Jack Tier; Or, The Florida Reef

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER III.

  I might have pass’d that lovely cheek, Nor, perchance, my heart have left me; But the sensitive blush that came trembling there, Of my heart it for ever bereft me. Who could blame had I loved that face, Ere my eyes could twice explore her; Yet it is for the fairy intelligence there, And her warm, warm heart I adore her.

  Wolfe.

  The stories of the respective parties who had thus so strangely met onthat barren and isolated rock, were soon told. Harry confirmed all ofJack’s statements as to his own proceedings, and Rose had little more tosay than to add how much her own affections had led her to risk inhis behalf. In a word, ten minutes made each fully acquainted with theother’s movements. Then Tier considerately retired to the boat, underthe pretence of minding it, and seeing everything ready for adeparture, but as much to allow the lovers the ten or fifteen minutes ofuninterrupted discourse that they now enjoyed, as for any other reason.

  It was a strange scene that now offered on the rock. By this time thefire was burning not only brightly, but fiercely, shedding its brightlight far and near. Under its most brilliant rays stood Harry and Rose,both smiling and happy, delighted in their meeting, and, for the moment,forgetful of all but their present felicity. Never, indeed, had Roseappeared more lovely than under these circumstances. Her face wasradiant with those feelings which had so recently changed from despairto delight--a condition that is ever most propitious to beauty; andcharms that always appeared feminine and soft, now seemed elevated toa bright benignancy that might best be likened to our fancied images ofangels. The mild, beaming, serene and intelligent blue eyes, the cheeksflushed with happiness, the smiles that came so easily, and were soreplete with tenderness, and the rich hair, deranged by the breeze, andmoistened by the air of the sea, each and all, perhaps, borrowedsome additional lustre from the peculiar light under which they wereexhibited. As for Harry, happiness had thrown all the disadvantagesof exposure, want of dress, and a face that had not felt the razor forsix-and-thirty hours, into the back-ground. When he left the wreck, hehad cast aside his cap and his light summer jacket, in order that theymight not encumber him in swimming, but both had been recovered whenhe returned with the boat to take off his friends. In his ordinary seaattire, then, he now stood, holding Rose’s two hands in front of thefire, every garment clean and white as the waters of the ocean couldmake them, but all betraying some of the signs of his recent trials.His fine countenance was full of the love he bore for the intrepid anddevoted girl who had risked so much in his behalf; and a painter mighthave wished to preserve the expression of ardent, manly admirationwhich glowed in his face, answering to the gentle sympathy and womanlytenderness it met in that of Rose.

  The back-ground of this picture was the wide, even surface of the coralreef, with its exterior setting of the dark and gloomy sea. On the sideof the channel, however, appeared the boat, already winded, with Biddystill on the rock, looking kindly at the lovers by the fire, while Jackwas holding the painter, beginning to manifest a little impatience atthe delay.

  “They’ll stay there an hour, holding each other’s hands, andlooking into each other’s faces,” half grumbled the little, rotund,assistant-steward, anxious to be on his way back to the brig, “unless abody gives ‘em a call. Captain Spike will be in no very good humour toreceive you and me on board ag’in, if he should find out what sort of atrip we’ve been making hereaway.”

  “Let ‘em alone--let ‘em alone, Jacky,” answered the good-natured andkind-hearted Irish woman. “It’s happy they bees, jist now, and it doesmy eyes good to look at ‘em.”

  “Ay, they’re happy enough, _now;_ I only hope it may last.”

  “Last! what should help its lasting? Miss Rose is so good, and sohandsome--and she’s a fortin’, too; and the mate so nice a young man.Think of the likes of them, Jack, wantin’ the blessed gift of wather,and all within one day and two nights. Sure it’s Providence that takescare of, and not we ourselves! Kings on their thrones is n’t as happy as_them_ at this moment.”

  “Men’s willians!” growled Jack; “and more fools women for trustin’ ‘em.”

  “Not sich a nice young man as our mate, Jacky; no, not he. Now the mateof the ship I came from Liverpool in, this time ten years agone, he wasa villain. He grudged us our potaties, and our own bread; and he grudgedus every dhrap of swate wather that went into our mouths. Call him avillain, if you will, Jack; but niver call the likes of Mr. Mulford byso hard a name.”

  “I wish him well, and nothing else; and for that very reason must puta stop to his looking so fondly into that young woman’s face. Time wontstand still, Biddy, to suit the wishes of lovers; and Stephen Spike is aman not to be trifled with. Halloo, there, maty! It’s high time to thinkof getting under way.”

  At this summons both Harry and Rose started, becoming aware of theprecious moments they were losing. Carrying a large portion of theturtle, the former moved toward the craft, in which all were seated inless than three minutes, with the sail loose, and the boat in motion.For a few moments the mate was so much occupied with Rose, that he didnot advert to the course; but one of his experience could not longbe misled on such a point, and he turned suddenly to Tier, who wassteering, to remonstrate.

  “How’s this, Jack!” cried Mulford; “you’ve got the boat’s head the wrongway.”

  “Not I, sir. She’s heading for the brig as straight as she can go. Thiswind favours us on both legs; and it’s lucky it does, for’t will be hardon upon daylight afore we are alongside of her. You’ll want half an hourof dark, at the very least, to get a good start of the Swash, in caseshe makes sail a’ter you.”

  “Straight for the brig!--what have we to do with the brig? Our course isfor Key West, unless it might be better to run down before the wind tothe Dry Tortugas again, and look for the sloop-of-war. Duty, and perhapsmy own safety, tells me to let Captain Mull know what Spike is aboutwith the Swash; and I shall not hesitate a moment about doing it, afterall that has passed. Give me the helm, Jack, and let us ware short roundon our heel.”

  “Never, master maty--never. I must go back to the brig. Miss Rose,there, knows that my business is with Stephen Spike, and with him only.”

  “And I must return to my aunt, Harry,” put in Rose, herself. “It wouldnever do for me to desert my aunt, you know.”

  “And I have been taken from that rock, to be given up to the tendermercies of Spike again?”

  This was said rather in surprise, than in a complaining way; and it atonce induced Rose to tell the young man the whole of their project.

  “Never, Harry, never,” she said firmly. “It is our intention to returnto the brig ourselves, and let you escape in the boat afterwards. JackTier is of opinion this can be done without much risk, if we use propercaution and do not lose too much time. On no account would I consentto place you in the hands of Spike again--death would be preferable tothat, Harry!”

  “And on no account can or will I consent to place _you_ again in thehands of Spike, Rose,” answered the young man. “Now that we know hisintentions, such an act would be almost impious.”

  “Remember my aunt, dear Harry. What would be her situation in themorning, when she found herself deserted by her niece and Biddy--by me,whom she has nursed and watched from childhood, and whom she loves sowell.”

  “I shall not deny your obligations to your aunt, Rose, and your dutyto her under ordinary circumstances. But these are not ordinarycircumstances; and it would be courting the direst misfortunes, nay,almost braving Providence, to place yourself in the hands of thatscoundrel again, now that you are clear of them.”

  “Spike’s a willian!” muttered Jack.

  “And my desartin’ the missus would be a sin that no praste wouldoverlook aisily,” put in Biddy. “When Miss Rose told me of this v’y’gethat she meant to make in the boat wid Jack Tier, I asked to come along,that I might take care of her, and see that there was plenty of wather;but ill-luck befall me if I would have t’ought of sich a thing, and themissus desarted
.”

  “We can then run alongside of the brig, and put Biddy and Jack on boardof her,” said Mulford, reflecting a moment on what had just been said,“when you and I can make the best of our way to Key West, where themeans of sending government vessels out after the Swash will soon offer.In this way we can not only get our friends out of the lion’s jaws, butkeep out of them ourselves.”

  “Reflect a moment, Harry,” said Rose, in a low voice, but not withouttenderness in its tones; “it would not do for me to go off alone withyou in this boat.”

  “Not when you have confessed your willingness to go over the wide worldwith me, Rose--with me, and with me only?”

  “Not even then, Harry. I know you will think better of this, when yourgenerous nature has time to reason with your heart, on my account.”

  “I can only answer in your own words, Rose--never. If you return to theSwash, I shall go on board with you, and throw defiance into the veryteeth of Spike. I know the men do not dislike me, and, perhaps, assistedby Señor Montefalderon, and a few friends among the people, I can mustera force that will prevent my being thrown into the sea.”

  Rose burst into tears, and then succeeded many minutes, during whichMulford was endeavouring, with manly tenderness, to soothe her. As soonas our heroine recovered her self-command, she began to discuss thematter at issue between them more coolly. For half an hour everythingwas urged by each that feeling, affection, delicacy, or distrust ofSpike could well urge, and Mulford was slowly getting the best of theargument, as well he might, the truth being mostly of his side. Rose wasbewildered, really feeling a strong reluctance to quit her aunt,even with so justifiable a motive, but principally shrinking from theappearance of going off alone in a boat, and almost in the open sea,with Mulford. Had she loved Harry less, her scruples might not have beenso active, but the consciousness of the strength of her attachment, aswell as her fixed intention to become his wife the moment it was in herpower to give him her hand with the decencies of her sex, contributedstrangely to prevent her yielding to the young man’s reasoning. Onthe subject of the aunt, the mate made out so good a case, that it wasapparent to all in the boat Rose would have to abandon that ground ofrefusal. Spike had no object to gain by ill-treating Mrs. Budd; and theprobability certainly was that he would get rid of her as soon as hecould, and in the most easy manner. This was so apparent to all,that Harry had little difficulty in getting Rose to assent to itsprobability. But there remained the reluctance to go off alone with themate in a boat. This part of the subject was more difficult to managethan the other; and Mulford betrayed as much by the awkwardness withwhich he managed it. At length the discussion was brought to a close byJack Tier suddenly saying,--

  “Yonder is the brig; and we are heading for her as straight as if shewas the pole, and the keel of this boat was a compass. I see how itis, Miss Rose, and a’ter all, I must give in. I suppose some otheropportunity will offer for me to get on board of the brig ag’in, andI’ll trust to that. If you won’t go off with the mate alone, I supposeyou’ll not refuse to go off in my company.”

  “Will you accompany us, Jack? This is more than I had hoped for! Yes,Harry, if Jack Tier will be of the party, I will trust my aunt to Biddy,and go with you to Key West, in order to escape from Spike.”

  This was said so rapidly, and so unexpectedly, as to take Mulfordcompletely by surprise. Scarce believing what he heard, the young manwas disposed, at first, to feel hurt, though a moment’s reflectionshowed him that he ought to rejoice in the result let the cause be whatit might.

  “More than I had hoped for!” he could not refrain from repeating alittle bitterly; “is Jack Tier, then, of so much importance, that _his_company is thought preferable to mine!”

  “Hush, Harry!” said Rose, laying her hand on Mulford’s arm, by wayof strengthening her appeal. “Do not say _that_. You are ignorant ofcircumstances; at another time you shall know them, but not now. Let itbe enough for the present, that I promise to accompany you if Jack willbe of our party.”

  “Ay, ay, Miss Rose, I will be of the party, seeing there is no other wayof getting the lamb out of the jaws of the wolf. A’ter all, it may bethe wisest thing I can do, though back to the Swash I must and_will_ come, powder or no powder, treason or no treason, at the firstopportunity. Yes, _my_ business is with the Molly, and to the Molly Ishall return. It’s lucky, Miss Rose, since you have made up your mind toship for this new cruise, that I bethought me of telling Biddy to makeup a bundle of duds for you. This carpet-bag has a change or two in it,and all owing to my forethought. Your woman said ‘Miss Rose will comeback wid us, Jack, and what’s the use of rumplin’ the clothes for a fewhours’ sail in the boat;’ but I knew womankind better, and foreseed thatif master mate fell in alongside of you ag’in, you would not be apt topart company very soon.”

  “I thank you, Jack, for the provision made for my comfort; though somemoney would have added to it materially. My purse has a little gold init, but a very little, and I fear you are not much better off, Harry. Itwill be awkward to find ourselves in Key West penniless.”

  “We shall not be quite that. I left the brig absolutely without a cent,but foreseeing that necessity might make them of use, I borrowed halfa dozen of the doubloons from the bag of Señor Montefalderon, and,fortunately, they are still in my pocket. All I am worth in the world isin a bag of half-eagles, rather more than a hundred altogether, which Ileft in my chest, in my own state-room aboard the brig.”

  “You’ll find that in the carpet-bag too, master mate,” said Jack,coolly.

  “Find what, man--not my money, surely?”

  “Ay, every piece of it. Spike broke into your chest this a’ternoon,and made me hold the tools while he was doing it. He found the bag,and overhauled it--a hundred and seven half, eleven quarter, and onefull-grown eagle, was the count. When he had done the job, he put allback ag’in, a’ter giving me the full-grown eagle for my share of theplunder, and told me to say nothing of what I had seen. I did saynothing, but I did a good bit of work, for, while he was at supper. Iconfiserated that bag, as they call it--and you will find it there amongMiss Rose’s clothes, with the full-grown gentleman back in his nestag’in.”

  “This is being not only honest, Tier,” cried Mulford, heartily, “butthoughtful. One-half that money shall be yours for this act.”

  “I thank’e, sir; but I’ll not touch a cent of it. It came hard, I know,Mr. Mulford; for my own hands have smarted too much with tar, not toknow that the seaman ‘earns his money like the horse.’”

  “Still it would not be ‘spending it like an ass,’ Jack, to give you aportion of mine. But there will be other opportunities to talk of this.It is a sign of returning to the concerns of life, Rose, that moneybegins to be of interest to us. How little did we think of thedoubloons, or half-eagles, a few hours since, when on the wreck!”

  “It was wather that we t’ought of then,” put in Biddy. “Goold is goodin a market, or in a town, or to send back to Ireland, to help a body’saged fader or mudder in comfort wid; but wather is the blessed thing ona wrack!”

  “The brig is coming quite plainly into view, and you had better give methe helm, Jack. It is time to bethink us of the manner of approachingher, and how we are to proceed when alongside.”

  This was so obviously true, that everybody felt disposed to forget allother matters, in order to conduct the proceedings of the next twentyminutes, with the necessary prudence and caution. When Mulford firsttook the helm, the brig was just coming clearly into view, though stilllooking a little misty and distant. She might then have been half aleague distant, and would not have been visible at all by that light,but for the circumstance that she had no back-ground to swallow up heroutlines. Drawn against clouds, above which the rays of the moon wereshed, her tracery was to be discerned, however, and, minute by minute,it was getting to be more and more distinct, until it was now so plainlyto be seen as to admonish the mate of the necessity of preparation inthe manner mentioned.

  Tier now communicated to the ma
te his own proposed manner of proceeding.The brig tended to the trades, the tides having very little influence onher, in the bight of the reef where she lay. As the wind stood at abouteast south-east, the brig’s stern pointed to about west north-west,while the boat was coming down the passage from a direction nearly northfrom her, having, as a matter of course, the wind just free enough tolay her course. Jack’s plan was to pass the brig to windward, andhaving got well on her bow, to brail the sail, and drift down upon her,expecting to fall in alongside, abreast of the fore-chains, into whichhe had intended to help Biddy, and to ascend himself, when he supposedthat Mulford would again make sail, and carry off his mistress. To thisscheme the mate objected that it was awkward, and a little lubberly. Hesubstituted one in its place that differed in seamanship, and which wasaltogether better. Instead of passing to wind-ward, Mulford suggestedthe expediency of approaching to leeward, and of coming alongside underthe open bow-port, letting the sheet fly and brailing the sail, whenthe boat should be near enough to carry her to the point of destinationwithout further assistance from her canvass.

  Jack Tier took his officer’s improvement on his own plan in perfectgood part, readily and cheerfully expressing his willingness to aid theexecution of it all that lay in his power. As the boat sailed unusuallywell, there was barely time to explain to each individual his or herpart in the approaching critical movements, ere the crisis itself drewnear; then each of the party became silent and anxious, and events wereregarded rather than words.

  It is scarcely necessary to say that Mulford sailed a boat well. He heldthe sheet in his hand, as the little craft came up under the lee-quarterof the brig, while Jack stood by the brail. The eyes of the mate glancedover the hull of the vessel to ascertain, if possible, who might bestirring; but not a sign of life could he detect on board her. This verysilence made Mulford more distrustful and anxious, for he feared a trapwas set for him. He expected to see the head of one of the blacks atleast peering over the bulwarks, but nothing like a man was visible. Itwas too late to pause, however, and the sheet was slowly eased off, Jackhauling on the brail at the same time; the object being to prevent thesail’s flapping, and the sound reaching the ears of Spike. As Mulfordused great caution, and had previously schooled Jack on the subject,this important point was successfully achieved. Then the mate put hishelm down, and the boat shot up under the brig’s lee-bow. Jack was readyto lay hold of one of the bow-sprit shrouds, and presently the boatwas breasted up under the desired port, and secured in that position.Mulford quitted the stern-sheets, and cast a look in upon deck. Nothingwas to be seen, though he heard the heavy breathing of the blacks,both of whom were sound asleep on a sail that they had spread on theforecastle.

  The mate whispered for Biddy to come to the port. This the Irishwomandid at once, having kissed Rose, and taken her leave of her previously.Tier also came to the port, through which he passed, getting on deckwith a view to assist Biddy, who was awkward, almost as a matter ofcourse, to pass through the same opening. He had just succeeded, whenthe whole party was startled, some of them almost petrified, indeed, bya hail from the quarter-deck in the well-known, deep tones of Spike.

  “For’ard, there?” hailed the captain. Receiving no answer, heimmediately repeated, in a shorter, quicker call, “Forecastle, there?”

  “Sir,” answered Jack Tier, who by this time had come to his senses.

  “Who has the look-out on that forecastle?”

  “I have it, sir--I, Jack Tier. You know, sir, I was to have it from two‘till daylight.”

  “Ay, ay, I remember now. How does the brig ride to her anchor?”

  “As steady as a church, sir. She’s had no more sheer the whole watchthan if she was moored head and starn.”

  “Does the wind stand as it did?”

  “No change, sir. As dead a trade wind as ever blowed.”

  “What hard breathing is that I hear for’ard?”

  “‘T is the two niggers, sir. They’ve turned in on deck, and are nappingit off at the rate of six knots. There’s no keepin’ way with a nigger insnorin’.”

  “I thought I heard loud whispering, too, but I suppose it was a sort ofhalf-dream. I’m often in that way now-a-days. Jack!”

  “Sir.”

  “Go to the scuttle-butt and get me a pot of fresh water--my coppers arehot with hard thinking.”

  Jack did as ordered, and soon stood beneath the coach-house deck withSpike, who had come out of his state-room, heated and uneasy at he knewnot what. The captain drank a full pint of water at a single draught.

  “That’s refreshing,” he said, returning Jack the tinpot, “and I feel thecooler for it. How much does it want of daylight, Jack?”

  “Two hours, I think, sir. The order was passed to me to have all handscalled as soon as it was broad day.”

  “Ay, that is right. We must get our anchor and be off as soon as thereis light to do it in. Doubloons may melt as well as flour, and are bestcared for soon when cared for at all.”

  “I shall see and give the call as soon as it is day. I hope, CaptainSpike, I can take the liberty of an old ship-mate, however, and say onething to you, which is this--look out for the Poughkeepsie, which isvery likely to be on your heels when you least expect her.”

  “That’s your way of thinking, is it, Jack. Well, I thank you, old one,for the hint, but have little fear of that craft. We’ve had our legstogether, and I think the brig has the longest.”

  As the captain said this, he gaped like a hound, and went into hisstate-room. Jack lingered on the quarter-deck, waiting to hear himfairly in his berth, when he made a sign to Biddy, who had got as faraft as the galley, where she was secreted, to pass down into the cabin,as silently as possible. In a minute or two more, he moved forward,singing in a low, cracked voice, as was often his practice, and slowlymade his way to the forecastle. Mulford was just beginning to think thefellow had changed his mind, and meant to stick by the brig, when thelittle, rotund figure of the assistant-steward was seen passing throughthe port, and to drop noiselessly on a thwart. Jack then moved to thebow, and cast off the painter, the head of the boat slowly falling offunder the pressure of the breeze on that part of her mast and sail whichrose above the hull of the Swash. Almost at the same moment, the matelet go the stern-fast, and the boat was free.

  It required some care to set the sail without the canvas flapping. Itwas done, however, before the boat fairly took the breeze, when all wassafe. In half a minute the wind struck the sail, and away the littlecraft started, passing swiftly ahead of the brig. Soon as far enoughoff, Mulford put up his helm and wore short round, bringing the boat’shead to the northward, or in its proper direction; after which they flewalong before the wind, which seemed to be increasing in force, with avelocity that really appeared to defy pursuit. All this time the briglay in its silence and solitude, no one stirring on board her, and all,in fact, Biddy alone excepted, profoundly ignorant of what had justbeen passing alongside of her. Ten minutes of running off with a flowingsheet, caused the Swash to look indistinct and hazy again; in tenminutes more she was swallowed up, hull, spars, and all, in the gloom ofnight.

  Mulford and Rose now felt something like that security, without thesense of which happiness itself is but an uneasy feeling, rendering theanticipations of evil the more painful by the magnitude of the stake.There they sat, now, in the stern-sheets by themselves, Jack Tier havingplaced himself near the bows of the boat, to look out for rocks, as wellas to trim the craft. It was not long before Rose was leaning on Harry’sshoulder, and ere an hour was past, she had fallen into a sweet sleep inthat attitude, the young man having carefully covered her person with acapacious shawl, the same that had been used on the wreck. As for Jack,he maintained his post in silence, sitting with his arms crossed,and the hands thrust into the breast of his jacket, sailor fashion, apicture of nautical vigilance. It was some time after Rose had fallenasleep, that this singular being spoke for the first time.

  “Keep her away a bit, maty,” he said, “keep her away, h
alf a pointor so. She’s been travelin’ like a racer since we left the brig; andyonder’s the first streak of day.”

  “By the time we have been running,” observed Mulford, “I should think wemust be getting near the northern side of the reef.”

  “All of that, sir, depend on it. Here’s a rock close aboard on us, towhich we’re comin’ fast--just off here, on our weather-bow, that looksto me like the place where you landed a’ter that swim, and where we hadstowed ourselves when Stephen Spike made us out, and gave chase.”

  “It is surprising to me, Jack, that you should have any fancy to stickby a man of Spike’s character. He is a precious rascal, as we all cansee, now, and you are rather an honest sort of fellow.”

  “Do you love the young woman there, that’s lying in your arms, as itmight be, and whom you say you wish to marry.”

  “The question is a queer one, but it is easily answered. More than mylife, Jack.”

  “Well, how happens it that _you_ succeed, when the world has so manyother young men who might please her as well as yourself.”

  “It may be that no other loves her as well, and she has had the sagacityto discover it.”

  “Quite likely. So it is with me and Stephen Spike. I fancy a man whomother folk despise and condemn. _Why_ I stand by him is my own secret;but stand by him I do and will.”

  “This is all very strange, after your conduct on the island, and yourconduct to-night. I shall not disturb your secret, however, Jack, butleave you to enjoy it by yourself. Is this the rock of which you spoke,that we are now passing?”

  “The same; and there’s the spot in which we was stowed when they madeus out from the brig; and here-away, a cable’s length, more or less, thewreck of that Mexican craft must lie.”

  “What is that rising above the water, thereaway, Jack; more on ourweather-beam?”

  “I see what you mean, sir; it looks like a spar. By George! there’s twoon ‘em; and they _do_ seem to be the schooner’s masts.”

  Sure enough! a second look satisfied Mulford that two mast-heads wereout of water, and that within a hundred yards of the place the boatwas running past. Standing on a short distance, or far enough to givehimself room, the mate put his helm down, and tacked the boat. Theflapping of the sail, and the little movement of shifting over thesheet, awoke Rose, who was immediately apprized of the discovery. Assoon as round, the boat went glancing up to the spars, and presently wasriding by one, Jack Tier having caught hold of a topmast-shroud, whenMulford let fly his sheet again, and luffed short up to the spot. Bythis time the increasing light was sufficiently strong to render objectsdistinct, when near by, and no doubt remained any longer in the mind ofMulford about the two mast-heads being those of the unfortunate Mexicanschooner.

  “Well, of all I have ever seen I’ve never see’d the like of this afore!” exclaimed Jack. “When we left this here craft, sir, you’ll remember,she had almost turned turtle, laying over so far as to bring her uppercoamings under water; now she stands right side up, as erect as ifdocked! My navigation can’t get along with this, Mr. Mulford, and itdoes seem like witchcraft.”

  “It is certainly a very singular incident, Jack, and I have been tryingto come at its causes.”

  “Have you succeeded, Harry?” asked Rose, by this time wide awake, andwondering like the others.

  “It must have happened in this wise. The wreck was abandoned by us somelittle distance out here, to windward. The schooner’s masts, of course,pointed to leeward, and when she drifted in here, they have firsttouched on a shelving rock, and as they have been shoved up, little bylittle, they have acted as levers to right the hull, until the cargo hasshifted back into its proper berth, which has suddenly set the vessel upagain.”

  “Ay, ay, sir,” answered Jack, “all that might have happened had she beenabove water, or any part of her above water; but you’ll remember, maty,that soon after we left her she went down.”

  “Not entirely. The wreck settled in the water no faster after we hadleft it, than it had done before. It continued to sink, inch by inch, asthe air escaped, and no faster after it had gone entirely out of sightthan before; not as fast, indeed, as the water became denser the lowerit got. The great argument against my theory, is the fact, that afterthe hull got beneath the surface, the wind could not act on it. Thisis true in one sense, however, and not in another. The waves, or thepressure of the water produced by the wind, might act on the hull forsome time after we ceased to see it. But the currents have set the craftin here, and the hull floating always, very little force would cant thecraft. If the rock were shelving and slippery, I see no great difficultyin the way; and the barrels may have been so lodged, that a trifle wouldset them rolling back again, each one helping to produce a change thatwould move another. As for the ballast, that, I am certain, could notshift, for it was stowed with great care. As the vessel righted, the airstill in her moved, and as soon as the water permitted, it escaped bythe hatches, when the craft went down, as a matter of course. This airmay have aided in bringing the hull upright by its movements in thewater.”

  This was the only explanation to which the ingenuity of Mulford couldhelp him, under the circumstances, and it may have been the right one,or not. There lay the schooner, however, in some five or six fathoms ofwater, with her two topmasts, and lower mast-heads out of the element,as upright as if docked! It may all have occurred as the mate fancied,or the unusual incident may have been owing to some of the manymysterious causes which baffle inquiry, when the agents are necessarilyhidden from examination.

  “Spike intends to come and look for this wreck, you tell me, Jack; inthe hope of getting at the doubloons it contains?” said Mulford; whenthe boat had lain a minute or two longer, riding by the mast-head.

  “Ay, ay, sir; that’s his notion, sir, and he’ll be in a great stew,as soon as he turns out, which must be about this time, and finds memissing; for I was to pilot him to the spot.”

  “He’ll want no pilot now. It will be scarcely possible to pass anywherenear this and not see these spars. But this discovery almost induces meto change my own plans. What say _you,_ Rose? We have now reached thenorthern side of the reef, when it is time to haul close by the wind,if we wish to beat up to Key West. There is a moral certainty, however,that the sloop-of-war is somewhere in the neighbourhood of the DryTortugas, which are much the most easily reached, being to leeward. Wemight run down to the light-house by mid-day, while it is doubtful if wecould reach the town until to-morrow morning. I should likeexceedingly to have five minutes conversation with the commander of thePoughkeepsie.”

  “Ay, to let him know where he will be likely to fall in with the MollySwash and her traitor master, Stephen Spike,” cried Jack Tier. “Nevermind, maty; let ‘em come on; both the Molly and her master have gotlong legs and clean heels. Stephen Spike will show ‘em how to thread thechannels of a reef.”

  “It is amazing to me, Jack, that you should stand by your old captainin feeling, while you are helping to thwart him, all you can, in hiswarmest wishes.”

  “He’s a willian!” muttered Jack--“a reg’lar willian is Stephen Spike!”

  “If a villain, why do you so evidently wish to keep him out of the handsof the law? Let him be captured and punished, as his crimes require.”

  “Men’s willians, all round,” still muttered Jack. “Hark’e, Mr. Mulford,I’ve sailed in the brig longer than you, and know’d her in her comeliestand best days--when she was young, and blooming, and lovely to the eye,as the young creature at your side--and it would go to my heart to haveanything happen to _her_. Then, I’ve know’d Stephen a long time, too,and old shipmates get a feelin’ for each other, sooner or later. I tellyou now, honestly, Mr. Mulford, Captain Adam Mull shall never make aprisoner of Stephen Spike, if I can prevent it.”

  The mate laughed at this sally, but Rose appeared anxious to change theconversation, and she managed to open a discussion on the subject of thecourse it might be best to steer. Mulford had several excellent reasonsto urge for wishing to run d
own to the islets, all of which, with asingle exception, he laid before his betrothed. The concealed reasonwas one of the strongest of them all, as usually happens when there isa reason to conceal, but of that he took care to say nothing. The resultwas an acquiescence on the part of Rose, whose consent was yielded moreto the influence of one particular consideration than to all the restunited. That one was this: Harry had pointed out to her the importanceto himself of his appearing early to denounce the character andmovements of the brig, lest, through his former situation in her, hisown conduct might be seriously called in question.

  As soon as the matter was determined, Jack was told to let go his hold,the sheet was drawn aft, and away sped the boat. No sooner did Mulfordcause the little craft to keep away than it almost flew, as if consciousit were bound to its proper home, skimming swiftly over the waves,like a bird returning eagerly to its nest. An hour later the partybreakfasted. While at this meal, Jack Tier pointed out to the mate awhite speck, in the south-eastern board, which he took to be the brigcoming through the passage, on her way to the wreck.

  “No matter,” returned the mate. “Though we can see her, she cannot seeus. There is that much advantage in our being small, Rose, if it doprevent our taking exercise by walking the deck.”

  Soon after, Mulford made a very distant sail in the north-western board,which he hoped might turn out to be the Poughkeepsie. It was but anotherspeck, but its position was somewhat like that in which he had expectedto meet the sloop-of-war. The two vessels were so far apart that onecould not be seen from the other, and there was little hope that thePoughkeepsie would detect Spike at his toil on the wreck; but the matefully expected that the ship would go into the anchorage, among theislets, in order to ascertain what had become of the schooner. If shedid not go in herself, she would be almost certain to send in a boat.

  The party from the brigantine had run down before the wind more than twohours before the light-house began to show itself, just rising out ofthe waves. This gave them the advantage of a beacon, Mulford havingsteered hitherto altogether by the sun, the direction of the wind, andthe treading of the reef. Now he had his port in sight, it being hisintention to take possession of the dwelling of the light-house keeper,and to remain in it, until a favourable opportunity occurred to removeRose to Key West. The young man had also another important project inview, which it will be in season to mention as it reaches the moment ofits fulfillment.

  The rate of sailing of the light-house boat, running before a brisktrade wind, could not be much less than nine miles in the hour. Abouteleven o’clock, therefore, the lively craft shot through one of thenarrow channels of the islets, and entered the haven. In a few minutesall three of the adventurers were on the little wharf where thelight-house people were in the habit of landing. Rose proceeded to thehouse, while Harry and Jack remained to secure the boat. For the latterpurpose a sort of slip, or little dock, had been made, and when the boatwas hauled into it, it lay so snug that not only was the craft securefrom injury, but it was actually hid from the view of all but those whostood directly above it.

  “This is a snug berth for the boat, Jack,” observed the mate, when hehad hauled it into the place mentioned, “and by unstepping the mast, apasser-by would not suspect such a craft of lying in it. Who knows whatoccasion there may be for concealment, and I’ll e’en do that thing.”

  To a casual listener, Harry, in unstepping the mast, might have seemedinfluenced merely by a motiveless impulse; but, in truth, a latentsuspicion of Jack’s intentions instigated him, and as he laid the mast,sprit and sail on the thwarts, he determined, in his own mind, to removethem all to some other place, as soon as an opportunity for doing sounobserved should occur. He and Jack now followed Rose to the house.

  The islets were found deserted and tenantless. Not a human being hadentered the house since Rose left it, the evening she had remained solong ashore, in company with her aunt and the Señor Montefalderon. Thisour heroine knew from the circumstance of finding a slight fastening ofthe outer door in the precise situation in which she had left it withher own hands. At first a feeling of oppression and awe prevailed withboth Harry and Rose, when they recollected the fate of those who had solately been tenants of the place; but this gradually wore off, and eachsoon got to be more at home. As for Jack, he very coolly rummaged thelockers, as he called the drawers and closets of the place, and made hispreparations for cooking a very delicious repast, in which _callipash_and _callipee_ were to be material ingredients. The necessary condimentswere easily enough found in that place, turtle being a common dishthere, and it was not long before steams that might have quickened theappetite of an alderman filled the kitchen. Rose rummaged, too, andfound a clean table-cloth, plates, glasses, bowls, spoons, and knives;in a word, all that was necessary to spread a plain but plentiful board.While all this was doing, Harry took some fishing-tackle, and proceededto a favourable spot among the rocks. In twenty minutes he returned witha fine mess of that most delicious little fish that goes by the veryunpoetical name of “hog-fish,” from the circumstance of its giving agrunt not unlike that of a living porker, when rudely drawn from itsproper element. Nothing was now wanting to not only a comfortable,but to what was really a most epicurian meal, and Jack just begged thelovers to have patience for an hour or so, when he promised them dishesthat even New York could not furnish.

  Harry and Rose first retired to pay a little attention to their dress,and then they joined each other in a walk. The mate had found somerazors, and was clean shaved. He had also sequestered a shirt, and madesome other little additions to his attire, that contributed to give himthe appearance of being, that which he really was, a very gentleman-likelooking young sailor. Rose had felt no necessity for taking libertieswith the effects of others, though a good deal of female attire wasfound in the dwelling. As was afterward ascertained, a family ordinarilydwelt there, but most of it had gone to Key West, on a visit, at themoment when the man and boy left in charge had fallen into the hands ofthe Mexicans, losing their lives in the manner mentioned.

  While walking together, Harry opened his mind to Rose, on the subjectwhich lay nearest to his heart, and which had been at the bottom of thissecond visit to the islets of the Dry Tortugas. During the differentvisits of Wallace to the brig, the boat’s crew of the Poughkeepsie hadheld more or less discourse with the people of the Swash. This usuallyhappens on such occasions, and although Spike had endeavoured to preventit, when his brig lay in this bay, he had not been entirely successful.Such discourse is commonly jocular, and sometimes witty; every speech,coming from which side it may, ordinarily commencing with “shipmate,” though the interlocutors never saw each other before that interview. Inone of the visits an allusion was made to cargo, when “the pretty galaft,” was mentioned as being a part of the cargo of the Swash. In answerto this remark, the wit of the Poughkeepsie had told the brig’s man,“you had better send her on board us, for we carry a chaplain, aregular-built one, that will be a bishop some day or other, perhaps, andwe can get her spliced to one of our young officers.” This remark hadinduced the sailor of the Molly to ask if a sloop-of-war really carriedsuch a piece of marine luxury as a chaplain, and the explanation givenwent to say that the clergyman in question did not properly belong tothe Poughkeepsie, but was to be put on board a frigate, as soon as theyfell in with one that he named. Now, all this Mulford overheard, and heremembered it at a moment when it might be of use. Situated as he andRose were, he felt the wisdom and propriety of their being united, andhis present object was to persuade his companion to be of the same wayof thinking. He doubted not that the sloop-of-war would come in, erelong, perhaps that very day, and he believed it would be an easy matterto induce her chaplain to perform the ceremony. America is a country inwhich every facility exists, with the fewest possible impediments,to getting married; and, we regret to be compelled to add, to gettingunmarried also. There are no banns, no licenses, no consent of parentseven, usually necessary, and persons who are of the age of discretion,which, as respects fema
les and matrimony, is a very tender age indeed,may be married, if they see fit, almost without form or ceremony. Thereexisted, therefore, no legal impediment to the course Mulford desired totake; and his principal, if not his only difficulty, would be with Rose.Over her scruples he hoped to prevail, and not without reason, as thecase he could and did present, was certainly one of a character thatentitled him to be heard with great attention.

  In the first place, Mrs. Budd had approved of the connection, and it wasunderstood between them, that the young people were to be united at thefirst port in which a clergyman of their own persuasion could be found,and previously to reaching home. This had been the aunt’s own project,for, weak and silly as she was, the relict had a woman’s sense of theproprieties. It had occured to her that it would be more respectable tomake the long journey which lay before them, escorted by a nephew andhusband, than escorted by even an accepted lover. It is true thatshe had never anticipated a marriage in a light-house, and under thecircumstances in which Rose was now placed, though it might be morereputable that her niece should quit the islets as the wife of Harrythan as his betrothed. Then Mulford still apprehended Spike. In thatremote part of the world, almost beyond the confines of society, it wasnot easy to foretell what claims he might set up, in the event of hismeeting them there. Armed with the authority of a husband, Mulford couldresist him, in any such case, with far better prospects of success thanif he should appear only in the character of a suitor.

  Rose listened to these arguments, ardently and somewhat eloquently put,as a girl of her years and habits would be apt to listen to a favouredlover. She was much too sincere to deny her own attachment, which theevents of the last few days had increased almost to intenseness, soapt is our tenderness to augment in behalf of those for whom we feelsolicitude; and her judgment told her that the more sober part ofHarry’s reasoning was entitled to consideration. As his wife, hersituation would certainly be much less equivocal and awkward, than whileshe bore a different name, and was admitted to be a single woman, and itmight yet be weeks before the duty she owed her aunt would allow her toproceed to the north. But, after all, Harry prevailed more through theinfluence of his hold on Rose’s affections, as would have been the casewith almost every other woman, than through any force of reasoning. Hetruly loved, and that made him eloquent when he spoke of love; sympathyin all he uttered being his great ally. When summoned to the house, bythe call of Jack, who announced that the turtle-soup was ready, theyreturned with the understanding that the chaplain of the Poughkeepsieshould unite them, did the vessel come in, and would the functionarymentioned consent to perform the ceremony.

  “It would be awkward--nay, it would be distressing, Harry, to havehim refuse,” said the blushing Rose, as they walked slowly back to thehouse, more desirous to prolong their conversation than to partakeof the bountiful provision of Jack Tier. The latter could not but beacceptable, nevertheless, to a young man like Mulford, who was in robusthealth, and who had fared so badly for the last eight-and-forty hours.When he sat down to the table, therefore, which was covered by asnow-white cloth, with smoking and most savoury viands on it, it willnot be surprising if we say it was with a pleasure that was derived fromone of the great necessities of our nature.

  Sancho calls for benediction “on the man who invented sleep.” Itwould have been more just to have asked this boon in behalf of him whoinvented eating and turtle-soup. The wearied fall into sleep, as itmight be unwittingly; sometimes against their will, and often againsttheir interests; while many a man is hungry without possessing themeans of appeasing his appetite. Still more daily feel hunger withoutpossessing turtle-soup. Certain persons impute this delicious compoundto the genius of some London alderman, but we rather think unjustly.Aldermanic genius is easily excited and rendered active, no doubt, bystrong appeals on such a theme, but our own experience inclines usto believe that the tropics usually send their inventions to the lessfruitful regions of the earth along with their products. We havelittle doubt, could the fact be now ascertained, that it would be foundturtle-soup was originally invented by just some such worthy as JackTier, who in filling his coppers to tickle the captain’s appetite, hadused all the condiments within his reach; ventured on a sort of Regent’spunch; and, as the consequence, had brought forth the dish so ofteneulogized, and so well beloved. It is a little extraordinary that inParis, the seat of gastronomy, one rarely, if ever, hears of or seesthis dish; while in London it is to be met in almost as great abundanceas in one of our larger commercial towns. But so it is, and we cannotsay we much envy a _cuisine_ its _patés,_ and _soufflets,_ and its _àla_ this and _à la_ thats, but which was never redolent with the odoursof turtle-soup.

  “Upon my word, Jack, you have made out famously with your dinner, orsupper, whichever you may please to call it,” cried Mulford gaily, ashe took his seat at table, after having furnished Rose with a chair.“Nothing appears to be wanting; but here is good pilot bread, potatoeseven, and other little niceties, in addition to the turtle and the fish.These good people of the light seem to have lived comfortably, at anyrate.”

  “Why should they not, maty?” answered Jack, beginning to help to soup.“Living on one of these islets is like living afloat. Everything is laidin, as for an outward bound craft; then the reef must always furnishfish and turtle. I’ve overhauled the lockers pretty thoroughly, andfind a plenty of stores to last _us_ a month. Tea, sugar, coffee, bread,pickles, potatoes, onions, and all other knick-knacks.”

  “The poor people who own these stores will be heavy-hearted enoughwhen they come to learn the reason why we have been put in undisturbedpossession of their property,” said Rose. “We must contrive some meansof repaying them for such articles as we may use, Harry.”

  “That’s easily enough done, Miss Rose. Drop one of the half-eagles in atea-pot, or a mug, and they’ll be certain to fall in with it when theycome back. Nothin’ is easier than to pay a body’s debts, when a body hasthe will and the means. Now, the worst enemy of Stephen Spike must ownthat his brig never quits port with unsettled bills. Stephen has hisfaults, like other mortals; but he has his good p’ints, too.”

  “Still praising Spike, my good Jack,” cried the mate, a little provokedat this pertinacity in the deputy-steward, in sticking to his ship andhis shipmate. “I should have thought that you had sailed with him longenough to have found him out, and to wish never to put your foot in hiscabin again.”

  “Why, no, maty, a craft is a craft, and a body gets to like even thefaults of one in which a body has gone through gales, and squalls,with a whole skin. I like the Swash, and, for sartain things I like hercaptain.”

  “Meaning by that, it is your intention to get on board of the one, andto sail with the other, again, as soon as you can.”

  “I do, Mr. Mulford, and make no bones in telling on’t. You know that Icame here without wishing it.”

  “Well, Jack, no one will attempt to control your movements, but youshall be left your own master. I feel it to be a duty, however, as onewho may know more of the law than yourself, as well as more of StephenSpike, to tell you that he is engaged in a treasonable commerce withthe enemy, and that he, and all who voluntarily remain with him, knowingthis fact, may be made to swing for it.”

  “Then I’ll swing for it,” returned Jack, sullenly.

  “There is a little obstinacy in this, my good fellow, and you must bereasoned out of it. I am under infinite obligations to you, Jack, andshall ever be ready to own them. Without you to sail the boat, I mighthave been left to perish on that rock,--for God only knows whether anyvessel would have seen me in passing. Most of those who go throughthat passage keep the western side of the reef aboard, they tell me, onaccount of there being better water on that side of the channel, and thechance of a man’s being seen on a rock, by ships a league or two off,would be small indeed. Yes, Jack, I owe my life to you, and am proud toown it.”

  “You owe it to Miss Rose, maty, who put me up to the enterprise, and whoshared it with me.”

  “To her I
owe more than life,” answered Harry, looking at his belovedas she delighted in being regarded by him, “but even she, with allher wishes to serve me, would have been helpless without your skill inmanaging a boat. I owe also to your good-nature the happiness of havingRose with me at this moment; for without you she would not have come.”

  “I’ll not deny it, maty--take another ladle-full of the soup, Miss Rosy:a quart of it would n’t hurt an infant--I’ll not deny it, Mr. Mulford--Iknow by the way you’ve got rid of the first bowl-full that _you_ areready for another, and there it is--I’ll not deny it, and all I can sayis that you are heartily welcome to my sarvices.”

  “I thank you, Jack; but all this only makes me more desirous of being ofuse to you, now, when it’s in my power. I wish you to stick by me, andnot to return to the Swash. As soon as I get to New York I shall buildor buy a ship, and the berth of steward in her shall always be open toyou.”

  “Thank’e, maty; thank’e, with all my heart. It’s something to know thata port is open to leeward, and, though I cannot _now_ accept your offer,the day _may_ come when I shall be glad to do so.”

  “If you like living ashore better, our house will always be ready toreceive you. I should be glad to leave as handy a little fellow asyourself behind me whenever I went to sea. There are a hundred things inwhich you might be useful, and fully earn your biscuit, so as to have noqualms about eating the bread of idleness.”

  “Thank’e, thank’e, maty,” cried Jack, dashing a tear out of his eye withthe back of his hand, “thank’e, sir, from the bottom of my heart. Thetime _may_ come, but not now. My papers is signed for this v’y’ge.Stephen Spike has a halter round his neck, as you say yourself, and it’snecessary for me to be there to look to’t. We all have our callin’s andduties, and this is mine. I stick by the Molly and her captain untilboth are out of this scrape, or both are condemned. I know nothin’ oftreason; but if the law wants another victim, I must take my chance.”

  Mulford was surprised at this steadiness of Jack’s, in what he thoughta very bad cause, and he was quite as much surprised that Rose didnot join him, in his endeavours to persuade the steward not to beso foolhardy, as to endeavour to go back to the brig. Rose did not,however; sitting silently eating her dinner the whole time, though sheoccasionally cast glances of interest at both the speakers the while.In this state of things the mate abandoned the attempt, for themoment, intending to return to the subject, after having had a privateconference with his betrothed.

  Notwithstanding the little drawback just related, that was a happy aswell as a delicious repast. The mate did full justice to the soup, andafterward to the fish with the unpoetical name; and Rose ate more thanshe had done in the last three days. The habits of discipline preventedJack from taking his seat at table, though pressed by both Rose andHarry to do so, but he helped himself to the contents of a bowl anddid full justice to his own art, on one aside. The little fellow wasdelighted with the praises that were bestowed on his dishes; and for themoment, the sea, its dangers, its tornadoes, wrecks and races, were allforgotten in the security and pleasures of so savoury a repast.

  “Folk ashore do n’t know how sailors sometimes live,” said Jack, holdinga large spoon filled with the soup ready to plunge into a tolerablycapacious mouth.

  “Or how they sometimes starve,” answered Rose. “Remember our ownsituation, less than forty-eight hours since!”

  “All very true, Miss Rose; yet, you see, turtle-soup brings us up, a’terall. Would you like a glass of wine, maty?”

  “Very much indeed, Jack, after so luscious a soup; but wishing for itwill not bring it here.”

  “That remains to be seen, sir. I call this a bottle of something thatlooks wery much like a wine.”

  “Claret, as I live! Why, where should light-house keepers get the tastefor claret?”

  “I’ve thought of that myself, Mr. Mulford, and have supposed that someof Uncle Sam’s officers have brought the liquor to this part of theworld. I understand a party on ‘em was here surveyin’ all last winter.It seems they come in the cool weather, and get their sights and measuretheir distances, and go home in the warm weather, and work out theirtraverses in the shade, as it might be.”

  “This seems likely, Jack; but, come whence it may it is welcome, and wewill taste it.”

  Mulford then drew the cork of this mild and grateful liquor, and helpedhis companions and himself. In this age of moral _tours de force,_ onescarcely dare say anything favourable of a liquid that even bears thename of wine, or extol the shape of a bottle. It is truly the era ofexaggeration. Nothing is treated in the old-fashioned, natural, commonsense way. Virtue is no longer virtue, unless it get upon stilts; and,as for sin’s being confined to “transgression against the law of God,” audacious would be the wretch who should presume to limit the sway ofthe societies by any dogma so narrow! A man may be as abstemious as ananchorite and get no credit for it, unless “he sigu the pledge;” or,signing the pledge, he may get fuddled in corners, and be cited as amiracle of sobriety. The test of morals is no longer in the abuse of thegifts of Providence, but in their use; prayers are deserting the closetfor the corners of streets, and charity (not the giving of alms) hasgot to be so earnest in the demonstration of its nature, as to be prettycertain to “begin at home,” and to end where it begins. Even the art ofmendacity has been aroused by the great progress which is making by allaround it, and many manifest the strength of their ambition by tellingten lies where their fathers would have been satisfied with telling onlyone. This art has made an extraordinary progress within the last quarterof a century, aspiring to an ascendency that was formerly concededonly to truth, until he who gains his daily bread by it has some suchcontempt for the sneaking wretch who does business on the small scale,as the slayer of his thousands in the field is known to entertain forhim who kills only a single man in the course of a long life.

  At the risk of damaging the reputations of our hero and heroine, weshall frankly aver the fact that both Harry and Rose partook of the _vinde Bordeaux,_ a very respectable bottle of _Medoc,_ by the way, whichhad been forgotten by Uncle Sam’s people, in the course of the precedingwinter, agreeably to Jack Tier’s conjecture. One glass sufficed forRose, and, contrary as it may be to all modern theory, she was somewhatthe better for it; while the mate and Jack Tier quite half emptied thebottle, being none the worse. There they sat, enjoying the securityand abundance which had succeeded to their late danger, happy in thatsecurity, happy in themselves, and happy in the prospects of a brightfuture. It was just as practicable for them to remain at the DryTortugas, as it was for the family which ordinarily dwelt at the light.The place was amply supplied with everything that would be necessaryfor their wants, for months to come, and Harry caused his betrothed toblush, as he whispered to her, should the chaplain arrive, he shoulddelight in passing the honey-moon where they then were.

  “I could tend the light,” he added, smiling, “which would be not only anoccupation, but a useful occupation; you could read all those books frombeginning to end, and Jack could keep us suplied with fish. By the way,master steward, are you in the humour for motion, so soon after yourhearty meal?”

  “Anything to be useful,” answered Jack, cheerfully.

  “Then do me the favour to go up into the lantern of the light-house, andtake a look for the sloop-of-war. If she’s in sight at all, you’ll findher off here to the northward; and while you are aloft you may as wellmake a sweep of the whole horizon. There hangs the light-house keeper’sglass, which may help your eyes, by stepping into the gallery outside ofthe lantern.”

  Jack willingly complied, taking the glass and proceeding forthwithto the other building. Mulford had two objects in view in giving thiscommission to the steward. He really wished to ascertain what was thechance of seeing the Poughkeepsie, in the neighbourhood of the islets,and felt just that indisposition to move himself, that is apt to comeover one who has recently made a very bountiful meal, while he alsodesired to have another private conversation with Rose.
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  A good portion of the time that Jack was gone, and he stayed quite anhour in the lantern, our lovers conversed as lovers are much inclinedto converse; that is to say, of themselves, their feelings, and theirprospects. Mulford told Rose of his hopes and fears, while he visitedat the house of her aunt, previously to sailing, and the manner in whichhis suspicions had been first awakened in reference to the intentions ofSpike--intentions, so far as they were connected with an admirationof his old commander’s niece, and possibly in connection also with thelittle fortune she was known to possess, but not in reference to thebold project to which he had, in fact, resorted. No distrust of thescheme finally put in practice had ever crossed the mind of the youngmate, until he received the unexpected order, mentioned in our openingchapter, to prepare the brig for the reception of Mrs. Budd and herparty. Harry confessed his jealousy of one youth whom he dreaded farmore even than he had ever dreaded Spike, and whose apparent favour withRose, and actual favour with her aunt, had given him many a sleeplessnight.

  They next conversed of the future, which to them seemed full of flowers.Various were the projects started, discussed, and dismissed, betweenthem, the last almost as soon as proposed. On one thing they were ofa mind, as soon as proposed. Harry was to have a ship as quick as onecould be purchased by Rose’s means, and the promised bride laughinglyconsented to make one voyage to Europe along with her husband.

  “I wonder, dear Rose, my poverty has never presented any difficultiesin the way of our union,” said Harry, sensibly touched with the free wayhis betrothed disposed of her own money in his behalf; “but neitheryou nor Mrs. Budd has ever seemed to think of the difference there isbetween us in this respect.”

  “What is the trifle I possess, Harry, set in the balance against yourworth? My aunt, as you say, has thought I might even be the gainer bythe exchange.”

  “I am sure I feel a thousand times indebted to Mrs. Budd--”

  “_Aunt_ Budd. You must learn to say, ‘_my_ Aunt Budd,’ Mr. HenryMulford, if you mean to live in peace with her unworthy niece.”

  “_Aunt_ Budd, then,” returned Harry, laughing, for the laugh came easilythat evening; “Aunt Budd, if you wish it, Rose. I can have no objectionto call any relative of yours, uncle or aunt.”

  “I think we are intimate enough, now, to ask you a question or two,Harry, touching my aunt,” continued Rose, looking stealthily over hershoulder, as if apprehensive of being overheard. “You know how fond sheis of speaking of the sea, and of indulging in nautical phrases?”

  “Any one must have observed that, Rose,” answered the young man, gazingup at the wall, in order not to be compelled to look the beautifulcreature before him in the eyes--“Mrs. Budd has very strong tastes thatway.”

  “Now tell me, Harry--that is, answer me frankly--I mean--she is not_always_ right, is she?”

  “Why, no; not absolutely so--that is, not absolutely _always_ so--fewpersons are _always_ right, you know.”

  Rose remained silent and embarrassed for a moment; after which shepursued the discourse.

  “But aunty does not know as much of the sea and of ships as she thinksshe does?”

  “Perhaps not. We all overrate our own acquirements. I dare say that evenI am not as good a seaman as I fancy myself to be.”

  “Even Spike admits that you are what he calls ‘a prime seaman.’ But itis not easy for a woman to get a correct knowledge of the use of all thestrange, and sometimes uncouth, terms that you sailors use.”

  “Certainly not, and for that reason I would rather you should neverattempt it, Rose. We rough sons of the ocean would prefer to hear ourwives make divers pretty blunders, rather than to be swaggering aboutlike so many ‘old salts.’”

  “Mr. Mulford! Does Aunt Budd swagger like an old salt?”

  “Dearest Rose, I was not thinking of your aunt, but of _you_. Of you, asyou are, feminine, spirited, lovely alike in form and character, and ofyou a graduate of the ocean, and full of its language and ideas.”

  It was probable Rose was not displeased at this allusion to herself, fora smile struggled around her pretty mouth, and she did not look at allangry. After another short pause, she resumed the discourse.

  “My aunt did not very clearly comprehend those explanations of yoursabout the time of day, and the longitude,” she said, “nor am I quitecertain that I did myself.”

  “You understood them far better than Mrs. Budd, Rose. Women are solittle accustomed to _think_ on such subjects at all, that it is notsurprising they sometimes get confused. I do wish, however, thatyour aunt could be persuaded to be more cautious in the presence ofstrangers, on the subject of terms she does not understand.”

  “I feared it might be so, Harry,” answered Rose, in a low voice, as ifunwilling even he should know the full extent of her thoughts on thissubject; “but my aunt’s heart is most excellent, though she may makemistakes occasionally, I owe her a great deal, if not absolutely myeducation, certainly my health and comfort through childhood, and moreprudent, womanly advice than you may suppose, perhaps, since I haveleft school. How she became the dupe of Spike, indeed, is to meunaccountable; for in all that relates to health, she is, in general,both acute and skilful.”

  “Spike is a man of more art than he appears to be to superficialobservers. On my first acquaintance with him, I mistook him for afrank, fearless but well-meaning sailor, who loved hazardous voyages anddesperate speculation--a sort of innocent gambler; but I have learned toknow better. His means are pretty much reduced to his brig, and she isgetting old, and can do but little more service. His projects areplain enough, now. By getting you into his power, he hoped to compela marriage, in which case both your fortune and your aunt’s wouldcontribute to repair his.”

  “He might have killed me, but I never would have married him,” rejoined Rose, firmly. “Is not that Jack coming down the steps of thelight-house?”

  “It is. I find that fellow’s attachment to Spike very extraordinary,Rose. Can you, in any manner, account for it?”

  Rose at first seemed disposed to reply. Her lips parted, as if about tospeak, and closed again, as glancing her eyes toward the open door, sheseemed to expect the appearance of the steward’s little, rotund formon its threshold, which held her tongue-tied. A brief interval elapsed,however, ere Jack actually arrived, and Rose, perceiving that Harry wascuriously expecting her answer, said hurriedly--“It may be hatred, notattachment.”

  The next instant Jack Tier entered the room. He had been gone rathermore than an hour, not returning until just as the sun was about to setin a flame of fire.

  “Well, Jack, what news from the Poughkeepsie?” demanded the mate. “Youhave been gone long enough to make sure of your errand. Is it certainthat we are not to see the man-of-war’s-men to-night.”

  “Whatever you see, my advice to you is to keep close, and to be on yourguard,” answered Jack, evasively.

  “I have little fear of any of Uncle Sam’s craft. A plain story, and anhonest heart, will make all clear to a well-disposed listener. We havenot been accomplices in Spike’s treasons, and cannot be made to answerfor them.”

  “Take my advice, maty, and be in no hurry to hail every vessel you see.Uncle Sam’s fellows may not always be at hand to help you. Do you notknow that this island will be tabooed to seamen for some time to come?”

  “Why so, Jack? The islet has done no harm, though others may haveperformed wicked deeds near it.”

  “Two of the drowned men lie within a hundred yards of this spot, andsailors never go near new-made graves, if they can find any other placeto resort to.”

  “You deal in enigmas, Jack; and did I not know that you are verytemperate, I might suspect that the time you have been gone has beenpassed in the company of a bottle of brandy.”

  “That will explain my meanin’,” said Jack, laconically, pointing as hespoke seemingly at some object that was to be seen without.

  The door of the house was wide open, for the admission of air. It facedthe haven of the islets, and just as the mate�
��s eyes were turned to it,the end of a flying-jib-boom, with the sail down, and fluttering beneathit, was coming into the view. “The Poughkeepsie!” exclaimed Mulford, indelight, seeing all his hopes realized, while Rose blushed to theeyes. A pause succeeded, during which Mulford drew aside, keeping hisbetrothed in the back-ground, and as much out of sight as possible. Thevessel was shooting swiftly into view, and presently all there could seeit was the Swash.