-
tators at these flaying words. Harold Coffin
stepped forward and struck the governor of
Guy's Colony across the face with his open
hand.

The others sprang between them. ** Not
now! Not here! " exclaimed Master Down.
** This affair must go through decently and
in order. The light is failing now."

** Then let it be soor," snarled Mason.
" If I must, I'll do it; though 'twill take
years for the filth to wear from my hands."

Harold Coffin slept soundly that night.
His mind was at rest, for he had come to
decisions on several questions that had been
troubling him of late. After the scene with
Mason he and Percy had spent an hour to-
gether in confidential talk. lie had heard of
his friend's happiness without surprise and
without a sign of any other emotion than

The Duel at Dawn

301

sympathy. He was capable of fortitude in
distress of spirit as 'veil as of body. That
dream could never have been for him — so
he let it go. lie believed in Percy's goodness
of heart and manliness; and so, after put-
ting a few shrewd questions as to his inten-
tions concerning the future and receiving
satisfactory replies to the same, he felt that
the girl was in safe hands. And he had
heard of the chance to join the " Jaguar "
as her commander on her last risky cruise;
and that had moved him deeply and happily
and filled him with a tender affection for his
fellow-men. Also, he had heard the plans
for the morning, and had agreed to them as
heartily as if thoy had concerned sometli.ng
as pleasant and as unimportant as a break-
fast party. Then and there he had decided
on his course of action with both Mason and
MacAllister; but he hoped that the Scot
would change his mind about the affair at
the last moment. Since he had seen the
swaggerer suffering from remorse his feel-
ings toward him had altered materially.
It is a fine and restful thing to make up

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30« A Captain of Raleigh's

one's mind. Feeling that he had uot'iing to
worry over for the next few hours at least,
Harold Coffin slept the sleep of the unhar-
assed until, at a dismal time before dawn,
de Verney entered his berth with a lighted
candle.

" Time to be stirring, comrade," said de
Verney, gently.

Harold smiled, yawned and climbed out of
his bunk. His colorless eyes were very mild
after his sleep; his dull, yellowish hair
(which had been cut raggedly by his servant
so that certain wounds might be the more
easily plastered) stood untidily on end. Be-
neath his short night-shirt showed legs that
looked like nothing but two bones, and
draped in that tl in garment his frame ap-
peared more frail than ever.

De Verney gazed at the pitiful figure of
his principal in wonder. He could scarcely
believe that this poor, pale, childish looking
person was that formidable sworder and pis-
toler, Harold Coffin.

"I'll be ready in two shakes," said Coffin.

** You must have something to eat."

The Duel at Dawn

303

:»■

•♦ No, I'll breakfast afterwards. I'll just
splash a can of salt water over myself, to
tone my muscles, and swallow a nip of
French brandy, to tone ray stomach."

De Verney went away for the brandy,
taking the candle with him; and when he
returned he found the warrior half-dressed
and the deck and bunk bedewed with brine.

" There is nothing like salt water to
freshen one for work," remarked Coffin,
pleasantly. He swallowed the brandy in two
gulps. ** Mason named cutlasses, I believe,"
he said.

The other nodded mournfully. " That is
the devil of it," he said. " Weight counts
tor so much with cutlasses. One might as
well fight with clubs. No chance for skill.
Just swing and hammer."

** I think you are wrong there," replied
Coffin. " You have made the rapier your
weapon, and having mastered it, despise all
others. It is the finest in the world, beyond
a doubt, and the gentleman's iron. But I
discovered, a few years back, that in soldier-
ing one canuot always select the weapon by

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804 A Captain of Raleigh's

which he is to be attacked. So I made a
study of all manner of tools — of half -pikes,
sabres, cutlasses and even of clubs. If 1 hud
not, my worthless bones would have been
coral or dust long before this. And it is
wonderful what you can do with a cutlass
if you put your mind honestly to it."

By this time his toilet was completed. He
flung a cloak around him, and the two went
noiselessly out of the berth, out of the cabin
and across the deck to the shoreward rail.
Dawn was breaking along the eastward sea,
clear as glass and bright as white flame.

** It promises for a beautiful day," re-
marked Coffin.

A little skiff lay ready under the ship's
side. They lowered themselves into it. De
Verney took the oars and pulled quietly for
shore. In the fresh and growing light they
saw two other skiffs close ahead of them.
In one sat Captain Mason and Benjamin
Spike, and in the other Percy and MacAllis-
ter.

The instant Coffin set foot on the beach,
Spike stepped over to him. " My heart is

The Duel at Dawn

305

with ye, lad, though I've been chosen to back
t'other one," he muttered. Then he returned
to his principal and led the way up the path,
i'ercy lagged behind and pressed Coffin's
hand without a word.

They reached the place of the broken plan-
tation, crossed it and headed toward the
woods of dark firs beside the little river.
At the edge of the trees MacAllister turned
and waited for Coffin. " I want to tell you,"
he said, ** that I think better of you than I
did. And I have learned to agree with you
in some of your views — concerning loyalty,
for instance. I hope you will manage Mason
without suffering yourself."

** Shake hands," said Coffin.

** No — I can't take your hand yet," re-
turned the Scot, awkwardly. " I must figlit
you, you know — this very morning, if you
feel fit for it. I must do it; but the sooner
it is over with the better I'll be pleased.
Then I'll shake hands with you gladly — if
I am able to. And mind you, I don't thirst
for your blood — as I once did. But I have
my pride."

•'

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306

A Captain of Raleigh's

. I

In a small, level clearing beside the brown
river, between the slobbering water and the
silent wood, the gentleme took up their
positions. A T.hite mist stUl drifted on the
stream; but the light from the east came
clearly in to the meadow. Mason laid off
both his cloak and doublet, folded them with
care and placed his hat on top of them.
Spike took them from his hands, carried
them back a dozen paces and laid them on
the ground. Coffin shook his cloak from his
shoulders and flung it into a bush. Percy
produced four cutlasses and arranged them
in a row on the wet sward.

** I want to use my own iron," said Cap-
tain Mason, speaking for the first time since
coming ashore.

" That is not in order," replied de Ver-
ney. " 'Tis flat against the rules."

'' Let him use it," said Coffin. ''He is
partial to the feel of it, no doubt. And I,
too, have a favor to ask."
** Name it," snapped Mason.
" May I kick off my boots? " asked the
other.

,i fi !■

The Duel at Dawn

307

The governor of Guy's laughed harshly.
** Kick them off, by all means, if you have
any objections to dying with them on."

** Thank you, I have," returned Coffin,
with a flitting smile. He pulled his great
boots from his stockinged feet and tossed
them after his cloak. Then he went over to
the cutlasses, drew one from its scabbard,
balanced it in his hand, struck the flat and
then the back of it against a tree and re-
turned with it to his place.

De Verney and Spike, without removing
their cloaks, drew their weapons and each
took post abreast and five paces to the left
of his principal. Mason and Coffin faced
each other, extend- their right arms and
crossed their short, heavy blades. So they
stood for a few seconds, eye to eye, steady
as rock.

** Are you ready, gentlemen? " inquired
de Verney 's voice, clear as a bell. ** Then
on the word three, fall to. One — two —
three."

Action began on the instant. The robust
governor's blade pressed the other aside.

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308

A Captain of Raleigh's

struck it a hammering blow near the hilt,
and circled like a wheel of white fire, direct
for Coffin's pale and untidy head. But it
found nothing — not even the guard of
steel; and quick as the fang of an adder was
the retort. Mason spun on his heel, his left
arm across his body, his right, still gripping
the cutlass, hanging limp. Ilis left hand
"lutched his right shoulder, and already the
blood was crawling between his fingers. The
coarse color was fled from his face and his
hard eyes wore an expression of outraged
astonishment.

" I think you will find that you cannot
raise your arm," said Harold Coffin, with a
little bow.

" You damned imp! Curse you and your
tricks! " muttered Mason.

Coffin turned to :\raster Spike. " I am
satisfied," he snid; *' though some people
can't learn civility without being killed. But
my honor is satisfied. You had better tie
him up, Ben."

For a wild luilf-minute Mason entertained
the idea of continuing the engagement with

The Duel at Dawn

309

his left hand; but a saving thought of Mis-
tress Mason, his children and other pleasant,
worldly things came to bis mind.

CoflBn walked over to where the cutlasses
lay and was about to throw his own stained
weapon on the ground when MacAllister
stopped him with a gesture.

" That was splendid," said the Scot, husk-
ily. ' * I never saw such neat work — nor
such merciful work. But now — if you are
not tired — will you oblige me? "

Coffin gazed at him intently. " Why do
you want to fight with me? " he asked.

'* I have to — to clear my conscience," re-
plied the Scot. *' I have thought all manner
of unpardonable things of you. I must fight
you. My self-respect demands it."

*' I take it that you do not want to kill
me," said Coffin.

" Kill you! " exclaimed the other. "I'd
rather die myself, than that. You do not
understand. I feel that T must give you sat-
isfaction, whether you want it or not. I owe
it to you, Coffin. But this is not the way T
felt at first."

■■•-♦

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310 A Captain of Raleigh's

" Well," replied Coffin, '' this is an un-
common affair and I am at a loss to see it
clearly — to catch the right and the wrong
in it. But if you honestly feel that you want
to cross blades with me, I am at your serv-
ice. But I must tell you frankly that I have
nothing against you and therefore do not
intend to injure you."

The Scot looked puzzled and uncomfort-
able. " You must nick me, at least," he
cried.

Coffin smiled. *' I believe I understand
you," he said. *' You feel that you have
treated me unjustly in your thoughts — and
you want to right yourself with me. Then
let us get to work, my friend, with the under-
standing that first blood settles this matter
forever."

CHAPTER XXII

A TASTE OF GLOEY

The passage at arms between Coffin and
MacAllister was viewed with some wonder
and a good deal of amusement by Percy and
de Verney. They had heard the argument,
and could see that the enmity between these
two was already dead ; but they thought that
the Scot was making a fool of himself in
insisting on even so mild an encounter as
one that called for peace at the first sign of
blood. MacAllister 's face was very solemn,
however, and Coffin's was at least serious,
when the two crossed swords.

The cutlasses had been discarded for ra-
piers. It was the Scot's intention, at first,
to allow his opponent's point to touch him,
without loss of time ; but as soon as the steel
began to flash before him, pressing, darting,
twisting, threatening here and there, he for-
got his commendable intention and set him-
self to guard, parry and return with des-

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312

A Captain of Raleigh's

perute energy. He became excited, and was
soon working away as if he meant to run
Coffin through the body.

Coffin phiyed calmly and beautifully, keep-
ing up a masterly appearance of attack but
often turning his point aside h'mself when
the other's guard was not there to meet it.
When he saw the danger signals flashing in
jMacAllister's eyes he decided to prick his
arm immediately and so end the affair; but
at that moment all his skill was called for
to turn aside a thrust that would have spit-
ted him like a lark — and he managed to
twist it away by only a slender fraction of
an inch. That thrust changed his plans.
He saw that the Scot's wild temper was up
and that the game was becoming far too
dangerous for both of them. So he attacked
briskly, wit i no more meaningless display,
closing inch by inch. MacAllister came to a
standstill ; then he began to give ground.
xAt last Coffin felt the other's blade where
he wanted it — and, in an instant, MacAllis-
ter stood onipty-handed and his weapon
hopi)ed on the grass five paces away.

)i '

A Taste of Glory

813

For a moment or two MacAllister's face
was a crimson mask of rage and chagrin;
then his good sense got the better of his
temper. He laughed with a somewhat pain-
ful note. " That is done," said he — *' and
well done, thank Ck)d! I have had my fight
and am still alive. My conscience in this
matter is cleared, my honor is satisfied —
and my foolish vanity is pricked and ex-
ploded."

" And now I hope I may consider you as
a friend," said Coffin.

" If you will," replied the Scot. *' And
I trust," he added, '* that I shall prove a
more efficient friend than I have an enemy."

They shook hands, eyed each other inquir-
ingly, and smiled.

*' That was as good as a play," said de
Verney — * * and acted with quite a touch of
reality, too."

The four friends left the narrow meadow
and returned to the beach by the way they
had come. Sky, sea and shore were now
flooded with sunshine.

" We must go aboard the * Jaguar.' An

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314 A Captain of Raleigh's

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important question is awaiting our consid-
eration there," said Percy.

As tlie two skiffs passed under tlie " Good
Fortune's " stern, a familiar voice hailed
them in guarded tones. There was old Ben-
jamin Spike leaning far over the taffrail.

" The guvnor has cut up tremendous," he
informed them, in a gusty whisper that car-
ried like tlie wail of a defective fog-horn.
" He be clearin' for Guy's inside the hour;
but he'll be back bright an' early to-morrow,
I take it, with his whole outfit. He com-
menced the hangin' talk again — an', 'pon
my soul, I don't be a-feelin' any too safe
about my own neck. An' he lays to treasure
up the lady for Sir Stephen Morris if it
busts him to do it."

" I think it will bust him," murmured de
Verney.

" Wliere is he now? " asked Percy.

" Aboard one o' his own craft yonder,
gettin' ready to haul out. But he'll be back
to-morrow, sir, so he says, to get the young
lady and to hang you an' Master CoflSn an*
clap the rest o' us in irons."

A Taste of Glory

315

Coffin laughed. " We promise not to let
him hurt you, Ben," he called. Then the
skiffs passed on to the " Jaguar."

Master Down met them as they stepped
to the deck, and on hearing a word or two
of what had transpired ashore he swore
shockingly at the world in general and at
de Verney in particular. '* Why the devil
didn't you take me along with you to see the
fun? " he asked.

'* Don't pay any attention to him," said
de Verney to the others. " I vent to him
this morning, in the kindness of my heart,
and tried to get him out of his bunk; but
it was of no more use than trying to arouse
the dead to see a bit of sport. He is a dull
and unambitious lad at that hour.'

" You should have dragged me out," com-
plained the other. "I'd willingly have sac-
rificed a few hours of my beauty sleep to see
that flint-eyed old cock John Mason get his
comb nicked."

" You missed more than that," replied de
Verney, unfeelingly. " To wind up the en-
tertainment, these two gentlemen had an

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316 A Captain of Raleigh's

exhibition bout." He indicated Coffin and
MacAllister with a wave of the hand.

MacAllister flushed and g-azed down at the
deck.

** Where is Percy? " asked Coffin.

"Ah, he has slipped away!" exclaimed
de Vemey. '* He has gone to the cabin, of
course — and I don't blame him. Let us
have breakfast in the round-house while he
is saying ' good morning; » and then we can
mrster all hands forward and get to busi-

»»

ness.

Coffin glanced at the Scot's face — then
drew him aside.

'* John Percy is one of the best fellows
in the world," he whispered. " He has a
property down in the West Indies — and
this very morning he is going to resign his
command of the * Jaguar.' I believe they
intend to offer the post to me — and if so,
I'll accept it. Now be brave, my friend!
The lady whom you love — and whom I love
— loves our good friend Percy. She has
promised to marry him. Remember your
pride and your courage, Donald, and

A Taste of Glory

S17

don't try to upset what the gods have or-
dained."

MacAllister looked at him bravely; but
with a face still and lightless as carven wood.
'* I knew there was no hope for me," he
replied. " I deserve no such blessing. I
remember my pride — and there is no anger
in me. But they are staring at us — and
they must not see our hurts."

Coffin pressed his new friend's hand.
** You n "^t stand by me," he said, loudly.
" With i^., I ompany after us, we had better
hold together. Now let's to breakfast."

As they entered the round-house, MacAl-
lister gripped Harold 's arm. ' ' If you mean
that," said he, " I am with you."

Food and drink were brought to the gen-
tlemen in the round-house. Master Down,
having already broken his fast, applied him-
self to the full-bodied ale. He said that he
was very low in spirit at havi . ., missed the
morning's entertainment. De Verney talked
cheerily. Any form of excitement, so long
as it was not especially dangerous to him-
self, lightened his heart and mind like a tonic

y
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818 A Captain of Ra leigh^s

draught. He was neither a coward nor a
weakling, and would face death or the chance
of it as readUy as most adventures; but he
was not a fire-eater and scorner of odds like
Harold Coffin. Coffin was hungry after his
early exertions and applied himself to the
business in hand with a will. Poor Donald
MacAllister, however, could make but a pre-
tense of eating and drinking. Compared to
the frail Devonshire man, he was unseasoned
against shocks. Smitten in spirit, stripped
naked of the old vanity that had for so long
been as a comfortable cloak to his soul, with
faith in his old masters crumbled about him
and his feet on the verge of a new and
strange career, he sat silent and unheeding
at the little table.

Presently Percy entered, bright of eye,
glorious of face. As if afraid to give any
of his friends a chance to speak — for he
dreaded that some merry and harmless re-
mark of de Vemey's might fall in the little
room like a lighted match in a powder keg
— he immediately began to talk himself.
" It is time, now, for me to publicly resign

A Taste of Glory

319

my charge of this ship in the hearing of the
lads forward," he said. *' And if you two

— Down and de Verney — want Coffin to
take my place, then I can make the sugges-
tion to them. The sooner we have this mat-
ter settled, the better."

*' Yes. We must know how we stand, and
who is who, before Mason gets back with
reinforcements," replied de Verney.

Down turned to Coffin. " Is this true? "
he asked. ** Do you really mean to join us
for a rash and merry flutter! "

Coffin nodded. ** If you have no objec-
tions," he said.

** You will be the saving of us," returned
Down. ** I only hope you may not be won
away from us, before the voyage is over, as

— as has happened before with equally val-
orous commanders. Desertion of one's ship
and shipmates is supposed to be a disgrace-
ful thing; but when it is done in the name
of love it seems to be looked upon as a
creditable performance."

Coffin looked at the other with an innocent
and somewhat puzzled smile. He was quite

n' 1

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320

A Captain of Raleigh's

aware that Down was trying to be humorous
at Percy's expense; but humor of this kind,
heavily and painfully manufactured, did not
amuse him. " I did not desert my command
of the ' Good Fortune ' for love," he said,
** but to get clear of Captain Mason."

" Of course. Of course," replied Master
Down, considerably flustered. ''Nothing
but a fighting-machine, after all," he re-
flected, *' and even duller than I expected."
De Verney was not so dull, however. He
winked at Coffin. " Poor Horace," he said.
" His nurse let him fall when he was a baby
and he struck the ground with the top of his
head."

MacAllister, who had been sitting all this
time with his glance on the table, in a grim
silence, suddenly raised his head. " I want
to join you, too," he said. " I am not of
much use, as you know -but T ar -ng

to learn. I want to stake what T ha the

' Jaguar ' and share the risks of this . ruxse."

" You I An outlaw? " exclaimed de Ver-
ney.

" Why not? It seems as honest an occu-

A Taste of Glory

S21

pation as any other — the way you gentle-
men practise it," replied the Soot.

"It is risky," cautioned Down. " In
spite of our honesty, every hand is against
us. No matter how honorably we may give
battle, defeat and capture means that we all
hang by the neck like common pirates."

But Donald MacAllister's mind was made
up. He was determined to forget the heart-
ache and humilities that had come upon him
so recently am suddenly in a desperate voy-
age with these brave comrades. The treat-
ment which he had received at the hards of
Captain Mason had effectively driven all
feelings of loyalty toward the great Com-
pany out of his heart. He would mix in
dangers and rare adventures, and forget his
sorrow and shame, and learn to fight — even
at the risk of that dishonorable death of
hanging by the neck. And so it was settled.
The gentlemen left the round-house, and
the entire ship's company was paraded on
the main deck; for the " Jaguar's " disci-
pline had always been, and still was, that of
a ship of war — with the exception of the

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322

A Captain of Raleigh's

severe treatment that was common on the
king's «l,ips. Percy addressed the men
brielJy but feelingly; and thougii the rumor
that he intended to resign his command had
already gone the rounds of the " Jaguar "
the n.en expressed the sense of their loss
with sincerity and a deal of clamor.

" We knows why yer honor be a-leavin'
of us," remarked a gunner, archly; and at
that laughter rnd shouting went up, and
good wishes were bawled, and caps were
tossed high. It would have been madness to
expect any observance of discipline now.
De Verney ran forward, hat in hand.

"Now, my lads, three cheers for the
l.''dy," he cried. -All together, as if you
were gomg over the side of a Spaniard."

The cheers were given with a will The
men of the - Good Fortune " crowded to the
senward rail of that battered vessel and
shouted across the water to know what the
celebration was about. Catching a hint of
the truth, they too began to cheer. Now
Percy's name was yelled, and cheered to the
echo aboard both vessels. Sailors are like

^^^^^ A Taste of Glory

323

children, ready to shout and skip and toss
up their head-gear at the slightest provoca-
tion and the shortest notice. Keen to cele-
brate and keen to fight were these merry
lads.

Percy roared at them, trying to get along
with what he had to say; but he might as
well have saved his wind. Then de Verney
rushed back to his friends, seized Coffin by
the arm and dragged him forward among
tlie surging, bawling lads. *' Listen to
me! " he yelled, drawing their attention by
pushing them to right and left and knocking
them about. '* Listen to me, you mad lub-
bers! Here's Master Coffin -who tanned
the hides of the fishermen — who beat them
one to four — who nicked old Mason. He'll
take command, I tell you! He is ready to
help hunt the Spaniards. Listen to me!
Here's Master Coffin — who chased the lug-
ger in a skiflF. C ^ain Coffin — of the
* Jaguar.* "

The lads whom de Verney was knookiug
about caught some of the words and all tlie
meaning. "Coffin! Cap'n Coffin," they

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324

A Cap tain of Raleigh's

»>

shouted. - He'll command us. He eats
Spaniards. Up witb Master Death an'
Olory! Up with little blood an' bones!
Cap 'n Coffin - o ' the good ship ' Jaguar I '

The whole crew began to shout his name
Up he went, held high and lovingly by giant
hands. Others hoisted de Verney. Those
who could not reach either of these two
heroes rushed at Percy, Down and MacAl-
Iister and swung them to the same glorious
position above the bobbing heads and bel-
lowing lips. The rollicking fellows began
marching, each group proclaiming the vir-
tues of the gentleman it carried. «* Master
Down. Here be Master Down. Often Down
but never beat." 'MVTio nicked Guvnor
Masonf" " Cap 'n Percy ! he give the king
hisself a belly-ache." - Way for de Verney
the terrier for Spanish rats!" "Master
Scotchman ! Ho for the MacAllister - the
lad who don't know when he's beat."

The gentlemen grinned and hoped that
their admirers would not drop them and
break their necks. As for Donald MacAl-
lister - he wanted to embrace the lads who

A Taste of Glory

325

held him high in that place of glory. They
might have left him standing there, alone.
But no, even in him they could see something
to honor — and here he was, bruised and
breathless, supported by hands like knobs of
wood — one of the five heroes. This was
glory. Tears dimmed his eyes. ** God bless
you, lads," he shouted, huskily.

•i

CHAPTER XXin

ANOTHEB CASE OF KIDNAPPING

When Coffin's name rang across the
water, the lads of the ''Good Fortune"
read the meaning of it. Their excitement
grew. Six of them went to where Benjamin
Spike stood at the rail, gazing across at the
** Jaguar."

" Meanin' no disrespect to you, sir," said
one of the men, "an' trustin' not to leave
ye short-handed, we begs ye humbly to let us
join the ' Jaguar,' along with Master Coffin
sir."

Spike turned and stared at them; but not
unkindly. - Ye be simple souls, lad, an' no
mistake," he said. - I be in command o'
this here ship now, since Master Coffin has
cut the Company's service — an' here ye
come, six o' ye hand-in-hand, an' ax me to
let ye desert the ship. It can't be done, lads
- in that way. 'Tis dead against a com-

820

Another Case of Kidnapping 327

mander's duty to owners an' ship to give
leave to his men to desert. 'Twould cost me
my job, lads. No! Ye cannot follow Master
Coffin. Ye must stay with me, here where ye
belong." (He said this in a voice that
reached the ears of every man aboard.)
*' But," he added, guardedly, *' if the six o'
ye be for sailin' with Master Coffin, ye '11 find
a skiff in the water, on t'other side. Ye'd
best go quietly, so I won't see ye."

Thus six of the «' Good Fortune's " crew
deserted their ship and threw in their lots
with that of their beloved commander. And
old Ben Spike, leaning heavily on the rail,
was blind as a bat.

At last the tumult subsided and the
demonstrations aboard the '' Jaguar " were
at an end. Order was restored. The lads
returned to their posts, taking their six new
messmates along with them.

Percy, about to rap on the cabin door, held
his hand, turned aside and went up the star-
board ladder to the poop. Captain Mason's
two bullies Iiad left their berths. He looked

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328

A Captain of Raleigh's

seaward. They were not in sight. They had
cleared the mouth of the harbor.

" I sincerely hope that Mason will not be
rash enough to return, before we get away
and try to make trouble/' he reflected!
" But I scarcely think his men could be
forced to attack us, even if he should be such
a fool as to bring them around. Why
'twould be like brothers at each other's'
throats! And the lads of the ' Good For-
tune ' would give him no help."

He went down the ladder and knocked on
the cabin door. There was no answer. He
had left both Elizabeth and her attendant
there, not much more than an hour ago He
knocked again, louder. Perha'>s they were
asleep in their berths. He thumped the oak
with the butt of a pistol. Still no reply
Then he laid his hand on the knob of the
door. The knob turned; but the door re-
niamed firm. Beyond a doubt, it was bolted.
His heart folt as if it were shaking in his
side. The door fastened ! No replv to his
rappin^s! What, in the name of Heaven
could it mean? In sudden panic, he beat on

i h

Another Case of Kidnapping 329

the senseless oak with both fists. For a
second, he wondered if the girl herself had
fastened the door against him. Could it
have been all a play? Had she but pre-
tended to love him? The mad, singeing sus-
picion flashed away as swiftly as it had come
to him. She was in danger! There had been
some treasonous work!

Coffin and de Verney had been watching
him; and the meaning of his amazing be-
havior had suddenly come clear to them.
" Try the other side — the larboard gang-
way," cried de Verney, at the same time
making for the spot himself. But Percy
readied the gang\v;iy first. The others fol-
lowed. Through the narrow passage and
into a tiny sail-room broke the desperate
lover, with his friends close at his heels.
From the sail-room, by a narrow door in the
bulkhead, he p.-ssed into one of the berths
opening upon the ca' 'n. Through that he
dashed madly. The cabin was empty!

He stood in the middle of the wide, dusky
place, staring fearfully around him. He saw
that the door of Elizabeth 's berth was open.

f I

If
\

330

^Q A Captain of Raleigh's

!■!••

lie calkd her name - and ao answer .ai,.e
to hiiu.

•• Vou must look into 1..,- berth," s.ud
Coffin.

"I- I cannot do r! Ry Ood, I can-
not! " replied Per-v in a «h.-.kin^ wuisper.

De Verney lijid licon work.n- swiftly - It
Ks empty," he saiV "All rlie 1h rths re
ei" •ty; an.l the uouian is i,^,,^ t . But

tlie ManMs have g.u.f,,„.i his bunk -and
;'ere is a piece of ,-, -pe, uewly cut - and here
IS a lady's slipper."

it wa. truo. (). the deck, at the do. .,f
her berth, la. a yard of b>M rop. an. ,n
he locker und..,. the sqn, . p,, , ,, ,„, ^^
HT narrow . uppers. And the sash .t th^
hig port hurt,-- wide open.

Percv seenH.d dazed. He f ,„k tl,^ .atin
shoe in his ha, d and turned it .is way and
tl'at " What does it n.enn ; " . wf.isnerc a
for (;.)d's sake, tell m de V „,..,.»'
" The other is now ro t

1 XT .1. did

de V^ernev. ** T lisvo 1, . ]

Coffin was sf,,n.Ii„g a ■!,„ 1,,^, „„•„„

half.way o„t „f „,e por He (,u.ed his

Another Case of Kilnapping

331

he-<i. ' Yes, it could easily be done," he
sai.l. ♦♦ It was cl.er — and daring. Mason
if a hard man to I at."

•• What do you mean.' " asked Percy. His
tnind was >emiinbod with apprehension.

" Thcv ha\ been .rried away — again,"

S.'

iid

v's.

•re

uj. '« This time by the governor of
Tt must nave I ippened when we

•ward with the h is. In at the port,
by ae port —hat's how it was

Well, I'n damned' " exclaimed Percy;
but the terror had g me ut of Iiis eyes.

" Thank God! " cried de Verney. " We'll
soon have her back."

" He would let < 'he boats swing

under here," said Cotli itedly working

out the secret of Mason ue. " They'd

hold her close in, the maj,t not quite in line
with the port. Then a couple of handv lads
would crawl up the stick, get their fingers on
the ledg- here — and in they'd be in two
winks. Then for gags and b1 nket and
ropes, and a trifle of hoisting and lowering
away. Then the buUy would drift out and

i »^

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'1-

l/-i|

Ill I

332

A Captain of Raleigh's

join the other, as innocent-looking as you
please, and off theyM go for the mouth of
the harbor. And there we were, shouting
and bawling on the deck, and thinking what
almighty heroes we were. How that hard-
eyed old dog must have laughed at us? But
now we will give him another tune to twist
his mouth to."

What Governor Mason could have ex-
pected to gain by this high-handed deed is
more than I can say. Everything was
against his having any control of Elizabeth's
future — as he must have known.
^ No more than a cap-full of wind was blow-
ing— a light, fair-weather draft off the land
that scarcely touched the surface of the
snug harbor. The - Jaguar»s " anchor was
walked up and a hnd^le of boats took her in
tow, dragging her at a snail's pace toward
the open bay. On learning what had hap-
pened, several boats from the " Good For-
tune " joined in the towing. As she crawled
forward, with her great sails shaking out,
one by one, the sailors and colonists aboard
the other ship cheered like mad. Her upper

Another Ca se of Kidnapping 333

sails filled. At last she was clear of the
little headland. She headed straight out
until the wind found her great mainsails.
Then she set her high prow on the course of
the kidnappers.

Percy paced the high forecastle, in a fever
of anxiety. He knew that he had no reason
to fear for Elizabeth's safety, for the gov-
ernor of Guy's was, according to his own
distorted view, acting for her good. But all
manner of terrible accidents suggested them-
selves to him, torturing his mind and wring-
ing his heart. How had she survived the
shock of the unexpected attack? She had
struggled, of course — and perhaps the
rough fellows had hurt her in overpowering
her. Had they struck her, to silence her?
His blood boiled and his breath choked him
at the thought. Had the gag hurt her? They
rolled her in a blanket, to hide her from any
prying eyes that might look over the ship»s
side as the bully drifted away. Perhaps! —
God knew! — perhaps they had smothered
her! He clenched his hands until his nails
furrowed the skin. Or had thcv let her fall

; j

334

I :

:l.

^■<'l

'f:

^■'

Is 'f

1 ' I

" !, I,

A Captain of Raleigh's

in lowering her from the port? Lord»
Lord !

He paced the forecastle, in a fever of
anxiety that consumed common sense and
threatened reason. It was all his fault He
should not have left the cabin for so long
Oh, Heavens! was he to be punished now for
his sins?

When he had first realized that Mason was
responsible for her disappearance he had
felt distinctly relieved; but now, with the
passing of each slow minute, his madness
of apprehension grew. Terrible pictures
flashed into his mind - pictures of that
precious form convulsed in frantic stru-
gling for a breath of air -pictures of it
falling, bound and helpless, from that ac-
cursed port across the thwarts of that thrice-
damned boat.

Coffin sought him out and read the trouble
at a ghnce. }lo was shocke.l by the pallor
and tense lines of bis friend's face.

" Do not act like n fool! " he exclaimed.
"You look like a maniac T^1,ere are you^
wits? You know, as well as T do. that thert

if
ft

Another Case of Kidnapping 335

is nothing to worry about — beyond a little
brush with Mason."

Percy did not pause in his senseless, hys-
terical pacing of the narrow deck. But he
shot a pitiful glance at the other. *' /. lou-
sand things might have happened," i ., said,
marching and turning and marching again!
" How do you know that she is safe? Mason
would not hurt her intentionally — but acci-
dents! What of accidents? Only the Al-
mighty can deal witli accidents."

Ccffin was seriously worried by his
friend's look and manner.

" Do you go on like this whenever you feel
anxious? " he asked. " I tliought you were
possessed of courage — and fortitude. If
this is the effect of love, then all I can
say is it is making a shameless coward of
you."

Percy paid no attention to the words. *' I
should not have left the cabin," he mur-
mured. " ^y]^ai does she think of me? Does
she think T have deserted her? "

Ooflfin was determined to recall him to
something approaching everyday sense even

■3

336

A Captain of Raleigh's

if he had to prick his temper to accomplish

it.

" She would hope you had if she could see
you nov.," he said, unpleasantly. "If you
do not show a little manliness I'll warn her
that she is trusting her life to a weakling —
to a man who cannot bear up against worry
and anxiety. Do you often get in this
state? "

Percy shook his head. '' This is not anxi-
etv," he said. " It is fear. It is torture. I
was never afraid before."

Coffin changed his tactics. ** There is no
doubt," he said, " but that Mason will keep
ahead of us, on this breeze. He may get into
his harbor an hour before us. Then he'll
hand Elizabeth over to the care of Mistress
^fason and load his two rusty cannon for our
reception."

" He will surely not be fool enough to
refuse to give her up," returned Percy.
'* Why, we could blow his little plantation
to flinders in an hour."

** Of course we could; but we don't want
to do that," replied Coffin. " Tt would save

Another Case of Kidnapping 337

trouble — and bloodshed, perhaps — if we
could overhaul them. With a little more
wind it could be done — before sunset."

** You are right. Why don't you shake
out everything and wet it down. Get what
breeze there is to stick to the sails."

CoflSn went down to the main deck and
spoke to the master. Orders were given and
briskly answered. Every stitch of canvas
was spread to the light breeze. Men went
aloft with buckets of water and splashed
everything within reach. Coffin returned to
the high forecastle. Percy was no longer
pacing the deck, but stood steady with a
telescope to his eye.

" I see them," he said. '* They are close
inshore. But there is no landing for them
within ten miles. We will overhaul them."

CHAPTim XXIV

SOUTHWARD HO !

!) •!

l'' i

..,1

, ; '

i'--

' tl

Hi'

i It

Now there was more weight in the wind;
and the " Jaguar," standing well out from
the shore, felt every ounce of it. With the
quarry in sight and the sails at work, Percy
was himself again. With his mind and
trained sea-senses busy, the nightmare faded
from his heart. By day as well as by night,
dreams come wlien the brain nods; and in
his sleep and his dreams every^ man is a
hundred times a greater coward than when
he is wide nwako. TTis inner spirit of fear,
left ungunrded by his nodding senses, lies
open and throbbing to every imagining of
danger. Re awakes, feels the stir of every-
day life about him, henrs agnin the brave
and simple sounds thnt he knows, and the
sanity of fainiliar things recall^ his courage.
And so it was with John Percy. TTis brain
was awake and snnely at work again; he

838

Southward Ho!

S39

saw the clear waters parted under his ship's
bows; he saw the foolish, fleeing bullies in
front and close to the sheer rock of the
coast; he felt the increase ^ jssure of the
wind, and the nightmare . . -d from his
spirit. '' Thank God, she is safe," he said.
He was as sure of it as if she had cried it
to him across the water.

It was plain to see that Mason was de-
feating his own ends by laying his course so
close inshore. Both his small, undecked
craft were blanketed by the cliflFs. And
there was no place for him to make a land-
ing—no chance for him to follow the tactics
of the other kidnappers. Now the ** Ja-
guar " was almost abreast of the bullies.
Mason headed out, caught the wind and
swung up against it again on his old course.
His speed was materially increased; but,
alas ! it was not as great as that of the ship.
Governor Mason occupied the leading
boat, with his captives and six men. The
gags, bhinkets and cords had been removed
from Elizabeth and her companion. They
seemed little the worse for the unexpected

: ,

1^.^

' (

si'

,1 1

340 A Captain of Raleigh's

' IW ,!

adventure, though both had been weeping.
But now they were drying their eyes and
gazing seaward at the " Jaguar; " for they
could see, as well as Mason but with very
different sensations, that the game was al-
most finished.

Now Captain Mason, for all his liardihood
of spirit, was seriously regretting his action.
He had been guilty of many a rash deed be-
fore, in the course of his long and pig-headed
career; but now he wondered if he had ever
before dared so rashly for so small a pos-
sible reward. P]ven if he were to succeed
in keeping the girl what good would come
of it? Sir Stephen Morris's gratitude, per-
haps, and a complimentary letter from the
august heads of the Company. He was get-
ting past the stage of caring for compli-
ments; and he was partial to the kind of
reward that one can feel the weight of in
one's pocket. On the other hand, what had
he to expect? This Percy was one of Sir
Walter Raleigh's masteries captains. That
was all he knew of him — -^ d quite enough,
too. And the men with him, gentle and sim-

Southward Ho!

341

pie, were a hard-bit crew. In his rage and
disregard for all law and order, might not
this Percy sink the bullies and hang the well-
meaning executor of Thomas Duwaney's
will? A pretty return for trying to do one's
duty, truly I And then, like the cruel, mad
pirate that he was, what more likfU- than
that he should sail into the harbor of Guy's
and destroy the plantation? What would be
more unnaturally natural? reflected Gov-
ernor Mason, judging the captain's temper
by his own.

** I must face the beast," decided the gov-
ernor, who lacked neither courage nor a
sense of duty. " The game is up, and I must
face and try to appease him. It is my duty
to do it. I owe it to my family and ray col-
ony. He is sure to catch me, anyway."

He shouted back to the men in the other
boat, telling them to hold to their present
course, no matter what happened to him, and
stating briefly that he was going out to re-
turn the women. Then he swung out, before
the wind, and ran straight for the ** Ja-
guar."

342 A Captain of Raleigh's

The " Jaguar " went ahout and lay to at
the bully's approach. Elizabeth and her
companion were hoisted up by ea^er and
apprehensive hands and received aboard the
ship by willing arms. To the vast relief and
amazement of Mason and his crew, n(» fur-
ther attention was paid to them or their
craft. They were not even invited aboard
to explain themselves. They were not so
much as addressed by any one of the ship's
company, though a boy leaned over the rail,
after the women had been safely received
aboard, and put his thumb to his nose and
fluttered the fiugers of the same hand in
Governor Mason's direction.

The ship gathered way on her southward
course, tall and grand. The bully drifted
away from her high side, unheeded and hum-
bled. A sigh of relief and wonder escaped
Captain Mason's thin lips.

''Yes, sir — it do beat hell," remarked
one of the crew.

The commanders of some sixty vessels of
various sizes, shapes and nationalities, held

ii i

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Southward Hoi

343

their breath when the " Jaguar " appeared
in the Narrows. Many a culverin and fal-
conet and wide-mouthed cannon was hastily
loaded, ashore and afloat - for the times
were uncertain times and St. John's was an
uncertain harbor. But the tall stranger's
ports were closed, sail was swiftly dwindling
above her shapely hull, and already her
b«.ats were out and hurrying under her bows
to tow her up the harbor.

She was soon recognized as the " Ja-
guar." Now it happened that, since the re-
turn of certain half-starved fishermen to the
port, only a day or two before, the feelings
of many burly fellows aboard these crowded
craft had changed toward John Percy and
the '* Jaguar." As a pirate-exterminator,
Percy had once stood high in their favor;
but now, since he had thrust in his hand
between some of their honest friends and
several thousands of golden coins, they were
in two minds about him and his ship. These
puzzled souls, however, formed but a small
proportion of the fre.| neuters of that
crowded and unruly port. Rough voices

i I

(

* 1

■■ n

I 1

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\m-i

344

A Captain of Raleigh's

were raised in friendly greeting, an<l several
pistols and muskets were discharged in the
air. By the time the *' .Jaguar " had arrived
at her berth and let go her anehor, a dozen
boats were alongside. A few gentlemen-
adventurers and nine shipmasters boarded
her and were welcomed cordially by John
Percy, and Down and de Verney. Coffin and
MacAUister were quickly made known to the
visitors, the way was led to the after-cabin
and refreshments were produced from locker
and pantry. The recent adventures of the
" Jaguar " were told, as well as the misfor-
tunes of Bristol's Hope, the death of Du-
waney and the frustration of Captain >fa-
son's plans. Every one talko<l; and pnv
ently the visitors began slapjting the gentle-
men of the '* Jaguar " on their backs and
shaking their hands. They conf "inplatt'd
Harold Coffin with open astonishment and
admiration.

"Tar me!" remarked one well-meaning
skipper, '* but, by the looks o' the young
gentleman, I'd nut trust 'im to carve a plum-
duff."

1 1' 1

Southward Ho!

345

♦♦ Looks buin't everythin'," replied an-
other, politely.

St. John's was a stronghold )f the West
Country fishing interests, and ko was dead
against the colonization companies. The
" .laguar's " visitors, therefore, did not pre-
tend to mourn Ouwaney's death, and they
lou<'' applauded the story of Mas(»n's sev
era. misfortunes and set-backs. For the
brush with the kidnapping fishermen Percy
and his companions were already forgiven
by every one of the twelve; for these rough
fellows could see, well enough, when others
had done the right thing, though they could
not >\\ "fiys be dept ided upon to do the right
thing '? ' ; '^Ivcv:

At :. i ^^^ great affair of Elizabeth and
John r V vas made known to tJiem. Duwa-
ney's daughterl A beautif ) yr\ir\^ lady who
crossed the ocean in plar-e of her brother —
and in nis ch thes! Am\ ^he had let her for-
tune go, ar ' defied Governor Mason, because
she loved Captain Percy! Ho! Ho! Good
luck to her! That was the kind of woman
for an honest au ' valorous man. 'Twas a

. I ' f
fi I I ;:

l> .

• iM

If,.. )

■t »•:

I:' Is ■

346

A Captain of Raleigh^s

pity every sailor could not find such a true-
blue lass as that. They filled their mugs
and glasses again and drank Elizabeth's
health with much shouting and befisting the
table. Then they demanded an opportu-
nity of seeing and paying their respects to
her, for never had they heard of anything,
ever before in tb' ir picturesque lives,
that so inflamed their simple and romantic
hearts.

Elizabeth and her devoted companion now
occupied the round-house. Tlie woman was
the daughter of a widower, and having lost
her father in the battle with the fishermen
she had been perfectly willing to cast in her
lot with that of the young lady.

Percy left the cabin, went forward to the
round-house and explained matters to Eliz-
abeth.

The door of the cabin opened. All sprang
to their feet, staring. Poor dcvUs, it was a
long time since they had seen a beautiful
woman. Elizabeth advanced a step and
stood gazing at them very tenderly, wonder-
ingly and gravely. In her fine, steady eyes

Southward Ho!

347

they could see the shadows and cross-lights
of her grief and joy. " Thank you, gentle-
men," she said. Then she curtsied low, with
inimitable grace, turned swiftly and van-
ished from the cabin. Percy entered, almost
on the instant, and closed the door behind
him. He was met by the shout of applause
that the girl's brief appearance had in-
spired.

*• Bring her back," they cried. " Oh, the
angel! 'Twas like a glint o' Heaven to see
such iu this place o' fish an' fogs an'
brawlin'. Maybe she'll come back an' say
another ftw words to us."

Percy excused her to them, telling them of
her grief at the loss of her father and how
it was intensified by the wrongful way in
which he had treated her in his will, plotting
to marry her to an old man against her
wishes. They immediately became quiet,
and expressed their sympathy for her in odd
but sincere terms.

Now Percy made inquiries as to where and
how a parson could be found and learned
that there were two ashore, one a desperate

348

A Captain of Raleigh's

1 ■

■ i|

1; ;i

■ * » .

* '

; I
■ ■)

1 '

. :-i

■ 1 1,

■ ' 1
*

t i'^

wiL

^^^■^_^^^

fellow who had served a term of imprison-
ment in England for attempting to murder
his groom, and had escaped hanging only
through the influence of his family at court,
and the other a poor young scholar from
Oxford who had fled from his country and
his spiritual charge, and taken to drink and
dice, because of some single point in the
ritual of the Church which he could not bring
himself to entirely agree with. It was de-
cided by all that Master Bent, the cleric who
tried to drown the consciousness of his doubt
under floods of rum, was the better suited
of the two for the performance of the service
of holy matrimony.

" For he hain't a lad lad at heart," ex-
plained one of the shipmasters. " He'd be
a canon now, like as not, or maybe a dean,
if it wasn't for sometliin' about a apostolic
procession that he couldn't quite swallow.
He has told me all about it. many's the time,
over a bowl o' punch — but my head hain't
much on such p'ints."

So it was decided that Master Bent should
be notified and sobered, and that the mar-

Southward Hoi

349

riage should take place aboard the " Ja-
guar " early on the morrow.

John Percy had a good deal of bauiness
to attend to in a short time. It was not his
intention to make the southward trip in the
" Jaguar," because of the risk to Elizabeth
in so doing. The *' Jaguar " was a bird of
storm, a mark on the high seas, a signal for
the ships of the king, all pirates and heavy
laden Spaniards to be up and doing. So,
assisted by many shipmasters, he examined
fully a dozen vessel? that were willing to
accept a two months charter, and at last
selected a stout little brig of about one hun-
dred and seventy tons sea register for the
momentous voyage to iiis retreat among the
tropic islands. The name of the brig was
the "Lucky Brother " — and the shipmas-
ters all agreed that if was a very seemly and
appropriate name, for if Captain Percy pos-
sessed a brother (the captain admitted this
with a nod), then, considering the charms of
the young lady, he (the captain) was his
brother's lucky brother. One gentleman, in
ear-rings and sea-boots, refused to see the

850 A Captain of Raleigh's

;^i

i l!i

»rgument at first; but they made it clear
to him in time, in a reeking tavern by the
harbor-side.

A score of men were put to work immedi-
ately on the " Lucky Brother," and in the
course of a few hours her cabin was en-
larged, her paint touched up, and inboard
she was scrubbed and scraped from end to
end. Her crew was reinforced by five lads
from the "Jaguar." who would stay with
their old commander uniil such time as the
two vessels should have to part company.

The wedding took place at noon, aboard
the " Jaguar." A sober but somewhat low-
spirited young cleric officiated. Master Cof-
fin, arrayed in a suit of plum-colored velvet,
gave the bride away. The groom was sup-
ported by Masters Down, de Vemey and
MacAJlister and barked (which is said with-
out hyperbole) by every adventurer, mer
chant and shipmaster in the port. Tlie
'• Lucky Brother " lay at her new berth
close alongside, bedecked with bunting.

An hour later, amid u blowing of horns

Sr^^^^WSE^S^^f^^^^E^

Southward Hoi

351

and firing of guns, the two vessels were
towed out of the harbor, between the frown-
ing walls of the Narrows, by swarms of
eager skiffs manned by shouting fellows.
The white sails blossomed on their tall spars
and side by side, but with safe sea-room
between, they trimmed their wings to a
piping breeze, bound southward ho !

For weeks they will sail and sail, the '' Ja-
guar " and the " Lucky Brother " never
losing sight of one another across those
vasty acres. At last, among the spicy is-
lands, they will part, the " Jaguar " bound
on her brave but lawless quest, the " Lucky
Brother " to let go her anchor in a crystal
roadstead, palm-fringed, peace-enfolded, far
and far and hull-down from the world of
kings and battle and revenge.

THE END.

*4^

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fill

-. ^ . -ta»'' — . -4 a

:$^^

^■^t6>'fSats

From

L. C. Page & Company's

Announcement List

of New Fiction

THE STORY GIRL

Bv L. M. MONTXJOMERT.

Cloth, 12tno, illustrated, decorative Jacket . ZllyO

To quote from one of our editor'a report* on the new Mont-
gomery book — " Miss Montgomery ha« decidedly arrived in this
story! " The remarkable Huccess of her delightful Annk hookH
and of the charming " Kilmeny of the Orchard " has estahlishfd
her 08 one of America's leading authors —- a writer of books
which touch the heart, uplift the spirit, and leave an imprint of
lasting sweetness on tin; memory. But in "The Story dirl,"
everywhere the touch of the finixhed artist is evident — a smooth-
ness and polish which heightens the unusual style of a gifted
author.

The environment is again the author's beloved Prince l<]<iw!ird
I^and a>(d the story and incidents pos-sess the same simnlicity
and charm which ch;!racterize Miss Montgomery's earlier hMX)k8
The Story Girl, herself — Sara Stanly — is a fascinating
creature, and will delight and thrill her read»^rs with her weird
tales of ghosts " and things." She tells in wondr voice of
'The Mystery of the Oolden Milestone," " How Kissing \\i\n
pi3eov.'red," and of just how the Milky Way happened info the
heavens. She will make you feel the spell of the .M orchard
where she and her playmati-s srM'n<i such hanpv <lav.- :itid witl
Felix, Dan and Beverly you will live again with her tli«> " trage-
dies of childhood"

Of Miss Montgomery's previouf books, the reviewers havp
w.tten as follows:

" The art which pervades ever>' page is so refined that the eul-
tivated imagination will return to the storv again and again in
memory to find always something fresh to enjoy." — Torontn
World.

" Miss Montgomery has attained an honored place among the
worth-while writers of fiction." — Beacon and Budget.

" Mi.ss Montgomery hjis a synipatheti'- knowledge of human
nature, joined to high ideals, a reasonably romantic view point
and a distinct gift of description." — Chicago Reatrd-HmM.

f: ii

L. C. PAGE dr* COMPAXY'S

I I

A CAPTAm OF RALEIGH'S

Cavalier f>f Vir-

By G. E. Theodokk Kobekts, author (if " A Ca'

Hinia," " Comradi's of the Trails," " R«h1 F«'ather8," ttc.

Cloth, 12mo, illiwtrated, decorative jacket

Nit $1.25 (carriage, 13c. extra)

A typical Roberta romance — diu^hiiiK und bilsk with the
scenes for the most part laid in the infant colony of Newfound-
land, at the time when Sir Waller Raleigh an'd other famous
<'aptains pwept the Heat; for England. Sir Walter is one of the
characters in the romance but the chief interest centres alwut ono
of his ofhcers. Captain John Percy.

Elizabeth Duwaney, the heroine, is lK>autiful and vivacious
enough to miite turn the heads of the several gallant gentlemen
who struggle for her ham!, and to keej) the reodcr guesf-ing until
the very la*<t page a^i to wiiich miitor will find favor in h«r eyes.
I'nusual and unexpTtetl siuiations in Ihc plot are handU<l skil-
fully and you close the bdt k agreeing with our ("ditor that " Mr.
Roberts ha.s given us another capital varn! "

" Mr. Roberts hiis undoubted skill in portraying character
and carrying events along t«) a satisfactory conclusion." —
The Swnrl Set.

" One can alway.'^ pre<lict of a book by Mr. Roberts that it
will be interesting. ( )ne can go further and predict that tin book
will be fascinating, exciting and thrilling." — Boston Globe.

A SOLDIER OF VALLEY FORGE

By RoHEUT Neilson Stephens, autlior of " .\n Enemy to the
Kinj!;," " Philip Winwofxi." ( tc, and G. E. Theodokb
Roherts. author of " Hemming, the Adventurer," " Red
Feathers," etc.

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . fl-V)

The manv admirers of the brilliant historiral romances of the
late Robert Xeilson Stephens will be gratified at the anmiunce-
nicnt of a jmsthunious work by that piftinl writer. The '•ough
draft of the story was laid asifl*' for otlier work, and later, with-
out completing tie novel, the plot was uti!i/<'d for a play. With
the play corii|ileteil Mr. Slejihetis again 1 urne<! liis attention to
the novel, but death prevented its completion. Mr. Roberts has
handled his difficult task of completing the work with care and
skill.

The story, like that of " The Continental Dragoon," takes as
its theme an incident in the Revolution, and, as in the earlier
novel, the .scene is the '■ debatable ground " north of New York.
In interest of plot and originality of dcvclopiiient it is as re-
markable as the earlier work, but it is more mature, more force-
ful, more reoZ.

.^iii^ilt'

^\':m'

L/ST OF JVElt^ F/Cr/O.V

THB RED FOX'S SON

By Edqah M. Dillet.

Cloth, 12mo, illustrated $1.50

Picturesaue Bharbazonia — a province of the Balkan penin-
sula — ia the Betlinn for thia eparklinn " Zenda " novel, which
quite Burpasaes the regulation story of modern rnyatery and ad-
venture, when the diwhing young American goes to the "mythical,
but interesting Balkan States, and creates havoc in (he hearta of
the Slavs, himself becoming a slave to the beautiful prineeas of
the country. It is n ronmnce rich in exciting detail, and haH

flamour, dash, vivacity and apirit of the moat pleasing order,
n every page of " The lied Fox's Son " the fiction lover will find
fascinating reading.

r r r

THE DILEMMA OF ENGELTIE
By Emma Ratner, author of " Free to Serve," etc.
Cloth, 12mo, illustrated. Net SI. 35 (carriage, 12c. extra)

Given a wedding irrevocably decree<i, the date of the actual
ceremony aomewhere on the limits of a fortnight ahead; given
a bride but not a groom, a maid of the old Dutch New York days
pretty enough to turn men's heads for her beauty alone, well
dowered enough to be one of the prize.^ of the decade; the wedding
festivities, merrymakings these Dutch colonial worthies loved
to give to proapective brides and grooms, in full Ewing; half a
dozen young Dutchmen with hands outatretched ready to grasp
the prize and reciprocate the maiden's vows would she but nod
their way; the wedding^ itself at? sure aa ftite or death; the bride
upon the scene, receiving the honors of the occasion — alone;
the bridegroom an unknown quantity; the days racing by in
mirth and festivity and the wedding daily drawing nearer:
problem — find the bridegroom!

The setting for this unusual situation is quaint New Isetfaer-
lands, in 1702, shortly after England had succeeded in wresting
from Holland her prosperous colony in the New World. The
sharj) contra-st between the primitive conditions of the neigh-
boring settlements and the comparative liixurv of the town ia
well iM)rtrayed, and forms an evcrchanging background to a
tale of unusual excellence both in the conception and in the
development of its novel plot.

/ C. PAdi *• COMPANY'S

. i ■ i ;

li ll

THE CHRONICLES OF MADELYN MACK

By Hugh C. Weiu

Cloth, 12mo, illudtrati-d $1.50

Lovers of rapid action, itinoniouH mtufitiont .ind pxcitonn-nt
will liml iibutKlttnt ent' rtaininent in following tLe Hdvtntiirofl
and career of M id«'!yii luck — ii veritable wizard at her trade
— thfc heroine ')f thin elever and Htmightforwurd detective novel.
Her career is brimful of ev.'itenicut, one continuoiiH nericH of
ailventun-H, which ninstitiitc a tali- of -wift and dramatic action.
Clever lu plot and ctTtr' ,( in Ktyle, the author has Bcizcnl on
uome of the most »ensauuii:il features of inodeni life, and the
reader who has a grain of f.mcy :)r iniagin.it ion may be dtfied
to lay thiij bouk down oucu hu hut) beguu it until the lat«t word is
reached.

MISS BILLY

By Eleanor H. Porter.

Cloth, 12mo, i1lu.strated Net $1 25 (carrifige, 12c. extra)

" Hilly," in thi.s irnlanee, is the name of a very dainty and
pretty girl with pink cheekn ami a wealth of curly hair and the
tweetest of imilea. When you first meet her in the story i^he is
all that her name implies — a harum-scarum i c len of si-xtceo
who quite unknowingly succeeds in coinpicteiy upnetting the
quiet and dignity of the lieaeon Sire«>t household of the three
HfnHhaw !■ >vs, who had hitherto !ive<l an uneventful life in
" The Strata," as the old Boston mansion was fittingly t<>mied
by Bertraai: the youngrat of the brothers. But Billv grows up.
and aliriost before f.ht herself realizes i' a rou<ance has entered
her life — one of those charming .ind refreshing romanef.4 which
strike a sympathetic chord in the? hearts of its reaflers and brings
back fond mcmorea of " the glamour and joys of youth."

i
^ I

Selections from
L. C. Page and Company's
List of Fiction

WORKS OF

ROBERT NEILSON STEPHENS

Each CTu vol., library l2mo, doth decorativ* $1.50

THE FLIGHT OF GEORGIAlfA

A Ro»lANCE 01 THB DaT» or THB YOUWO PRSTXirDSK. Illui-

trated by H. C. Edwards.

" A love-«torv in the higheat degree, a dashing story, and a ra-
markably weU finished piece of work." — Chicago Rtcori^Utralii.

THE BRIGHT FACE OF DANGER

Being tua account of some adventures of Henri de Launay, aon

of the Sieur de la Tournoire. lUufltrated by H. C. Edwirds.

h^^^L ^Tr""!" ^^ ^""'L^ outdone himself. We thank him

heartily. The etory is nothing if not spirited and entertaimu*.

rational and convincing." — Boaton Trantcnpt. "*"^*»»«»

THE MYSTERY OF MURRAY DAVEWPORT

(40th thousand.)
TKl2?f ".easily the best thing that Mr. Stephens has yet done
Tho« familiar with his other novels can best judge the meaauS
of thu praiae, which is generous." — Buffalo N«^ mw-ura

CAPTADf RAVENSHAW

^/•br^^iJ^"* ?'■ <^'*»*">B- (52d thousand.) A romanee
other BrtkU London. lUusirationa by Howard Pyle uid

Not since the absorbing adventures of D'Artagnan have we bad
anything so good in the blend xi vein of romanw and wmedyT

THE CONTIHEirTAL DRAGOON

A Romance OF Philipsb Manor Hooti. in 1778. f«d
thousand.) Illustrated by H. C. Edwards

MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART

(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2)

1.0

I.I

U^ III 21

1^ i£

2.5
2.2

2.0
1.8

^ /APP LIED IIVHGE I

SS*. '65 J Ea-.t Wa:r; Streel

~«S f^oches'er. Ne* York 14609 USA

^— ("16) 482 - OJOO - Phone

^S ("6) 288 - 5989 - Fti»

»!Wfrr

Mi '

J!i I

!►

f'^'

^. C. F/IG/i Of COMPANY*S

PHILIP wnrwooD

(70th thousand.) A Sketch of the Domestic History cf Kb
Americaa Captain in the War of Independence, embracing
events that occurred between and during the years Xl'ai and
1785 in New York and London Illustrated by E. W. D
Hamilton.

AN ENEMY TO THE KING

(70th thousand.) From the " Recently Discovered Memoini
of the Si>ur de la Toumoire." Illustrated by H. De M. Yoimg
An historical romance of the sixteenth century, describing tha

adventures of a young French nobleman at the court of Henrjf

III., and on the field with Henry IV.

THE ROAD TO PARIS

A &roRT OF Advrntore. (35th thousand.) Xllustrated b>

H. C. Edwards

An histoiical romance of the eighteenth century, being an
account of the life of an American gentleman aoventurer of
Jacobite ancestry.

A GENTLEMAN PLAYER

His Adventures on a Secret Mission for Queen Emza
BETH. (48th thousand.) Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill.
The story of a young gentleman who joins Shakespeare's com-
pany of players, and becomes a friend and prot^g^ of the great
poet.

CLEMENTINA'S HIGHWAYMAN

Cloth decorative, illustrated 11.50

Mr. Stephens has put into his new book, " Clementina's High-
wayman, the finest qualities of plot, construction, and literary
finish.
The story is laid in the mid-Georgian period. It is a dashing

Sarkling, vivacious comedy, with a neroine as^ lovely and
angeable as an April day, and a hero all ardor and daring.

TALES FROM BOHEMIA

nitwtrated by Wallace Qoldflmith.

Qotb, decorative cover 11.60

'Vumt bright and clever tales deal with people of the theatra
ana odd ebai a etew in other walt.s of life which fringe on Bohemia

Ml! I

USr OF FICTION

WORKS OF

CHARLES G. D. ROBERTS

HAUNTERS OF THE SILENCES

Cloth, one volume, with manv drawings by Charles LiviogBton
Bull, four of which are in full color .... 12.00
The stories in Mr. Roberts's new collection are the strongest aiid
best he has ever written.

He has largely taken for his subjects those animals rarely met
with in books, whose Uves are spent " In the Silences," where they
are the supreme rulers. Mr. Roberts has written of them sympa-
thetically, as always, but with fine regard for the scientific truth,
" As a writer about animals, Mr. Roberts occupies an enviable
place. He is the most literary, as well as the most imaginative
and vivid of all the nature writers." — Brooklyn Eagle.

RED FOX

The Story op His Adventubous Career in the Rinowaak
Wilds, and of His Final Triumph over the Enemies or
Hi8 Kind. With fifty illustrations, including frontispiece in
color and cover design by Charles Livingston Bull.

Square quarto, cloth decorative $2.00

" True in substance but fascinating as fiction. It will interest
old and young, city-bound and free-footed, those who Imow ani-
mals and those who do not." — Chicago Record-Herald.

" A brilliant chapter in n."tural history." — PhUaddphia North
American.

THE KINDRED OF THE WILD

A Book of Animal Life. With fifty-one full-i>a|e plates and
many decorations from drawings by Charles Livmgston Bull,

Square quarto, decorative cover S2.00

" Is in many ways the most brilliant collection of animal stories
that has appeared; well named and well done." — John Bur-
roughs.

THE WATCHERS OF THE TRAILS

A companion volume to " The Kindred of the Wild." With
forty-eight full-page plates and many dscorations from dra\
ings by Charles Livingston Bull.
Square quarto, decorative cover . . . . S2 00

lip i

Z. C. PAGE *• COMPANY'S

'fl I

I *iJ^*^ "tone* are exquisite in their refinement, and yet robuat
to their appreciation of some of the rougher phaaec of woodcraft.

R,il'l J'ftf'tif'.M '"" °f .•i«.ii8'»t- A° wlditional charm lie. in Mr.

f n iu '^ "^'^ graphic iliuatrationfl, which in faahion aU their

own teU the story of the wild life, illuminating and aupplementinc

the pen pictures of the author." — Literori/ I>i/ii«<. """""^

THE HOUSE Df THE WATER

With thirty full-page illustrations bv Charles Livingston Bull

SlrKvin^S a'- ^-<^-i8--d decor^ons by

12mo, cloth decorative .... 11 50

-«^i^^?!? paragraph is a splendid picture, suggesting in a few

words the appeal of the vast, illimitable wfldemeM." — Th»

Lnuxigo Tribune,

THE HEART THAT KNOWS

Library 12mo, cloth, decorative cover . ji kq

«n1n, ^^h^ °/ singularly effective strength, luminous in Uteriry
color, nch m its passionate, yet tender drama."- -New York GloU.

EARTH'S ENIGMAS

A new edition of Mr. Roberts's first volume of fiction, pub-
Iished »n 1892, and out of print for several years, with the addi-
Lvingston'mzir'' ''°"^' ^"^ ^''^ illustrations by Charles
Library 12mo, cloth, decorative cover . $ i 50

• V.liJ"% ^*"'' "J*^^ *"^j°"S collections of short stories. In
H~fl if fK w^M^n "^ a wider range of subject than in the ' Kin-
dred of the \yild.' "-Rernew rom advance sheets of the iUuetraUi
edition by Tiffany Blake in the Chicago Evening Post. "*'*"^"*~

BARBARA LADD

With four illustrations by Frank Verbeck.

Library 12mo, cloth, decorative cover . «i 50

From the opening chapter to the final page Mr. Robert, lures

u. on by his rapt devotion to the changing aspects of Nature and

brtas keen and sympathetic analysis of human character" —

I ;

•'\\