A Pilgrim Maid: A Story of Plymouth Colony in 1620

by Marion Ames Taggart

  CHAPTER VII

  The Persuasive Power of Justice and Violence

  John Billington had been forced reluctantly to work on the houseserecting in the Plymouth plantation.

  He was not lazy, but he was adventuresome, and steady employment heldfor him no attraction. Since Captain Standish and the others inauthority would deal with him if he tried to shirk his share of dailywork, John made it as bearable as possible by joining himself to Gilesin the building of the Hopkins house. Constance knew that she shouldfind the two boys building her future home, and thither she ran at herbest speed, and Constance could run like a nymph.

  "Oh, Giles!" she panted, coming up to the two amateur carpenters, andrejoicing that they were alone.

  "Oh, Con!" Giles echoed, turning on his ladder to face her, half sittingon a rung. "What's forward? Hath the king sent messengers calling mehome to be prime minister? Sorry to disappoint His Royal Highness, but Ican't go. I'd liefer be a trapper!"

  "And that's what your appointment is!" triumphed Constance. "You're totrap big game, no less than a human rascal! Oh, Giles and Jack, do hearwhat I've got to tell you!"

  "But for us to hear, you must tell, Con!" John Billington reminded her."I'll bet a golden doubloon you've got wind of the missing papers!"

  "We don't bet, Jack, but if we did you'd win your wager," Constancelaughed. "Damaris told me 'a true story,' and now I'm going to tell itto you. Fancy that little person having this story tucked away in herbrain all these weary days!"

  And Constance related Damaris's entertainment of her, to which JohnBillington listened with many running comments of tongue and whistledexclamations, but Giles in perfect silence, betraying no excitement.

  "Here's a merry chance, Giles!" John cried as soon as Constance ended."What with savages likely to visit us and robbers for us to hunt, whylife in the New World may be bearable after all!"

  Giles ignored his jubilant comment.

  "I shall go out to the _Mayflower_ and get the packet," he said. "It istoo late to-day, but in the morning early I shall make it. I suppose youwill go with me, Jack?"

  "Safe to suppose it," said John. "I'd swim after you if you startedwithout me."

  "Won't you take Captain Standish? I mean won't you ask him to help you?"asked Constance, anxiously. "It is sufficient matter to engage him, andhe is our protector in all dangers."

  "We need no protection, little Sis," said Giles, loftily. "It hath beenmy experience that a just cause is sufficient. We have suspected themaster of the _Mayflower_ of trickery all along."

  Constance could not forbear a smile at her brother's worldly-wise air ofdeep knowledge of mankind, but nevertheless she wished that "the rightarm of the colony" might be with the boys to strike for them if needwere.

  It was with no misgiving as to their own ability, but with the highestglee, that Giles and John made their preparations to set forth justbefore dawn.

  They kept their own counsel strictly and warned Constance not to talk.

  There was not much to be done to make ready, merely to see that thesmall boat, built by the boys for their own use, was tight, and to tuckout of sight under her bow seat a heavy coat in case the eastwind--which the pilgrims had soon learned was likely to come in uponthem sharply on the warmest day--blew up chillingly.

  John Billington owned, by his father's reckless indulgence, a pistolthat was his chief treasure; a heavy, clumsy thing, difficult to holdtrue, liable to do the unexpected, the awkward progenitor of the prettymodern revolver, but a pistol for all its defects, and the apple ofJohn's eye. This he had named Bouncing Bully, invariably spoke of it as"he", and felt toward it and treated it not merely as his arms, but ashis companion in arms.

  Bouncing Bully was to make the third member of the party; he accompaniedJohn, hidden with difficulty because of his bulk, in the breast of hiscoat, when he crept out without disturbing his father and Francis, tojoin Giles at the spot on the shore where their flat-bottomed row boatwas pulled up.

  He found Giles awaiting him, watching the sands in a crude hour glasswhich he had himself constructed.

  "I've been waiting an hour," Giles said as John came up. "I know you arenot late, but all the same here I have stood while this glass ran out,with ten minutes more since I turned it again."

  "Well, I'm here now; take hold and run her out," said John, seizing theboat's bow and bracing to shove her.

  "Row out. I'll row back," commanded Giles as he and John swung over theside of the boat out of the waves into which they had waded.

  They did not talk as they advanced upon the _Mayflower_ which lay atanchor in the harbour. They had agreed upon boarding her with as littleto announce their coming as possible. As it chanced, there being no needof guarding against surprise, there was no one on deck when the boysmade their boat fast to the ship's cable, and clambered on deck--saveone round-faced man who was swabbing the deck to the accompaniment ofhis droning a song, tuneless outside his own conception of it.

  "Lord bless and save us but you dafted me, young masters!" this manexclaimed when Giles and John appeared; he leaned against the rail withthe air of a fine lady, funny to see in one so stoutly stalwart.

  "I didna know ye at sight; now I see 'tis Master Giles and Master JohnBillington, whose pranks was hard on us crossing."

  "You are not the man we want," said Giles, haughtily, trusting toassurance to win his end. "Fetch me that man who goes in and about thecabin at times, the one that stands well with Jones, the ship's master."

  This last was a gamble on chance, but Giles felt sure of hisconclusions, that the captain was at the bottom of the loss of thepapers, the actual thief his tool.

  "Aye, I know un," said the man, nodding sagely, proud of his quickness."'Tis George Heaton, I make no doubt. The captain gives him what isanother, better man's due. Master Jones gives him his ear and hisfavour. 'Tis George, slick George, you want, of that I'm certain." Henodded many times as he ended.

  "Likely thing," agreed Giles. "Fetch him."

  The deck cleaner departed in a heavy fashion, and returned shortly incompany with a wiry, slender young man, having a handsome face, a quickroving eye, crafty, but clever.

  "Ah, George, do you remember me?" asked Giles. "Don't dare to offer meyour hand, my man, for I'd not touch it."

  "I may be serving as a sailor, but I'm as good a gentleman born as you,"retorted Heaton, flushing angrily.

  "Decently born you may be; of that I know nothing. Pity is it that youhave gone so far from your birthday," said Giles. "But as good agentleman as I am you are not, nor as anyone, as this honest fellowhere. For blood or no blood, a thief is far from a gentleman."

  George Heaton made a step forward with upraised fist, but Giles lookedat him contemptuously, and did not fall back.

  "No play acting here. Give me the papers you stole out of mystepmother's care, out of my little sister's sleeping hammock, weeksagone," said Giles, coolly. "Your game is up. For some reason the childdid not tell us of your act till now; now she hath spoken. Fortunatelythe ship hath lingered for you to be dealt with before she took you backto England. Hand over the papers, Heaton, if you ever hope to be nearerEngland than the arm of the tree from which you shall hang on the NewEngland coast, unless you restore your booty."

  Heaton looked into Giles's angry eyes and quailed. The boy had grown upduring the hard winter, and Heaton recognized his master; more thanthat, he had the cowardice that had made him the ready tool of CaptainJones--the cowardice of the man who lives by tricks, trusting them tocarry him to success--who will not stand by his colours because he hasno standard of loyalty.

  "I haven't got your father's papers, Giles Hopkins," he growled,dropping his eyes.

  "You could have said much that I would not have believed, but that Ibelieve," said Giles. "Do you know what Master Jones did with them whenyou gave them over to him, you miserable cat's paw?"

  "How about giving the cat to the cat's paw, Giles?" suggested John,grinning in huge enjoyment of George Heaton's instant, sailor'sappreci
ation of his joke and the offices of "the cat" with which sailorswere lashed in punishment.

  "I hope it will not be necessary. If Captain Standish comes with apicked number of our men to get these papers, there will be worse beaststhan the cat let loose on the _Mayflower_. Lead me to the captain,Heaton, and remember it will go hard with you if you let him lead youinto denial of the crime you committed for him," said Giles, with such adignity as filled rollicking John, who wanted to turn the adventure intoa frolic, with admiration for his comrade.

  "Stand by you and Jones will deal with me. Stand by him and you threatenme with your men, led by that fighting Standish of yours. Between youwhere does George Heaton stand?" asked Heaton sullenly, turning,nevertheless, to do Giles's bidding.

  "You should have thought of this before," said Giles, coolly. "Therenever yet was wisdom and safety in rascality."

  Captain Jones, whose connection with the pilgrims was no more than thathe had been hired by them to bring them to the New World, was a manwhose honesty many of his passengers mistrusted, but against whom, asagainst the captain of the _Speedwell_ that had turned back, there wasno proof.

  He was coming out of his cabin to his breakfast when Heaton brought theboys to him; he started visibly at the sight of Giles, but recoveredhimself instantly and greeted the lads affably.

  "Good morning, my erstwhile passengers and new colonists," he said. "Ihave wondered that at least the younger members of your community didnot visit the ship. Welcome!" He held out his hand, but neither Gilesnor John seemed to see it.

  "Master Jones," said Giles, "there is no use wasting time and phrases.This man, at your orders, stole out of the women's cabin on this shipthe papers left by my father in his wife's care. He has given them up toyou. The story has only now--yesterday--come to our knowledge. Give methose papers."

  "What right have you to accuse me, _me_, the master of this ship?"demanded Captain Jones, blustering. "Have a care that I don't throw youoverboard. Take your boat and be gone before harm comes to you!"

  "You would throw more than us overboard if you dared to touch us,"returned Giles. "Nor is it either of us to whom harm threatens. Come,Master Jones, those papers! My father, none of the colony, knows of yourcrime. What do you think will befall you when they do know it? Hand usthe papers, not one lacking, and we will let you go back to England freeand safe. Refuse----Well, it's for you to choose, but I'd not hesitatein your place." Giles shrugged his shoulders, half turning away, as ifafter all the result of his mission did not concern him.

  John saw a telepathic message exchanged between the captain and histool. The question wordlessly asked Heaton whether the theft of thepapers, their possession by the captain, actually was known, andHeaton's eyes answering: "Yes!"

  Captain Jones swallowed hard, as if he were swallowing a great dose, ashe surely was. After a moment's thought he spoke:

  "See here, Giles Hopkins, I always liked you, and now I father admireyou for your courage in thus boarding my ship and bearding me. I admitthat I hold the papers. But, as of course you can easily see, I amneither a thief nor a receiver of stolen goods. My reason for wantingthose papers was no common one. I am willing to restore to you thosewhich relate to your family inheritance, your father's personal papers,but those which relate to Plymouth colony I want. I can use them to myadvantage in England. Take this division of the documents and go backwith my congratulations on your conduct."

  "I would liefer your blame than your praise, sir," said Giles,haughtily, in profound disgust with the man. "It needs no saying that myfather would part with any private advantage sooner than with what hadbeen entrusted to him. First and most I demand the Plymouth colonydocuments. Get the papers, not one lacking, and let me go ashore. Thewide harbour's winds are not strong enough for me to breathe on yourship. It sickens me."

  Captain Jones gave the boy a malevolent look.

  "A virtue of necessity," he muttered, turning to go.

  "And your sole virtue?" suggested Giles to his retreating back.

  Captain Jones was gone a long time. The boys fumed with impatience andfeared harm to the papers, but George Heaton grinned at them with theutmost cheerfulness. He had completely sloughed off all share in thetheft and plainly enjoyed his superior's discomfiture, being of thatorder of creatures whose malice revels in the mischances of others.

  It proved that the captain's delay was due to his reluctance to complywith Giles's demand. He came at last, slowly, bearing in his hand thepacket enveloped in oilskin which Giles remembered having seen in hisfather's possession.

  "I must do your bidding, youngster," he said angrily, "for you can harmme otherwise. But what guarantee have I, if I hand these papers to you,that you will keep the secret?"

  "I never said that the secret would be kept; I said that you shouldsuffer no harm. An innocent person is accused of this theft; the truthmust be known. But I can and do promise you that you shall not bemolested; I can answer for that. As to guarantee, you know my father,you know the Plymouth pilgrims, you know me. Is there any doubt that weare honourable, conscientious, God-fearing, the sort that faithfullykeep their word?" demanded Giles.

  "No. I grant you that. Take your packet," said Captain Jones, yieldingit.

  "By your leave I will examine it," said Giles unfastening its straps.

  "Do you doubt me?" blustered the captain.

  "Not a whit," laughed John with a great burst of mirth, before Gilescould answer.

  "Why should we doubt you? Haven't you shown us exactly what you are?"

  Giles turned over the papers one by one. None was missing. He foldedthem and replaced them in their case, buckling its straps.

  "All the papers are here," he said. "John, we'll be off. This is ourfinal visit to the _Mayflower_, Master Jones--unless I ship with you forEngland. Good voyage, as I hear they say in France. Hope you'll catch abit of Puritan conscience before you leave the harbour."

  Captain Jones followed the boys to the side of the ship where they wereto reembark in their rowboat. At every step he grew angrier, the veinsswelled in his forehead which was only a shade less purple-red than hischeeks. His defeat was a sore thing, the disappointment of the planswhich he had laid upon the possession of the stolen documents becamemore vividly realized with each moment, and the fact that two lads hadthus conquered him and were going away with their prize infuriated him.

  Giles had swung himself down into the boat and was shipping the oars,but John halted for a moment in a stuffy corner to gloat over thecaptain's empurpled face and to dally with a temptation to addpicturesqueness to their departure. The temptation got the upper hand ofhim, though John usually held out both hands to mischief.

  He drew Bouncing Bully from his breast and levelled it.

  "Stop! Gunpowder!" screamed the captain, choking with fear and rage, andpointing at a small keg that stood hard by.

  "I won't hit it," John grinned, delightedly. "Let's see how _my_gunpowder is." With a flourish the mad boy fired a shot into the wall ofthe tiny cabin, regardless of the fact that the likely explosion of thekeg of gunpowder would have blown up the _Mayflower_ and him with her.

  The captain fell forward on his face, the men who were at work splicingropes in the cubby-like cabin cowered speechless, their faces ashen.

  John whooped with joy and fled, leaping into the rowboat which he nearlyupset.

  "What?" demanded Giles. "Who shot? Did he attack you, Jack?"

  "Who? No one attacked me. I shot. Zounds, they were scared! In thatpocket of a cabin, with a keg of gunpowder sitting close," chuckledJohn.

  "What in the name of all that's sane did you do that for?" cried Giles."Scared! I should say with reason! Why, Jack Billington, you might beblown to bits by this time, ship, men, yourself, and all!"

  "I might be," assented Jack, coolly. "I'm not. Giles, you should haveseen your shipmaster Jones! Flat on his face and fair blubbering withfear and fury! He loves us not, my Giles! I doubt his days are dull onthe _Mayflower_, so long at anchor. 'Twas but kind to stir up a
livelymoment. Here, give me an oar! Even though you said you would row back, Ifeel like helping you. Wait till I settle Bouncing Bully. He's diggingme in the ribs, to remind me of the joke we played 'em, I've no doubt;but he hurts. That's better. Now for shore and your triumph, old Giles!"