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

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ for what reason, I pray?” said Cleveland: “it is the first time I have ever heard of cash being refused at a seaport.”

      “True — they commonly lay the charges on as thick as it they were caulking. But here is the matter. The owner of the brig yonder, the father of your fair Imoinda, stands paymaster, by way of thanks for the civility with which we treated his daughters, and that we may not meet our due, as he calls it, on these shores.”

      “It is like the frank-hearted old Udaller!” said Cleveland; “ but is he at Stromness? I thought he was to have crossed the island for Kirkwall.”

      “He did so purpose,” said Bunce; “ but more folks than King Duncan change the course of their voyage. He was no sooner ashore than he was met with by a meddling old witch ‘of these parts, who has her finger in every man’s pie, and by her counsel he changed his purpose of going to Kirkwall, and lies at anchor for the present in yonder white house, that you may see with your glass up the lake yonder. I am told the old woman clubbed also to pay for the sloop’s stores. Why ishe should shell out the boards I cannot conceive an idea, except that she is said to be a witch, and may befriend us as so many devils.”

      “But who told you all this?” said Cleveland, withoui using his spyglass, or seeming so much interested in the news is his comrade had expected.

      “Why,” replied Bunce, “ I made a trip ashore this morning:o the village, and had a can with an old acquaintance, who. lad been sent by Master Troil to look after matters, and I fished it all out of him, and more, too, than I am desirous of telling you, noble Captain.”

      “And who is your intelligencer?” said Cleveland; “has he got no name?”

      “Why, he is an old, fiddling, foppish acquaintance of mine, called Halcro, if you must know,” said Bunce.

      “Halcro!” echoed Cleveland, his eyes sparkling with surprise — ”Claud Halcro? — Why, he went ashore at Inganess with Minna and her sister — Where are they?”

      “Why, that is just what I did not want to tell you,” replied the confidant — ”yet hang me if I can help it, for I cannot baulk a fine situation. — That start had a fine effect — Oh ay, and the spyglass is turned on the House of Stennis now! — Well, yonder they are, it must be confessed — indifferently well guarded, too. Some of the old witch’s people are come over from that mountain of an island — Hoy, as they call it; and the old gentleman has got some fellows under arms himself. But what of all that, noble Captain! — give you but the word, and we snap up the wenches tonight — clap them under hatches — man the capstern by daybreak — up topsails — and sail with the morning tide.”

      “You sicken me with your villainy,” said Cleveland, turning away from him.

      “Umph! — villainy, and sicken you!” said Bunce — ” Now, r>ray, what have I said but what has been done a thousand times by gentlemen of fortune like ourselves?”

      “Mention it; not again,” said Cleveland; then took a turn along the deck, in deep meditation, and, coming back to Bunce, took him by the hand, and said, “Jack, I will see her once more.”

      “With all my heart,” said Bunce sullenly. “ Once more will I see her, and it may be to adjure at her feet this cursed trade, and expiate my offences”

      “At the gallows! “ said Bunce, completing the sentence — ”With all my heart! — confess and be hanged is a most reverend proverb.”

      “Nay — but, dear Jack! “ said Cleveland. “Dear Jack!” answered Bunce, in the same sullen tone — ”a dear sight you have been to dear Jack. But hold your own course — I have done with caring for you for ever — I should but sicken you with my villainous counsels.”

      “Now, must I soothe this silly fellow as if he were a spoiled child,” said Cleveland, speaking at Bunce, but not to him; “ and yet he has sense enough, and bravery enough, too; and, one would think, kindness enough to know that men don’t pick their words during a gale of wind.”

      “Why, that’s true, Clement,” said Bunce, “ and there is my hand upon it — And now I think upon’t, you shall have your last interview, for it’s out of my line to prevent a parting scene; and what signifies a tide — we can sail by tomorrow’s ebb as well as by this.”

      Cleveland sighed, for Norna’s prediction rushed on his mind; but the opportunity of a last meeting with Minna was too tempting to be resigned either for presentiment or prediction.

      “I will go presently ashore to the place where they all are,” said Bunce; “and the payment of these stores shall serve me for a pretext; and I will carry any letters or message from you to Minna with the dexterity of a valet de chambre.”

      “But they have armed men — you may be in danger,’’ said Cleveland.

      “Not a whit — not a whit,” replied Bunce. “ I protected the wenches when they were in my power; I warrant their father will neither wrong me nor see me wronged.”

      “You say true,” said Cleveland, “ it is not in his nature. I will instantly write a note to Minna.” And he ran down to the cabin for that purpose, where he wasted much paper, ere, with a trembling hand, and throbbing heart, he achieved such a letter as he hoped might prevail on Minna to permit him a farewell meeting on the succeeding morning.

      His adherent, Bunce, in the meanwhile, sought out Fletcher, of whose support to second any motion whatever he accounted himself perfectly sure; and, followed by this trusty satellite, he intruded himself on the awful presence of Hawkins the boatswain, and Derrick the quartermaster, who were regaling themselves with a can of rumbo, after the fatiguing duty of the day.

      “Here comes he can tell us,” said Derrick. — ” So Master Lieutenant, for so we must call you now, I think, let us have a peep mto your counsels — When will the anchor be a-trip?”

      “When it pleases heaven, Master Quartermaster,” answered Bunce, “ for I know no more than the stern-post.”

      “Why, d — n my buttons,” said Derrick, “ do we not weigh this tide?”

      “Or tomorrow’s tide, at farthest!” said the Boatswain. “ Why, what have we been slaving the whole company for, to get all these stores aboard?”

      “Gentlemen,” said Bunce, “ you are to know that Cupid has laid our Captain on board, carried the vessel, and nailed down his wits under hatches.”

      “What sort of play-stuff is all this? “ said the Boatswain gruffly. “ If you have anything to tell us, say it in a word, like a man.”

      “Howsomdever,” said Fletcher, “ I always think Jack Bunce speaks like a man, and acts like a man too — and so, d’ye see”

      “Hold your peace, dear Dick, best of bullybacks, be silent,” said Bunce — ” Gentlemen, in one word, the Captain is in love.”

      “Why, now, only think of that,” said the Boatswain; “ not but that I have been in love as often as any man, when the ship was laid up.”

      “Well, but,” continued Bunce, “ Captain Cleveland is in love — Yes — Prince Volscius is in love; and, though that’s the cue for laughing on the stage, it is no laughing matter here. He expects to meet the girl tomorrow, for the last time; and that, we all know, СКАЧАТЬ