The Jolly Roger Tales: 60+ Pirate Novels, Treasure-Hunt Tales & Sea Adventures. Лаймен Фрэнк Баум

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СКАЧАТЬ forbear!” said Minna, her hereditary awe of Norna augmented by the circumstance of her sudden appearance. “ Oh, forbear! — she is powerful — she is but too powerful. — And do you, O Norna, remember my father’s safety is linked with Cleveland’s.”

      “And it is well for Cleveland that I do remember it,” replied the Pythoness — ” and that, for the sake of one, I am here to aid both. You, with your childish purpose, of passing one of his bulk and stature under the disguise of a few paltry folds of wadmaal — what would your device have procured him but instant restraint with bolt and shackle? — I will save him — I will place him in security on board his bark. But let him renounce these shores for ever, and carry elsewhere the terrors of his sable flag, and his yet blacker name; for if the sun rises twice, and finds him still at anchor, his blood be on his own head. — Ay, look to each other — look the last look that I permit to frail affection, — and say, if ye can say it. Farewell for ever!”

      “Obey her,” stammered Minna; “remonstrate not, but obey her.”

      Cleveland, grasping her hand, and kissing it ardently, said, but so low that she only could hear it, “ Farewell, Minna, but not for ever.”

      “And now, maiden, begone,” said Norna, “and leave the rest to the Reimkennar.”

      “One word more,” said Minna, “ and I obey you. Tell me but if I have caught aright your meaning — Is Mordaunt Mertoun safe and recovered?”

      “Recovered and safe,” said Norna; “else woe to the hand that shed his blood!”

      Minna slowly sought the door of the Cathedral, and turned back from time to time to look at the shadowy form of Norna, and the stately and military figure of Cleveland, as they stood together in the deepening gloom of the ancient Cathedral. When she looked back a second time they were in motion, and Cleveland followed the matron, as, with a slow and solemn step, she glided towards one of the side aisles. When Minna looked back a third time, their figures were no longer visible. She collected herself, and walked on to the eastern door by which she had entered, and listened for an instant to the guard, who talked together on the outside.

      “The Zetland girl stays a long time with this pirate fellow,” said one. “ I wish they have not more to speak about than the ransom of her father.”

      “Ay, truly,” answered another, “the wenches will have more sympathy with a handsome young pirate, than an old bedridden burgher.”

      Their discourse was here interrupted by her of whom they were speaking; and, as if taken in the manner, they pulled off their hats, made their awkward obeisances, and looked not a little embarrassed and confused.

      Minna returned to the house where she lodged, much affected, yet on the whole, pleased with the result of her expedition, which seemed to put her father out of danger, and assured her at once of the escape of Cleveland, and of the safety of young Mordaunt. She hastened to communicate both pieces of intelligence to Brenda, who joined her in thankfulness to Heaven, and was herself wellnigh persuaded to believe in Norna’s supernatural pretensions, so much was she pleased with the manner in which they had been employed. Some time was spent in exchanging their mutual congratulations, and mingling tears of hope, mixed with apprehension, when, at a late hour in the evening, they were interrupted bj Claud Halcro, who, full of a fidgeting sort of importance, not unmingled with fear, came to acquaint them, that the prisoner. Cleveland, had disappeared from the Cathedral, in which he had been permitted to walk, and that the Provost, having been informed that Minna was accessory to his flight, was coming, in a mighty quandary, to make inquiry into the circumstances.

      When the worthy Magistrate arrived, Minna did not con ceal from him her own wish that Cleveland should make his escape, as the only means which she saw of redeeming her father from imminent danger. But that she had any actual accession to his flight, she positively denied; and stated,! 4 that she had parted from Cleveland in the Cathedral more than two hours since, and then left him in company with i third person, whose name she did not conceive herself obliged to communicate.”

      “It is not needful, Miss Minna Troil,” answered Provost lorfe; “ for, although no person but this Captain Cleveland and yourself was seen to enter the Kirk of St. Magnus this iay, we know well enough that your cousin, old Ulla Troil, whom you Zetlanders call Norna of Fitful Head, has been:ruising up and down, upon sea and land, and air, for what [ know, in boats and on ponies, and it may be on broomsticks; and here has been her dumb Drow, too, coming and *oing, and playing the spy on every one — and a good spy he is, for he can hear everything, and tells nothing again, unless:o his mistress. And we know, besides, ^that she can enter:he Kirk when all the doors are fast, and has been seen there nore than once, God save us from the Evil One! — and so, vithout further questions asked, I conclude it was old Norna fvhom you left in the Kirk with this slashing blade — and, if so,:hey may catch them again that can. — I cannot but say, lowever, pretty Mistress Minna, that you Zetland folks seem.0 forget both law and gospel, when you use the help of vitchcraft to fetch delinquents out of a legal prison; and the east that you, or your cousin, or your father, can do, is to use nfluence with this wild fellow to go away as soon as possible, vithout hurting the town or trade, and then there will be little larm in what has chanced; for, Heaven knows, I did not eek the poor lad’s life, so I could get my hands free of him without blame; and far less did I wish that, through his mprisonment, any harm should come to worthy Magnus [roil of Burgh-Westra.”

      “I see where the shoe pinches you, Mr. Provost,” said Claud Halcro, “ and I am sure I can answer for my friend Mr. Troil, as well as for myself, that we will say and do all in air power with this man, Captain Cleveland, to make him save the coast directly.”

      “And I,” said Minna, “am so convinced that what you scommend is best for all parties, that my sister and I will et off tomorrow morning to the House of Stennis, if Mr. Halcro will give us his escort, to receive my father when he comes ashore, that we may acquaint him with your wish,;ind to use every influence to induce this unhappy man to leave the country.”

      Provost Torfe looked upon her with some surprise. “ It is not every young woman,” he said, “ would wish to move eight miles nearer to a band of pirates.”

      “We run no risk,” said Claud Halcro, interfering. “ The House of Stennis is strong; and my cousin, whom it belongs to, has men and arms within it. The young ladies are as safe there as in Kirkwall; and much good may arise from an early communication between Magnus Troil and his daughters. And happy am I to see, that in your case, my good old friend, — as glorious John says, —

      ‘ After much debate,

       The man prevails above the magistrate.’“

      The Provost smiled, nodded his head, and indicated, as far as he thought he could do so with decency, how happy he should be if the Fortune’s Favourite, and her disorderly crew, would leave Orkney without further interference, or violence on either side. He could not authorise their being supplied from the shore, he said; but, either for fear or favour, they were certain to get provisions at Stromness. This pacific magistrate then took leave of Halcro and the two ladies, who proposed, the next morning, to transfer their residence to the House of Stennis, situated upon the banks of the saltwater lake of the same name, and about four miles by water from the Road of Stromness, where the Rover’s vessel was lying.

      Chapter XXXVIII

       Table of Contents

      Fly, Fleance, fly! —

       Thou mayest escape.

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