Salute to Adventurers

by John Buchan

  CHAPTER XII.

  A WORD AT THE HARBOUR-SIDE.

  The next Sunday I was fool enough to go to church, for Doctor Blair wasannounced to preach the sermon. Now I knew very well what treatment Ishould get, and that it takes a stout fellow to front a conspiracy ofscorn. But I had got new courage from my travels, so I put on my bestsuit of murrey-coloured cloth, my stockings of cherry silk, the goldbuckles which had been my father's, my silk-embroidered waistcoat,freshly-ironed ruffles, and a new hat which had cost forty shillings inLondon town. I wore my own hair, for I never saw the sense of a wigsave for a bald man, but I had it deftly tied. I would have cut a greatfigure had there not been my bronzed and rugged face to give the lie tomy finery.

  It was a day of blistering heat. The river lay still as a lagoon, andthe dusty red roads of the town blazed like a furnace. Before I had gotto the church door I was in a great sweat, and stopped in the porch tofan myself. Inside 'twas cool enough, with a pleasant smell from thecedar pews, but there was such a press of a congregation that many wereleft standing. I had a good place just below the choir, where I saw theGovernor's carved chair, with the Governor's self before it on hiskneeling-cushion making pretence to pray. Round the choir rail andbelow the pulpit clustered many young exquisites, for this was asovereign place from which to show off their finery. I could not get asight of Elspeth.

  Doctor Blair preached us a fine sermon from the text, "_My people shalldwell in a pleasant habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quietresting-places!"_ But his hearers were much disturbed by the continualchatter of the fools about the choir rail. Before he had got to thePrayer of Chrysostom the exquisites were whispering like pigeons in adovecot, exchanging snuff-boxes, and ogling the women. So intolerableit grew that the Doctor paused in his discourse and sternly rebukedthem, speaking of the laughter of fools which is as the crackling ofthorns under a pot. This silenced them for a little, but the noisebroke out during the last prayer, and with the final word of theBenediction my gentlemen thrust their way through the congregation,that they might be the first at the church door. I have never seen sounseemly a sight, and for a moment I thought that Governor Nicholsonwould call the halberdiers and set them in the pillory. He refrained,though his face was dark with wrath, and I judged that there would besome hard words said before the matter was finished.

  I must tell you that during the last week I had been coming more intofavour with the prosperous families of the colony. Some one may havespoken well of me, perhaps the Doctor, or they may have seen thejustice of my way of trading. Anyhow, I had a civil greeting fromseveral of the planters, and a bow from their dames. But no sooner wasI in the porch than I saw that trouble was afoot with the young bloods.They were drawn up on both sides the path, bent on quizzing me. Isternly resolved to keep my temper, but I foresaw that it would not beeasy.

  "Behold the shopman in his Sunday best," said one.

  "I thought that Sawney wore bare knees on his dirty hills," saidanother.

  One pointed to my buckles. "Pinchbeck out of the store," he says.

  "Ho, ho, such finery!" cried another. "See how he struts like agamecock."

  "There's much ado when beggars ride," said a third, quoting theproverb.

  It was all so pitifully childish that it failed to provoke me. Imarched down the path with a smile on my face, which succeeded inangering them. One young fool, a Norton from Malreward, would havehustled me, but I saw Mr. Grey hold him back. "No brawling here,Austin," said my rival.

  They were not all so discreet. One of the Kents of Gracedieu tried totrip me by thrusting his cane between my legs. But! was ready for him,and, pulling up quick and bracing my knees, I snapped the thing short,so that he was left to dangle the ivory top.

  Then he did a wild thing. He flung the remnant at my face, so that theragged end scratched my cheek. When I turned wrathfully I found acircle of grinning faces.

  It is queer how a wound, however slight, breaks a man's temper andupsets his calm resolves, I think that then and there I would have beeninvolved in a mellay, had not a voice spoke behind me.

  "Mr. Garvald," it said, "will you give me the favour of your arm? Wedine to-day with his Excellency."

  I turned to find Elspeth, and close behind her Doctor Blair andGovernor Nicholson.

  All my heat left me, and I had not another thought for my tormentors.In that torrid noon she looked as cool and fragrant as a flower. Herclothes were simple compared with the planters' dames, but of a farmore dainty fashion. She wore, I remember, a gown of pale spriggedmuslin, with a blue kerchief about her shoulders and blue ribbonsin her wide hat. As her hand lay lightly on my arm I did not thinkof my triumph, being wholly taken up with the admiration of her grace.The walk was all too short, for the Governor's lodging was but astone's-throw distant. When we parted at the door I hoped to find someof my mockers still lingering, for in that hour I think I could haveflung any three of them into the river.

  None were left, however, and as I walked homewards I reflected veryseriously that the baiting of Andrew Garvald could not endure for long.Pretty soon I must read these young gentry a lesson, little though Iwanted to embroil myself in quarrels. I called them "young" in scorn,but few of them, I fancy, were younger than myself.

  Next day, as it happened, I had business with Mercer at the water-side,and as I returned along the harbour front I fell in with the Receiverof Customs, who was generally called the Captain of the Castle, fromhis station at Point Comfort. He was an elderly fellow who had oncebeen a Puritan, and still cherished a trace of the Puritan modes ofspeech. I had often had dealings with him, and had found him honest,though a thought truculent in manner. He had a passion against allsmugglers and buccaneers, and, in days to come, was to do good servicein ridding Accomac of these scourges. He feared God, and did notgreatly fear much else.

  He was sitting on the low wall smoking a pipe, and had by him a verysingular gentleman. Never have I set eyes on a more decorous merchant.He was habited neatly and soberly in black, with a fine white cravatand starched shirt-bands. He wore a plain bob-wig below a hugeflat-brimmed hat, and big blue spectacles shaded his eyes. His mouthwas as precise as a lawyer's, and altogether he was a very whimsical,dry fellow to find at a Virginian port.

  The Receiver called me to him and asked after a matter which we hadspoken of before. Then he made me known to his companion, who was a Mr.Fairweather, a merchant out of Boston.

  "The Lord hath given thee a pleasant dwelling, friend," said thestranger, snuffling a little through his nose.

  From his speech I knew that Mr. Fairweather was of the sect of theQuakers, a peaceable race that Virginia had long ill-treated.

  "The land is none so bad," said the Receiver, "but the people are aperverse generation. Their hearts are set on vanity, and puffed up withpride. I could wish, Mr. Fairweather, that my lines had fallen amongyour folk in the north, where, I am told, true religion yetflourisheth. Here we have nothing but the cold harangues of theCommissary, who seeketh after the knowledge that perisheth rather thanthe wisdom which is eternal life."

  "Patience, friend," said the stranger. "Thee is not alone in thycrosses. The Lord hath many people up Boston way, but they are sorebeset by the tribulations of Zion. On land there is war and rumour ofwar, and on the sea the ships of the godly are snatched by every mannerof ocean thief. Likewise we have dissension among ourselves, and aconstant strife with the froward human heart. Still is Jerusalemtroubled, and there is no peace within her bulwarks."

  "Do the pirates afflict you much in the north?" asked the Receiver withkeen interest. The stranger turned his large spectacles upon him, andthen looked blandly at me. Suddenly I had a notion that I had seen thatturn of the neck and poise of the head before.

  "Woe is me," he cried in a stricken voice. "The French have two fairvessels of mine since March, and a third is missing. Some say it ranfor a Virginian port, and I am here to seek it. Heard thee ever,friend, of a strange ship in the James or the Potomac?"

  "There be many strange ships,"
said the Receiver, "for this dominion isthe goal for all the wandering merchantmen of the earth. What was thename of yours?"

  "A square-rigged schooner out of Bristol, painted green, with a whitefigurehead of a winged heathen god."

  "And the name?"

  "The name is a strange one. It is called _The Horn of Diarmaid_, but Iseek to prevail on the captain to change it to _The Horn of Mercy_."

  "No such name is known to me," and the Receiver shook his head. "But Iwill remember it, and send you news."

  I hope I did not betray my surprise, but for all that it wasstaggering. Of all disguises and of all companies this was the mostcomic and the most hazardous. I stared across the river till I hadmastered my countenance, and when I looked again at the two they weresoberly discussing the harbour dues of Boston.

  Presently the Receiver's sloop arrived to carry him to Point Comfort.He nodded to me, and took an affectionate farewell of the Boston man. Iheard some good mouth-filling texts exchanged between them.

  Then, when we were alone, the Quaker turned to me. "Man, Andrew," hesaid, "it was a good thing that I had a Bible upbringing. I can managethe part fine, but I flounder among the 'thees' and 'thous.' I would bethe better of a drink to wash my mouth of the accursed pronouns. Willyou be alone to-night about the darkening? Then I'll call in to seeyou, for I've much to tell you."

  * * * * *

  That evening about nine the Quaker slipped into my room.

  "How about that tobacco-shed?" he asked. "Is it well guarded?"

  "Faulkner and one of the men sleep above it, and there are a couple offierce dogs chained at the door. Unless they know the stranger, he willbe apt to lose the seat of his breeches."

  The Quaker nodded, well pleased. "That is well, for I heard word in thetown that to-night you might have a visitor or two." Then he walked toa stand of arms on the wall and took down a small sword, which hehandled lovingly. "A fair weapon, Andrew," said he. "My new sectforbids me to wear a blade, but I think I'll keep this handy beside mein the chimney corner."

  Then he gave me the news. Lawrence had been far inland with theMonacans, and had brought back disquieting tales. The whole nation ofthe Cherokees along the line of the mountains was unquiet. Old familyfeuds had been patched up, and there was a coming and going ofmessengers from Chickamauga to the Potomac.

  "Well, we're ready for them," I said, and I told him the full story ofour preparations.

  "Ay, but that is not all. I would not give much for what the Cherokeesand the Tuscaroras could do. There might be some blood shed and a goodfew blazing roof-trees in the back country, but no Indian raid wouldstand against our lads. But I have a notion--maybe it's only a notion,though Lawrence is half inclined to it himself--that there's more inthis business than a raid from the hills. There's something stirring inthe West, away in the parts that no White man has ever travelled. Fromwhat I learn there's a bigger brain than an Indian's behind it."

  "The French?" I asked.

  "Maybe, but maybe not. What's to hinder a blackguard like Cosh, withten times Cosh's mind, from getting into the Indian councils, andturning the whole West loose on the Tidewater??

  "Have you any proof?" I asked, much alarmed.

  "Little at present. But one thing I know. There's a man among thetribes that speaks English."

  "Great God, what a villain!" I cried, "But how do you know?"

  "Just this way. The Monacans put an arrow through the neck of a youngbrave, and they found this in his belt."

  He laid before me a bit of a printed Bible leaf. About half was blankpaper, for it came at the end of the Book of Revelation. On the blankpart some signs had been made in rude ink which I could not understand.

  "But this is no proof," I said. "It's only a relic from some plunderedsettlement. Can you read those marks?"

  "I cannot, nor could the Monacans. But look at the printed part."

  I looked again, and saw that some one had very carefully underlinedcertain words. These made a sentence, and read, "_John, servant of theprophecy, is at hand._"

  "The underlining may have been done long ago," I hazarded.

  "No, the ink is not a month old," he said, and I could do nothing butgape.

  "Well what's your plan?" I said at last.

  "None, but I would give my right hand to know what is behind the hills.That's our weakness, Andrew. We have to wait here, and since we do notknow the full peril, we cannot fully prepare. There may be mischiefafoot which would rouse every sleepy planter out of bed, and turn theTidewater into an armed camp. But we know nothing. If we had only ascout--".

  "What about Shalah?" I asked.

  "Can you spare him?" he replied; and I knew I could not.

  "I see nothing for it," I said, "but to wait till we are ready, andthen to make a reconnaissance, trusting to be in time. This is thefirst week of July. In another fortnight every man on our list will bearmed, and every line of communication laid. Then is our chance to makea bid for news."

  He nodded, and at that moment came the growling of dogs from the sheds.Instantly his face lost its heavy preoccupation, and under his Quaker'smask became the mischievous countenance of a boy. "That's yourfriends," he said. "Now for a merry meeting."

  In the sultry weather I had left open window and door, and every soundcame clear from the outside. I heard the scuffling of feet, and someconfused talk, and presently there stumbled into my house half a dozenwild-looking figures. They blinked in the lamplight, and one begged toknow if "Mr. Garbled" were at home. All had decked themselves for thisplay in what they fancied was the dress of pirates--scarlet sashes, andnapkins or turbans round their heads, big boots, and masks over theireyes. I did not recognize a face, but I was pretty clear that Mr. Greywas not of the number, and I was glad, for the matter between him andme was too serious for this tomfoolery. All had been drinking, and oneat least was very drunk. He stumbled across the floor, and all but fellon Ringan in his chair.

  "Hullo, old Square-Toes," he hiccupped; "what the devil are you?"

  "Friend, thee is shaky on thy legs," said Ringan, in a mild voice, "Itwere well for thee to be in bed."

  "Bed," cried the roysterer; "no bed for me this night! Where is thatdamnable Scots packman?"

  I rose very quietly, and lit another lamp. Then I shut the window, andclosed the shutters. "Here I am," I said, "very much at your service,gentlemen."

  One or two of the sober ones looked a little embarrassed, but theleader, who I guessed was the youth from Gracedieu, was brave enough.

  "The gentlemen of Virginia," he said loudly, "being resolved that theman Garvald is an offence to the dominion, have summoned the FreeCompanions to give him a lesson. If he will sign a bond to leave thecountry within a month, we are instructed to be merciful. If not, wehave here tar and feathers and sundry other adornments, and to-morrow'smorn will behold a pretty sight. Choose, you Scots swine." In theexcess of his zeal, he smashed with the handle of his sword a clock Ihad but lately got from Glasgow.

  Ringan signed to me to keep my temper. He pretended to be in a greattaking.

  "I am a man of peace," he cried, "but I cannot endure to see my friendoutraged. Prithee, good folk, go away. See, I will give thee a guineaeach to leave us alone."

  This had the desired effect of angering them. "Curse your money," onecried. "You damned traders think that you can buy a gentleman. Takethat for your insult." And he aimed a blow with the flat of his sword,which Ringan easily parried.

  "I had thought thee a pirate," said the mild Quaker, "but thee tells methee is a gentleman."

  "Hold your peace, Square-Toes," cried the leader, "and let's get tobusiness."

  "But if ye be gentlefolk," pleaded Ringan, "ye will grant a fair field.I am no fighter, but I will stand by my friend."

  I, who had said nothing, now broke in. "It is a warm evening forsword-play, but if it is your humour, so be it."

  This seemed to them hugely comic. "La!" cried one. "Sawney with asword!" And he plucked forth his own blade
, and bent it on the floor.

  Ringan smiled gently, "Thee must grant me the first favour," he said,"for I am the challenger, if that be the right word of the carnallyminded." And standing up, he picked up the blade from beside him, andbowed to the leader from Gracedieu.

  Nothing loath he engaged, and the others stood back expecting a highfiasco. They saw it. Ringan's sword played like lightning round thewretched youth, it twitched the blade from his grasp, and forced himback with a very white face to the door. In less than a minute, itseemed, he was there, and as he yielded so did the door, and hedisappeared into the night. He did not return, so I knew that Ringanmust have spoke a word to Faulkner.

  "Now for the next bloody-minded pirate," cried Ringan, and the nextwith a very wry face stood up. One of the others would have joined in,but, crying, "For shame, a fair field," I beat down his sword.

  The next took about the same time to reach the door, and disappearedinto the darkness, and the third about half as long. Of the remainingthree, one sulkily declined to draw, and the other two were over drunkfor anything. They sat on the floor and sang a loose song.

  "It seems, friends," said the Quaker, "that ye be more ready with wordsthan with deeds. I pray thee"--this to the sober one--"take off thesegarments of sin. We be peaceful traders, and cannot abide the thoughtof pirates."

  He took them off, sash, breeches, jerkin, turban, and all, and stood upin his shirt. The other two I stripped myself, and so drunk were theythat they entered into the spirit of the thing, and themselves tore atthe buttons. Then with Ringan's sword behind them, the three marchedout of doors.

  There we found their companions stripped and sullen, with Faulkner andthe men to guard them. We made up neat parcels of their clothes, and Iextorted their names, all except one who was too far gone in drink.

  "To-morrow, gentlemen," I said, "I will send back your belongings,together with the tar and feathers, which you may find useful someother day. The night is mild, and a gentle trot will keep you fromtaking chills. I should recommend hurry, for in five minutes the dogswill be loosed. A pleasant journey to you."

  They moved off, and then halted and apparently were for returning. Butthey thought better of it, and presently they were all six of themracing and stumbling down the hill in their shifts.

  The Quaker stretched his legs and lit a pipe. "Was it not a scurvytrick of fate," he observed to the ceiling, "that these poor ladsshould come here for a night's fooling, and find the best sword in theFive Seas?"