The pirate

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THE

PIRATE.

BY TUB

» • • • \* •

Nothing in him '

But doth suffer a sea change.

Tempest.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

BOSTON :

TUBUftHSB Bf MVIROE AND /RAKCIS, COR1TH1LL J All
BT W£LLf AJTD LILLY, COURT-8TJULKT*

1822.

%
»

1

THE h?'-"

PUBLIC LIBRARY

! IT- -

e5<J7A?

ASTOR, LEr.'OX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
K 1921 • L - .

•*«■

iriin vssiivm

CHAPTER I.

But lost to me, forever lo#t those joys,
Which reason scatters, and which time destroys.
No more the midnight fairy train I view,
All in the merry moonlight tippling dew.
Even the last lingering fiction of the brain,
The churchyard ghost, is now at rest again.

Tkt Library,

TW moral bard, from whom we borrow the
motto to this chapter, has touched a theme with
which most readers have some feelings that vibrate
unconsciously. Superstition, when not arrayed
in her full horrors, but laying a gentle hand only
on her suppliant's head, had charms which we fail
not to regret, even in those stages of society from
which her influence is well nigh banished by the
light of reason and general education. At least,
in more ignorant periods, her system of ideal ter-
rors had something in them interesting to minds
which had few means of excitement. This is
more especially true of those lighter modifications
of superstitious feelings and practices which min-
gle in the amusements of the ruder ages, and are,
like the auguries of Hallow-e'en in Scotland, con-
sidered partly as matter of merriment, partly as

4 THE PIRATE.

sad and prophetic earnest. And, with simitar
feelings, people even of tolerable education have,
in our times, sought the cell of a fortune-teller,
upon a frolic, as it is termed, and yet not always in
a disposition absolutely sceptical towards the res*
ponses they receive*

Wheo the sisters' of Burgh Westnr arrived ia
the apartment destined for a breakfast, as ample at
that which we h|ve de|crit^ed on the preceding
morning, and had undergone a jocular rebuke from
the Udaller for their late attendance, they found
the company, most of whom had already break-
fasted, engaged in an ancient Norwegian custom,
of the character which we have just described.

It serosa to have been borrowed from those
poems of the Scalds, in which champions and he-
roines are so often represented as seeking to know
their destiny from some sorceress or prophetess,
who, as in the legend called by Gray the Descent
of Odin, awakens by the force of Runic rhyme
foe unwilling teveeler of the dooto of fate* and
opttpefe from ' her answer, often of dubious im-
port, but which were then believed to express
spin* shadow of the events of futurity.

An eld sybil, Euphane Pea, the housekeeper we
btve already mentioned, was installed in the recess
of- a large window, studiously darkened by beat*
skins and other miscellaneous drapery, so as to
give it something the appearance of a Laplander's
hut, and accommodated, like a confessional chair,
with an aperture, which permitted the person with*
into hear with ease whatever questions should he
put, though not to see the querist* Here seated,
the voluspa, or sybil, was to listen to the rhymical
inquiries which should be made to her, and to re-
tern an extemporaneous answer. The drapery
urat supposed to prevent her from seeing by what

THE PIRATE. S

individuals she was consulted, and the intended or
accidental reference which the answer give** un-
der such circumstances bore to the actuation of the
person by whom th+ question was asked, often fur-
nished food for langhter, and sometimes, as it hap-
pened^ for more serious reflection. The sybil was
usually chosen from her possessing the talent of
improvisation in the Norse poetry ; no unusual
accomplishment* where the minds of many were
stored with old verses, and where the rules of me-
trical composition are uncommonly simply. The
questions were also put in verse ; hut as this pow-
er of extemporaneous composition though com-
mon, could not be supposed universal, the medium
of an interpreter might be used by any querist,
which interpreter, holding the consulter of the or*
rcle by the hano% arid standing by the place from
which the oracles were issued, had the task of ren*
during into verse the subject of inquiry.

On the present occasion, Claud Halcro was sum-
moned, by the universal voice, to perform the part
of interpreter ; and, after shaking his head,, and
muttering some apology for decay of memory and
poetical powers, contradicted at once by his owd
conscious smile of Confidence and by the general
shout of the company, the light-hearted old man
came forward to play his part in the proposed en-
tertainment.

But just as it was about to commence, the ar>
rangement of parts was singularly altered* Nor-,
naof the Fitful-head," whom every one excepting
the two sisters believed to be at the distance of ma-
ny miles, suddenly and without greeting,, entered
the apartment, walked majestically up to the bear-
skin tabernacle, and signed to the female who was
there seated to abdicate bet sanctuary. The old

vol; 2. i*

* thI phi ato.

woman came fcrth f shaking her head, and l&dtomg;
like cme overwhelmed with {ear ; nor, indeed, were
there many in the company who saw with absolute
composure the sudden appearance of a person, so
well known and so generally fearefl as Noma*
- She paused a, moment at the entrance of the?
tent ; and, as she raised the skin Which formed the
entrance, she looked up to the north, as if implor-r
ing from that quarter a strain of inspiration ; then
signing to the surprised guests that they might ap-
proach in succession the shrine in which she was
about to install herself, she entered the tent, an<|
was' shrouded frorti their sight.

But this was a different sport from what the
company had meditated, and to most of them
seemed to present so much more o{ earnest than
of game, that there was no alacrity shewn to con-
sult the oracle. . The character and pretensions of
Noma seemed to almost all present too serious for
the part which she had assumed ; the men whis-
pered to eac brother, and the women, according to
Glaud Halcro, realised the description of glorious
John Dry den, —

■n

.'/ With horror shuddering, on a heap they rap.'*

The pause was interrupted by the loud manly
voice of the Udaller. u Why does the game stahd
still, my masters ? Are you afraid because my kins-
woman is to play our Voluspa ? it is kindly done
in her, to do for us what none in the isles can do so
y well ; and we will not baulk our sport for it, but
rather. go on the merrier." **

There was still a paus^ in the company, and

Magnus Troil added, u It shall never be sard that

' my kinswoman sat in her bower unhalsed, as if she

were some of the old mountain-giantess^* and all

from faint heart* 1 will speak first myself ; but

tfe* jrUfc?* carries yoraeirwi wj toogpe tfoan whe^
I was $ scare qf .years yomiger. Claud Haicro,
jou must at?nd. bj njft."

Hand in band they approached the shrine of the
supposed: sybil* and after a moment's consultation
together, . Hafcro thus expressed the query of hit
friend and patqon. Now, th*» L da Her. like many

Eirson* of consequence in Zetland, who, as Sic
obert Sibbald has testified for them, had begun
thus early to apply both to commerce and naviga-
tion, was concerned to some extent in the whale-
fishery of the season, and the bard bad heen direc-
ted to put into his halting verse an inquiry con-
cerning its success.

• »

Claud Halcbo.

" Mother, darksome, Mooter drea4-r

Dweller on the Fit/ulhead,

Thoa can it see what deeds are done '

Under the never-setting saw .

Look through flfeet, and loejt through frost.

Look to Greenland's caves and coaat,-^-

By the ice-berg is a sail * to * <

Chaismgofthe swarthy srhale ;. *

Mother doubtful, Mother dread,

Tell as, has the good ship sped ?"

The jest seemed to turn to earnest, as all, bend*
ing their hea^s around, listened to the voice of
Noma, who, without a moment's hesitation, an-
swered from the recesses of the tent in which she
wa? inclosed,

NORHA*

u The thought of the age/iis ever on gear,—
On his BJ^iuVv^ ^ urro *) n ' 8 fl°ck, and his steer ;
But thrive may his jtffefc flock, farrow and herd,
•While the*aged for uo^Kh shall tear his grey beard/'

*'*'». ' ;,

There was a momentary pause, during which
Tnptolemus had time to whisper, " If ten witcfces

* THE MRATE.

and as many warlocks were to swear it, I will nev-
er believe that a decent man will either fash his
beard or himself about any thing, so long as stock
and crop goes as it should do."

But the voice from within the tent resumed its
low monotonous tone of recitation, and, interrupt-
ing farther commentary, proceeded as follows :—

NORKA.

" The ship, well-laden as bark need be,

Lies deep in the farrow of the Iceland sea ;— h

The breeze for Zetland blows fair and soft,

And gaily the garland * is fluttering aloft :

Seven good fishes have spouted their last,

And their jaw-bones are hanging to yard and mast ;f

Two are foivfl^erwick, and two for Kirkwall,—

Three for burgh Westra the choicest of all."

" Now the powers above look down and protect
us V said Bryie Snaelsfoot ; u for it is mair than

* A.

woman'? wit that has spaed out that ferly. 1 saw
them: at North Rnnaldsha, that had seen the good
bark, the Ola^ of Lerwick, that our worthy patron
has such a great share in that she may be called his
own in a manner, and they had broomed { the bark,,
and,' as sure as there are stars in heaven, she an-
swered them for seven .fish, exact as Noma has
telfd us in her rhime."

** Umph — seven fish exactly ? and you heard it
at North Ronaldsha?" said Captain Cleveland,

* The garland is an artificial coronet, composed of ribband's
by those young women who take an interest in a whaling vessel
or her crew : it is always displayed from the rigging, and pre*
served with great care during the voyage.

f The best oil exudes from the jaw-bones offlle whale, which,
for the purpose of collecting if, a^HNpended to tne masts of the
▼es§el.

X There is established among whalers a sort of telegraphic
signal, in which a certain number of motions,, made with a
broom, express to any other vessel the number of fish whjch they
have caught.

THE URATE. 9

* and J suppose told it as a good piece of newt
when you came hither?"

" It never crossed my tongue, Captajn,"*answer-
ed the pedlar,; " I have kdnd mony chapmen, trav-
elling merchants, and such like, neglect their goods
to carry clashes and clavert up and dowo, from one
country-side to another; but that is no traffic of
nine. I dinna - believe I have mentioned the
(Have's having made up her cargo to three folks
since I crossed to Dunrossness."

" But if one of those three had spoke the news
over again, and it is 1 two to one that such a thing
happened, the old lady prophecies upon velvet.

Such was the speech of Cleveland, addressed
to Magnus Trail* aodV heard without any applause.
The UdaHer's respect for his country extended to
its superstitions, and so did the interest which he
took in his unfortunate kt &s woman. » If he never
rendered a precise assent to her high supernatural
pretensions, he was not at- least desirous of hear-
ing them disputed%by others* * *

" Noraa," he said, " his cousin, (an emphasis
on the word,) held no communication with Bryce
Snaelsfoot, or his acquaintances.* He did not pre-
tend to explain how she came by her information ;
but be bad always remarked that Scotsmen, and in*
deed strangers in general, when they came to Zet-
land, were ready to fin4 reasons for things which
remained sufficiently obscure to those whose ances-
tors bad dwelt there for ages."

Captain Cleveland took the hint, and bowed,
without attempting to defend his own scepticism.

" And now forward, my brave hearts," said the
Udaller ; " and may all have as good tidings as I
have; three whales cannot but yield — let me think
how many hogsheads."

10 THE PIRATE.

There was an obvious reluctance on the part
of the guests to be next in consulting the oracle
of the tent.

"Gude news are welcome to some folks, if they
come frae the de'il himsell," said Mistress Baby
Yellowley, addressing the Lady Glowrowrum, for a
similarity of disposition in some respects had made
a sort of intimacy betwixt them ; " but I think, my
leddy, that this has ower mickle of rank witchcraft
in it to have the countenance of douce Christian
folks like you and me, my leddy."

" There may be something in what you say, my
dame," replied the good Lady Glowrowrum;
" but we Hialtlanders are no just like other folks ;
and this woman, if she be a witch, being the
Fowde's friend and near kinswoman, it will be ill
ta'en if we haena our fortunes spaed like a' the
rest of them - r and sae my nieces may e'en step
forward in their turn, and nae harm dune. They
will hae time to repent, ye ken, in the course of
nature, if tVere be ony thing wrang in it, Mistress
Yellowley."

While others remained under similar uncertain-
ty and apprehension, Halcro, who saw by the knit-
ting of the old Udaller's brows, and by a certain
impatient shuffle of his right foot, like the motion
of a man who with difficulty refrains from stamp-
ing, that his patience began to wax rather thin, gal-
lantly declared, that be himself would, in his own
person, and not as a procurator for others, put the
next query to the Pythoness. He paused a min-
ute — collected his rhiraes, and thus addressed her:

Claud Haicbo,

41 Mother doubtful, Mother dread,
Dweller of the Fitful-head,
Thou hast conn'd full many a rhime,
That lives upon the surge of time :

THE PIRATE. 11

Tell me, thaU my lays be sung,
Like Hacoa's of the golden tongue,
Long after Halcro's dead and gone ?
Or, shall HiaJtlaod's minstrel own
One note to rival glorious John ?"

The voice of the sybil immediately replied, from

ber sanctuary,

Norn a.

« The infant loves the rattle's noise ;
Age, double childhood, hath its toys ;
But different far the descant rings,
As strikes a different hand the strings.
The eagle mounts the polar sky —
The Imber*goose, unskiU'd to fly,
Most be content to glide along,
Where seal and sea-dog list his song.*'

Halcro bit his lip, shrugged his shoulders, and
then, instantly recovering his good humour, and
the ready, though slovenly power of extemporane-
ous composition, with which long habit had invest-
ed him, he gallantly rejoined,

" Be mine the Imber-goose to play,
And haunt lone cave and silent bay ;—
The archer's aim so shall I shun-
So shall I 'scape the levelPd gun —
Content my verse's tuneless jingle,
With Thule's sounding tides to mingle,
While to the ear of wond'ring wight ,
Upon the distant headland's height,
Soften 'd by murmur of the sea,
The rode sounds seem like harmony!"

As the little bard stepped back, with an alert
gait, and satisfied air, general applause followed
the spirited manner in which he had acquiesced in
the doom which levelled him- with an Imber-goose,
But his resigned and courageous submission did
not even yet jen courage any giber person to con-
sult the redoubted ,Norna.

i

It THE PIRATE.

" The coward fools !" said the Udalle*. a Are
you too afraid, Captain Cleveland, to speak to an
old woman ? — Ask her any thing— ask her whether
the twelve-gun sloop at Kirkwall be your consort
or no," ^

Cleveland looked at Minna, and, probably con-
ceiving that she watched with anxiety bis answer '
to her father's question, he collected himself, after
a moment's hesitation.

" I never was afraid of man or woman. — Master
Halcro, you have heard the question which oar
host desires me to ask — put it m my name, and in
your own way — 1 pretend to as little skill in poet-
ry as I do in witchcraft."

Halcro did not wait to be invited twice, but,
grasping Captain Cleveland'* hand in his, accord*
ing to the form which the game prescribed, he pot
the query which the Udaller had dictated to "the
stranger, in the following words :

" Mother doubtful, Mother dread,

Dweller of the Fitful-head,

A gallant bark Jtan for abroad,

Saint Magnus, bath her in his road*

With guns and firelocks not a few —

A silken and a scarlet crew,

Deep stored with precious merchandise,

Of gold, and gdods.of rare device—

What bath this our comrade bold

Qf interest in Wk, goods, and gold ?"

There was a pause of unusual duration ere the
oracle would return any answer ; and wnen she
replied, it was in a lower, though an equally decid-
ed tone, with that which she had hitherto employ*

ed.—

No***,

« Gold is ruddy, fair, aad free,

Blood is crimson, and dark to see ;—

I look'd out on Saint Magnus Bay ^

And I saw a falcon, thai bath struck ber prey, —

THE PIRATE. 13

. A gobbit of flesh in. her peak she bore.
And talons and singles are dripping with gore ;
Let he that asks after them look on his hand,
And if there it blood on't, he's one of their band."

Cleveland smiled scornfully, and held out his
band,—" Few men have been on the Spanish Main
as often as I have,witbont having had to do with the
Guarda Castas once and again ; but there never
was aught like a stain on my band that a wet towel
would- not wipe away."

. The Udaller added his voice potential—** There
is never peace with Spaniards beyond the Line,—-
I have heard Captain Tragendeck and honest old
Commodore Rummelaer say so an hundred times,
and they have both been down in the Bay of Hondu-
ras and ail thereabouts* — I bate all Spaniards, since
they came here and reft the Fair Isle men of their
vivers in 1558* -I have heard my grandfather
speak of it ; and there is an old Dutch history
somewhere about the house, that shews what work
they made in the Low Countries long since*—
There is neither mercy nor faith in them.""

" True-^true, my old friend** said Cleveland ;
u they are as jealous of their Indian possessions as
an old man of his young bride ; and if they can
catch you at disadvantage, the mines for your life
is the "word, — and so we fight them with our col-
ours nailed to the mast."

" That is the way," shouted the Udaller ; " the
old British jack should never down* When I
think' of the wooden walls, 1 almost think myself
an Englishman, only it would be becoming too like
my Scots neighbours ;— but come, no offence to
any here, gentlemen — all are friends, and all are
welcome. — Come, Brenda, go on with the play—

2 VOL. 2.

14 THE PIRATE.

do 700, speak nextVyoa have Norse rhimes enough
we all know. M

" Bat none that suits the game we play at, fa-
ther," said Brenda, drawing back*

" Nonsense !" said her father, poshing her on*
ward, while Halcro seized on her reiuctant hand ;
*' never let mistimed modesty mar honest mirth-
Speak for Brenda, Halcro — it is your trade to in*
terpret maidens 9 thoughts."

The poet bowed to the beautiful young woman
With th4 devotion of a poet and the gallantry of a
traveller, and having, in a whisper, reminded her
that she was in no way responsible for the nonsense
he was abont to speak, he paused, looked upward,
simpered as if he had caught a sudden idea, and at
length set off in the following verses :—

Cuitn) Halcro.

« Mother doubtful, Mother dread-
Dweller of the Fitful-head,
Well thou know'st it is thy task
To tell what Beauty will not ask ;—
Then steep thy words in wine and milk,
And weave a doom of gold ami silk,—
For we would know, shall Brenda prove
In love, and happy in her love ?"

The prophetess replied almost immediately from
behind her curtain : —

NorkU.

<( Untouch 'd by love, the maiden's breast
Is like the mow- on Rona's crest,
High seated in the middle sky,
In bright and barren purity ;
But by the sunbeam gently kigg'd,
Scarce by the gazing eye 'tis miss'd, *
Ere down the lonely valley stealing,
Fresh grass and growth its course revealing,
It cheers the flock, revives the flower,
And decks some happy shepherd's bower."

THE PIRATE. 1$

"A comfortable doctrine, and most justly spo-
ken," said the Udaller, seizing the blushing Bren*
da, as she was endeavouring to escape— u never
think shame for. the matter, my girl. To be the
mistress of some honest man's house, and the means
of maintaining some old Norse name, making neigh-
bours happy, the poor easy, and relieving stran*
gere, is the most creditable lot a young woman can
look to, and I heartily wish it to all here* Come,
who speaks nexi;— good husbands are going— Mad-
die Groatsettar— <-my pretty Clara, eone and haye
your share. 9 '

The Lady Glowrowrum shook her head, and
" could not," she said, " altogether approve"——

u Enough said^-enough said," replied Magnus 5
u no compulsion ; but the play shall go on till wf
are tired of it. Here, Minna — I have got you at
command. Stand forth, my girl — there are plenty
of things to be ashamed of besides old fashioned
and innocent pleasantry— Come, I will speak for
you myself;— -though I am not sure I can remember
xhime enough for it."

There was a slight colour which passed rapidly
over Minna's face, but she instantly regained her
composure, and stood erect by her father, as one
superior to any little jest to which her situation
might give rise.

Her father, after some rubbing of his brow, and
other mechanical efforts to assist his memory, at
length recovered verse sufficient to put the follow-
ing query, though in less gallant strains than those
of Halcro : —

" Mother speak, and do not tarry, *
Here's a maiden fain would many.
Shall she marry, ay or not?
If she marry, what's her lot ? H

K

l* THE PIRATE.

A deep sigh was uttered within the tabernacle
of the soothsayer, as if she compassionated the
subject of the doom which -she was obliged to pro-
nounce* She then, as usual, returned her response.

" Untouched by love, the maiden's breast
Is like the snow on RonaV crest;
So pure, so free from earthly dye,
It seems, whilst leaning on the sky,
Part of the heaven to which 'tis nigh ;
But passion, like the wild March rain,
May soil the wreath with many a stain,
: We gaze— the lovely vision's gone—

A torrent fills the bed of stone,
That hurrying to destruction's shock,
Leaps headlong from the lofty rock."

The Udaller heard this reply with high resent-
ment. " By the bones of the Martyr," he said,
his brave visage becoming suddenly ruddy, " this
is an abuse of courtesy ! and, were it any but your-
self that had classed my daughter's name and the
word destruction together, they had better have
left the word unspoken. But, come forth of the
tent, thou old galdragon," he added, with a smile
•— "1 should have known that thou canst not long
joy in any thing that smacks «of mirth, God help
thee." His summons received no answer; and
after waiting a moment, he again addressed her —
" Nay, never be sullen with me, kinswoman,
though I did speak a hasty word — thou knowest I
bear malice to no one, least of all to thee — so
come forth and let us shake hands. — Thou might*
est have foretold the wreck of my ship and boast,
or a bad herring-fishery, and I should have said
never a word ; but Minna or Brenda, you know,
are things which touch me nearer. But come out,
shake hands, and there let there be an end on't."

THE PIRATE. l?

Noma retained no answer whatever to his re-
peated invocations, and the company began to
look upon each other with some surprise, when the
Udaller, raising the skin which covered the en-
trance of the tent, discovered that the interior was
empty. <. The wonder was now general, and not
unmixed with fear ; for it seemed impossible that
Norna could have, in any manner, escaped from
the tabernacle in which she was inclosed without
having been discovered by the company. Gone,
however, she was, and the Udaller, after a mo-
ment's consideration, dropt the skin-curtain agaia
over the entrance of the tent.

" My friends," he said, with a cheerful counte-
nance, " we have long known my kinswoman, and
that her ways are not like those of the ordinary
folks of this world. But she means well by Hialt-
land, and hath the love of a sister for me, and for
my house ; and no guest of mine needs either to
fear evil, or to take offence at her hand. 1 have
little doubt she will be with utf at dinner time."

" Now, heaven forbid !" said Mrs. Baby Yel-
low ley — "for, my gude Leddy Glowrowrum, to
tell your leddjship the truth, I likena cummers that
can come and gae like a glance of the sun, or the
whip of a whirlwind."

41 Speak lower, speak lower, 9 ' said the Lady
Glowrowrum, " and be thankful. that yon carlin
basna ta'en the house-side away wi' her. The
like of ber have played warse pranks, and so has
she hersell, unless she is the sairer lied en."

Simular murmurs ran through the rest of the

company, until the Udaller uplifted bis stentorian

and imperative voice to put them to silence, and

invited, or rather commanded; the attendance ef

2* vol. 2*

%

2* THE PIRATE.

bis guests to behold the boats set off for the haaf
" or deep sea-fishing*

" The wind had been high since sunrise," he
said, " and bad kept the boats in the bay, but now it
was favourable, and they would sail immediately."

This sudden alteration of the weather occasion-
ed sundry nods and winks amongst the guests who
Irere not indisposed to connect it with Noma's
sudden disappearance ; but without giving vent to
observations which could not but be disagreeable
to their host, they followed his stately step to the
shore, as, the herd of deer follows the leading stag,
with all mariner of respectful observance. %

I r

CHAPTER IF.

There was a laughing devil in his sneer,
That raised emotions both of rage and ifcar;
And where his frown of hatred darkly fell,
Hope withering fled — and Mercy sigh'd farewell.

The Corsair, Canto I.

The ling or white fishery is the principal em-
ployment of the natives of Zetland, and was for-
merly that upon which the gentry chiefly depended
for their income, and the poor for their subsistence.
The fishing season is, therefore, like the harvest of
an agricultural country, the busiest and most im-
portant, as well as the most animating period of the
yean'

The fishermen of each district assemble at par-
ticular stations, with their boats and crews and
erect upon the shore small huts, composed of shin-
gle, and covered with turf, for their temporary
lodging, and skeos, or drying-houses, for the fish ;

TUB PIHATB. 19

sa that the lonely beach at once assrnnesthe ap-
pearance of an Indian town. The, banks to which
they repair for the haaf fishing are often many
miles distant from the station where the fish is
dried ; so that they are always twenty or thirty
hours absent, frequently longer, and under unfa-
vourable Circumstances of wind and tide, they re-
main at sea with a very small stock of provisions,
and in a boat of a construction which seems ex-
tremely slender, for two or three day*, and are
sometimes heard of no more. The departure of
the, fishers, therefore, on this occupation, has in it
a character of danger and of suffering, which ren-
ders it dignified, and the anxiety of the females
who remain on the beach, watching the departure of
the lessening boat, or anxiously looking out for its
return, gives pathos to the scene.*

The scene, therefore, was in busy and anxious
animation, when the Udaller and his friends ap-
peared on the beach. The various crews of about
thirty boats, amounting each to from three to five

• Dr. Edmondston, the ingenious author of a View of the An-
cient and Present State of the Zetland Islands, has placed this
part of the subject in an interesting light. "It is truly painful
to witness the anxiety aiid distress which die wires of these poor '
men softer on the approach of a storm. Regardless of fatigue*
they leave their homes, and fly to the spot where they expect
their husbands to land, or ascend the summit of a rock, to look
oat for them on the bosom of the deep. Should they gel the
glimpse of a sail, they watch with trembling solicitude, its alter*
nate rise and disappearance on the waves j and though often
tranquillized by the safe arrival of the objects of their search; yet
it sometimes is their lot ( to hail the bark that never can return.'
Subject to the influence of a variable climate, and engaged on a
sea naturally tempestuous, with rapid currents, scarcely a season
passes over without the occurrence of some fatal accident or hair-
breadth escape." — View, fyc. of the Zetland Islands, vol. I. p.
238. Many interesting particulars respecting the fisheries and
agriculture of Zetland, as well as its antiquities, may be found
in the work we have quoted.

S6 THH PIRATE.

er six men, were taking lefrve of their wives and fe-
male relatives, and jumping on board their long
Norway skiffs, where their lines and tackle lay
ready stowed. Magnus was not an idle spectator
*f the scene ; b$ went from one place to another
inquiring into the state of their provisions for the
voyage, and their preparations for the fishing—
now and then, if ith a rough Dutch or Norse oath,
abusing them for blockheads, for going to sea with
their boats indifferently found, but always ending
by ordering from his own stores a gallon of gin, a
4 lispund of meal, or some similar essential addition,
to their sea-stores. The hardy sailors, on receiv-
ing such favours, expressed their thanks in the
brief gruff manner, that their landlord best approv-
ed,; but the women were more clamorous in their
frratitude, which Magnus was often obliged to si*
ence by cursing all female tongues from Eve's
downwards.

At length all were on board and ready, the sails
were hoisted, the signal for departure given, the
rowers began to pull, and all started from the shore,
in strong emulation to get first to the fishing ground,
and to have their lines set before the rest ; an ex-
ploit to which no little consequence was attached
by the boat's crew who should be happy enough
to perform it.

While they were yet within hearing of the shore
they chaunted an ancient Norse ditty, appropriate
to the occasion, of which Claud Halcro had exe-
euted the following literal translation :

11 Farewell, merry maidens, to dance, song, and laugh,
For the brave lads of Westra are bound to the Haaf ;
And we must have labour, and hunger, and pain,
Ere we dance with the maids of Dunrossness again*.

THE PIRATE. 41

" For now, in our trim boats of Noroway deal,

We must dance on the waves, with the porpus and staL

The breese it shall pipe, so it pipe not too high,

And the gull be oar songstress whene'er she flits by.

" Sing on, my brave bird, while we follow, like thee,
By bank, shoal, and quicksand, the swarms of the sea ;
And when twenty-score fishes are straining my fine,
Sing loader) brave bird, for their spoils shall be thine.

" We'll sing while we bait, and we'll sing when we haul,
For the deeps of the Haaf have enough for us all ;
There is torsk for the gentle) and skate for the carle,
And there's wealth for bold Magnus, the son of the earL

" Huzza ! my brave comrades, give way for the Haaf,
We shall sooner come back te the dance and the laugh !
For life without mirth is a lamp without oil ;
Then, mirth and long life to the bold Magnus Troil !"

The rude words of the song were soon drowned
in the ripple of the waves, but the -tune continued
long to mingle with the sound of wind and sea, and
the boats were like so many black specks on the
surface of the ocean, diminishing by degrees ai
they bore far and farther seaward ; while the ear
could distinguish touches of the human voice, al-
most drowned amid that of the elements.

The fishermen's wives looked their last after
the parting sails, and were now departing slowly,
with downcast and anxiourlooks, towards the huts
in which they were to make arrangements for pre-
paring and drying the fish, with which they* hoped
to see their husbands and friends return deeply
loaded. Here and there an old sybil displayed
the superior importance of her experience, by
predicting, from the appearance of the atmos-
phere, that the wind would be fair or foul, while
others recommended a vow to the Kirk of Saint
Hinian's, for the safety of their men and boats, (an
ancient Catholic superstition,' not yet wholly abol-

2t THE PIRATE,

ished ;) arid others, but in a low and timorous tone,
regretted to their companions, that Noma of Fit-
ful-head had been suffered to depart in discontent
that morning from Burgh-Westra, " and, of all
days that were in the year, that they suld have
contrived t</ give her displeasure on the first day
of the white hshing !"

The gentry, guests of Magnus Troil, having
whiled away as much time as could be so disposed
of, in viewing the little armament Bet sail, and in
conversing with the poor women who had seen
their friends embark in it, began now to separate
into various groups and parties, which strolled in
different directions, as fancy led them, to enjoy what
maybe called the clear obscure of a Zetland summer
day, which, though wanting the brilliant sunshine
that cheers other countries during the fine season,
has a mild and pleasing character of its own, which,
Softens while it saddens landscapes, whicrv in their
own lonely, bare, and monotonous tone, have some*
thing in them stern as well as barren.

In one of the loneliest recesses of the coast,
where a deep indenture of the rocks gave the tide
access to the cavern, or, as it is called, the Helyer
of Swartaster, Minna Troil was walking with Cap-
tain Cleveland. They had chosen probably that walk,
as being httle liable to interruption from others ;
for as the force of the tide rendered the place un»
fit either for fishing or sailing, so it was not the or-
dinary resort of walkers, on account of its being
the supposed habitation of a Mermaid, a race
which Norwegian superstition invests with magical
as well as mischievous qualities. Here, therefore,
Minna wandered with her lover.

A small spot of milk-white sand, that stretched
beneath one of the precipices which walled in the
oreek on either side, afforded them space for * dry,

THE PIRATE, U

firm, and pleasant walk of about an hundred yards,
terminated at one extremity by a dark stretch of
the bay, which, scarce touched by the wind, seem j
ed almost as smooth as glass, and which was seen
from between two lofty rocks, the jaws of the
creek, or indenture, which approached each other
above, as if they wished to meet over the dark
tide that separated Jjiem. The other end of
their promenade was closed by a lofty and almost
anscaleable precipice, the abode of hundreds of
sea-fowl of different kinds, in the bottom of which
fiie huge helyer, or sea-cave, itself yawned, as if
for the purpose of swallowing up the advancing
tide, which it seemed to receive into an abyss of
immeasurable depth and extent. The entrance
to this dismal cavern consisted not in a single ai$h,
as usual, but was divided into two, by a huge pillar
af natural rock, which, rising out of the sea, and
extending to the top of the cavern, seemed to lend
its support to the roof, and thus formed a double
portal to the helyer, on which the fishermen and
peasants had bestowed the rude name of the Dev-
ice Nostrils. In this wild scene, lonely and undis-
turbed but by the clang of the sea-fowl, Cleveland
had already met with Minna Troil more than once ;
for with her it was a favourite walk, as the objects
which it presented agreed peculiarly with her love
of the wild, the melancholy, and the wonderful.
But now the conversation in which she was earn*
estly engaged, was such as entirely to withdraw
her attention, as well as that of her companion,
from the scenery around them.

u You cannot deny it," she said ; " you have
given way to feelings respecting this young mad
which indicate prejudice and violence, — the pre-
judice unmerited! as far as you are concerned at

S4 THE PIRATE.

least, and the violence equally imprudent and un-
justifiable/'

" I should have thought/ 1 relied Cleveland,
" that the service I rendered him yesterday might
have freed me from such a charge. 1 do not talk
of my own risk, for I have Hyed in danger, and
love it; it is not every one, howfver, would have
ventured so near the fungus animal to save one
with whom they had no connection."

" It is not every one, indeed, who could have
done so, 9 ' answered Minna, gravely ; " but it is
every one who has courage and generosity. The
giddy-brained Claud Halcro would have, done as
much as you, bad his strength been equal to his
courage, — my father 'would, have done as much,
though having such just cause of resentment a-
gainst the young man, for his vain and braggart
abuse of our hospitality. Do not, therefore, boast
of your exploit too much, my good friend, lest you
should make me think that it required too great an
effort, I know you love not Mordaunt Mertoun,
though you exposed your own life to save his."
. " Will you allow nothing, then," said Cleveland,
"for the long misery I was made to endure from
the common and prevailing report, that this beard-
less bird-hunter stood betwixt me and what 1 on
earth coveted most — the affections of Minna
Troil ?»

He spoke in a tone at once impassioned and in-
sinuating, and his ighole language and manner
seemed to express a grace and elegance, which
formed' the most striking contrast with the speech
and gesture pf the unpolished seaman, whi^h he
usually affected or. exhibited. But his apology
was unsatisfactory to Minna.

" You have known," she said, " perhaps too
soon, and too well, how little you had to fear, — if

THE PIRATE. 3*

*famm&ee& feared,— that Mertoun, or any other,
4ad vterest with Minna Troil. — 'Nay, truce to
thanks and protestations ; I would accept it as the
best proof of gratitude, that you would be recon-
ciled with this youth, or at least avoid every quar-
rel with him."

" That we should be friends, Minna, is impossi-
ble,' 1 replied Cleveland ; " even the love 1 bear
you, the most powerful emotion that my heart evei
knew, cannot work that miracle,"

" And why, I pray you ?" said Minna ; " there
have been no evil offices between you, but rather
an exchange of mutual services ; why can you not
be friends ? — I have many reasons to wish it."

44 And can you then forget the slights which he
has cast upon Brenda, and on yourself, and on
your fathers house."

" I can forgive them all," said Minna ;— " can you
not say so much, who have in truth received no
offence ?"

Cleveland looked down, and paused for an in-
stant, then raised bis head and replied, " I might
easily deceive you, Minna, and promise you what
my soul tells me is an impossibility ; but I am for*
ced to use too much deceit with others, and with
you I will use none. I cannot be friend to this
young man ; — there is a natural dislike — an in-
stinctive aversion-— a something like a principle oj
repugnance in our mutual nature, which makes us
odious to each other. Ask himself— be will tell
you he has the same antipathy against me. The
obligation he conferred on me was a bridle to my
resentment ; but I was so galled by the restraint,
that I could have gnawed the curb till my lips
were bloody."

3 'VQk. 2t lf

20 THE PIRATE.

41 You have worn what you are wont to caU
your iron mask so long, that your features," re-
plied Minna, "retain the impression of its rigidity,
even when it is removed."

" You do me injustice, Minna," replied her lov-
er, "and you are angry with me because I deal
with you plainly and honestly. Plainly and hon-
estly, however, will I say, that I cannot be Mer-
toun's friend, but it shall be his own fault, not
mine, if I am ever his enemy. I seek not to in-
jure him, but do not ask me to love him* And of
this remain satisfied, that it would be vain even
if I could do so ; for as sure as I attempted any
advances towards his confidence, so sure would I
be to awaken his disgust and suspicion. Leave us
to the exercise of our natural feelings, which, at
they will unquestionably keep us as far separate
as possible, are most likely to prevent any possible
interference with each other. — Does this satisfy
you ?"

" it must," said Minna, " since you tell me
there is no remedy. — And now tell me why you
looked so grave when you heard of your consort's
arrival, for that it is her 1 have no doubt, in the
por{ of Kirkwall ?"

" 1 fear," replied Cleveland, "the consequences
of that Vessel's arrival with her crew, as compre-
hending the ruin of my fondest hopes. I had
'made some progress in your father's favour, and,
with time, might have made more, when hither
<jotne Allured and Hawkins to blight my prospects
"for -ever. 1 told you on what terms we parted. I
/then commanded a vessel braver and better found
* than their own, with a crew who, at my slightest
nod, would have faced fiends armed with their
Own fiery element; but I now stand alone, a single
man, destitute of all means to overawe or to restrain

THE PIHAT1. ST

then* ; and they will soon shew so plainly the un-
governable license of their habits and dispositions*
that ruin to themselves and me will in all proba-
bility be the consequence,"

" Do not fear it," said Minna ; " my father can
never be so unjust as to hold you liable for the of-
fences of others."

" But what will Magnus Troil say to my own>
fair Minna?" said Cleveland, smiling*

" My father is a Norwegian," said Minna, "one
of an oppressed race, who will not care whether
jrou fought against the Spaniards, who are the ty-
rants of the New World, or against the Dutch and
English, who have succeeded to their usurped do-
minions. His own ancestors supported and exer-
cised the freedom of the seas in those gallant barks,
whose pennons were the dread of all Europe."

" I fear, nevertheless," said Cleveland, smiling,
" that the descendant of an ancient Sea-King. wiU
scarce acknowledge a fitting acquaintance in a
modern rover. I have not disguised from you that
I have reason to fear the English laws ; and Mag*
nus, though a great enemy to taxes, imposts, scatt,
wattle, and so forth, has no idea of latitude upon
points of a more general character ;— he would
willingly reeve a rope to the yard-arm for the
benefit of an unfortunate buccaneer.'?

44 Do not suppose so," said Minna; "he him-
self suffers too much oppression from the tyranni-
cal laws of our proud neighbour* of Scotland. I
trust he will soon be able to rise in resistance
against them. The enemy — such I will call th$a»
— are now divided amongst themselves, and avenr
vessel from their coast briogp intelligence of fresh
commotions — the Highlands against the Lowlands
— the Williamkes against the Jacobites— rtbe
Whigs against the Tories, and, to sum the whole,

f

s

3* THE PIRATE.

the kingdom of England against that of Scotland.,
What is there, as Claud Halcro well hinted, to
prevent our availing ourselves of the quarrel* of
these robbers, to assert the independence of which
we are deprived ?*■

" To hoist the raven standard on the Castle of
Scalloway, 9 ' said Cleveland, in imitation of her
tone add manner, "and proclaim your father Earl
Magnus the First ! w

4< Earl Magnus the Seventh, if it please you,' 9 re-
plied Minna ; " for six of his ancestors have worn
the coronet before him.— You laugh at my ardour,
-^-but what ir there to prevent all this ?" *

** Nothing zoUl prevent it," replied Cleveland,

* because it will never be attempted-— Any thing
fright prevent it, that is equal in strength to the
long-boat of a British man-of-war."

* " You treat us with scorn, sir," replied Minna ;
u jet yourself should know what a few resolved

*infcn may perform."

"But they must be armed, Minna, 9 ' replied
Cleveland, " and witling to place their lives upon
each desperate adventure. — Think not of such vis-
ions, Denmark has been cut down into a second-
rate kingdom, incapable of exchanging a single
broadside with England; and, in these islands, the
love of independence has been suppressed by a long
term of subjection, or shews itself but in a few mut-
tered growls over the bowl and bottle.— And, were
your men as willing warriors as their ancestors,
What could the unarmed crews of a few fishing*
boats do against the British navy? — Think no more
of it, sweet Minna— it is a dream, and I must term
it so, though it makes your eye so bright, and your
step so noble. 91

"It is indeed a dream 1" said Minna, looking
dewn, " and it ill becomes a daughter of Hialtland

THE PIRATE. »

to look or to move like a free worota— Our eye
should be oq the ground, and our step alow and re-
luctant, as that of one who obeys a task-master."

" There are lands," said Cleveland, " in which
the eye may look bright upon groves of the palm
and the cocoa, and where the foot may move light
as a galley under sail, over fields carpetted with
flowers, and savannahs surrounded by aromatic
thickets, and where subjection is unknown, except
that of the brave to the bravest, and of all to the
most beautiful-"

•Minna paused a moment ere she replied, and
then answered, " No, Cleveland. My own rude
country has charms for me, even desolate as you
think it, and depressed as it surely is, which no*
other land on earth can present to me* I endeav-
our in vain to represent to myself those visions of
trees, and of groves, which my eye never saw ; but
my imagination can conceive no sight in nature
more sublime than those waves, when agitated by
a storm, or more beautiful, than when they come,
as they now do r rolling in calm tranquillity to the
shore. Not the fairest scene in a foreign lapd,-^
not the brightest sun-beam that ever shone upon
the richest landscape, would win my thoughts for
a moment from that lofty rock, misty hill and wide-
rolling ocean* Hialtlandis the land of my deceas-
ed ancestors, and of my living lather ;> aadifrHtalt--
land will 1 live and die."

u Then in Hialtland," answered Cleveland,
" willl too live and die. I will not go to Kirkwall,
1 will not make my existence known to my com-
rades, from whom it were else hard, for me to es~
cape. Your father loves me, Minna ; who knows
whether long attention, anxious care might not
bring him to receive me into his family* Who

3* foi.2*

SO VHfi WRATB.

would regard the length of a voyage that was cet*
tain to terminate in happiness ?" v

" Dream not of such an issue," said Minna ; " it
is impossible. While y on live in my ftthfer's house,
—while you receive his assistance, and share his

• table, you will find him the generous friend, and the
hearty host * 'but touch him on what concerns Ilia
tvame and femily, and the frank-hearted Udaller will
start up before you the haughty and proud descend-
ant of a Norwegian Jarl. See you, a momenta sus-
picion has fallen onMordaunt Mertoun, and he has
banished from his favour the youth nfhotn he so

' lately loved as a son* No one must ally with his
house that is not of untainted northern desceht."

" And mine may be so, for aught that is known to
me upon the subject," said Cleveland*
* *' now !" said Minna ; " have you any reason to

• believe yourself of Norse descent ?"

" I have told you before," replied Cleveland,
"that my family is totally unknown to me. I

• spent my earliest days upon a solitary plantation,
in the little island of Tortuga, under the charge of
my father, then a different person from what he af-
terwards became. We were plundered by the
Spaniards, and reduced to such extremity of pov-
erty, that my father, in desperation, and in thirst of
revenge, took up arms, and having become chief of
V little band, who were in the same circumstances,
became a buccaneer, as it is called, and cruized

( against Spain, with various vicissitudes of good and

• bad fortune, until, while he interfered to check
some violence of his companions, be fell by their

• hands — no uncommon fate among the captains of
these rovers. But whence my .father came, or

'what was the place of his birth, 1 know not, fair
Ifinnai, nor have I ever had a curious thought on the
•object."

THE PIRATE. 31

"He wtfft a Britoo, at least, yofar tnfoitunate
fcther?" said Minna.

" I faave do 4oobt of it," said Cleveland ; " bis
name, which I bare rendered too formidable to be
openly spdken, is sm English one ; and bis acquain-
tance with the English language, and even with
English literature, together with the pains whith
he took, ki better days, to teach me both, plainly
spoke hka to be an Englishman. If the rode bear-
ing which I display towards others is not the gen-
nine character of my mind and manners, it is to
my father, Minna, that I owe any share of better
thoughts and principles, which may render me
worthy, in some small degree of your notice and
approbation* Andyet it sometimes seems to roe,
that I hare two different characters; for I cannot
almost believe, that I who now walk this lone
beach with the lovely Minna Trail, and am per-
mitted to speak to her of Ihe passion which i have
cherished, have ever been the daring leader of the
bold band whose name was as terrible as a tor-
nado."

" You had not been permitted," said Minna,
"to use that bold langoagl towards the daughter
of Magnos Troil, had you not been the brave *nd
nndsunted leader, vAe, with so small means, has
made Us name so formidable. My heart is lake
that of a maiden of the ancient days, and is to.be
won, not by fair words, but by gallant deeds." *

" Alas ! thatheart," said Cleveland 5 " and what
is it that 1 may do— what is it that man can dof to
win in it the interest which I desire ?" *

" Rejoin your friends-— pursue your fortunes-
leave the rest to destiny," said Minna. " Should
you return, the leader of a gallant fleet, who esn
iell whatmay befel?" *

3* THE PfttAtl.

■w

u And what shall assure me, that, when I rettmi
—if return I ever shall — I may not find Minna Trot! •
a bride or a spouse? — No, Minna, I will not trust
to destiny the only object worth attaining, wbteh
my stormy voyage in jife has yet offered me."

- " Hear me," said Minna* " 1 will bind myself,
to you, if you dare accept such an engagement
by the promise of Odin, the most sacred of our
northern rites which are yet practised amongst
us, that I will never favour another, until you re-
sign the pretensions which I have given to you.—
Will that satisfy you ? — for more I cannot — morer
I will not give."

• " Then with that," said Cleveland, after a mo-
mentV pause, " I must perforce be satisfied ;— bat"
remember, it is yourself that threw me back upon
a mode of life which the laws of Britain denounce
as criminal, and which the violent passions of the
daring men by whom it is pursued, have rendered
infamous."

" But I r " said Minna, u am superior to such pre-
judices. In warring with England, I see their law*
in no other Tight than as if you were engaged with*
an enemy, who, in fulness of pride and power, has
declared he will give his antagonist no quarter.
A brave man will not fight the worse of this ;—
and, for the .manners of your comrades, so that
they do not infect your own, why should their evil
report attach to you W

Cleveland gazed at her as she spoke, with a de-
gree of wondering admiration, in which, at thti
same time, there lurked a smile at her simplicity,

"I could not," he said, "have believed, that
sttch high courage could have been found united
with such ignorance of the world, as the world is
now wielded. For my manners, they who best
know me will readily allow, that t have done my

THE PIRATE SS

test, at the risk of my popularity, and of my life
itself, to mitigate the ferocity of my mates ; bill
how can you teach humanity to men burning with
vengeance against the world, by whom they are
proscribed, or learn them temperance and modern
«thn in enjoying the pleasures which chance
throws in their way, to vary a life which would be
otherwise one constant scene of peril and hard-
•hip? But this promise, Minna — this promise,
which is all I am to receive in guerdon for my
faithful attachment— let me at least lose no time in
claiming it."

" It must not be rendered here,but in Kirkwall.
—We muat invoke, to witness the engagement,
the Spirit which presides oyer the ancient circle of
Stennis. But perhaps you fear to name the an-
cient Father of the Slain too, the Severe} the
Terrible."

Cleveland smiled*

" Do me the justice to think, lovely Minna, that
1 am little subject to fear real causes of terror ;
and for those which are visionary, I have no sym-
pathy whatsoever."

" You believe not in them, then," said Minna,
" and are so far better suited to be Brenda's lover
than mine."

" I will believe," replied Cleveland, " in what-
ever you believe. The whole inhabitants of that
Valhalla, about which you converse so much with
that fiddling, rhiming fool, Claud Halcro— all these
shall become living and existing things to my cre-
dulity. But, Minna, do net ask me to fear any of
them."

** Fear! no — not to, fear them, surely*" replied
the maiden ? " for, not before Thor or Odin, when
they approached in the fulness of their terrors, did
the heroes gf my dauntless race yield one foot in

1

34 THE PIRATE.

retreat. But when you make this boast, bethink
you that you defy an enemy of a kind you hare
never yet encountered."

" Not4n these northern latitudes, 91 said the lor*
er, with a smile, " where hitherto I have seen but
angels ; but I have faced, in my time, the demons
of the Equinoctial Line, which we rovers suppose
to be as powerful, and as malignant, as those of
the North."

" Have you then witnessed those wonders that
are beyond the visible world ?" said Minna, with
some degree of awe.

Cleveland composed his countenance, and re*
-plied, — " A short while before my father's death,
I came, though then very young, into the com-
mand of a sloop, manned with thirty as desperate
fellows as ever handled a musket. We cruized for
a long while with bad success, taking nothing but
wretched small-craft, which were destined to catcb
turtle, or otherwise loaded with coarse and worth-
less trumpery. I had much ado to prevent iriy
comrades from avenging upon the crews of those
baubling shallops the disappointment which they
had occasioned to us. At length, we grew despe*
rate, and made a descent on a village where we
were told we should intercept the mules of a cer-
tain Spanish governor, laden with treasure. We
succeedechin carrying the place;, but while I en-
deavoured to save the inhabitants from the fury of
my followers, the muleteers, with their precious
cargo, escaped into the neighbouring woods. This
filled up the measure of my unpopularity. My
people, who had been long discontented, became
openly mutinous. I was deposed from my com-
mand, in solemn council, and condemned, as hav-
ing too little luck and too much humaaity for the

THE PIRATE. 35

8 rofession I had undertaken, to be marooned,* at
le phrase goes, on one of those little sandy, bushy
islets, which are called, in the West Indies, keys,
and which are freauented only by turtle and by
sea-fowL Many of them are supposed to be
baunted — some by the demons worshipped by the
old inhabitants — others by Caciques and others,
whom the Spaniards had put to death by torture,
to compel them to discover their hidden treasures,
and others by the various spectres in which sailors
of all nations have implicit faith. My place of
banishment, called Coffin-key, about two leagues ,
and a half to the south-east of Bermudas, was so
infamous as the resort of these supernatural inhab-
itants, that I believe the wealth of Mexico would
not have persuaded the bravest of the scoundrels
who put me ashore there, to have spent an hour
on the islet alone, even in broad day-light ; and
when they rowed off, they pulled for the sloop like
men that dared not cast their eyes behind them.
And there they left me to subsist myself as I might,
on -a speck of unproductive sand, surrounded by
^ the boundless Atlantic, and haunted, as they sup-
posed, by malignant demons."

" And what was the consequence ?" said Minna,
eagerly. .

" I supported life, 9 ' said the adventurer, " at the
expense of such sea-fowl as were silly enough to
.let me approach so near as to knock them down
with a stick ; and by means of turtle eggs, when
these complaisant birds became better acquainted
with the mischievous disposition of the human spe-
cies, and more shy of course of my advances.*

' * To maroon a seaman, signified to abandon him on a des-
fctete coast or island — a piece of cruelty often practised by Fl-
utes and Jteecaaeers.

« THE PIEATE.

" And the demoas of wham yea *pok*f" can
tinued Minna.

"I had my secret apprehensions upon .their ac-
count," said Cleveland : u In open day-light, or in
absolute darkness, I did not greatly apprehend their
approach ; but in the misty dawn of the morning,
or when evening was about to fall,. I saw, for the
first week of my abode on the key, many a dim
and undefined spectre,-— now resembling a Span-
iard, with his capa, wrapped around him, and his
huge sombrera, as large as an umbrella, upon his
bead, — now a Dutch sailor, with his rough cap and
trunk-hose,— and now an Indian Cacique, with his
feathery crown and long lance of cane."

"Did you not approach and address them ?" said
Minna.

" I always approached them," replied the sea-
man ; " but, — I grieve to disappoint your expec-
tations, my fair friend,— whenever I drew near
them the phantom changed into a bush, or a piece
of drift-wood,. or a wreath of mist, or some euch
cause of deception, until at last I was taught by
experience to cheat myself no longer with such
visions, and continued a solitary inhabitant of Cof-
fin-key, as little alarmed by visionary terrors, as
1 ever was in the great cabin of a stout vessel,
with a score of companions around me."

" You cheated me into listening to a tale of
nothing," said Minna ; " but how long did you
continue on the island ?"

" Four weeks of miserable existence," said
Cleveland, " when 1 was relieved by the crew of
a vessel which came thither a-turtling. Yet my
^miserable seclusion was not entirely useless to me,
for on that spot of barren sand I found the iron
mask, which has since been my chief security
against treason, or mutiny of my followers. It'

THE PIRATE. ft

fits there J formed the resolufion to seem no softer
hearted, nor better instructed — no more humane,
and 'no more scrupulous, than those with whom
fortune trad leagued me. I thought over my for-
mer story, and saw that seeming more brave, skil-
fal, and enterprising than others, had gained me
command and respect, and that seeming more gent*
ly nurtured, and more civilized than they, had
made them envy and hate me as a being of another
species. I agreed with myself, then, that since I
eould not lay aside my superiority of intellect and
education, 1 would do my best to disguise, and to
sink in the rude seaman, all appearance of better
feeling and better accomplishments. I foresaw
then wtiat has since happened, that, under the ap-
pearance of daring obduracy, I should acquire such
a habitual command* over my followers, that I
might use it for the ensu ranee of discipline, and for
relieving the distresses of the wretches who fell
nnder our power. I saw, in short, that, to attain
authority, 1 must assume the external semblance,
at least, of those over whom it was to be exercised.
The tidings of my father's fate, while it excited mo
to wrath and to revenge, confirmed the resolution
I had adopted. He also had fallen a victim to hif
superiority of mind, morals, and manners, above
those whom he commanded. They were wont to
call him the Gentleman ; and, unquestionably,
they thought he waited some favourable opportu-
nity to reconcile himself, perhaps at their expence,
with those existing forms of society with which his
habits seemed best to suit, and, even therefore,
they murdered him. Nature and justice alike
called on me for revenge. I was soon at the head
of a new body of the adventurers, who are so nu-
merous in those islands. I sought not after those
4 vol. 2.

M THE PIRATE.

by whom I had been myself marooned, bat after
the wretches who had betrayed my father ; and on
them I took a revenge so severe, that it was of it-
self sufficient to stamp me with the character of
that inexorable ferocity which I was desirous to be
thought to possess, and which, perhaps, was grad-
ually coming on my disposition in actual earnest*
My manner, speech, and conduct, seemed so to-
tally changed, that those who formerly knew me
were disposed to ascribe the alteration to my in-
tercourse with the demons who haunted the sands
of Coffin-key ; nay, there were some, superstitious
enough to believe that I had actually formed a
league with them."

"I tremble to hear the rest!" said Minna;
** did you not become the monster of courage and
Cruelty whose character jou assumed ?"

" If I have escaped being «o, it is to you, Minna,"
replied Cleveland, " that the wonder must be as-
cribed* It is true, I have always endeavoured to
distinguish myself rather by acts of the most ad-
venturous valour, than by schemes of revenge or
of plunder, and that at length I could save lives by
a rude jest, and sometimes, by the .excess of the
measures which I myself proposed, could induce
those under me to intercede in favour of prisoners ;
so that the seeming severity of my character has
better served the cause of humanity, than had I
appeared directly devoted to it«"

He ceased, and, as Minna replied not a word,
both remained silent for a little space, when Cleve-
land again resumed the discourse :—

" You are silent," he said, " Miss Troil, and I
have injured myself in your opinion by the frank-
ness with which I have laid my character before
$pu, 1 may truly say that my natural disposition

x

THE PIRATE. 39

has been controlled, but not altered, by the unto-
ward circumstances in which I am placed."

" 1 am uncertain," said Minna, after a moment's
consideration, " whether jou had been thus can-
did, had you not known I should soon see your
comrades, and discover from their conversation
and their manners what you would otherwise glad*
ly have concealed."

" You do me injustice, Minna, cruel injustice.
From the instant you knew me to be a sailor of
fortune, an adventurer, a buccaneer, or, if you
will have the broad word, a pibatb, what bad you
to expect less than what I have told you ? >T

" Yqu speak too truly," said Minna — " all this
I might have anticipated, and I know not how I
should have expected it otherwise. But it seem-
ed to me that a war on the cruel and superstitious
Spaniards had in it something ennobling — some-
thing that refined the fierce employment to which
yon have just now given its true and dreaded
name. I thought that the independent warriors of
the Western Ocean, raised up, as it were, to pun-
ish the wrongs of so many murdered and plunder-
ed tribes, must have had something of noble eleva*
tion, like the Sons of the North, whose long gal*
leys avenged on so many coasts the oppressions of
degenerate Rome. This I thought, and this I
dreamed — I grieve that I am awakened and unde-
ceived. Yet I blame you not for the erring of my
own fancy. — Farewell, we must now part."

" Say at least," said Cleveland, " that you do
not hold me in horror for having told you the
truth."

" I must have time for reflection," said Minna,
" time to weigh what you have said, ere I can fully
understand my own feelings. Thus much, how-
ever, I can say even now, that he who pursues the

40 THE PIRATE.

wicked purpose of plunder, by means of blood and
cruelty, and who must veil his remains of natural
remorse under an affectation of superior profliga-
cy, is not, and cannot be, the lover whom Minna
Troil expected to find in Cleveland; and if she
still love him, it must be as a penitent, and not as
a hero."

So saying, she extricated herself from his grasp,
(for he still endeavoured to detain her,) making an
imperative sign to him to forbear from following
her.— u She is gone," said Cleveland, looking af-
ter her ; " wild and fanciful as she is, I was unpre-
pared for this. — She startled not at the name of
my perilous course of life, yet seems totally unpre-
pared for the evil which must necessarily attend
it ; and so all the merit I have gained with my re-
semblance to a Norse Champion, or King of the
Sea, is to be lost at once, because a gang of pirates
do not prove to be a choir of saints. I would that
Rackam, Hawkins, and the rest, had been at the
bottom of the Race of Portland — 1 would the Pent-
land Firth had swept them to hell rather than to
Orkney ! 1 will not, however, quit the chase of this
angel for all that these fiends can do. I will — I
tnust to Orkney before the Udaller makes his voy-
age thither— our meeting might alarm even his
blunt understanding, although, thank Heaven, in
this wild country, men know the nature of our
trade only by hearsay, through our honest friends
the Dutch, who take care never to speak very ilt
of those they make money by. — Well, if fortune
would but stand my friend with this beautifol en-
thusiast, I would pursue her wheel no further at
sea, but set myself down amongst these rocks, as
happy as if they were so many groves of bananas
and palmettoes."

THE PIRATE. 41

With these, and such thoughts, half rolling in?
his bosom, half expressed in indistinct bints and
murmurs, the pirate Cleveland returned to tha
mansion of Burgh- Westra*.

CHAPTER HI.

There was shaking of hands, and sorrow of heart,
For the hour was approaching when merry folks most part;
So we call'd for our horses, and ask'd for our way,
While the jolly old landlord said, " Nothing's to pay."
• LMput, a Poem,

Wi do not dwell upon the festivities of the day,
which had nothing in them to interest the reader
particularly. The table groaned under the usual
plenty, which was disposed of by the guests with,
the usual appetite — the bowl of punch was filled
and emptied with the same celerity as usual — the
men quaffed, and the women laughed — Claud Hal-
cro rhimed, punned, and praised John Dryden—
the Udall£r bumpered and sung choruses— and the
evening concluded, as usual, in the Rigging-loft, at
k was Magnus TroiFs pleasure to term the danc-
ing apartment*

, It was then and there that Cleveland, approach*
ing Magnus, where he sat betwixt his two daugh-
ters, intimated his intention of going to Kirkwall
in a stnall brig, which Bryce Snaelsfoot, who had
disposed of his goods with unprecedented celerity^
had freighted. thither, to procure a supply.

Magnus heard the sudden proposal of his guest
with surprise, not unmingled with displeasure, and

4* vol, %

4* THE PIRATB.

/

demanded sharply of Cleveland, how long it was
sir je he had learned to prefer Bryce Snaelfoot'a
company to his own* Cleveland answered, with
his usual bluntness of manner, that time and tide
tarried for no one, and that he had his own partic-
ular reasons for making his trip to Kirkwall sooner
than the Udaller proposed to set sail — that he
hoped to meet with him and his daughters at the
great fyr, which was now closely approaching,
and might perhaps find it possible to return to Zet-
land along with them. v

While he spoke this, Brenda kept her eye as
much upon her sister as it was possible to do, with*
out exciting general observation* She remarked,
that Minna's pale cheek became yet paler while
Cleveland spoke, and that she seemed, by com-
pressing her lips, and slightly knitting her brows,
to be in the act of repressing the effects of strong
interior emotion. But she spoke not; and when
Cleveland, having bidden adieu to the Udaller, ap-
proached to salute her, as was then the custom,
she received bis farewell without trusting herself
to attempt a reply.

Brenda had her own trial approaching; for
Mordaunt Mertoun, once so much loved by her
father, was now in the act of making his cold part-
ing from him, without receiving a single look of
friendly regard. There was, indeed, sarcasm in
the tone with which Magnus wished the youth a
good journey, and recommended to him, if he met
a bonny lass by the way, not to dream that she
vras in love, because she chanced to laugh at him.
Mertoun coloured at what be felt as an insult,
though it was but half intelligible to him ; but he
remembered Brenda, and suppressed every feeling
of resentment. He proceeded to take bis leave of
the sisters. Minna, whose heart was considerably

i

THE PIRAT* 44

wftened towards him, received his farewell with
some degre^-ofinterest ; but Brenda 's was so visit
ble in the* kindness of ber manner, and the moil*
tore which gathered in her eye, that it was noticed
even by the Udaller, who exclaimed, half-angrily,
" Why, ay, lass, that may be right enow, for he
was an old acquaintance ; but mind ! I have no
will that he remain one."

Mertoim, who was slowly leaving the apartment
half overheard this disparaging observation, and
half turned round to resent it* But his purpose
(ailed him when he saw that Brenda had been ,
obliged to have recourse to her handkerchief 4#
bide her emotion, and the sense that it was excited
by his departure, obliterated every thought of her
father's unkind ness. He retired, — the other guests
followed his example; and many of them, likf
Cleveland and himself, took their leave over-night,
with the purpose of commencing their homeward
journey on the succeeding morning.

That night, the mutual sorrow of Minna and
Brenda, if it could not wholly remove the reserve
which had estranged the sisters from each other,
at least melted all its frozen and unkindly symp-
toms. They wept, in each other's arms; and
though neither spoke, yet each became dearer to
the other ; because they felt that the grief which
called forth these drops had a source common to
them both.

It is probable, that though Brenda's tears were
most abundant, the grief of Minna was most deep-
ly seated ; for long after the younger had sobbed
herself asleep, like a child, upon her sister's bosom,
Minna lay awake, watching the dubious twilight,
while tear after tear slowly gathered in her
and found a current down her cheek, as soc
became too h&yy; to be, supjKJttsd by

\y

44 THB PIRATE.

black silken eye-lashes* As she lay, bewildered
among the sorrowful thoughts which supplied these
tears, she was surprised to distinguish, beneath the
window, the sounds of music. At first she sup-
posed it was some freak of Claud Halcro, whose
fantastic humour sometimes indulged itself in such
serenades. But it was not the gue of the old min-
strel, but the guitar which she heard ; an instru-
ment which none in the island knew how to touch
except Cleveland, who had learned, in his inter-
course with the South American Spaniards, to play
on it with superior execution. Perhaps it was io
these climates also that he had learned the song,
which, though he now sung it under the window of
of a maiden of Thule, had certainly never been
Composed for the native of a climate so northerly:
and so severe, since it spoke of productions of the:
earth and skies which are there unknown*.

r.

w Love wakes and weepr

While Beauty sleeps !
O for Music's softest numbers,

To prompt a theme,

For Beauty's dream,
Soft as the pillow of her slumbers.

r

2.

" Through groves of palm-
Sigh gales of balm,

Fire-flies on the air are wheeling;
While through the gloom
Come soft perfume,

"She distant beds of flowers revealing.

3:

w O wake and live,
No dream can give

dow'd bliss, the real excelling^;
No longer sleep,
From lattice peep,
fist MHale that Low is telling'

THE PIRATE. 45

The voice of Cleveland was deep, rich and
manly, and accorded well with the Spanish air, to
which the words, probably a translation from the
same language, had been adapted. ' His invocation
would not probably have been fruitless, could Min-
na have arisen without awakening ber sister. But
that was impossible ; for Brenda, who, as we al-
ready mentioned, had wept bitterly before she bad
sunk into repose, now lay with her face on her
sisterVneck, and one arm stretched around her,
in the attitude of a child which has cried itself
asleep in the arms of ber nurse* It was impossi-
ble for Minna to extricate herself from ber grasp
without awaking her ; and she could not, there-
fore, execute her hasty purpose, of donning her
gown, and hastening to 'the window to speak with
Cleveland, who, she had no doubt, had resorted to
this contrivance, to procure an interview* The
restraint was sufficiently provoking, for it was more
than probable that her lover came to take his last
farewell ; but that .Brenda, inimical as she seemed
to be of late towards Cleveland, should awake and
witness it, was a thought not to be endured.

There was a short pause, in which Minna endea-
voured more than once, with as much gentleness
as possible, to unclasp Brenda's arm from her neck;
but whenever she attempted it the slumberer mut-
tered some little pettish sound, like a child distur-
bed in its sleep, which sufficiently shewed that per-
severance in the attempt would awaken her fully.

To her great vexation, therefore, Minna was
compelled to remain still and silent ; when her
lover, as if determined upon gaining her ear by
music of another strain, sung the following frag-
ment of a sea-ditty.

4« THE PIRATE.

'^ Farewell ! Farewell ! the voice yon bear,

Has left Ha last soft tone with you,—*
Its next must join the seaward cheer,

And shout among the shouting crew.

" The accents which I scarce could form
Beneath your frown's controlling check,

Mast give the word, above the storm,
To cut the mast, and clear the wreck.

H The timid eye I dared not raise,— ^

The hand that shook when press'd to thine,

Must point tiie guns upon the chase,-— ,

Must bid the deadly cutlass shine.

"To all I love, or hope, -or fear,—

Honour, or own, a long adieu !
To all that life has soft and dear,

Farewell ! save memory of you !"

He was again silent ; and again she, to whom
the serenade was addressed, strove in vain to arise
without rousing her sister. It was impossible;
and she had nothing before her but the unhappy
thought that Cleveland was taking leave in his de-
solation, without a single glance, or a single word;
He, too, whose temper was so fiery, jet who sub*
jected his violent mood with such sedulous atten-
tion to her will, — could she but have stolen a mo-
ment but to say adieu— to caution him against
new quarrels with Mertoun — to implore him to de-
tach himself from such comrades as be had des-
cribed, — could she but have done this, who could
say what effect such parting admonitions might
have had upon his character — nay, upon the future
events of his life ?

Tantalized by such thoughts, Minna was about
to make another and decisive effort, when she
heard voices beneath the window, and thought she
could distinguish that they were those of Cleve-
land and Mertoun, speaking in a sharp tone, which,
at the same time, seemed cautiously suppressed,

THE PIRATE. 47

is if the speakers feared being overheard. Alarm
now mingled with her former desire to rise from
bed, and she accomplished at once the purpose
which she had so often attempted in vain. Bren-
da's arm was unloosed from her sister's neck, with-
out the sleeper receiving more alarm than provok-
ed two or three unintelligible murmurs ; while,
with equal speed and silence, Minna put on some
part of her dress, with the intention to steal to the
window. But, ere she could accomplish this, the
sound of the voices without was exchanged for
that of blows and struggling, which terminated
suddenly by a deep groan.

Terrified at this last signal of mischief, Minna
sprung to the window, and endeavoured to open
it, for the persons were so close under the walls of
the house that she could not see them, save bj
potting her head out of the casement. The iron
hasp was stiff and rusted, and, as generally hap-
pens, the haste with which she laboured to undo it
only rendered the task more difficult. When it
was accomplished, and Minna had eagerly thurst
her body half out at the casement, those who had
created the sounds which alarmed her were be-
come invisible, excepting that she saw a shadow
cross the moonlight, the substance of which must
have been in the act of turning a corner, which,
concealed it from her sight. The shadow moved
slowly, and seemed that of a man who supported
another upon his shoulders ; an indication which put
the climax to Minna's agony of mind. The win-
dow was not above eight feet from the ground,
and she hesitated not to throw herself from it has-
tily, and to pursue the object which had excited
her terror.

But when she came to the corner of the build*
inga from which the shadow seemed to have been

4$ THB PIRAT*

projected, she discovered nothing which could
point out the way that the figure had gone ; and,
after a moment's consideration, became sensible
that all attempts at pursuit would be alike wild
and fruitless. Besides all the projections and re-
cesses of the many-angled mansion, and its numer-
ous offices — besides the various cellars, store*
houses, stables, and so forth, which defied her sol*
itary search, there was a range of low rocks, stretch-
ing down to the little haven, and which were, in
fact, a continuation of the ridge which formed its
pier. These rocks had many indentures, hollows,
and caverns, into any one of which the figure to
which the shadow belonged might have retired
with his fatal burden ; for fatal, she feared, it was
most likely to prove.

A moment's reflection, as we have said, convin-
ced Minqa of the folly of further pursuit.; her
next thought was to alarm the family ; but what
tale had she to tell, and of whom was that tale to
be told ? — On the other hand, the wounded man—
if indeed he was wounded — alas, if indeed he were
not mortally wounded, — might not be past the
reach of assistance ; and, with this idea, she was
about to raise her voice, when she was interrupted ,
by that of Claud Halcro, who was returning appar-
ently from the haven, and singing, in bis manner,
a scrap of an old Norse ditty, which might run thus
ih English :- —

u And you shall deal the funeral dole ;

Ay* deal it, mother mine,
"£e weary body and to heavy soul,

The white bread and the wine.

" And you shall deal my horses of pride;

&f 9 deal tbem r mother mine ;
And you shall deal my lands so wide,

And deal my castles nine.

¥m PIRATE. 41

«**deeJ^wnses»c* ; toitl«o^, '

And deal not for the crime ;
The body to ha place, and the soul to Heaven'* grace,

And the rest in God's own tune."

The singular adaptation of these rhimes to the
situation in which she found herself, seemed to
Minna Rke a ^warning from heaven. We are
speaking of a land of omens and superstitions,
and perhaps will scarce be understood by those
whose limited imagination cannot conceive how
strongly these operate upon the human mind dur-
ing a certain progress of society. A line of Vir-
gil, turned up casually, was received in the seven-
teenth century, and in the court of England, as an
intimation of future events $ and no wonder that a
maiden of the distant and wild isles of Zetland
sixfold have considered, as an injunction from Hea-
ven, verses which happened to convey a sense
analogous to her present situatiop.

" 1 will be silent," she muttered, — " I will seal
my lips —

The body to its place, and die soul to Heaven's grace,
And the rest hr God's own time."

" Who speaks there ?" said Claud Halcro, is
some alarm; for he had not, in his travels in ib*v
eign parts, been able by any means to rid himself
of his native superstitions* In the conditiop to
which fear and horror had reduced her, Minna was
at first unable to reply ; and Halcro, fixing his
eyes upon the female white figure, which he saw
indistinctly, for she stood in the shadow of the
house, and the morning was thick and misty, be-
gan to conjure her in an ancient rhime which oc-
curred to him as suited for the occasion, and which

* vol. 2.

16 THlt WRATR '

had id its gibberish a wiHh«0d 'unearthly sound,
which may. be lost id the ensuing translation :—

"Saint Magnus , contrail fliee, that muiyv of treason ;
Saint Ronan, rebuke thee, with rhyme and with reason ;
By the mass of Saint Martin, the might of Saint Mary,
«Be thbo gone* or thy weird shall be worse if thou tarry * . »

tf of good, go hence ,aul hallow t^ioe^ . \ <

Ifof ill, let t^e earth swallow thee,— -
- If Chon'rt of air, let the grey milt fold thee,— *
» K of earth, le«f^swariinUie1ioUthee^- • '.

, If a Pcsiet seek thy ringer-

If a Nixie, seek thy spring ;—
"'' ' If on middle earth thou'st been ' " ""

8la*eof sorrow, shame, ai*& sin,

Ha»t ea* the bread of toU and strii<, ..'..-.

And dree'dthe lot which men call life,
" Begone to thy stone ! foir thy coffin is scant of thee,' '

Vh» worm/ thy play-feBow, wsib tor ttewaot of' liicftfM.

. Hm Michael shall blow the blast, see that there thou bide

' '- thee!—-' ' - : i

~ £)Mmsvi^fceiic«t1i^
> HeflaanasstiUHaKosniu^

, " It is I, Halcro," muttered Minna, in a tone s*
thin and low, that it might have passed for the
feint reply ".of. the conjured phantom. }

/ "You !~ you !" said Hata^his tone of alarm
changing to one of extreme surprise ; "by this moon-
light, which is waning, and 30 it is !— Who could
have thought to find' you, my most lovely

S ght, wandering abroad in your own element f—
ut yonjaw them, I reckon, as well as I— bold
enough in you to follow them, though* 9 '

" Saw whom ?-— foliow whom ?" said Minna, hop-
ing to gain some information on the subject of her
fears and her anxiety.

, " The corpse-lights which danced at the haven,?'
.replied Halcro 5 " they bode no good, I promise J
^ypu— you wot well what the old rhyme says— . "

TBEMHATE. , ftl

. Dances bright,
™' : r ' u Beit by day or night, « •"

Be it by ligbt or dark,
There s ball corpse Ue stiiT and stark. v

I went half as far as the haven to look after than,
but they had vanished* 1 tbisk'I saw a boat put
off, howeyer^~8ome one bdutid for the haaf, I sup-
pose. — I wbujd.we had good new* of this fishing
—there was Noraa left at m angeryand then these
corpse-lights ! — Well, God help the while* . I am
an old man, and can but wish that all were well
over* — But how new, my pretty Minna ? tears in
your . eyes !— And now that I see you in the fair
.aaoeaiigbty ba^efootod toe,> by Saint Magnus!—
Were there noBtockings etf Zetland troej soft e-
nough for these pretty feet and ancles, that dance
so whit* m the fl&oon*be*n* 9-~?Whvt, sileet f — an*
gry, perhaps," be added, iw a mete sen*** tone,
"at my nonsense* For shame, silly maiden!-*
Remember 1 am old enough to be your father, and
havfc always loved you as my child."

"I am not angry, 1 ' said Mkina, constraining her-
telf to speak— * bat beard you nothing ?~saw ye*
nothing ?— They mast have passed you." *

" They ! n said Claud Ha tro ; " whatmfean you
liy they ?r-^is it the corpse-lights ?-~No,they did
not pass by me, but I think they have passed by
you, and blighted you with their influence, lor you
ere as pale as a spectrc^-Come^ come, Minna,*'
lie added, opening a side-door of the dwelling,
14 these moonlight wallet are fitter for old poets than
for yoong maidens-— And so lightly clad as you ere?
llaiden, you" should take care hbw you give y6ur-
tekf to the' breezes of a Zetland night, for they
bring more sleet than odours upon their wings.—
Bat, maiden, go in ; for, as glorious John says— or,

a* he dees net say— for I cannot tetnember hew
hk verse chimes— but, as I say inysel& in a pretty
ftoem, written when my muse was in tar teens,

Me&ttfal maiden n*'er should rite,

Till the first bean tinge the skies ;
SUk^Vfr^ed eyelHs stffl should close, ' < •■
< "ni^h^BimhMluM^tiBemM ;

, jty*idea'j foet we should not view, v

, Mark'd with thiy print on dew,
> • ; > • TO! the opening flowerets spread • '••

■^.*

i .

£^,^what^meat*xt?--4etn»iee." .

When the spirit of reoitatien seised on Claud
Halcro, he iWgot time and place* and might have
kept his companion ki thee cold air&r halfiau hoar,
giving poetical reasoes why she* ought to haftt
been in bed. But she interrupted him by the
question, earnestly proaeueeed*yct ma voice which
was scarcely asticutate, holding Hatero, at the «
same tine with a tremWing and ceavukive griasp,
as if to suppert herself from ; falling,rV Saw yen
no one in the beat which pot to sea hut now ?" .■ ,

" Nooseose," replied Halcro ; u bow con Id I see
aay one, whea light and distance only enabled me
to knew that it was a boat, and not a grampus F*

"But there must have been some one m the
heat ?" -repeated Minna, scarce conscious of what
she said. . ,i

" Certainly ," answered the poet ; "boats seldom
work to windward of their awn accord. But come*
this is ail foHy i eodso, as the queen says, in aa
eld play, which was revived for the stage by rare
Will D'Aveoant, ' To bed—to bed—to bed'.' 9

They separated, and Minna's limbs conveyed
her with difficulty, through several devious pas* ^
sagesy to her own chamber, where she stretched
herself cautiously beside her still sleeping sister*

*ithia atffid bttmsmi awitb 4be m+t t agoatfiflg
apprehensions* nThat she had faeefd; Cleveland,
she was, pn*iirwe*t*be: . t*nor of 4he songs left tar
ho doubt on that subject. If not equally certain
that she had heard yoohg Mertoun's voice in hot
quarrel with Mr loser, the impression U> that effect
was strong on her mind* . The groan* with .which
the struggle seemed to terminate — 'the fearful in-
dication fromi which it jseemed that the conqueror
had borne off*-the ltf^esa.b<idy>of bit. victim?— all
tended to prove that some fatal event had con*
eluded the contest. > And whkfa of - the. anhappy
t*&) had> &tteK>ft~*whfch bad met a bloody death t
s^wfaiob had achieved a fatal and a bloody .vie*
tory ?-^Thesd wereu^aeationfr to which the small
ftfH* vefce *>f interior convsetton answered,, that
her kdrea Clevtljandy from character v temper, and
lkfcbit* was^fttoat kikelf to. have, bean the surwoc
o£4hefina^ She received ^onk the redaction, a*
iqvahwtary consolation** which she almost dctoatoi
herself for admitting, whan she recollected that it
was at once darkened with her Jover'a: guilt, aad
embittered with the destruction of BretniaV hap-
fMnossfbr ever*- *, . ■• j » ,±.

u fanpeent, unhappy sister !" such were her
reflections; " thou that art ten times better than
fee, because a* unpretending «».so Bsuqsnroing «*
thine eicellence. How is it possible that .1 ahoatd
lease 4o feel a 'paqg, which is only * transferred
from injr bosom to thine ??? . ♦« <^

u :«A» these cruel thoughts, crossed her mind, she
cowkl not refrain; from straining her water so close

to her bosom, that, after a heavy sigh r Bread*
awoke*'

" Siste^^ she said, "is it you ?— I. dreamed*
I' lay on one of those monuments : which. ClanA

§& TWE/ IDltASlE

Hakt* f Jesetifced fie es> wiere 4ba dfigy af# «fc*

tefeabitant beneath -lies earwi in stem upatr4htf

sepulchre* I breamed such *a t»*rbtoYon»^ey b£

wfy side, and that it suddenly acqufoedieaaagb <m

Mfe and *mioati*n *o fa*d me ta ifscaid* moist

boson*— and it is yoor>s, Minna, that is indeed a*

cbiHy .~ Ybii ate rti, *ny dearest Minna! ferGed^a

sake, let me rise and ifcall fiuphaae Feaut-*Wha*

ills you-* has Noma bee« base again tfc • . ; . i > <;)

^ ^OtrM na *«e hi*her T ^ faid Minna, detaining

her; '* nothfeg aHs* art for which afiy one ha* *

remedy— nothing but apprehensions of et il wens*

than even Norn* co*id prnphesy* But God- i*

above - aH, sty dear "Brenda $ and let * us pray to

fckn to tarn, as he only can, oar evil intog&odJ^

-■ They did jointly repeat their usual prayer for

Strength and protection from on hgb, and again

cemposed themselves to' sleep, sttfering no. wWd

sfcve "God btess» you," to pass betmtt then*

When their devotion* were finished } thus sorapa*

lously dedicating to Heaven their tors* waking

words," if hom&n »fraihy prevented them *fra»

^otmnamihig their last waking thoughts Brenda

slept first, and Minna* strongly*' resisting- tha

f ark and evil 'presentiments which again began

to cmwd themselves upon her imagination, was

tit last so forhmate as to shmrtiev abo; . •♦ -.*

The storm which Halcro had expected b*gan

about daybreak,— a squall, heavy with wind fend

tain, such as are often felt, even during the finest

fart- of the season, in these latitudes. At the

whistle of the wind,' and the clatter of the nil

ten th? shingle*- roofing of the Saber-huts, many a

poor woman was awakened, and called on Hear

Children to hold up their little hands and join in

prayer for the safety of the 'dear husband muSL

fattier, who was even then at the **e*ey of 4he

SRifHtArar* m

Mmbe^BfeMtffe/ Jhwuad the fUmaw o* BqTgb*
VEfeatva, c hi a aoc yst bewted, and <wmdows eiaabcrib
Tbe prop» And rtfte^.of tbe higber* paitiof the
fcaildtogv moit of> th«n formed^ out of weeoke
w»odv greased and spitforedfaa tf they beared 4*
be agam disperaed . tfy the teaspest* ^B«lAi
dfaBgttefe of dklagfty»>Tf o» *o*ti*qed te deep *
ftrffrty aed as s waetfe as if Jhehhend of Cheittcy h*d
formed theo»oiifro/et*tuafy4aarbl<?. The sqoall
kad> pafatd >aw*y, end the ia^beams, riii|*i i Bint
the elouds which, drifted to IttewaM, abeae-Ml
tiuroogfc the lattice, when Minna first 'started from
the pFofooad sJeep into vrhicb fatigue aad<n*eatal
exhaustion had lulled her* • and . r h isieg herself o»
her arm, began; to? meal events which, after this
interval. *f profound repose, seamed almost to
jeaembleithe baseless visions of the night. She
fcfanost doobted if what she recalled of horPMy pre*
vtoufc to her storting from her bed, was aotj indeed*
the fiction of a » dream, seggested, perhaps, kf
Bcene external eooads. * *

r #:I wttt see* Gland Halero instantly," ahe said 5
P be eaay know* something of these strange <ftessefr,
•ahe was sttrriag at the time*?* • • -

: .• With that . ahe * spimg from bed y bet hardly
eteod opright en the floor, ere her sister e*etoin*
ed, " Gracioufe Heaven! Mtaaa, what ails yonr
ieot^yonr aitcle ? ,r . . >

S». 4She looked down, and- saw with surprise, whtcli
'amounted to agony., that 1 both her feet, bat par*
tseularly eeeof them, was stained with dark crim-
son, resembling the colour of dried blood*

Without attempting to answer Brenda, ahe
mahed to the window, and east a desperate look
ton the grass heneath^for there she knew she mast
have contracted the fatal stain. But the rain,
attach had Adieu there in* feeble quantity, as itefi

tbr khapee

feomttfe healths is ftonrtke eavmof 4fe£o«My
bad washed away that gaiUy witacsa, t. tf ; iadeed
aufch: had ' erer e*isted . thorn* Alb was 4eaak and
fcir* aod the Madea of grass, overcharged asd beat
mtk^ rattfedtajpa? glkfaed tike 'diamonds m^thd
bogbt moraiog awl. - '■ ...» < * <

: While MiB©»atoi5cd0poa the sp*Rgled voc*
dtue,'witk he* l^dark eytes<farcd'rand?ealarg&d
to circles by the intensity o£ her teraae, Bremfar
was bafi£^ug<afccH]t?hcf> and* *ith nany *» fagee
ip^utty^ltreaaftd to kftioj* whether* or bow ah**
bad <h**rt htrtotf ? •«« • >-•. ^ . }i v .. l?i .•s.s.ti*

c 'SA pieoe of glfcsa'c** tbrougb>my sboe?? *aid
)|j ana* betbink*sg herself thob timet ewstiaeiwa**
Docesfcary to bee siaaerjr" I scarce felt it at tbo
tune** '. • ' '*.<.--••••• y *".'-»• * : t * > • * • * • ' » i • **.• ■- • '<.

'* An* yet tee how it has bled," said ben sitter,
^£fre^,Minaa,»*be added; approaching >ho«n
with a wetted: towel? ^tetoiow^etbe bbod ofiW>
tbehuiirmay hettwewe thoftyeu tbinkrof^' r

: Bat to «he-appreached^ Minna, who saw: ^mi?
ether way of preventing discovery that the blood/
with, whtek die wafe a*ainr>d bad never flawed J in
ter own veins, harshly And hastily repotted «the*s
ptofirraft f kindness. . •• : Poor Breada, < onceoscaotte*
of any offence which <ste< bad given to her aistei?;
tysw fcft<& > two o* these paces *>b -♦ folding hier&et-
vice thus 'harshly refused, and stood tearing at?
Minna with looks j* which there was mono 4fi«Mrfi
prise and mortified affection thati -of reeentoierit*
hat which- had >ye* «ometbiag also of natural : dis*i
pleasure* J ' •> ••• » ■** * - >■* . ■<&{

"Sister," said she, " I thought we had agreed?

, but * last' night that, happen to ns what mighty wo *

would at least love each other." i i ^.tr,

u Much may happen betwixt sight and «mern?{;
in&K answered Miftna/ ia words rather wxeochwk

^

su <*

t

JMA'PIL St

{aM^<&&Hby4)er atataiton^lfoan ihwttog fedbihe^
totartary interpreterae* fcerthoegbts. •
- ^ Much amy* *todeed<hive happened in' anight
so efomay,'' endwered Bteada ; *.for itfe^ whem
the very watt arowfcd Eaphafee'a pfanUO'Cruit*
hat been blown down ; but neither wind norMoy
nor aught else* can cool ear sfleetiou, Minna,"
. " Bot that may chance," replied Mini ia, "-which
mar convert it.int©«— >— M <..'.-,, • * *

The rsst*ef the seetenee she*rauttered inn tone
to indistinct, that ifceouid nbt be apprehended;
white, at the same time* she washed the Weed*
status from her feet awl left ande. Brenda, who
sMl remained looking on at some dietance, <endear~
onred in vaintcrasstmie some 'tone which might re*
-establish kindness and confidence betwixt them*

* You were right," she s&id* " Minna, to sulfa
one t**belp yon todtess m simple a scratch**-
where 1 4ont t* scarce ▼wrole."

" The raost croel wounds," rephed Minna, " are
those which make no- outward show^—Are you sore
yoo see it stall ?»

~ *' O/yes 1" replied Uremia, framing her answer
as she thought would best please her sister i u I
eae a Tery slight scratch ; tiay, now you draw oft
the stocking, I can see nothing."

"You do indeed see nothing," answered Minnas
ftotnewhat wildly; K but the time will soon come
that -alt — ay, all— will be seen and known."

So saying, she hastily completed her dress* and
led the way to the breakfast, where she assumed,
her place amongst the guests; but with a coun-
tenance so pale and haggard/ and manners and
speech iso altered, and so bewildered, that it ex-
cited the attention of the whole company, and
the- utmost anxiety on the part of her father
MftgMft Trail* Miny and various were the con-

jftttom of - tJwb gitete, c o E Mfc a ipg a slitlefapWlK
ture which sesnaed rather , siotrtal item cerpegoak
Some lrioit*d tbe,a**d*a bad beintdmekrwith joi
«vfil ey?? and something thdy moitered abeat Nor-
^ oClhepkfuMHrad ; some toJbed*ofAbedepar**tfc
of Captain^ Cte^eJand, and mgrlpuped "utt«sjt>K
shame for a young lady, &> take on. so after*
land-loup$r, o£ t*hom oe,oa^ksttiv any tMng; n
and this contemptuous eftkhetrvRtt* h&t ptftiottW
bestowed on ► the Captain • by * Mi* re§» Baby * Yel-
igtwJey, while she was ia^he ; act of nmsfif
round h^er old shinny neck the very* bandsime
owerlay (as she called it,)* wherewith the j«i#'
Captain bad presented her- The old tad?
Glowrowruoa iwd a ajwtetn of, her own, which
sh^ hinted to MMresa YeUowiey, after thanking
God that ber owo connection with the Jfangh*
Westra &mvly<wAi by 4he bus's mother, wbovwa*
a canny Scot*w<W**D, iike jymfcl& - > . , v > ,»

"For, as to these Troils, you #ee* Daoae ¥ek
lowley, for as high as they hold their heads, they
aay that ken, (winking sagaciously,) that there k
a bee in their bonnet ; t hat Noma, as they call
her, for it's no her right name neither, is at whiles
far besjde her right mind,— Mind they that keo
the cause, say the JRowde was some gate or other
linked in with it, for he will never hear ^n ill
word of her. But I was in Scotland then* or I
might have kend the real cause, as well as -other
folk. At ony rate there is a kind of wildness in
the blood. Ye ken very weel daft folk jdinna
bide to be contradicted f and I'll say that for the
Fowde — he likes to he contradicted as ill as ouf
man jn Zetland, Bat it shell never be said tha}
1 said ony ill of the hops*, that 1 am sae nearer
connected wj ? . Only ye will mind, dame, it- is
through the .ftittlaira ttet we *re a-kin, not

lk*aj> ft* Tr cflry «a ri tfct Sindtirt at*****

Gkrend widoiar a mm f^eraiiow^ame^ But I

tee there » tte atimjp^p cfc^iag #oori#.M » >

: ."'I wander," said Mitftrftn Btby fto ber bto-

ther^ a» soon at -the' Lady G*o#row?om -toned

fro» her, ■* what gars i that rnvdrie wife dame,

eatae^ datne that 'gal* at mew She Might ken

the btede of *tbe* GiMcaealee •* as gvdeas ewy*

HMrrmum aneng them." .

f The goeate, »«eni*bile> were fart tabmg their

fefta^re, scarcely notieed by Magnos, who was

•o orach < engrossed with MtmaV indisporftion,

Hies, contrary to 4m hospitable wwit, lie suffered

$e#i to go away uosaJuted. Afldithus concluded,

ateidst aariety aad ittaeea* the iestita. of Saint

Jobo, as celebrated^ on tkat aeaaett; at the boose

of Bsngb-Weatrar ; adding ano&er ca»tioa to that

af 4be£mpororof Eth»6pia,^*ith bow little seen*

rjtymao can recbejr upon -the 'days which bed***

liaes toheppioese. ^.-.

1 1

; /,-«»! ? V

■*•. .

r ^. -. CHAPTER IV, „ : ,

U.

rl v.* ' »ota cw»rf wmmimm 0* ia »ad ,

-v , AfM}toi^is witb^hec hollow brast, .j

That either teems some coned witch** deed,
I * ^rerilipri^t that in her doth «uchtorii»«rf breed. £ "

ail * The tenia had now elapsed, by several days,

iff when Merdawnt Mertotin, as be had promised at

a I bk departu re, should have returned: to bis father's

tff ftssdeiat Jari8boff,tnit4iwe^^

m THK PIRATE.

return* S»ch delay Mgtfc at another 4iae,: tote
excited little curiosity *#d jqo anxiety ; for old.
Swertha, who took upon bar the office of thinking*
and , conjecturing for the Jittlt hoftsebold, would
have concluded that be haA regained behind the
other gue&t* upon some party of qtoft or pleasure.
But she knew (hat Metdeant bad not been lately in
favour with Magnus Trbil ; she knew that be pro-
posed his stay at Burgh- Westra should be a short
one, upon aecount of his father's health* to whom,
notwithstanding the little encouragement which
his filial piety received; he paid uniform attention*
Swertha knew all this, and die became anxious*
She watched the tooks of her master, the efctet
Mordaunt ; but, wrapt in dark and stem uniform-:
ity of composure, his countenance, like the surface
of a midnight lake, suffered ho one- to penetrate in- .
to what was beneath. His fetodies, his solitary
meals, his lonely watks^ succeeded each other in
unvaried rotation, and seemed undisturbed by the*
least thought about Mordaunt's absence*

At length such reports reached Swertha'a ear,
*from various quarters, that she became totally ana-
*ble to conceal her anxiety, and resolved, at the
risk of provoking her master into fury, or perhaps
that of losing her place in his household, to force
upon his notice the doubts which afflicted her own
mind. Mordaunt's good humour and goodly per-
sop must indeed have made no small impression on
"vm withered and selfish heart of the poor old wo-
"man, to induce her to take a course so desperate,
and from which her friend the Ranzelman endea-
voured in vain to deter her. Stilly however, con-
scknte that a miscarriage in the matter would, like
the loss of Tribculo's bottle in the horse-pool, be*
attended not only with dishonour, but with infinite
loss, she determined to proceed on her high em-

XBE MRATE. 61%

prize wftb as much caution as was consistent with
fbe attempt.
, We have already mentioned, that it seemed a
£art of the very nature .of this reserved and unso-
cial being, at least since his retreat into the utter
solitude of Jarlshoff, to endure, no one to start a
subject of . conversation, or to put any question to
him, that did not arise out of urgent and pressing,
emergency. . Swertha was sensible, therefore, that
in order favourably to open* the discourse which
9he proposed to hold with her master, she must
contrive that it should originate with himself.
, To accomplish this purpose, while busied in
preparing the table for Mr* Mertoun't simple and
solitary dinqer-ntyeaj, she formally adorned the ta-
ble with two .covers instead of one, and^ made all
h$r other little preparations as if he was to haveb
a/guest or companion at dinner.
, The stratagem succeeded ; for.Mertoun, on
coining from his study, no sooner saw the table
thus arranged, than he asked Swertha, who, wait-
ing the effect of her stratagem as a fisher watches
his ground-baits, was fiddling up and down the,
room, " Whether Mordaunt was uot returned from
Burgh- Westra ?"

This question was the cue for Swertha, and she
answered, in a voice of sorrowful anxiety, half-
real half-affected, "Na, na! — nae sic divot had
dunted at their door. It wad be blithe news, in-
deed, to ken that young Master Mordaunt, poor
dear bairn, were safe at hame."

" And, if he be not at home, why should you
lay a cover for him, you doting fool ?" replied
Hertoun, in a tone wplj. calculated to stop tb$ old
▼Oman's proceedings. But she replied, boldly,
"that, indeed, soomebody should take thought
G vol. 2.

62 THE PIRATE.

about Master Mertoun ; a' that she could do was
to have seat and plate ready for him when he
came. But she thought the dear bairn had been,
ower lang awa' ; and, if she maun speak out, she
had her ain fears when and whether he might
ever come hame."

" Your fears !" said Mertoun, his eyes flashing
as they usually did when his hour of ungoverna-
ble passion approached ; " do you speak of your
idle fears to me, who know that all of your sex,
that is not fickleness, and folly, and self-conceit,
and self-will, is a bundle of idiotical fears, vapours,
and tremors ? What are your fears to me, you
foolish old hag ?»

It is an admirable quality in womankind, that
when a breach of the laws of natural affection
comes under their observation, the whole sex is in
arms. Let a rumour arise in the street of a pa-
rent that has misused a child, or a child that has
insulted a parent, — I say nothing of the case of
husband and wife, where the interest may be ac-
counted for in sympathy, — and all the women
within hearing will take animated and decided part
with the sufferer. Swertha, notwithstanding her
greed and avarice, had her share of the generous
feeling, which does so much honour to her sex,
and was, on this occasion, so much carried on by
its impulse, that she confronted her master, and
upbraided him with his hard-hearted indifference,
with a boldness at which she herself was aston-
ished.

" To be sure it wasna her that suld be fearing
for her young master, Master Mordaunt, even al-
though he was, as she might well say, the very
sea-calf of her heart ; but ony other father, but
his honour himsel, wad have had speirings made
after podr lad, and him gane this eight days from

THE PIRATE. 63

Burgh-Westra, and naebodv kend when or where
he had gane. There was n&e a bairn in the howff
but was maining for him ; for he made all their
bits of boats with his knife ; there wadna be a dry
eye in the parish, if aught worse than weal should
befall him, — na, no ane, unless it might be his
honour's am."

Mertoun had been much struck, and even silen-
ced, by the insolent volubility of his insurgent
house-keeper ; but, at the last sarcasm, he impos-
ed on her silence in her turn with an audible voice,
accompanied with one of the most terrific glances
which his dark eye and stern features could ex-
press* But Swertha, who, as she afterwards ac*
quainted the Ranzelman, was wonderfully suppor-
ted during the whole scene, would not be con-
trouled by the loud voice and ferocious look of
her master, but proceeded in the same tone as be-
fore.

" His honour," she said, " had made an unco
wark because a wheen bits of kists and duds, that
naebody had use for, had been gathered on the
beach by the poor bodies of the township ; and
here was the bravest lad ih the country lost, and
cast away, as it were, before his een, and nae ane
asking what was come o' him."

" What should come of him but good, you old
fool," answered Mr. Mertoun, " as far, at least, as
there can be good in any of the follies he spends
his time in ?"

This was spoken rather in a scornful than an
angry tone, and Swertha, who had got into the
spirit of the dialogue, was resolved not to let it
drop, now that the fire of her opponent seemed to
slacken.

" O ay, to be sure I am an auld fool, — but if
Master Mordaunt should have settled down in the

r

64 THE PIRATE.

Roost, as mair than ae boat had been lost in that
wearyfu' squall the other morning — by good lack
it was short as it was sharp, or naething could have
lived in it — or if he were drowned in a loch com-
ing hame on foot, or if he were killed by miss of
footing on a craig — the haill island kend how
venturesome he was — who," said Swertha, " will
be the auld fool then ?" And she added a pathetic
ejaculation, that " God would protect the poor
motherless bairn ! for if he had had a mother,
there would have been search made after him be-
fore now."

This last sarcasm affected Mertoun powerfully,
•—his jaw quivered, his face grew pale, and he
muttered to Swertha to go into his study, (where
she was scarcely ever permitted to enter), and
fetch him a bottle which stood there.

" O ho !" quoth Swertha to herself, as she has-
tened on the commission, " my master knows where
to find a cup of comfort to qualify his water with
upon fitting occasions." ,

There was indeed a case of such bottles as were
usually employed to hold strong waters, but the
dust and cobwebs in which they were enveloped
shewed that they had not been touched for many
years. With some difficulty Swertha extracted
the cork of one of them, by the help of a fork—
for cork-screw was there none at Jarlshoff — and
having ascertained by smell, and, in case of any
mistake, by a moderate mouthful, that it contained
wholesome Barbadoes-waters, she carried it into
the room, where her master still continued to
struggle with his faintness. She then began to
pour a small quantity into the nearest cup that she
could find, spioely judging that, upon a person so
much unaccustomed to the use of spirituous li-
quors, 1 a little might produce a strong effect. But

THE PIRATE. 65

the patient signed to her impatiently to fill the cup,
which might hold more than the third of an Eng-
lish pint measure, up to the very brim, and swal-
lowed it down without hesitation*

" Now the saunts above have a care on us !"
said Swertha ; " he will be drunk as wed as mad,
andiWhais to guide him then, I wonder 1"

But Mertoun's breath and colour returned, with-
out the slightest symptom of intoxication ; on the
contrary, Swertha afterwards reported, that, al-
though she had always a firm opinion in favour of
a dram, yet she never saw one work such miracles
—he spoke mair like a man of the middle world
than she had ever heard him since she had entered
bis service. •

".Swertha," he said, "you are right in this mat-
ter, and I was wrong. — Go down to the Ranzelmaa
directly, tell him to come and speak with me,
without an instants delay, and bring me special
word what boats and people he can command ; I
will employ them all in the search, and they shall
be plentifully rewarded."

Stimulated by the spur which m^keth the old
woman proverbially to trot, Swertha posted dowa
to the hamlet, with all the speed of threescore, re*
joicing that her sympathetic feelings were likely to
achieve their own reward, having given rise to a
quest which promised to be so lucrative, and in the
profits whereof she was determined to have her
share, shouting out as she went, and long before
she got within hearing, the names of Niel Ronald-
son, Sweyn Erickson, and the other friends and
confederates who were interested in her mission*
To say the truth, notwithstanding that the good
dame really felt a deep interest in Mordaunt Mer-
toun, and was mentally troubled on account of hia
6* vol. 2.

66 THE PIRATE.

absence, perhaps few things would have disap-
pointed her more than if he had at this moment
started up in her path safe and sound, and render-
ed unnecessary, by his appearance, the expence
and the bustle of searching after him.

Soon did Swertha accomplish her business in the
village, and adjust with the senators of the town-
* ship her own little share of per centage upon the
profits likely to accrue on her mission ; and speed-
ily did she return to Jarlshoff, with Niel Ronald son
by her side, schooling him to the best of her skill
in all the peculiarities of her master.

" Abune a' things," she said, "never make him
wait for an answer ; and speak loud and distinct,
as if you were hailing a boat, — for he douna bide
to say the same thing twice over ; and if he asks
about distance, ye may make leagues for miles, for
he kens naething about the face of the earth that
he lives upon ; and if he speak of siller, ye may
ask dollars for shillings, for he minds them nae
mair than sclate-stanes."

Thus tutored, Niel Ronaldson was introduced
into the presence of Mertoun, but was utterly con-
founded to find that he could not act upon the sys-
tem of deception which had been projected.-—
When he attempted, by some exaggeration of dis-
tance and peril, to enhance the hire of the boats
and of the men, (for the search was to be by sea
and land,) he found himself at once cut short bj
Mertoun, who shewed not_ only the roost perfect
knowledge of the country, but of distances, tides,
currents, and all belonging to the navigation of
those seas, although these were topics with which
he had hitherto appeared to be totally unacquainted.
The Ranzelman, therefore, trembled when they .
came to speak of the recompence to be afibrded

THE PIRATE. 67

for their exertions in the search ; for it was not
more unlikely that Mertoun should be as well in-
formed of what was just and proper upon this head
than upon others ; and Niel remembered the storm
of his fury when, at an early period after he had
settled at Jarlshoff, he drove Swertha and Sweyn
Eriekson from his presence. As, however, he
stood hesitating betwixt the opposite fears of ask-
ing too: much or too little, Mertoun stopped his
mouth, and ended his hesitation, by promising him
a recompence beyond what he dared have ventur-
ed to ask, with an additional gratuity, in case they
returned with the pleasing intelligence that his son
was safe*

When this great point was settled, Niel Ronald-
son, like a man of conscience, began to consider
earnestly the various places at which inquiry
should be made after the young man ; and having
undertaken faithfully that the inquiry should be
prosecuted at all the houses of the gentry, both in
this and the neighbouring islands, he added, that,
"after all, if his honour would not be angry, there
was ane not far ofi, that if any body dared speir
her a question, and if she liked to answer it, could
tell more about Master Mordaunt than any body
else could. — Ye will ken wha I mean, Swertha ?
Her that that was down at the haven this morn-
ing." Thus he concluded, addressing himself with
a mysterious look to the house-keeper, which she
answered with a nod and a wink. .

u How mean you ? w said Mertoun ; " speak out,
short and open — whom do you speak of ?"

u It is Noma of the Fitful-head," said Swertha,
" that the Ranzelman is thinking about r for she
has gone up to Saint Ringan's Kirk this morning
<m business of her own."

8 THE PIRATE.

" And what can this person know of my son ?"
said Mertoun; "she is, 1 believe, a wandering
madwoman, or impostor."

" If she wanders," said Swertha, " it is for nae
lack of means at hame, and that is wee] known-
plenty of a 1 thing has she of her ain, forbye that the
Fowde himsel would let her want naething."

" But what is that to my son ?" said Mertoun,
impatiently.

" I dinna ken — she took unco pleasure in Mas-
ter Mordaunt from the time she first saw him, and
mony a braw thing she gave him ae time or anoth-
er, forbye the gowd chain that hangs about his
bonny craig — folks say it is of fairy gold — I ken na
what gold it is, but Bryce Snaelsfoot says that the
value will mount to an hundred punds English, and
that is nae deaf nuts."

" Go, Ronaldson," said Mertoun, " or else send
some one, to seek this woman but — if you think
there be a chance of her knowing any thing of my

son." >

" She kens a' thing that happens in thae isl-
ands," said Niel Ronaldson, " muckle sooner than
other folk, and that is Heaven's truth. — But as to
going to the kirk, or the kirk-yard,' to spier after
her, there is not a man in Zetland will do it, for
meed or fo^ money — and that's Heaven's truth as
weel as the other."

" Cowardly superstitious fools !" said Mertoun.
— " But give me my cloak, Swertha. — This wo*
man has been at Burgh- Westra— she is related to
TroiPs family — she may know something of Mor-
daunt's absence, and its cause — 1 will seek her my-
self — She is at the Cross-kirk, you say ?"

" No, not at the Cross-kirk, but at the auld Kirk
of Saint Ringan's — its a dowfe bit, and far frae be-
wg cannjr ; and if your honour," added Swertha,

THE PIRATE. 69

" wad walk by my rule, 1 wad wait until she came
back, and no trouble her when she may be mair
busied wi' the dead, for ony thing that we ken,
than she is wi 9 the living. The like of her carena
to have other folk's een on them when they are,
gude sain us! doing their ain particular turns."

Mertoun made no answer, but throwing his
cloak loosely around him, (for the day was misty
with passing showers,) and leaving the ruinous
mansion of Jarlshoff, he walked at a pace much
faster than was usual with him, taking the direction
of the ruinous church, which stood, as he well
knew, within three or four miles of his dwelling.

The Ranzelman and Swertha stood gazing after
.him in silence, until he was fairly out, of ear-shot,
wLen, looking seriously on each other, and shak-
ing their sagacious heads in the same boding degree
of vibration, they uttered their remarks in the same
breath.

" Fools are aye fleet and fain," said Swertha.
" Fey* folks run fast," added the Ranzelman; "and
the thing that we are born to, we cannot win bye.—
I have known them that tried to stop folks that were
fey — You have heard of Helen Emberson of Cam-
say, how she stopped all the boles . and windows
about the house, that her gude-man might not see
day-light, and rise to the ha af- fishing, because she
feared foul weather; and how the boat he should
have sailed in was lost in the Roost ; and how she
came bajck, rejoicing in her good-man's safety—
but ne'er may care, for there she found him
drowned in the masking-fat, within the wa's of his
ain biggin ; and moreover — "

* Fey is an epithet applied to those who are fated, which seems
to be the derivation of it, or predestined to death, and who are
■opposed by the Scottish common people to rush upon their
4oom, at if carried forward by some irresistible impulse.

70 THE PIRATE.

But here Swertha reminded the Ranzelman that
he must go down to the haven to get off the fish-
ing-boats ; " for both that my heart is sair for the
bonny lad, and that I am fear'd be cast up of his
ain accord before you are at sea ; and, as I hare
often told ye, my master may lead, but be winna
drive ; and if ye do not his bidding, and get out to
sea, the never a bodle of boat-hire will ye see."

" Weel, weel, good dame," said the Ranzelman,
" we- will launch as fast we can ; and by good luck,
neither Clawson's boat, nor Peter Grot's, are out
to the haaf this morning, for si rabbit ran across
them as they were going on board, and they came
back like wise men, kenning they wad be ealled to
other wark this day* And a marvel it is t6 think.
Swertha, how few real judicious men are left in
this land. — There is our great Udaller is weel
eneugh when he is fresh, but he makes ower mony
voyages in his ship and bis yawl to be lang sae ; and
now they say his daughter, Mistress Minna, is sair
out of sorts. — Then there is Noma kens muckle
mair than other folks, but wise woman ye cannot
call her. — Our tacksman here, Master Mertoun,
his wit is sprung in the bowsprit 1 doubt— his*son
is a daft gowk ; and I ken few of consequence
hereabouts — excepting always myself, and may be
you, Swertha — but what may, in some sense or
other, be called a fule."

" That may be, Niel Ronaldson," said the dame ;
" but if you do not hasten the faster to the shore,
you will lose tide ; and, as I said to my master
some short time syne, wha will be the fule then ?"

THE PIRATE. 71

CHAPTER IV.

I do love these ancient ruins-*-
We never tread upon them but we set
Our foot upon some reverend history*
And questionless, here, in this open court,
(Which now lies naked to the injuries
Of stormy weather) some men lie interrfd^
Loved the Church so well, and pave so largely to it,
They thought it should have canopied their bones
Till dooms-day !— but all things have their end-
Churches and cities, which have diseases like to men,
Most have like death which we have.

Duchess ofMalfy.

The roinou8 church of Saint Ninian's bad, in
its time, enjoyed great celebrity ; for that mighty
system of superstition, which spread its roots over
all Europe, had not failed to extend them even to
this remote archipelago, and Zetland had, in the
Catholic times, her saints, her shrines, and her
reliques, which, though little known elsewhere,
attracted the homage and commanded the ob-
servance of the simple inhabitants of Thule.
Their devotion to this church of Saint Ninian,
or, as he was provincially termed, Saint Ringan,
situated as the edifice was, close to the sea-
beach, and serving, in many points, as a land-
mark to their boats, was particularly obstinate,
and was connected with so much superstitious ce-
remonial and credulity, that the reformed clergy
thought it best, by an order of the Church
Courts, to prohibit all spiritual service within its
walls, as tending to foster the rooted faith of the
simple and rude people around in saint-worship,

n THE PTRATE.

and other erroneous doctrines of the Romish
Church.

After the church of Saint Ninian's had been
thus denounced as a seat of idolatry, and dese-
crated of course, the public worship was trans-
ferred to another church; and the roof, with iti
lead and its rafters, having been stripped from
the little rude old Gothic building, it was left in
the wilderness to the mercy of the elements. The
fury of the 1 uncontrouled winds, which howled
along an exposed space of shifting sands, (for the
soil resembled that which we have described at
Jarlshoff,) very soon choked up naive and aisle ;
and on the north-west side, which was chiefly ex-
posed to the wind, hid the outside walls more than
halfway upwards with mounds of drifted sand, over
which the gable-ends of the building, with the
little belfrey, which was built above its nave, arose
in ragged and shattered nakedness of ruin.

Yet deserted as it was, the Kirk of Saint Rfn-
gan's still retained some semblance of the an-
cient homage formerly rendered there. The rude
and ignorant fishermen of Dunrossness observed
a practice, of which they themselves had well
nigh forgot the origin, and from which the Pro-
testant Clergy in vain endeavoured to deter
them. — When their boats were in extreme peril,
it was common amongst them to propose to vow
an awmous, as they termed it, that is, an alms, to
Saint Ringan ; and when the danger was over,
they never failed to absolve themselves of iheir
vow, by coming singly and secretly to the old
church, and putting off their shoes and stockings
at the entrance of the church-yard, walking thrice
around the ruins, observing that they did so in the
course of the sun. When the circuit was accom-
plished for the third time, the votary dropped bis

THE PIRATE. 73

#

offering, usually a small silver 'coin, through the
mullions of a lanceolated window, which opened
into a side aisle, and then retired, avoiding carer
fully to look behind him till he was beyond the
precincts which had once been hallowed ground ;
tor it was believed that the skeleton of the s^tint
received the ; offe ring in his bony hand, and shewed
his ghastly death's-head at the window into which
it was thrown*

Indeed, the scene was rendered more appalling
to weak and ignorant minds, because the same
stormy and eddying winds which, on the one side
of the church, threatened to bury the ruins with
sand,, and bad, in fact, heaped it up in huge
quantities, so as almost to hide the side-wall with
its; buttresses, seemed bent on uncovering the
graves of those who have been laid to their long
rest on the south-eastern quarter; and, after an
unusually bard gale, the coffins, and sometimes
the very corpses, of those who had been interred
without the usual cearments, were discovered, in
a ghastly manner, to the eves of the living.

It was to this desolated place of worship that
the elder Mertoun now proceeded, though without
?ny of those religious or superstitious purposes
with which the church of Saint Ringan's was
usually approached. . He was totally without the
superstitious fears of the country, — nay, from the
sequestered and sullen manner in which he lived,
withdrawing himself from human society even
when assembled for worship, it was currently be-
lieved that he erred on the more fatal side, aqd
believed rather too little than too much of that
which the Church receives.

As he entered the little bay, op the shore, and
almost on the beach of which the ruins are situ-

7 vol. 2»

74 THE PIRATE.

ated, he c ould not help pausing for an instant,
and becoming sensible that the scene, as calcu-
lated to operate on human feelings, had been se-
lected with much Judgment as the scite of a reli-
gious house. — In front lay the sea, into which
two head-lands, which formed the extremities of
the bay, projected their gigantic causeways of
dark and sable rocks, on the ledges of which the
gulls, scouries, and other sea-fowl, appeared like
lakes of snow ; while, upon the lower ranges of
the cliff, stood whole lines of cormorants, drawn
up alongside of each other, like soldiers in their
battle array, and other living thing was there done
to see. The sea, although not in a tempestuous
state, was disturbed enough to rush on these
capes with a sound like distant thunder, and the
billows, which rose in sheets of foam halfway up
these sable rocks, formed a contrast of colouring
, equally striking and awful.

Betwixt the extremities, or capes, of these' pro-
jecting head-lands, there rolled, on the day when
Mertoun visited the scene, a deep and dense ag-
gregation of clouds, through which no human eye
could penetrate, and which, bounding the vision,
and excluding all view of the distant ocean, ren-
dered it no unapt representation of the sea in the
Vision of Mirza, whose extent was concealed by
vapours and clouds and storms. The ground rising
steeply from the sea-beach, permitted no view into
the interior of the country, and seemed a scene of
irretrievable barrenness, where scrubby and
stunted' heath, intermixed with thb long berit, or
coarsfe grass, jwhicb first covers sandy soils, were
the only vegetables that cbtild be seen. !: Upon a
"natural elevation, which rosfe* above the beach in
* the very bottom of the bay; and receded a Bttle
'fronj the sea, so as to be without* reach of the

THE PIRATE. 7*

waves, arose the half-buried rain which we have
already described, surrounded by a wasted, half-
ruiapus, and mouldering wall, which, breached in
several places, served still to divide the precincts
of the cemetery* The mariners who were driven
.by accident into this solitary bay, pretended that
the church was occasionally observed to be full of
lights, and, from that circumstance, were used to
prophecy shipwrecks and deaths by sea*

As Mertoun approached near to the chapel, he
adopted, insensibly, and perhaps without much
premeditation, measure* to avoid being himself
seen, until be came close under the walls of the
burial-ground, which he approached, as it chanced,
on that side where the sand was blowing from the
graves, in the manner we have described.

Here, looking through one of the gaps in the
wall, which time bad made, he beheld the person
whom he sought, occupied in a manner which as-
sorted well with the ideas popularly entertained of
her character, but which was otherwise sufficiently
extraordinary*

She was employed beside a rude monument, on
one side of which was represented the rough out-
line of a cavalier, or knight, on horseback, while
on the other appeared a shield, with the armorial
bearings so defaced as not to be intelligible ; which
scutcheon was suspended by one angle, contrary
to the modern custom, which usually places them
straight and upright* At the foot of this pillar
was believed to repose, as Mertoun had formerly
beard, the bones of Ribolt Troil, one of the re-
mote ancestors of Magnus, and a man renpwned
for deeds of valorous emprize In the fifteenth
century* From the grave of this warrior Noma
tf the Fitful-head seemed busied in shovelling the
•and, an easy task where it was so light and loose \

?6 THE JiffiATE.

do that it seethed plain that she would shoi
complete what the rude winds had begun, i
make bare the bones which lay there isterr
As she laboured she muttered her magic soi
for without the Runic fhyjpe no form of north*
superstition was ever performed. We have p
haps preserved too many elamples of thes^lnci
tations ; but we cannot help attempting to transit
that which follows : —

(

" Champion, famed for warlike toil,
Art thou silent, Ribolt Troll ?
Sand, and dust, and pebbly stones.
Are leaving bare thy giant bones.
Who dared touch the wild bear's skin
Ye stamber'd on, while life was in ?— ~
A woman now, or babe, may come
And cast the covering from thy tomb.

« Yet be not wrathful, Chief, nor blight

Mine eyes or eaia with sound or sight !

I come not, with unhailow'd tread.

To wake the slumbers of the dead,

Oriay thy giant reiiques bare;

But what I seek thou well can'st snare.

Be it to my hand allow 'd

TO shear a merk's weight from thy shroud j

Yet leave thee sheeted lead enough

"Jo shield thy bones from weather rough

" See, I draw my magic knife-—
llever while thou wert in life
fcaid'st thou still <*or sloth or fear,
When point and edge were; glittering near ;
. dee, the cearments now I sever —
Waken now, or sleep for ever !
* Thoo wilt notwake—- the deed is don*,—-
The prise I sought is fairly won.

'•' Thanks, Rifcolt, thanks,— for this the sea
Shall- smooth its rufljed crest for thee,—
Awl white afar jits billows foam ,
ganside to peace near Ribolt's tomb* .

THE PIRATE. 77

. , JBunfcg, Ribolt, thanks— far this the aright

Of wild winds raging at their height, '

When to thy- place of slumber nigh,

Shall soften to a lullaay. _

" She, the dame of doubt and dread,.
Noma of the Fitful-head*
Mighty in her own despite—
Miserable in her might ;
In despair and frenzy great*?--
In her greatness desolate ; ,

Wisest, wickedest who lives,
Well can keep the word she gives."

While Noma chaunted the first part of this
rhyme, she completed the task of laying bare *
part of the leaden coffin of the ancient warrior,
and severed from it with much caution and appar-
ent awe, a portion of the metal* She then rever-
entially threw back the sand upon the coffin ; and
by the time she had* finished her song, no traee re-
mained that the secrets of the sepulchre had been*
violated. .

Mertoun remained gazing on her from behind 7
the churchward wall during the whole ceremony,
not from any impression of veneration for her or'
her employment, but because he- conceived that
to interrupt a madwoman in her act of madness,
was not the best way to obtain from tier such in-
telligence as she might, have to impajrt. Mean-
while he had full time to consider her figure, al-
though her face was obscured by her dishevelledV
hair, and by the hood of her dark mantle, which'
permitted no more to be visible than a Druidess
would probably haver exhibited at the celebrations
of her mystical rites* \ Mertoun had often hear*
•f Noma before ; nay, it is most probable that be'
might have seen her repeatedly, for she was in the"
vicinity e£-Jarkhoff more than once since his
7* TO*. 2-

7* tzm vm$&.

idence there. Bat the absurd stbrtes which were
in circulation respecting her, prevented his paying
any attention to a person wboro he regarded as
either an impostor, or a madwoman, or a com-
pound of both. Yet, now that his attention was,
by circumstances, involuntarily fixed upon her per-
son and deportment, he could tot help acknow-
ledging to himself that she was either a complete
enthusiast, or rehearsed h£r part so admirably, that
no 'Pythoness of ancient times could have excelled
her. The dignity and solemnity of h<*r gestures,
'—the sonorous, yet impressive tone of the voice
with which she obtested the departed spirit whose
mortal reliques she ventured to disturb, were such
as failed not to make an impression upon htm,
careless and indifferent ad he generally appeared
to all that went on around ' him. But no sooner
was her singular occupation terminated, than, en-
tering the church-yard with some difficulty, by
clambering over the disjointed ruins of the wall,
he made Noma aware of his presence. Far from
"starting/ or expressing the least surprise at his ap-
pearance in a place so solitary, she said, in a tone
that Seemed to intimate that he had been expect-
ed, " So,— you have sought me at last ? w

n And found you," replied Mertoun, judging he
would best introduce the inquiries he had to make,
*by assuming a tone which corresponded to her
*own.

w Yes ! w she replied*, " found me you have, and
'in'the place where all men must meet— amid the
1 tabernacles of the dead."

" Here we must, indeed, meet at last," replied
Mertoun ; glancing his eyes on the desolate scene
around, where head-stones, half covered in sand,
\nd ithers, from which the same wind hid strip-
ped the soil on which they rested, covered with

tttfc PIRATE. 79

inscriptions, and sculptured with the emblems of
mortality, were the most conspicuous objects ;—
" herfe* as in the house of -death, all men must
meet at length ; and happj those that come soon-
est to the quiet haven."

" He that dares desire this haven," said Noma,
" must have steered a steady course in the voyage
of life. I daje not hope for such quiet harbour.
Darest thou expect it ? or has the course thou hast
kept deserved it ?"

u It matters not to my present purpose," replied
Mertoun ; " I have to ask you what tidings you
know of my son Mordaunt Mertoun V\

" A father,'* replied the Sybil, " asks of a stran-

fer what tidings she has of bis son ! How should I
dow aught of him ? the cormorant says not to the
mallard, where is my brood ?"

" Lay aside this useless affectation of mystery,"
said Mertoun ; " with the vulgar it has its effect,
but upon me it is thrown away. The people of
Jarlshdff have told me that you do know, or may
know, something of Ifordaunt Mertoun, who has
not returned home after the festival of Saint
John's, held in the house of your relative, Magnus
Troil. Give me such information, if indeed you
have it to give; and it shall be recompensed, if
the means of recompence are in my power."

"The wide round of earth," replied Noma,
Holds nothing that I would call a recompence for
the slightest word that I throw away upon a living
ear. But for thy son, if thou would'st see htm in
Kfe, repair to the approaching Fair of Kirkwall, in

" And wherefore flnther ?* w \i Mertoim ; « I
know he bad no purpose in that direction."

" We drive on the stream of fate," answered
Noma-, "without oar or rudder* You, tod no

f

80 THBPIRATS.

Erpose this morning of visiting the Kirk of Saint
ngan, yet 70a are here 5 — you had 00 purpose
bat a minute hence of being at Kirkwall, and yet
you will go thither/ 9

" Not unless the cause is more distinctly ex-
plained to me. I am no believer, dame, in those
who assert your supernatural powers."

" You shall believe in them ere we part," said
Noma. " As yet you know but little of me, nor
shall you know more. But I know enough of you,
and could convince you with one word that 1 do
so."

" Convince me then," said Mertoun f " foe un-
less I am so convinced, there is little chance of
my following your counsel."

" MarJL, then," said Noma, " what 1 have to*
say on your son's score, else what I shall say to
you on your own will banish every other thought
from your memory. You shall go to the ap-
proaching Fair at Kirkwall ; and, on the fifth day
o( the Fair, you shall walk, at the hour of noon,
in the outer aisle of the Cathedral of Saint Magnus,
and there you shall meet a person who will give
you tidings of your son."

" You must speak more distinctly, dame," re-
turned Mertoun, scornfully, " if you hope that
I should follow your counsel. I have been fooled
in my time by women, but never so grossly as you*
teem wilting to guli me." •

" Hearken, then !" said the old woman. " Thor
word which I speak shall touch the nearest secret
of thy life, and* thrill thee through nerve and bone."

So saying, she whispered a word into Mertoun?*
ear, the effect of which seemed - almost magical*.
He remained fixed and motionless with surprise*,
as, waving* her. arm slowly aloft, with an air of su*
penality / nod 4c tmfph, Kocna , glided from htm>,

THE ABATE. 81

tamed round a center of the mint, end wet soon
out of sight*

Mertoun offered not to follow, or to trace her*
" We fly from our fate in Tain !" he said, as be
began to recover himself; and turning, he left be-
hind him the desolate ruins with their cemetery*
As be looked back from the very last point at which
the church was visible, he saw the figure of Nor-
n*f muffled in her mantle, standing on the. very
summit of the ruined tower, and stretching out in
the sea-breeze something which resembled a white
pennon, or flag. A feeling of horror, similar to
thai excited by her last words, again thrilled through
Us bosom, and he hastened onwards with tuiwont*
ed speed, until he bad left the church of Saint Ni*
wans; with its bay of sand, far behind him.

Upon his arrival at Jarlshoff, the alteration in

hit countenance was so great, that Swertha con-

| jectured he was about to fall into one of those fits

of deep melancholy which she termed his dark

boar.

"And what better could be expected," thought
Swertha, " when be must needs go visit Nprna of
the Fitful-head, when she was in the haunted Kirk
of Saint Ninian's ?"

But without testifying any other symptoms of an
alienated mind, than that of deep and sulleq dejec-
tion, her master acquainted her with his iuteution
to go to the Fair of Kirkwall, — a thing so contrary
to his usual habits, that the housekeeper well nigh
refased to credit her ears. Shortly after he heard,
with apparent indifference, the accounts returned
•7 the different persons who had been sent out in
West of Iferdaunt, by sea and land, who all of
taem returned without any tidings* Theequani*
witv with which Mertoun beard the report of their
btdaueces*, convinced Swertha still more fixmly,

1

82 THE ft RATE.

that in bis interview with Noma, that issuelad been
predicted U> him by the Sybil whom he had con-
sulted.

The township were yet more surprised, when
their tacksman, Mr. Mertoun, as if on some sud-
den resolution, made preparations to visit Kirkwall
during the Fair, although he had hitherto avoided
sedulously all such places of public resort. Swef-
tha puzzled herself a good deal without being able
to penetrate this mystery ; and vexed herself still
more concerning the fate of her young master.
But her concern was much softened by the depos-
it of a sum of money, seeming, however moderate
in itself, a treasure in her eyes, which her master
pat into her hands, acquainting her, at the same
time, that he had taken his passage for Kirkwall,
in a small bark belonging to the proprietor of the
island of Mousa.

CHAPTER VI.

KM taagtr afce wept^-her teart irere altpent»—

Despair it wm come, and she though* it content ;
She thought it content, but her cheek it grew pale,
And the droop'd, like a lily broke down by the hail*

Continuation •fAuldJtvbm Grty.

The condition of Minna much resembled that
of the Tillage heroine in Lady Ann Lindsay's beau-
tiful ballad* Her natural firmness of mind pre-
vented her from sinking under the pressure of the
horrible secret, which haunted her while awake,
and was yet more tormenting during her broken
and hurried slumbers* There is no grief so dread-

THE PIRATE, U

fid aft that which we .dare not communicate, and
in which we can neither ask nor desire sympathy ;
and when to this is addded the burthen of a guilty
mystery to an innocent bosom, there is little won-
der that Minna's health should have sunk under
the burthen.

To the friends around, her habits and manners,
nay, her temper, seemed altered to such an ex-
traordinary, degree, that it is no wonder that some
should have ascribed the change to witchcraft, and
some to incipient madness. She became 1in able
to bear the solitude in which she formerly delight-
ed to spend her time ; yet when she hurried into
society, it was without either joining in, or attend-
ing to what passed. GenStelly she appeared wrap-
fed in sad, and even sullen abstraction until her
attention was suddenly roused by some casual
mention of the name of Cleveland, or of Mor-
daunt Mertoun, at which she started, with the hor-
ror of one who sees the lighted match applied to a
charged mine, and expects to be instantly involved
in the horrors of the explosion* And when she
observed that the discovery was not yet made, it
was so far from being a consolation, that she al-
most wished the tforst was known, rather than en-
dure the continued agonies of suspense*

Her conduct towards her sister was so variable,
yet uniformly so painful to the kind-hearted Bren-
2a, that it seemed to all around, one of the strong-
est features of her malady. Sometimes Minna
Kas impelled to. seek her sister's company, as if by
the consciousness that they were common suffer-
ers by a misfortune of which she herself alone
could grasp the extent ; and then suddenly the
feeling of the injury which Brenda had received
trough the supposed agency of Cleveland, made
her uoable to bear her presence, and still less to

f

\

S4 -THE PIRATE.

endure the consolation which her sister, mistaking
the nature of her malady, vainly endeavoured to
administer* Frequently, also, did it happen, that,
while Brenda was imploring her sister to take com-
fort, she incautiously touched upon some subject
which thrilled to the very centre of her soul ; so -
that, unable to conceal her agony, Minna rushed
hastily from the apartment. All these different
.moods, though they too much resembled, to oge
^who knew not their real source, the caprices of
unkind estrangement, Brenda endured with such
prevailing and unruffled gentleness of disposition,
that Minna was frequently moved to shed floods
of tears upon her neck ; and, perhaps, the mo-
ments in which she did so, though embittered by
the recollection that the fatal secret concerned
the destruction of Brenda's happiness as well as
her own, were still, softened as they were by sis-
terly affection, the most endurable moments of this
most miserable period of her life.

The effects or the alternations of moping melan-
choly, fearful agitation, and bursts of nervous feel-
ing, were soon visible on the poor young woman's
face and person. She became pale and emacia-
ted ; her eye lost the steady quiet look of happi-
ness and innocence, and was alternately dim and
wild, as she was acted upon by a general feeling
of her own distressful condition, or by some quick-
er and more poignant sense of agony. Her very
features seemed to change, and become sharp and
eager, and her voice, which, in its ordinary tones,
was low and placid, now sometimes sunk in indis-
tinct mutteriogs, and sometimes was raised beyond
the natural key, in hasty and abrupt exclamations.
WheiHn company with others, she was sullenly si-
lent, and when she ventured into solitude, tyas ob-
served (for it was now thought very proper to

TfiBB^WRATE. *•$

ifcateh her on strch occasions,) to speak much to
herself.

The pharniacyof the islands wad in rain resort-
ed to by Minna's anxious father. Sages of both
sexes, who knew the virtues of every herb whidh
drinks the dew, and augmented these virtues by
word of might, used while they prepared and ap-
plied the medicines, were attended with ho bene-
fit ; and Magnus, in the utmost anxiety, was at last
induced to have recourse to the advice of his kins-
woman, Nottra of the Fitful-head, although, owing
to circumstances, noticed in the course of the sto-
ry, there was Sit this time some estrangement be-
tween them: "His first application was in vain.—
Noma was then at her usual place of residence, up-
on the sea-coast, near the head-land from which she
usually took' her designation ; hut, although Erick
Scambestgr himself brought the message, sne refus-
ed positively to see him, or to return any answer.

Magnus was angry at the slight put upon his
messenger and message, but bis anxiety on Minna's
account j gs well as the respect which be had for
Noma's real misfortunes and imputed wisdom and
power, prevented him from indulging, on the pre-
sent occasion, his usual irritability of disposition*
On the contrary, he determined to make an appli-
cation to ' bis kinswoman in his own person. He
kept bis purpose, however, to himself, and only
desired his daughters to be in readiness to attend
him upon a visit to a relation whom be had not
seen for some time, and directed them, at the same
. time, to carry some provisions along with them, at
the journey was distant, and they might perhaps
find their friend unprovided.

Unaccustomed to ask explanations of his plea**
sure, and hoping that exercise and the amusement
fc vol. 2.

I

M THE PIRATE.

of such an excursion might be of service to hei; sis-
ter, Brenda, upon whom ail household and family
charges now devolved, caused the necessary
preparations to be made for the expedition ; and,
on the next morning, they were engaged in tracing
the long and tedious course of beach and of moor-
land^ which, only varied by occasional patches of
oats and barley, where a little ground had been se.
lected for cultivation, divided Burgh- Westra from
the north-western extremity of the Mainland,
(as the principal island is called,) which terminates
in the cape called Fitful-head, as the south-western
point ends in the cape of Sumburgh.

On they went, through wild and over wold, the
Udaller bestriding a strong, square-made, well-
barrelled palfrey, of Norwegian breed, somewhat
taller, and yet as stout, as the ordinary ponies of
the country ; while Minna and Brenda, famed,

< amongst other accomplishments, for their horse-
manship, rode two of those hardy animals, which,
bred and reared with more pains than is usually

bestowed, shewed, both by the neatness of their
form and their activity, that the race, so much and
so carelessly neglected, is capable of being improv-
ed into beauty without losing anything of its spirit
or vigour. ' They were attended by two servants
on horseback, and two on foot, secure that the last
circumstance would be no delay to their journey,
because a great part of the way was so rugged, or
so marshy,, that the horses could only move at a
foot pace ; and that, whenever they met with any
considerable track of hard and even ground, they
had only to borrow from the nearest herd of ponies
the use of a couple 'for the accommodation of these
pedestrians.

. The journey was a melancholy one, and little
Conversation passed, except when the Udaller,

THE PIRATE. «T

pressed by impatience and vexation, urged his po«
ney to a quick pace, and again, recollecting Min-
na's weak state of health, slackened to a walk, and
reiterated enquiries how she felt herself, and whe-
ther the fatigue was not too much for her. At
noon the party halted and partook of some refresh-
ment, for which they had made ample provision,
beside a pleasant spring, the pureness of whose
waters, however, did not suit the Udaller's palate,
until qualified by a liberal addition of right Nantz.
After he had a second, yea and a third time, filled
a large silver travelling cqp, embossed with a Ger-
man Cupid smokinga pipe, and a German Bac-
chus emptying his flask down the throat of a bear,
he began to become more talkative than vexation
had permitted him to be during the early part of
their journey, and thus addressed his daughters.

"Well, children, we are within a league or two
of Norna's dwelling, and we will soon see how the
old spell-muiterer will receive us."

Minna interrupted her father with a faint ex-
clamation, while Brenda, surprised to a great de-
gree, exclaimed, " Is it then to Noma that we are
Ao make this visit ? — Heaven forbid !."

** And wherefore should Heaven fopHul ?" said
the Udaller, knitting his brows ^^wherefore, I
would gladly know, should Heajen forbid me to
yisit my kinswoman, whose skill v^ay be of use to
yoqr sister, if any woman in Zetlaid, or man eith-
er, can be of service to her? — Vou are a fool,
Brenda, — your sister has more sense.-w.Cheer up,
Minna ! — thou wert ever wont to like her songs
and stories, and used to hang about her necjt,
when little Brenda cried and ran from her like a
Spanish merchant-man from a Dutch caper."*

* A light-armed vessel of the seventeenth century, adapted
for privateering*, and much used by the Dutch.

1

£? THE pirate.

" I wish she may not frighten me as much today,
father," replied Brenda,desirous of indulging JAin*-
joa in her taciturnity, and at the same time to a-
muse her Jather by sustaining, the conversation;
" I have he&rdso much of her dwelling, that J am
rather alarmed at the thought of going there.u**
invited."

" Thou art a fool," said Magnus, " to think that
a visit from her kinsfolks can ever come amiss to
a kind, hearty, Hialtland heart, like my cousin
Noma's. — And, now 1 think on't, I will be sworn
that is the reason why she would not receive Erick
Scambester! — It is many a long day since 1 have
seen her chimney smoke, and I have never car-
ried you thither — She hath indeed some right to
call me unkind. But I will tell her the truth —
and that is, that, though such be the fashion, I do
not think it is fair or honest to eat up the substance
of lone women-folks, as we do that of our brother
Udallers, when we roll about from house to house
in the winter season, until we gather like a snow-
ball, and eat up all wherever we come."

" There is no fear of our putting Noma to any
distress just now," replied Brenda, " for 1 have
ample provision of every thing that we can possibly
need— fish, .and bacon, and salted mutton, and
ried geese — more than we could eat in a week,
besides enough of liquor for you, father* "

" Right, right, my girl!" said the Udaller ; " a
well-found ship makes a merry voyage — so we will
only want the kindness of Noma's roof, and a lit-
tle bedding for you ; for,as to myself, my sea-cloak,
and honest dry boards , of Norway deal, suit net*
better than ypur eider-down cushions and mattres-
ses. So that Noma will have the pleasure of see*,
ing us without having a stiver's worth of trouble. 91

THE PffiATE. W

^l^fiihshe may think it a pleasure, sir," re-
plied Brenda.

. " Why, what does the girl mean, in the name of
the Martyr?" replied Magnus Troil ; " doest thou
think my kinswoman is a heathen, who will not re-
joice to see her own flesh and blood ? — V would I
were as sure of a good year's fishing! — No, no ! I
only Year we may find her from home at present,
for she is often a wanderer, and all with thinking
aver much on what can never be helped."

Minna sighed deply as her father spoke, and the
UdaHer went on—

- " Doest Aon sigh at that, my girl ? — why, 'tis the
fault of half the world — let it never be thine own,
Minna."

Another suppressed sigh intimated that the cau-
tion came too late*

" I believe you are afraid of my cousin as well
as Brenda is," said the Udaller, gazing on her pale
countenance ; " if so, speak the word, and we will
return back again as if we had the wind on out
quarter, and were running fifteen knots by the
line."

" Do, for Heaven's sake, sister, let us return P*
said Brenda, imploringly ; " you know — you re-
unember— -you must be well aware that Noma can
do nought to help you."

" It ia but too true," said Minna, in a subdued
voice ; " but I know not — she may answer a ques-
tion—a question that only the miserable dare ask
qt the miserable."

" Nay, my kinswoman is no miser," answered
the U<Jaiter, who only heard the beginning of the
word"; " a good income she has, both in Orkney
and here, and many a fair lispund of butter is paid
to her. But the poor have the best share of it,

8* vol. 2.

9» THE WRATH

Md shame faH the Zttian&r who begrttdgwthefc ;
the rest she spends, I wot not how, in her joumuM
through the islands. Bot you wiR laugh to see her
house, and Nick Struntpfer, whom «he calls Paco*
let-^many folks think Nick k the devil 5 but fee is
fesh and bloody like any of u*— his father lived inr
tiraemsay.— I shall be glad to see- Nkkagain. V ' -•

White the Udaller thus ran on, Brenda, who y «
vecompence form less portion of imagination that*
her sister, was gifted with sound common sensei,
was debating with herself the probable effect of
this visit on her sister's health. She came finally
to the resolution of speaking with her fether aside,
upon the first occasion which their joamey should
afford. To him she determined to communicate
the whole- particulars of their nocturnal interview
with Noma, to which, among other agitating eaotf*
es, she attributed the depression of Minna's spirits*
and then make himself the judge whether he ought
to persist in his^vkit to a person so singular, and
expose his daughter to all the shock which bar
nerves might possible receive from the interview.

Just as she had arrived at this conclusion, her
father, dashing the cramhs from his laced waist-
coat with one hand, and receiving with the other-*
fourth cap of brandy and water, drank devoutly to
the success of their voyage, and ordered all to fct
in* readiness to s^t forward. Whilst they were sad-
dHng the ponies, Brenda,Vith^me<fcfficnlty, co»-
trive&to make her father understand she wished to
speak with him in private — no small surprise to the
oonesfc UdaHer, who, though secret as the grave a
the very few things where he considered secrecy «»
of importance, was so fer from practising mystery
in general, that his most important afihks were of-
ten di#c«*ed by him openly in presence o£ Mr
* *hok> family, servants included. .

THSjFfllATJr. »

Butifcrg»*at*# ,tea* hi* astonishment, when, re-
taaiUMttg pttrpotdy with his daughter Brenda, a lit-
ttoii tbe vra^ aa be termed it r of the other riders,
be heard the whole account of Noma's visit to
Burgh* Westra* , and: of the communication with
which the had .the& astounded his daughters, . Fori
a long time he could utter nothing but interject
taOBs* and: ended with a thousand curses on his
kiaswom&n's folly in idling his daughters such *
btftery of horror*

" i have often heard," said the Udatter, " that
she was quite road, with all her wisdom, and all
her knowledge of the seasons,; arid, by the bonea
of my namesake* the Martyr, I begin bow to be-
lieve it most assuredly. • I know no more how to
steer than if I had lost my compass. Had I known
this before *re set out, I think I had remained at
home $ but now that we have come so far, and that
Norna expects us-: — 3 '

** Expect* us, father !" said Brenda ; " bow can
that be possible 3V..»

u Why, that I know not— but she that can tell
the wind is to blow, can tell which way we
designing to; ride* She. must not be provoked ;
*9-perhap4 she has done my family this, ill for the
words I had with bet about that lad Mordauot Mer-
fteuo, and if so, she cat* undo it again ; — and so she
aballf or 1 will know the cause wherefore— But I
will try lair wofdarfinrt.'*

t Fiodiug it thus settled that they were to go for-
ward, Brenda endeavoured next to learn from her
Aftber whether NomaV tale was founded in reality*
Jle shook his head, groaned bitterly, and, in a few
words, acknowledge the whole, so far as -concern-
ad ber> mtngue n*th a stranger ; and her father's
death, of which she became the accidental and
most innocent cable, was a matter of sad an& In- *

*

92 TftE* PIRATE,

disputable troth. , " For her iafrnt," he stid, > 4 he
could never, by any means, leant what became it/*-

u Her infant !" exclaimed Breada ; *' she spoto'
not a word of her infant !"

" Then I wish my tongue had been blistered,"
said the Udaller, " when I told you of it*-*I seta
that, young and old, a man has no better chance of
keeping a secret from you women, thai* an eel t*
keep himself in his hold when he is sniggled with
a loop of horse-hair — sooner of later the fisher
teazes him out of his hole, when he has once the
noose round his neck." - . ^

" But the infant, my father ?" said Brendan still
insisting on the particulars of this extraordinary
story, " what became of it ?"

"Carried off, I fancy, by the blackguard
Vaughan," answered the Udaller, with a gruff ac-
cent, which plainly betokened how weary he was
of the subject.

" By Vaughan ?" said Brenda, " the lever of
poor Noma, doubtless! — what sort of man was
he, father ?»

" Why, much like other men, I fancy," answer-
ed the Udaller ; " I never saw him in my life.-**
He kept company with the Scottish families at
Kirkwall ; and 1 with the good old Norse folks-*-
Ah ! if Noma had dwelt always amongst her own 1
kin, and not kept company with her Scottish ac*
quaiptance, she would $ave known nothing ef
Vaughan, and things might have been otherwise-**
But then I should have known nothing of yowr •
blessed mother, Brenda- — and that," he said, hb>
large blue eyes shining with a tear, " would have
saved me a short joy and a long sorrow." ^

" Noma could but ill have supplied my moth- -
et's place to you, father, as a companion and a
friend— that p, judging from ail thatl ha? e beardy"

THE PIRATE. tt

t, with some hesitation. But Magnus,
d by recollections of his beloved wife, an-
ber with more indulgence than she expect-

reold have been content," he said, "to
edded Noma at that time. It would have
lie soldering of an old quarrel — the healing
Id sore* AH our blood relations wished it,
uated as I -was, especially not having seen
eased mother, I had little will to oppose
mncils. You must not judge of Noma or
>y such an appearance as we now present
--She was young and beautiful, and I game-
s a Highland buck, and little caring what
[ made for, having, as I thought, more than
ier my lee. But Noma preferred this man
in, and, as I told you before, it was, per-*
le best kindness she could have done to me."
, poor kinswoman! 7 ' said Brenda. "But
s you, father, in the high powers which she
—in the mysterious vision of the dwarf— in

was interrupted in these questions by Mag-
whom they were obviously displeasing.
eiieve, Brenda," he said, " according to the
of my forefathers — I pretend not to be a
dan than they were in their time, — and they
eved that, in cases of great worldly distress,
eace opened the efks of the mind, and af-
*he sufferers a vision of ; futurity. It was
trimming of the boajt with reverence,"—
e touched his hat reverentially ; " and, after
shifting of ballast, poor Noma is as heavily
in the bows as ever was an Orkney-man's
t the dog'Qstring — she has more than afflic-
iough on ooard to balance whatever gifts she
ive ha<d in the midst of her calamity. Th^j

\

94 THE PIRATE.

are as painful to her, poor soul, as a crown itf
thorns would be to her brows, though it were the
badge of the empire of Denmark. And do not
you, Brenda, seek to be wiser than your fathers*
Your sister Minna, before she was so ill, had as
much reverence for whatever was produced int
Norse, as if it had been in the Pope's bull, which
is all written in pure Latin." y

41 Poor Norha !* repeated Brenda ; * a atid he*
child — was it never recovered ? w
«» " What do I know of her child," said the Udal-
ler, more gruffly than before, " except that she was
very ill, both before and after the birth, though wb
kept her as merry as we could with pipe and harp,
and so forth ; — the child had come before its time
into this bustling world, so it is likejy it has beeji
long dead. — But you know nothing of all these
matters, Brenda ; so get along for a foolish girl,.
and ask no more questions about what it does no?
become you to inquire into." n \

So saying, the Udaller gave his sturdy little pal*!
frey the spur, and cantering forward over Tougl£
and smooth, while the poney's accuracy and firm**
ness of step put all difficulties of the path at se-
cure defiance, he placed himself soon by the side
of the melancholy Minna, and permitted her filter
to have no farther share in his conversation th$j£
as it was addressed to tjjpm jointly. She could wk
comfort herself with the hope, that, as Minaafs
disease appeared to hpve its seat in the imagina-
tion, the remedies recommended by Noma might
have some chance of being effectual, since, in all
probability, they would be addressed to the same
faculty.

Their way had hitherto held chiefly over moss
and moor, varied occasionally by the necessity of
making a circuit around the heads of those long

THE PIRATE. 9*

lagoons, called voes, which ran up into and indent
the country in such a manner, that, though the
Mainland of Zetland may be thirty miles, or more,
in length, there is, perhaps, no part of it which ia
more than three miles distant from the salt-water.
But they had now approached the north-western
extremity of the isle, and travelled along the top
of an immense ridge of rocks, which had for ages
withstood the rage of the Northern Ocean, and of
all the winds by which it is buffeted.

At length exclaimed Magnus to his daughters,
"There is Noma's dwelling ! — Look up,Minna, my
love, for if this does not make you laugh, nothing
will.— Saw you ever any thing but an osprey that
would have made such a nest for herself as that is ?
— % my, namesake's bones, there is not the like
of it that living thing ever dwelt in, (having no
wings and the use of reason,) unless it chanced to
be the Frawa-Stack off Papa, where the King's
daughter of Norway was shut up to keep her from
• her lovers-~and all to little purpose, if the tale
be true ;* for, maidens, I would have you to wot
ttat it is bard to keep flax from tbfc lowe."t

< * Tfee FteW'Stack, or Maiden-Reck, an inaccessible cliff, di-
jded-by a najrrow gulph from the island of Papa, has on the
•Stomit some ruins, concerning which there is a legend similar
*>&atof Danae. • •

fi^we— flame.

1 *;»*'

f

96 TkE PIRATE.

CHAPTER VII.

m

Tkriee from the eavera'i darksome womti

Her grotlrinf rotee aroib j
And eomt, ay danshtec^ftpdev come*

And fearieu tell tby woe* J

Jlfeifcfc.

The dwelling of Noma, though' none
tive of Zetland, familiar, during his wi
with every, variety of rodk-scenery, c<3
seen any thing ludicrous in this situation
, unaptly compared by Magnus Troil'to th
the osprey, or sea-eagle. It was very r s
had been fabricated out of one of th
which are called Burghs and Picts-ftouM
land, and Duns on the mainland of Sco
the Hebrides, and which seem to b£ tH
fort at architecture, — the connecting Ifo]
a fox's hole in a cairn of loose stones, an
tempt to construct a human habitation 01
same materials, without the use of lime c
of any kind, — without any timber, so fitr
s$en from their remains, — without any k
of the arch or of the stair. Such as '
however, the numerous remains of these c
for there is one found on every headland
point of vantage, which could afford tl
itants additional means of defence, tend
that the remote people by whom thes
were constructed, were a numerous race
the islands had then a much greater pc
than, from other circumstances, we m
been led to anticipate.

THE PIRATE. '97

The Bargh. of which we at present speak had
been altered and repaired at a later period, proba-
bly by some petty despot, or sea-rover, who, tempt*
ed by the security of the situation, which occupied
the whole of a projecting point of rock, and was di-
vided from the main land by a rent or chasm of
tome depth, had built some additions to it in the
rudest style of Gothic defensive architecture ; had
phustered the inside with lime and elay, and broke
eat windows for the admission of light and air ; and
finally, by roofing it over, and dividing it in to stories,
by means of beams of wreck-wood, had converted
the whole into a tower, resembling a pyramidical
devecat, formed by a double wall, still containing
, within its thickness that set of circular galleries, or
concentric rings, which is proper to all the forts of
(his primitive construction, and which seem to have
constituted the only shelter which they were orig-
inally qualified to afford to their shivering inhabit*
aats.

This singular habitation, built out of the loose
stones which lay scattered around, and exposed for
ages to the vicissitudes of the elements, was as grey,
weather-beaten, and wasted, as the rocfk on which
it was founded, and from which it could not easily
be distinguished, so completely did it resemble in
colour, and so little did it differ in regularity of
shape, from a pinnacle or fragment of the cliff.

Minna's habitual indifference to all that of late
had passed around her, was for a moment suspend-
ed by the sight of an abode, which at another and
happier penod of her life, would have attracted at
once her curiosity and her wonder. Even now
she seemed to feel interest as she gazed upon this
singular retreat, and recollected it was that of cer-
tain misery and probable insanity, connected, at
9 vou 2.

9t THE PIRATE.

«

Hi inhabitant asserted, and Minna's faith admitted*
with power over the elements, and the capacity of
intercourse with the invisible world. a

" Oar kinswoman," she muttered, "has chosen
her dwelling well, with no more of earth than a
sea-fowl might rest upon, and all around sightless
tempests and raging waves. Despair and magical
power could not have a fitter residence."

Brenda, on the other hand, shuddered when she
looked on the dwelling to- winch they were ad*
vancing, by a difficult, dangerous, and precarious
path, which sometimes, to her great terror, ap-
proached the very verge of the precipice ; so that,
Zet lander as she was, and confident as she had rea-
son to be in the steadiness and sagacity of the sure*
footed poney, she could scarce suppress an inc&ia*
tion to giddiness, especially at one point, when,
being foremost of the party, and turning a sharp
angle of the rock, her feet, as they projected from
the side of the poney, hung for an instant sheer
ever the ledge, of the precipice, so that there was
nothing save empty space betwixt the sole of her
shoe and the white foam of the vexed ocean, which
dashed, howled, and foamed, five hundred feet be*
low* What would have driven a maiden of another
country into delirium, gave her but a momentary
uneasiness, which was instantly lost in the hope
that the impression which the scene appeared. to
make on her sister's imagination might be iavourar
We to her cure.

She could not help looking back to see how Min-
na should pass the point of pjeril, which she her-
self had just rounded ; and. could hear the strong
TOice of the Udaller, though to bins such rough
peths were familiar as the smooth sea- beach 7 call,

THE PIRATE. *9

in a tone of some anxiety, "Take heed, Jarto,"*
as Minna, with an eager look, dropped her bridle,
and stretched forward her alms, and even her body,
over the precipice, in the attitude of the wild swan,
when, balancing itself, and spreading its broad

Simons, it prepares to launch from the cliff upon
lie bosom of the winds. Brenda felt, at that in-
stant, a pang of unutterable terror, which left *
strong impression on her nerves, even when re-
lieved, as it instantly was, by her sister's recover*
ing herself and sitting upright on her saddle, the
opportunity and temptation, (if she felt it,) parting
away, as the quiet steady animal which supported
her rounded the projecting angle, and turned its
patient and firm foot (rom tht verge of the preci-
pice. "
They now attained a more level and open space
of ground, being the flat top of an isthmus of pro-
jecting rode, narrowing again towards a point,
where it was terminated by the chasm which sepa-
rated the small peak, or stack, occupied by Noma's
habitation, from the main ridge of cliff and preci-
pice. This natural fosse, which seemed to have
been the work of some convulsion of nature, was
deep, dark, and irregular, 1 narrower towards the
bottom, which could not be* distinctly seen, and
widest at top, having the appearance as iftthat

Crt of the cliff occupied by the building had been
If rent away from the isthmus which it terminat-
ed, — an idea favoured by the angle at which it
seemed to recede from the land, and slope sea- ward,
with the building which crowned it*
•- This angle of projection was so considerable,
that it required recollection to dispel the idea that
the rock, so much removed from the perpendicular,

* Jarto } — My dear.

tfSl-k-

1

100 THEPIRATR.

*

was about to precipitate itself sea-watd, with its old
tower; Qnd ma»y a timorous person would hay/e
been afraid to put foot upon it, lest an addition of
weight, so inconsiderable as that of the human'
body, should hasten a catastrophe which seemed a£
every instant impending. .

Without troubling himself about such fantasies,'
the Udaller rode towards the tower, and there dis-
mounting along with his daughters, gave the po- :
nies in charge to one of 'their domestics, with di-
rections to disencumber them of their burthens,
and turn them out for rest and refreshment ,upon
the nearest heath. This done, they approached,
the sate, which seemed formerly to have connect-
ed with the land by a rude drawbridge, some of the
apparatus of which was still visible. But the rest
had been long demolished, and was replaced by a 5
stationary foot-bridge, formed of barrel-staves cow"
ered with turf, very narrow and ledgefess, and sup-,,
ported by a sort of arch, constructed out of the
jaw-bones of the whale. Along; this " brigg of''
dread" the Udaller stepped with his usual portly'
majesty of stride, which threatened its demolition,
ana his own at the same time ; his daughters trode.'
more lightly and more safely after him, and the par* 1
ty stood before the low and rugged portal of Nor*,
na's habitation.

"If she should be abroad after all," said Mag-*
nus, as he plied the black oaken door with repeat-
ed blows ; " but if so, we will at least lie by a day'
for her return, and make Nick Strumpfer pay the
demurrage in bland and brandy."

^s he spoke the door opened, and displayed, to'
t^e alarm of Brenda, and the surprise of Minna'
herself, a square-made dwarf, about four feet five •
inches high, with a head of most portentous size, '
and features correspondent — namely, a huge mouth,

THE PIRATE, 101

4 tremendous nose, with large black nostrils, which,
teemed to have slit upwards, blubber lips of an un-,
^ooscionable size, and huge wall-eyes, witlj which
he leered, sneered, grinned, and goggled on the <
Udaller as an old acquaintance, without uttering a
single word. The young women could hardly (
persuade themselves that they did not see before,
their eyes the very demon Trolld, who made such
a distinguished figure in Noma's legend. Their
father went on addressing this uncouth apparition'
in terms of such condescending friendship as the
better sort apply to their inferiors, when they wish,
for any immediate purpose, to conciliate or coax
them, — a tone, by the by, which generally contains,
in its very familiarity, as much offence as the more
direct assumption of distance and superiority.

« Ha, Nick ! honest Nick !" said the Udaller,
" here you are, lively and lovely as Saint Nicholas
your namesake, when he is carved with an axe for
the head-piece of a Dutch dogger. How doest
thou do, Nick, or Pacolet v if you like that better ?
Nicholas,, Jt>e re are my two daughters, nearly as
feaodsome as thyself thou seest."

Nick grinned, and did a clumsy obeisance by
way of courtesy, but kept bis broad mis-shapen
person firmly placed in the door-way.
. " Daughters," continued the Udaller, who seem*
ed to have bis reasons for speaking this Cerberus
fair, at l$asf according to his own notions of pKH|

tiatition, — " this is Nick Strumpfer, maidens, whom
is mistress cfiHs Pacolet, being a light-limbed
dwarf, as you see* like he that wont to fly about,
like a &our»e, oh bis wooden hobby-horse, in the
pld story-book of Valentine and Orson, that you,
Minna, used to read whilst you were a child. 1 as-
sure you he can keep bis mistress's couwreL> tadl
*• rot. 9.

101 THE

never told one of her secrets in bis Ufe—4n> %*,
fcal» »« • ^ - < H

* The ugly dwarf grinned ten times wider tba*
fcefore, and shewed the meaning of the Udaller'ft
jtest, by opening his immense jaws, and throwing
back his head, so as to discover, that* in the ic&?
inense cavity of his mouth, there only remained
the small shrivelled remnant of a toqgue, capably
perhaps of assisting him in swallowing his food,
but unequal to the formation of articulate sound*.
Whether this organ bad been curtailed by cruelty,
or injured by disease, it was impossible to guess $
but thai the unfortunate being had not heen origin
natly dumb, was evident from his retaining' the-
sense of hearing. • Having made this horrible ex-
hibition, h£ repaid the Udaller's mirth with aloud;
horrid, and discordant laugh, which bad something*
ih it the more hideous that his mirth seemed to be^
excited by His own misery. The sisters looked <m\
eftdT other in silence and fear, and even the U ? dal^;
ler seettied disconcerted. ' , ' '

"And how now? 11 he proceeded, after a mi-:
nUte V pause* " When didst thou wash that throat
of'tbme, thst'is about the width of the Pentlaad
Prithj With a 6up of bfaiidy ? Ha, Nick ! I have
that wftbme which is sound stuff, boy, ha !?*

"•The dwarf berit his beetle-brows, shook his mis-* >
shapen head/ and tnade a quick sharp indication*
♦browing his right hand up to his shoulder with the
thumb pointed backwards. • (

"What! my kinswoman, ,r said the Udaller*
comprehending the signal; " be angry ? Well, shalt -
have a Mtk to carouse When she is from home, pld
acquaintance ; — lips and throats may swallow *
though- they cannot speak." v u

- 'Paeotet grinned a grim assent.

** Mi *&#» -MM- *e TJdAlWr, ''stand out of tbtf
^ray, Pacolet, and let me carry my daughters to lee
ftfeir kinswortan. By the bones of Saint Magnus,*
it sWatt be 6 godfl 'torn in thy way. Nay, never*
Atfkfcltoy head, man ; for if thy mistress be at home,'
stfettefwe wift. n

Thtedwatf 'ttglrii ; itftiMated the impossibility of -
their* being admitted, partly by signs, partly by
rtombling some uncouth and most disagreeable
sounds, and the Udaller's mood began to arise. ;
, " Tittle tattle, man," said he ; " trouble not
me with thy gibberish, but stand out of the way,
aftd thed>latne, if there be any, shall rest with-
nle/'

So saying, Magnus Troil laid; his sturdy band
tijlon the collar of the recusant dwarf's jacket of
Blue wadirtaal, and, with a strong but not a violent
grasp, removed him from the door-way, pushed
him gently aside, and entered, followed by his two
daughters, whom a sense of apprehension, arising *
out of all which they saw and heard, kept very
clote T to him; A crooked and dusky passage,
through whicfr Magnus led the way, was dimly en*
lightened by a shot-hole, communicating with the
ulterior of the building, aod originally intended
doubtless to command the entrance by a h%gbut
or culverin. As they approached nearer, for they
walked slow)y and with hesitation, the light, tm-** *
perfect as it was, w^ suddenly obscured ; and, on
looking upward to discern the cause, Brenda was
startled to observe the, pale .and obscurely -seea
countenance of Noma gft&ing downwards upo&
tbem without speaking a word. There was nothing
extraordinary in this, as the mistress of the mensiea
might be naturally enough looking out to w* viYifcX.
guests were thus suddenly and uuceteowmw^Yj m
minding theauehe* on her presence* StiW^W*-,!

MM THE P»4T*

tw« tl|t oaturat p*Uoess pf hep featprtfc titgge-
rated by the tight in which tbejr were at preaeot
eihibit^,— the immoveable sternoeps of her look,,
which shewed, ositbei kindnejs nor courtesy of
civil reception*— her dead silence, snd thegingn-y
lar appearance of every thing about her dwelling *
augmented the dismay wh^h, ftre^da .bad already
conceived. Magnas Trpil and Minna had ?falke4
slowly forward, without observing the apparition w
of their singular hostess* /

t '

»

X

CHAPTER Till.

fli vfeefcthen mited her wHher** am,

A*d waved bar wind «q high,
And, while ihe spoke the matter's! chaos* , , .
W ' Dark lightning fill'd her eye.

Jfcifcfe.
• ; ' . r • • * •" • < '•:

"T»is should %e the stair;" said the I7d*iter/
Wondering in the dark against some steps of h*e-'
gwlar ascent—" This* should be the stair, unless*
my memory greatly fail me; ay, and there she
afcs," he added, pausing at a half open door, " with
aH her tackle about her as usual, and as busy/
^doubtless, as the devil m a gale of wind."

Ail he made this irreverent comparison, he en«*
lered, followed by his daughters, the darkened
apartment in which Norna was seated; amidst a
confused collection of hooks of various language*,
pafrchment scrolls, tablets and stones inscribed with •
the straight and angular characters of the Runt* »
iipbabet) and -similar articles which the vulgar-
connected with the exercise of tkrc forbidden arts.

THE PIRATE.* 10*

There were also lying M the chamber, or bang :
*ver the rude and ill-contrived chimney, an old
stirit of mail, with the head-piece, battle^**, and -
lance, which had once belonged to it; and on %
shelf were disposed, in great order, several of those >
carious stone-axes, formed of green granite' which*'
are often foond in these" islands, where thej are >
called thunderbolts by the common people, who
osu&lly preserve them as a charm of security against
the effects of lightning; also a stone sacrificial
»^ue, used perhaps for immolating banian victims, •
and one or two of the brazen implements cabled
Celts, the purpose of which has troubled the re-
pese of so many antiquaries. A variety of other
articles, some of which bad neither name nor were
capable of description, lay in confusion about the
apartment; and in one comer, on a quantity of
withered sea-weed, reposed what seemed, at first
view, to be a large unshapely dog, but, when seen
■lore closely, proved to be a tame *eal, which it
bad been Noma's amusement to domesticate.

This uncouth favourite bristled up in its corner,
upon the arrival of so many strangers, with an
alertness similar to that which a terrestrial ^dog
would have displayed on a similar occasion ; but
Noma remained itnofctoifeksft, seated behind a tabJe
of rough graoke, propped up by mis-shapen feet k
of the same material, which, besides the old book
with which she seemed to be busied, sustained a
cake of the coarse unleavened bread used by the.
poor peasants of Norway, together with a jar of
water* - *-.

^Magnus Trail remained a minute «in sileneega***
ii&opoo his kinamoman, while the singularity of
her mansion ^napired Brenda with much fear, and
cbaogfed, tbdugfaP but for a moment, the melancholy*
aid abstracted mood of Minna, into % feettn%«{ uv~

1

10ft *THE PIBAT&

terest not unmixed with awe* Tile silence wga
interrupted by the Udaller, who, unwilling on the
one hand to give bis kinswoman offence, and de-
sirous on the other to shew that he was not daunt*
ed by a reception so singular, opened the conver-
sation thus : —

" 1 give you good e'en, cousin Norna— my-
daughters and I have come far to see you."

Norna raised her eyes from her volume, looked
fall at her visitors, then let them quietly sink'
down on the leaf with which she seemed to be en-
gaged. - ,;

" Nay, cousin," said Magnus, " take your own
time — our business with you can wait your leisure.
— See here, Minna, what a fair prospect here fe'of
the cape, scarce a Quarter of a mile off; you mkf
see the billows breaking on it topmast high* Oar
kinswoman has got a pretty, seal too— Here, seaK
chie, my iftan, whew, whew !"

The seal topk no farther notice of the Udallert
advances to acquaintance, than by uttering a low 1
growl.

V He is not to well-trained.," continued the Ud-
aller, affecting an air of ease and unconcern, "as'
Peter MacRawV, the old fiper of Stornoway, wtrt*
had a seal that Aepped*ts tail to the tune of -Gab* t-
fae, and acknowledged no other whatsoever.
Well, cousin, 9 ? he concluded, observing that N6K
na closed her book, "are you going to give Os a
welcome at last, or must we go farther than our
blood-relation's house to seek one, and that when
the evening is wearing late apace ?" l

" Ye dull and hard-hearted generation, as deaf
as the adder to the voice of the charmer," answer*
ed Norna, addressing them, "why come ye to roe?
— You have slighted every warning I eould ghrg
of the coming harm, and now that it hath eottt*

THB PIRAT&/ 107

bjmnijou, ye seek raj counsel when it can avail
joq nothing."

" Look yon, kinswoman," said the Udaller, with
Uja usual frankness, and boldness of manner and
accent, "I must needs tell you that your courtesy
18 something of the coarsest and the coldest. I
cannot say that I ever saw an adder, in regard there
are none in these parts ; bqt touching my own
thoughts of what such a thing may be, it cannot be
tinned suitable comparison to me or to my daugh-
ters, and that 1 would have you to know* For old
acquaintance, and certain other reasons, I do not
leave your bouse upon the instant ; but as 1 came
hither in all kindness and civility, so I pray you to
receive me with the like, otherwise we will depart,
and leave shame on your inhospitable threshold/'

" How 1" said Noma, " dare you use such bold
language in the house of one from whom all men,
from whom you yourself come to solicit counsel
apd aid ? They who speak to the Reimkennar,
must lower their voice to her before whom winds
and waves hush both blast and billow."

" Blast and billow may hush themselves if they
will,' 9 replied the peremptory Udaller, " but that
will not L 1 speak in the house of my friend as
in my own, and strike sail to none,"

" And hope ye by this rudeness to compel me to
aoaifer to your interrogatories ?" replied Noma.

" Kinswoman," replied Magnus Troil, " I know
aqt so much as you of the old Worse sagas, but this
Hu^w, that when kempies were wont, long since,
jo seek the habitations of the gall-dragons and
snae»women, they came with their axes on their
Aoaldera, and their good swords drawn in their
kai><U, and compelled the power whom they in-
tend to listen to and to answer them, ay were it
tym himself."

10* THE PIRATE.

"Kittsmao," replied Nomi, arising from h$

seat and coming forward, " thou hast *pokeo we]
and id good time for thyself and thy daughters ; fo
hadst thou tamed from my "threshold without ex
torting&n answer, morning's son had never agau
shone upon you. The tpmta-wbe serve me aw
jealous, and wiH not bfe employed it* aught tha
may benefit humanity, unless (heir service is com*
manded by the ubdtuftted importunity of the brave
and the free. And 1 bow speik, what woaldst thou
have of me ? H •*

" My daughter** fefeaHh," replied Magma, " which
no remedies fcavfe been abte to restore."
• "Thy daughter's health," answered Noma;
" and what is the maiden's ailment?"
1 " The physician," said Trorl, " most name tlw
itsease. Alt that lean tell thee of it is " > . '

"*fee litent,*' said Noma, interrupting him, "1
know M theu canst tell me, and more than thou
thysotf knowest. 9it down all of you* — and thou,
maiden," she said, addressing Minna, "sit thou ia
that chair," pointing to the place she bad just left,
"bnce the seat of Giervada,at whose voice the start
hid their beams, and 1 the moon herself grew pale."

Minna moved with slow and tremulous step to-
wards the rode deat which was thus indicated t*
her; frtiich Was cotopOaed of stone, formed into the
shape of a chair bj the rough and unskilful hand of
some ancient Gothic artist,

Brenda, creeping as close as possible to her for
thgr, seated herself along with him upon a bench
it sbme distance from Minna, and kept her eyes,
With a mixture of fear, pity, and anxiety, closely
fixed upon- her. It would be difficult altogether to
decyphertfce etnotion* by which this amiable and
affectionate girl was agitated at the moment; • De-
£cient in her sister's predominating quality of high

THE PIRATE. 100

imagination, and little credulous, of course, to the
nfanrelkm*, sbecoald net but entertain some vague
aird indefinite fears on her own account, concern-
ing tb$ ifoMfffe of the tcene which was soon to take
pteee; Bht thete were in a manner swallowed up
tor fcfer apprehensions on the score of her sister,
%ho, WftB afrtrtnt so much weakened, spirits so
Much exhausted, and a mind' so susceptible of the
impressions which aH around her was calculated to
excite/ now sat pensively resigned to the agency pf
otie, whose<treatmeot might produce the most bane-
ful effects upon such a subject.

Brenda ga*ed at Minna, . who sat in that rude
chair of dark stone, her finely formed shape and
Stabs making the strongest contrast with its ponde-
rous and irregular angles, her cheek and lips as
'p&le a* day, and her eyes turned upward,, and
, lighted with the mixture of resignation and excited
enthusiasm, winch belonged to her 4ise^ee and
'Iter character. The younger sister then looked on
"Noma, who mattered to herself in a low mono to-
rtious manner, as, gliding from one place to another,
she cdllfected diflerent articles, which she placed
;otve by one on the table. And lastly, brenda
looked antfkmsly to her father, to gather, if possi-
ble, from his countenance, whether he entertained
amy part of her own fears for the consequences of
the scene which was to ensue, considering $e st*te
1 Of Minnas health and spirits. But Magnus Troil
seemed to trtnre no such apprehensions, but view-
ed with st&rV composure Noma's preparations;
atad appeared to wait the event with the compo-
sure of ode, who, confiding in the skill of a, medical
1 artist, sees him preparing to enter upon some im-
portant sind painful operation, in the issue of wtjich
be is interested by friendship or by afiection.

10 vot» % •

110 THE PIRATE.

Noma, meanwhile, went onward with her \
parations, until she had placed on the stone U
a variety of miscellaneous articles, and among
rest, a small chafing dish full of charcoal, a en
ble, and a piece of thin sheet-lead. She t
spoke aloud — " It is well that I was aware of y
coming hither — ay, long before you yourself
resolved it — how should I else have been prepa
for that which is now to be done ? — Maiden, 19
continued, addressing Minna, " where lies
pain?"

The patient answered, by pressing her ham
the left side of her bosom,

" Even so," replied Noma, " even so — 'tis
^ site of weal or woe. And you, her father and
* sister, think not this the idle speech of one 1
talks by guess — if I can tell the ill, it may be
I shall be able to render that less severe, wl
may not, by any aid, be wholly amended.*-*'
heart — ay, the heart — touch that, and the
grows dim, the pulse fails, the wholesome str
of our blood is choked and troubled, -our limbs
cay like sapless sea-weed in a summer's sun ;
better views of existence are passed and gc
what remains is the dream of lost happiness, 01
fear of inevitable evil. But the Reimkennari
to her work— well it is .that I have prepared
means."

She threw off her long darkoloured ma:
and stood before them in her short jacket of li
blue wadmaal, with its skirt of the same i
fancifully embroidered with black velvet,
bound at the waist with a chain or girdle of si
formed into singular devices. Noma next u
the fillet which bound her grizzled hair, and s
ing her head wildly, caused it to fall in dishevi
abundance over her face and around her about

i

THE PIRATE, 111

so as almost entirely to hide her features,. She
then placed a small crucible on the cha6ng dish
already mentioned, — dropped a few drops from a
rial on the charcoal below, — pointed towards it her
wrinkled fore-finger, which she had previously
ffioistened with liquid from another small bottle,
and said with a deep voice, " Fire, do thy duty f
—and the words were no sooner spoken, than, pro-
bably by some chemical combination of which the
spectators were not aware, the charcoal* which was
onder the crucible became slowly ignited ; while
Noma, as if impatient of the delay, threw hastily
back her disordered tresses, and, while her features
reflected back the sparkles and red light of the
fire, and her eyes flashed from amongst her hair
Hke those of a wild animal from its cover, blew
fiercely till the whole was in an intense glow. She
paused a moment from her toil, and muttering that
the elemental spirit must be thanked, recited in
herusual monotonous, yet wild mode ofchaunting r
tbe following vetses —

., "Thou«o:needful, yet so dread,

With cloudy crest, and wing of red ;
Thou, without whose genial breath
The north would sleep the sleep of death ;
Who deign'st to warm the cottage Hearth,
Yet hurls proud palaces to earth,—
Brightest, keenest of the Powers,
Which form and rule this world of ours,
With my rhyme of Runic, I
Thank thee for thy agency."

She then severed a portion from the small mass
of sheet-lead which lay upon the table, and, placing
it in the crucible, subjected it to the action of the
lighted charcoal, and, as it melted, she sung—

" Old Keimkennar, to thy art
Mother Hertha sends her part >

1 IS THE PIRATE.

She, whose gracious bounty gives
Needful food for all that lives.
From the deep mine of the North,
Came the mystic metal forth,
Doom'd, amidst disjointed stones,
Long to cear a champion's bones,
Disinhnmed my charms to aid —
t Mother Earth, my thanks are paid/' v

She then poured out some water from the
to a large cup, oe goblet, and sung once mc
she slowly stirred it round with the end <
staff—

*

" Girdle of our islands dear,
Element of Water, hear !
• Thou whose power can overwhelm
Broken mounds and ruined realm

On the lowly Belgian strand ;
AH thy fiercest rage can never
Of our soil a furlong sever

From our rock-defended land ;
Flay then gently tho/u thy part.
To assist old Noma's art."

She then, with a pair of pincers, reroo*
crucible from the chafing dish, and poure
lead, now entirely melted, into the bowl of
repeating at the dame time—

" Elements, each other greeting,

Gifts and power attend your meeting !"

The melted lead, spattering as it fell in
water, fdrmed, of course, the usual combina
irregular forms which is familiar to all who in
hood have made the experiment, and from '
according to our childish fancy, we may have
ed portions bearing some resemblance to do
articles — the tools of mechanics, or the like,
seemed to busy herself in some such resea
for she examined the mass of lead with scru

!

THE PIRATE. 113

attention, and detached it into different portions,
without apparently being able to find a fragment in
the form which she desired.

At length she again mattered, rather as speaking
to herself than to her guests, "He, the Viewless,
*ill not be omitted, — he will have his tribute even
in the work to which he gives nothing.— Stern
compeller of the clouds, thou also sbalt hear the
vtfce of the Reimkennar."'

Thus speaking, Noma once more threw the lead
into the crucible; where, hissing and spattering as
the wet metal touched the sides of the red-hot ves-
sel) it was soon again reduced info a state of fus-
ion. The Sybil meantime turned to a corner o£
the apartment, and opening suddenly a window
which looked to the north-west, let in the fitful ra-
diance of the sun, now lying almost tevel upoir
* great mass of red clouds, which, boding future
tempest, occupied the edge of the horizon, and
teemed to brood over the billows of the boundless
sea. Turning to this quarter, from which a low
Hollow moaning breeze then blew, Noma addressed
the spirit of the winds, in tones which seemed to*
ttsemble his own :

"Thou, thafover billows dark*
Safely send'st the fisher's bark,—
Giving him a path and motion
, Through the wilderness of ocean .;

Thou, that when the billows brave ye,
O'er the shelves can'st drive the navy,—
Did'st thou chafe as one neglected,
• Wn*l e thy brethren were respected ?
To appease thee, see, I tear
This full grasp of grizzled hair ;
Oft thy breath hath through it sung,
. /Softening to my magic tongue,—
Now 'tis thine to bid it fly
Through the wide expanse of sky,-

».*. .•

W* " voi,. .2;

1H THE PIRATE

'Mid the wmtlest swrma to sail > - <- , , K

Of wild-fowl wheeling on thy gale; 4 ..'»*'

Take thy portion and rejoice,— - : ? T t f>J

Spirit, thota bat*, heard my voice !''«*- < vj

Noma accompanied these words with the action

which they described, tearing a lock of bair with

vehemence from her head, and strewing it upon

the wind as she continued her recitation* She

then shut the casement, and again involved the

chamber in the dubious twilight, which T>es£ suited

her character and occupation* The melted lead

was once more emptied into the water, and the

various whimsical conformations which it received

from the operation were examined witj* great eare

by the Sybil, who at length seemed to iatiopatp, fcjj

voice and gesture, that her spell ha*} beep swqce^

ful. She selected from the fused metal a piece

about the size of a small nut, bearing iri shape a

sJose resemblance to that of the human heart, and

approaching Minna, again spoke ia song :-— ^

. "She .who gits by haunted w«H,
Is subject to the Nixies rtett; " '■ I

She who walks on lonety beach, .*•

> To the Mermaid's charmed sp«ech ;
\ She who walks round ring of green.

Offends the peevish .Fairy Queen ; '

And she who takes rest in the/D wil e's caye >
A weary weird of woe shall have*,

« By ring, by spring, by care, by shore, \
Minna Troil has braved all this and. more ; * » ^

I . And yet hath the root of her sorrow and ill

A source that's more deep and more, mystical still."—

: Minna, whose attention bad been latterly some-
• thing disturbed by reflections on ber own secret
sorrow, now suddenly recalled it, and looked eag-
erly on Noma as if she expected to leaf n from
her rhimes something 6f deep interest. Thenar
tbern Sybil, meanwhile, protetde*4o piercf the

THKPIRATB, II*

piece of lead, which fare the form of a heart, and
to fix in it a piece of gold wire, by which it might
be attached to a ehain or neck-lace* She thea
proceeded in her rhime.

'J

"Thou a|| within a daman's hold, .

More wise than Helms, more strong than Trelld ;

Ho syren sings so sweet as Ike,— *

ffe 4ay sprites lighter oo tke iea ;
, Ho oUfofpower hath half the art
. To sooth, to move, to wring the heart,—

Life-blobafronr the cheek to drain,

K>*taeh tan eye, an44ry the **in. . *

Maiden, ere we farther $o, .

Eepe*£ t^ou note me, aye or no ?"

Minna replied i» the same- rythmical manner^
i, in jest a*d earnest, wfc* frequently tised by
fife ancient Scandinavians:-—

; <( 1 mark thee, my mother, both word, look, and sign ;
Speak on with thy riddle— to read it be mine." *

•' New, Heaven and e*$r^ saint be praised !*
1 Magnus ; u they are the first words to the
purpose, which she hath spoken these many days."
" And they are the last which she shall speak
for many a month," said Noma, incensed at the
interruption, " if you again break the progress of
my spell* Ttom your faces to the waH, and, look
not hitherward again, under penalty of my severe
displeasure. You, Magnus Troil, from hard-heart-
ed audacity of spirit, and you, firenda, from wan-
top apd idle disbelief in that which is beyond
Tour bounded comprehension, are unworthy to
look on this mystic work ; anc* the glance of
Jour eyes mingles with, and weakens the spell j
-jfer the powers cannot brook distrust." n

r; Unaccustomed to be addressed in a tone 50
»^erefflptory y Magnus would have made some ahgry
cepty 5 hat reflecting tyat the health of Minu* w^*

116 TRHE PHt ATE.

at stake, and considering that she who spoke was
a woman of many sorrows, he suppressed bis an-
ger, bowed his bead, shrugged his shoulders,, as-
sumed the prescribed posture, averting his head
frem the table, and turning towards the wall.
Brenda did the same, on receiving a sign from her
father, and both remained profoundly silent.
Noma then addressed Minna once more :— r

" Mark me ! for the word I speak
Shall bring the colour to tl^y cheek.
This leaden heart, so tight of cost,
Tfee symbol of a treasure lost,
Thou shalt wear in- hope and in peace,
That the cause of your sickness and sorrow may cease,
, When crimson foot meets crimson hand
In the Martyrs' Aisle, and in Orkney-land."—

Minna coloured deeply at the last couplet, inti-
mating, as she failed not to interpret it, that Nor-
na was completely acquainted with the secret cause
of her sorrow. The same conviction led the maid-
en to hope in the favourable issue, which the Sy-
bil seemed' to prophecy; and not venturing to ex-
press her feelings in any manner more intelligible,,
she' pressed Noma's withered hand with ail the,
warmth of affection, first to her breast and then to-
iler bosom, bedewing it at the same time with her
tears.

With more of human' feeling than she usually
exhibited, Noma extricated her hand from the gra&p
of the poor girl, whose tears now flowed freely?
and thon, with mare tenderness of manner thai*
she had yet shewn, she knotted the leaden heart to
a chain of gold, and hung it around Minna's neck,*
singing as she performed that last branch of th$
spell,—

\

" Be patient, he patient, for Patience ha& power
To ward us in danger, like mantle ia shower j ,
A fairy gift you best may hold
Jo a chain of fairy gold *,—

( '

THE PfRATE. 117

. The chain and tbe gift are each a true token,

'' That not without warrant old Noma has spoken ;

* Bit tfey nearest and dearest must never behold them,

.? Till timfi«hmll accomplish the truths I have told them."

The verses being concluded, Noma carefully
arranged the chain around her patient's neck so
as to hide it in her bosom, and thus ended the spell,
—a spell which, at the moment I record these in-
cidents, it is known has been kr*ely practised in —
Zetland, where any decline of health, without ap-
parent quise, is imputed by the lower orders to** .
demon havingitolen the heart from the body of the
patient, and where the experiment of supplying
the deprivation by a leaden one, prepared in the
manner described, has been resorted Jo within
these few years* , In a metaphorical sense, the ^dis-
ease may be considered as a general one in all
parts of the world ; but, as this simple and original <
rerbedy is peculiar to the isles of Thule, it were
unpardonable not to preserve it at length, in a nar-
rative connected with Scottish antiquities*

A second time Noma reminded her patient, that
if she 'tewed or spoke of, the. fairy gifts, their vir-
tue would be lost — a belief so common as to be re-
ceived into the superstitions of all nations* Last-
ly, unbuttoning the collar which she had just fas-
tened, she shewed her a link 4>f tbe gold chain,
*hicb Minna instantly recognized as that formerly
given by Noma to Mordaunt Mertpun. This seem-
ed to intimate be was yet alive, and under Noma's
protection ; and she gazed on her with the most
eager curiosity. But the Sybil imposed her
finger on her lips in token of silence, and a
second time involved the chain in those folds
*luch modestly and closely veiled one of the most
beautiful, as well as one of the kindest
in the world.

118 THE PIRATE.

Noma then extinguished the lighted charcoal,
and, as the water hissed upon the glowing embers,
commanded Magnus and Brenda to look around*
and behold her task accomplished.

CHAPTER IX.

See yonder woman, whom our swains revere.

And dread in secret, while they take bet eonnsel -

When sweetheart shall be kind, or when cross dame shall die ;.

Where lurks the thief who stole the silver tankard,

And how the pestilent murrain may be eured—

This sage adviser*! mad, stark mad, my friend ;

Yet, in her madness, bath the art and cunning

To wring fools' secrets from their inmost bosoms.

And pay inquirers with the coin they gave her.

OtdPlty.

It seemed as if Noma had indeed full right to :
claim the gratitude of the Udaller for the improv-
ed condition of his daughter's health. She once
more threw open the window, and Minna, drying
ber eyes and advancing with affectionate confi-
dence, threw herself on her father^ neck, atii
asked his forgiveness for the trouble she had of Tate
occasioned to him* It is unnecessary to add, that
this was at once granted, with a full, though rough
burst of parental tenderness, and as many close
embraces as if his chrld had been just rescued frtitt
the jaws of death. When Magnus had dismissed Mitt 1
na from his arms, to throw herself In into thoseo
her sistar, and express to her, rather by kisses *6&
tears than in words, the regret she entertained f&i
her late wayward conduct, the Udaller though
proper, in the mean-time, to pay his thanks t<

THE PIRATE. 119

their hostess, whose skill had proved so efficacious. -
Bui scarce had he come out with, " Much respect-
ed Vias woman, I am hut ^a plain old Norse-man,"
—when she interrupted him, by pressing her fin*
ger on her Ups.

" There are those around us, 9 ' she said, " who
most hear no mortal voice, witness no sacrifice to
mortal feelings — there are times when thej muti-
ny even against me, their sovereign mistress, be-
cause Jam still shrouded in the flesh of humanity.
Fear, therefore, and be silent. I, whose deeds
have raised me from the low-sheltered valley of
life, where dwell its social wants and common
charities ; — I, who have bereft the Giver of the
"Gift which he gave, and stand alone on a cliff
of immeasurable height, detached from earth,
save from the small portion that supports my
miserable tread — I alone am fit to cope with these
sullen mates. Fear not, therefore, but yet be not
too bold, and let this night to you be one of fasting
and of prayer."

If the Udaller Jiad not, before the commence-
ment ' of the operation, been disposed to dispute
(he commands of the Sybil, it may he well believ-
ed he was less so now, that it bad terminated to
all appearance so fortunately. So he sat down in
•silence, and seized upon a volume which lay near
lira as a sort of desperate effort to divert ennui,
for on no other occasion had Magnus been known
to have recourse to a book for that purpose. It
chanced to be a book much to his mind, being
the well-known work of Olaus Magnus, upon the
manners of the ancient Northern nations. The
book is unluckily in the Latin language, and the
Danske or Dutch were either of them much more
ftmiJiar to the Udaller. But then it was the fine
edition, which contains representations of the

ItO TOB PIRATE.

war-chariots, fishing exploits, warlike exercises,
and domestic employments of the Scandinavian,
executed on copperplates ; and thus the informa-
tion which .the work refused to the understanding,
was addressed to the eye, which, as is well known
both to old and young, answers the purpose pi
amusement as well, if not better.

Meanwhile the two sisters, pressed as close to
each other's side as two flowers on the samestalk,
sate with their arms reciprocally passed over ea?h
other's shoulder, as if they feared some new and
unforeseen cause of coldness was about to snatch
them from each other's side, and interrupt the. sis-
ter-like harmony which had been just . restored*
Nornaaat opposite to them, sometimes revohJM
the large parchment volume with which they bad
found her employed at their entrance, and some-
times gazing on the sisters with a fixed look, in
which an interest of a kind unusually tender seefp-
ed occasionally to disturb the stern and rigorous
solemnity of her countenance. All was still and
sfient as death, and the subsiding emotions of Bren-
da hail not yet permitted her to wonder whether
the remaining hours of the evening were to be
passed in the same manner, when the scene of tran-
quillity was suddenly interrupted by the entrance
of the dwarf Pacolet, ot, as the Udaller called hiffij
Nicholas Strumpfer.

' Noma darted an angry glance on the intruder,
who seemed to deprecate her resentment by hold-
ing up his hands and uttering a babbling sound ;
then, instantly resorting to his usual mode of con-
versation, he expressed himseK by a variety of
signs made rapidly upon bis fingers, and as rapidly
answered by his mistress, so that the young women,
who had never heard of such an art, and now saw
it practised by two beings so singular, almost con-

T«E PIRATE. ill

their mutual intelligence the woflr of en-
chantment. When they had ceased their inter-
tonne, Noma turned to Magnus Troit with much
haughtiness, and said, " How, my kinsman f have
yon to faf forgot yourself, as to bring- earthly food
ffito the h^use of the Reimkennar, and make pre-
parations in the dwelling of Power and of Despair,
for refection, and wassail, and revelry ?— -Speak
not — answer not," she said ; " the duration of the
Ctire whifch wis wrought even now depend* on
~7*or silence* & obedience — bandy but a single lodk
or word with me, and the latter condition of that
ttaiden shall be worse than the first. 9

This threat was an effectual charm upon the
tongue of the Udaller, though he longed to in-
dulge it in vindication of his conduct.
' "Follow me all of yo'u, w said Noma, striding to
the door of the apartment, "and see that no one
look backward — we leave riot this apartment,
empty, though we,the children of mortality, be re-
moved from it."

She went out, and the Udaller signed to his
daughters to follow, and to obey her injunctions.
The Sybil moved swifter than her guests down the
rode descent, (such it might rather be termed, than
i proper staircase,) which led to the lower apart-
ment. Magnus and his daughters, when they en-
tered the chamber,found their own attendants aghast
at the paesence and proceedings of Noma of the
Fitful-head.

They had been previously employed in arrang-
ing the provisions which they had brought along
with th6m, so as to present a comfortable cold
meal, as soon as the appetite of the Udaller, which
was as regular as the return of tide, should induce
*him to desire some refreshment ; and now thejr
stood staring in fear and surprise, while Noma.

1 1 vol. 2.

IK THE PIRATE.

seizing upon one • article after another, and vrett
supported by the zealous activity of Pacolet*
flung their whole preparations out of the rods
aperture which served for a window, and ©vsr
the cliff, from which the ancient Burg arose* into
the ocean, which raged and {pained; beneath*
Vifda, (dried beef) fcups, and pickled pork, flew
after each other into. empty space, smoked geese
were restored to the air, and cured fish to the
sea, their native elements indeed, bat which titoy
were no , longer capable of traversing ; and the
devastation proceeded so rapidly that the Udall*r
could scarce secure from the wreck his silver
drinking cup ; while the large leathern flask of
brandy, which was destined to supply his favour-
ite beverage, was sent to follow the rest of the
supper, by the hands of Pacolet, who regarded*
at the same time, the disappointed Udaller with
a malicious grin, as if, notwithstanding his own
natural taste for the liquor, he enjoyed the dis-
appointment and surprise of Magnus Troil still
more than be would have relished sharing bis
enjoyment.

The destruction of the brandy flask exhausted
the patience of Magnus, who roared out in a t^ne
of no small displeasure, " Why, kinswoman,
this is wasteful madness^^where, and on what*
would you have us sup ?"

«« Where you will," answered Noma, « and on
what you will — but not in my dwelling, and not
on the food with which you have profaned it.
Vex my spirit no more, but begone every, one of
you ! You have been here too long for my gdod,
perhaps for your own."

« How, kinswoman," said Magnus, " would
you make outcasts of us at this time of night,
when even a Scotchman would not turn a stranger

*PHB PlHATE. i2S'

ftwa the door ?-^Bethihk you, darae* it is shame
«i<Mif lineage for ever, if this squall of yours
taold force us to slip cables, and go to sea so
scantily provided.*'

"Re silent, and depart,*' said Noma; «« let it
stifice you have got that for which you came*
) have no harbourage for mortal guests, no pro*
mian to relieve human wants. There is beneath
the cliff a beach of the finest sand, a stream of
Wtar as pure as the well of Rildinguie, and the
ftcks bear dulse as wholesome as that of Gutydin ;
and well you wot, that the well of Kildineuie and
the dulse of Guiydin will cure all maladies save
Black Death"*

« And well I wot," said the Udaller, « that I
would eat corrupted sea- weed like a starling, or
ttited seal's flesh like the men of Burraforth, or
whilks, buckies, and lampits, like the poor sneaks
of Stroma, rather than break wheat bread and
drink red wine in a house where it is begrudged
toe, — And yet, 9 ' he said, checking himself, "I
*» wrong, very wrong, my 'cousin, to speak thus
to you, and I should rather thank you for what
you have done, than upbraid you for following
7«ar own ways. But I see you are impatient —
*• wiH be all under way presently. — And you, ye
knaves," addressing his servants, " that were in
such hurry with your service before it was lack-
ftdrget out of doors with you presently, and ma-
nage to catch the ponies ; for I see we must make
for another harbour to-night, if we would not
deep with an empty stomach, and on a hard bed."

The domestics of Magnus, already sufficiently
alarmed at the violence of Noma's conduct, scarce
Waited the imperious command of their master to

r * So at least says an Orkney proverb.

\

I£4 THE PIRATE.

evacuate her dwelling with all dispatch j and'
the Udeller, with a daughter on each arm, was
til thft act of following them, when Noma said
emphatically. " Stop !" They obeyed, and agaifi
t)trne<Mowards her. She held out her hand to
Magnus, which, the placable Udaller instantly
folded in hi* ow» ample pal m«

*« Magou**" she said, « we part by necessity,
but, I trufttrflot in anger?"

w Sorely ,not> cousin," said the warm-hearted
UdaMer, well nigh stammering in his hasty discla-
maiion of all unkindriess,-*-" most assuredly not
1 never bear ill will to any one, much less to ona
of my own blood, and who has piloted roe with
her aArice through many a rough tide, as I
would pilot a* boat betwixt Swona and Stroma,
through all the waws, wells, and s welchies of the
ffefttlaad Firth"

« Enough." said Norna* <f and now farewell,
with such a blessing as I dare bestow — not a
Word more !~~Jdaidena," she added, '«« draw near,
<and let j** kiss your browa."
* The Sybil was ebeyed by Minna with awe, and
fcy Brenda with fear ^ the one overmastered by
the warmth of her imagination, the other by the
natural timidity of her constitution* Noma thin
dismissed them, and in two minutes afterwards
they found themselves beyond the bridge, and
standing upon the rocky platform in front of the
ancient Picttsh Burg, which it was the pleasure of
this sequestered female to inhabit. The night,
for it was now fallen, was unusually serene. A
bright twilight, which glimmered far over the
auriace of the sea, supplied the brief absence of
the summer's sun ; and the wares seemed to sleep
under its influence, so faint and slumberous was
the sound with which one after another polled en

THE KRAT8. 1*5

*■ - • - *- »

tnfl burst against th£ foot of the rliff on *hieh
they stood.. In front "of them stood the rugged
fortress, seeming, in the uniform greyness of the
atmosphere, as aged, as 'shapeless, and aft nwtf-
live, as the rotk on which if wa» founded. There
was neither sightnor sound that irtdieated. hu-
man habitation, sate that frtfm ofie rode shot-hole
glimmered the flame of the) feeble lamp by winch
theiS^bil was probably pursuing her mystical and
ftocturnal studies, Shooting upon the twilight, fat
Which it was soon lost and confounded, a single
line of tiny light ; bearing the same proportion to
that of the atmosphere, as the aged woman and
Tier serf, the sole inhabitants of that deffftrt, did
to the sofi^tude wfth Which they WeTe surrounded.
* For several minutes, the paHy* thus fcttdd-^'y
find unexpectedly expelled from the shelter where
they bad reckoned to spend the night, stood in
silence, each wrapt in their own separate refec-
tions. Minna, her thoughts fixed on the mystic
-cal consolation which she bad receive**, in vae*
endeavoured to extract from the Wortfc of Noma
^a more disti net and intelligible meaning ; and the
^ydaljer had not yefrecm'erejd his surprise at the
_ extrusion to which be had been thus whimsicfeUy
subjected, under circumstances that prohibited
^ fcim from resenting as an insatt, treatment, which
in all other respects, was* so Shocking to the gm*
i*\ hospitality of his nature, that hefetfH felt like
\orie disposed to be angry, if he but knew how-to
#et atout it.' Brenda was tb* first who brought
> /jnptters to a point, by asking where they were to
V5 ^. and bow they were to si>end the night ^Etoe
^^estion, which was asked in a tone, that, ftaadit
« jts simplicity, bad Something doloroUs in it, ehu*
ged entirely the train of her father** idepj and

136 THE ?l«ATU.

the unexpected perplexity of their situation now
striking him in a comic point of view, he laaghed
till his very eyes run oVfer, while every rockarounc}
hint rung, and the sleeping sea-fowl .were startled
from their repose* by the lowd hearty explosions
of his obstreperous liilprity.

The Udaller'e daughters, eagerly representing
to their father the risk of displeasing Noma by
this unlimited indulgence of his mirth, united
their efforts to drag him to a . farther distance
from her . dwelling. Magnus, yielding to their
strength, which, feeble as it was, his own fit of
laughing rendered him incapable of resisting*
suffered himself to be pulled to a considerable
distance from the burg, and then escaping from
their hands, and sitting down* or rather suffering
himself to drop, upon a large stone which lay.
conveniently by the way-side, he again laugbeo
ao long and lustily , that his vexed and, anxious
daughters 1>ecame afraid that there was some-
thing more than natural in these repeated convul-
sions.

At length his mirth exhausted both itself and
the Udaller's strength* He groaned heavily*
wiped his eyes, and said, not without feeling somf
desire to renew his obstreperous cachinnation f
" Now, by the bones of Saint Magnus, my ances-
tor and namesake, one would imagine that being

, turned out of doors,, at this time of night, was
nothing short of an absolutely exquisite jest ; for
I have shaken my sides till I am sore at it. There
we sat, made snug for the night, and I made as
sure of a good supper and a can as ever I had
been of either,*— and here we are all taken aback ;
and then poor Brenda's doleful voice, and melan-
choly question of what is to be done, and where

* are we to. sleep! In good faith, unless one- of

THE URATE. 127

&o»e knaves, who must needs torment the poor
wowan by theip trencher- work before it was want-
ed, can make amends, by telling us of some snug
port under our lea, we have no other course for it
butto steer through the twilight on the bearing
of Burgh- Westra, and rough it out as well as we
caa by the way. I am sorry but for you, girls ;
for many a cruise hare I been upon when we were
on shorter allowance than we are like to have
now.— I would I had but secured a morsel for you,
and a drop for myself; and then there had been
but little to complain of."

Both sisters hastened to assure the Udaller
that they felt not the least occasion for food.

"Why, that is weH," said Magnus; " and so
being tlie case, I will not complain of my own
appetite, though it is sharper than convenient.
And the rascal, Nicholas Strumpfer, — what a leer
the villain gave me- as he started the good Nantz
into the salt-water ! lie grinned, the knave, like
a seal on a skerry. — Had it not been for vexing
toy poor kinswoman Noma, I would have sent his
mis-begotten body, and mis-shapen jolterhead af-
ter my bonny flask, as surely as Saint Magnus
lie* at Kirk wall."

By this time the servants returned with the po-
nies, which they had very soon caught— these
feasible animals finding nothing so captivating
in the pastures where they bad been suffered to
stray, as inclined them to resist the invitation
again to subject themselves to saddle and bridle.
The prospects of the party were also consider-
ably improved by learning that the contents of
their sumpter-pomes' burthen had not been entire- *
ty exhausted, — a small basket having fortunately
Scaped the rage of Noma and Pacolet, by the
rapidity with which one of tbe atwaxta V*A

4

' - » .

tit tHB PIftAtE.

caught op and removed it The saiile d em few Hi
an alert and ready-witted fellow, fiad ttofer**
•pqa the beach* not above three miles dtatanYfroto
the Burg, and about a quarter of a mile off 1 thill
straight path, a deserted Sfcto, orlsherittaihtotfirij
and suggested that they should txttupy ft for ttl
rest of the night, in order that the ponies qftii^W
be refreshed, and the young ladies >s\$m&m
night under cover from the night air. ' '♦ Ui U

vfhen we are delivered from great ftrtrfserteoi
dangers* our mood is, or ought to 'be, gr*Ve, f J in
proportion to the peril we have escaped, atid tte
gratitude due to protecting Providence. ' BuMbw
tilings raise the spirits more nataralty^ortoere
harmlessly, than when means of extricatiori frtyp
any of the lesser embarrassments of Kfb are did*
denly presented to us ; and such was the caste H
the present instance. The Udaller, -reti^nei
from the apprehensions for hte daughters suflir-
from fatigue, and himself from too much appetite
and too little food, carolled Norse ditties; a* Hi
apurred Bergen through the twilight, Wth *•
much glee and, gallantry as' if the night- ride 'had
been entirely V matter of his o\vn fre«S chdcft
Brenda lent her voice to some of his diorttstfti
which were echoed In ruder nofes by thenertatlte,
who, in that simple state of society, were*no$ con*
sidererf as guilty of any breach 1 of Yefcpfcfct 4 by
ipingling their voices with the song. ' MinnajH*
t(cc*!, was as yet unequal 5 to such an effort j^bot
abe compelled herself to assume some share in tJ»
general hilarity of the meeting; and, contmty
to her conduct' since the fatal morning which (*>**•
eluded the Festival of Saint John, she seemed to
take her usual interest in what was going on *"
round her, and answered with kindness and rea-
diaeas the repeated inquiries concerning h« r

THE PIRATE. 12$

health with which the Udaller every now and
then interrupted his carol. And thus they pn& -
cpeded<hy night* a happier party by far thai) they
Ifed- bean when they, bad traced the same route on
tke preceding morning, making light of the dif-
ficulties of the way, and promising themselves
shelter and a comfortable night's rest, in the de-
serted hot which they were now about to approach/ 4
aid which they, expected to find in a state of
tofcnw and solitude.

But it was the lot of the Udaller that day to he
fceeired more than once in his calculations.

" And which way lies this cabin of yours, Lau-
ifo?" said the Udaller, addressing the intelli-
gent domestic of whom we just spoke.

>< Tender it should her' 9 said Laurence Scho-
bjV "at the head of the Voe— but, by ray faith*
if it be the place, there are folks there before us—
Sod and Saint Ronan send that they be canny
tewpany V '

In truth there was a light in the deserted hut.
strong enough to glimmer through every chink of
the shingle^ and wreck-wood of which it was con-
tiructed, and to give the whole cabin the appear*
toee of a smithy seen by night. The universal
ftgeretitieji of the Zetlanders seised upon Mag*
Maud bis escort,

!*}* They are Trows," said one voice.
m * They are witches* 9 ' murmured another.

« They are mermaids,'' muttered a third; «* pa-
If hear their wild singing!"
. All stopped ; and, in effect, some notes of ma*
afe were audible, which Brenda, with a voice that
tpuvered a little, but yet had a turn of arch ridi*
kafa in its tone, prommnced to be the sound rf
* Mdte.

13* THE PIRATE/

" Fiddle or fiend," said the Udaller, who, if
he believed in such nightly apparitions fcftto*
struck terror into his retinue, certainly fcawtf
them not — " fiddle or fiend, may the devil wash
me if a witch cheats me out of supper to-nigM;
for the second time."

So saying, he dismounted, clenched his trusty
truncheon in his hand, and advanced towardath*
hut, followed by Laurence alone ; the rest of his
retinue continuing stationary on the beachjbesid*
his daughters anu the ponies.

CHAPTER X.

What ho, myjorial mate* I eomeea ! well frolic H
Like fairies fritking in the merry mootuhiae,
Seen by the cartel friar, who, from tome christening
Or some blithe bridal, hkt belated cell-ward—
He etnrti, and changes hit bold bottle swagger
To ehurehniaa'a pee* p i e ftiin aal, and rwaafiiic
Bit treaeherofu memory for tome holy hymn,
Finds but the roundel of the midnight eatch.

Old Ploy.

The stride of the Udaller relaxed nothing of
its length or of its firmness as he approached the
glimmering cabin, from which he now heard dis-
tinctly the sound of the fiddle. But if still long
and firm, his steps succeeded each other rather
more slowly than usual ; for, like a cautious,
though a brave general, Magnus was willing to
reconnoitre his enemy before assailing him. The
trusty Laurence Scfeoley, who kept clode behind
his master, now whispered into his ear, " So
help me, sir, as 1 believe that the ghaist, if
ghaist it be, that plays so bravely on the fiddly

THE PIRATE. 131

m$t he the ghaist of Master ' Claud Halcro, o*
km wraith rat least; for never was bow drawn
agtfss thaim which brought out the gnde auld
If ring of < Fair andXaicky,) Ho like bis ain."

Magnus was himself much of the same opiri-
tift; for he knew the Withe minstrelsy of the
spirited little old man, and hailed the hut with a
mvty hiiloah, which was immediately replied
a&y the cheery note of his ancient mess-mato,
ind Halcro himself presently made his appear-
ince on the beach.

The Udallar now signed to his retinue to come
ip, whilst ha asked his friend after a kind greet*
ing and much shaking of hands, " How the devil
became to sit there playing old tunes in so deso-
late a place,like an owl whooping to the moon ?"

"And tell me rather, Fowde," said Claud Hal-
cro, " how yon came to be within hearing of me ?
—ay, by my word, and with your bonny daugh-
ters too ? — Jarto Minna and Jarto Brenda, I bid
you welcome to these yellow sands — and there
shake hands, as glorious John, or some other bo-
dy, says upon the same occasion. And how came
you here like two fair swans, making day out of
twilight, and turning all you step upon to silver ?"

u You shall know all about them presently,"
answered Magnus ; " but what mess-mates have
you got in the hut with you ? I think 1 hear some
one speaking."

" None," replied Claud Halcro, « but that poor
creature the Factor, and my imp of a boy, Giles.
I— hut come in — come in — here you will find us
starving in comfort — not so much as a mouthful
of sour $illochs to be had for love or money."
" Tb%t may be in a small part helped, 9 ' said

the Udaller ; « for though the best of our sup-
per is gone over the Fitful crags to the sealchies

1

ltt THE PIRATB.

and the dog-fish, jet we have got something in the
kit still. — Here, Laurie, bring up the vifda.

" Jokul, jokul P* # was Laurence's joyfiil an-
swer ; and he hastened for the basket, while the
party entered the hot*

Here, in a cabin which smelted strongly of dried
fish, and whose sides and roof were jet-black with
smoke, they found f he unhappy Triptolemus Yel-
low ley, seated beside a fire made of dried sea-weed,
mingled with some peats and wreck-wood ; to
sole companion a barefooted yellow-haired Zet-
land boy, who acted occasionally as a kind of page
to Claud Halcro, bearing his fiddle on his shoul-
ders, saddling his poney, and rendering him simi-
lar duties of kindly observance. The disconso-
late agriculturist, for such his visage betokened
bim, displayed little surprise, and less animatiQD,
at the arrival of the Udaller and his companions,
until, after the party had drawn close to the fire*
(a neighbourhood which the dampness of the night-
air rendered far from disagreeable,) the panier
was opened and a tolerable supply of barley-bread
and bung beef, besides a flask of brandy, (no doubt
smaller than that which the relentless hand of Pa-
colet had emptied into the ocean,) gave assurance!
of a tolerable supper. Then, indeed, the worthy
Factor grinned, chuckled, rubbed his hands, and
inquired after all friends at Burgh-Westra.

When they had all partaken of this needful re-
freshment, the Udaller repeated his inquiries at
Halcro, and more particularly at the Factor, ho*
they came to be nestled in such a remote corner at
such an hour of night.

"Maister Magnus Troil." said Triptolemus,
when a second cup had given him spirits to tell

* Jokul)— Yes, sir ; m Norse expression «tiil in common use

. THE PIRATE. 135

#

tic of woe, " I would not have you think that
flitt Ie thing that disturbs me* 1 came of that
that takes a sair wind to shake it. 1 have
many a Martinmas and many' a Whitsunday
y day, whilk are times peculiarly grievous to
of my craft, and I could aye bide the bang;
think I am like to be dung ower aHhegtther
lis damned country of yours — Gude forgte me
vearing— but evil communication corrupteth
manners."

low/ Heaven guide us, M said the Udaller,
at is the matter with the man ? Why? man, if
will put your plough into new land, you must
to have it hank on a stone now and then— You
set us an example of patience, seeing you
: here for our improvement."
Lnd the de'il was in my feet when I didHBo,"
the Factor 5 " 1 had better have set myself to
ave the cairn on Clochnaben."
Sut what is it after all," said the Udaller,
t has befallen you ? — what is it that you com-
of?"

)f every thing that has chanced to me since
Jed on this island, which I believe was accurs-
t the very creation, said the agriculturist,
I assigned as a fitting station for sornert,
es, whores, (1 beg the ladies 9 pardon,) witches,
es, and evil spirits."

3y my faith, a goodly catalogue," said Mag-
" and there has been the day, that if I had
d you give out tbe half of it, I should have
*d improver myself, and have tried to amend
manners with a cudgel."
Bear with me," sard the Factor, "Master
de, or Master Udaller, or whatever else they
call you, and as you are strong be pitiful, and
! roci* 2*

134 THE PIRATE-

ler the luckless lot of any inexperienced per-
ion who lights upon this earthly paradise of yours.
He a|ks for drink, they bring him sour ^hey— no
4isparagement to your brandy, Fowde, which is ex-
cellent — You ask for meat, and they bring you sour
fish that Satan might choke upon — You call your
labourers together and bid^them work ; it. proves
Stipt Magnus's dan or Saint Ronan's day, cur some
inferos saint or otneiv— or else, perhaps, they hare
come over the bed with the wrong, foot foremost,
or they bare seen an owl, or a rabbit has crossed
them, or they have dreamed of a roasted horse —
in short, nothing is to be done — Give them a spade,
and they work as if it burned their fingers ; but set
them to dancing, and see when they will tire of
funking and flinging."

" And why should they, poor bodies," said Claud
Halcro, "a* long as there are good fiddlers- to play
to them ?'>

" Ay, ay," said Triptolemus, shaking his bead,
"you are a proper person to uphold them in such
a humour* Well, to proceed : — 1 till a piece of
nay best ground ; down comes a'sturdy beggar that
wants a kail-yard, or a planta<ruive, as you call
.it, and he, claps down an inclosure in the middle *f
my bitah+t of com, as lightly as if he was feaiA
laird and tenant, and gainsay him wha likes, there
he plants his kail-plants ! I sit down to my sorrow
Jul dinner, thinking to have peace and qi^ietne&s
thtre at lea$t ; when in pomes one, two, three,iourj
or half a dozen of skelping long lads, from some
foolery oranithgr, misca 9 me. for barring my tan
door against them,, and eat up, half of what my sis-
ter's providence— and she is not over bountiful—-
has provided for my dinner. Then in comes a
witch with an ellwand in her hand, and she raises
the wind or lays it, which ever she likes, major* HP

\

THE PIRATE. ' 135

[own my house as if she was mistress' of it,
am bouncten to thank heaven if she carries
ie broadside of it away with her! "
tilt," said the Fowde, " this is nd Answer to
uestion— bow the foul fiend 1 come to find
t moorings here ?£

fave patience, worthy sir,'* repKed the ^fflict-
ctor, ** artd listen to what 1 have to say, for
y'H will be as well to tell you the whole mat*
You mast know, I once thought that 1 had
I a small God-send, that might have made all
matters -easier.*'

[owl a God-send! Do von raesn a wreck,
*r Factor?" exclaimed Magnus ; " shame up-
u, that should have set example to others !"
; was no wreck," said the Factor; "but if
mst needs know, it chanced that as I raised
;arth-stane in one of the old chambers at
burgh, (for my sister is minded that' the re is
use in rnair fire-places about a house but one,
I wanted the stane to knock bear upon) —
, what f should light on but a horn full of old
silver the raaist feck of them, but wi' a bit
cKag of gold'amang them too. Weel, I
ht this was a dainty windfa', and so thought
>, and we were the mair willing to put up with
:e where there were siccan braw nest-eggs—
e slade down the stane cannily over the horn,
i seemed to me to be the very cornucopia, or
of abundance ; and for further security, Babie
rrsit the room maybe twenty times in the day,
sysell at an of ra time, to the boot of a? that/J
)n my word, and a very pretty amusement,",
Claud Halcro, " to fobk oter a horn of one's
siller. 1 question if glorious John Dryden
enjoyed such a pastime in his life*— I am sure
er did.* 1

136 THE PIRATE.

•>
" Yes, but you forget Jarto Claud," said the

Udaller, " that the Factor was only counting over
the money for my Lord the Chamberlain. As he
is so keen for his Lordship's rights in whales and
wrecks, he would not surely forget him in treasure-
trove,"

"A-hem ! a-hem ! a-he — he — hem ! w ejaculated
Triptolemus, seized at the moment with an awk-
ward fit of coughing, — " no doubt, my Lord's righf
in the matter would have been considered, being
in the hand of one, though 1 say it, as just as can
be found in Angus-shire. But mark what happen-
ed of late ! One day, as I went up to see that all
was safe and snug, and just to count out the share
that should have been his Lordship*s — for surely .
the labourer, as one may call the finder, is -worthy
of his hire — nay, some learned men say, thkt when
the finder, in point of trust and in point of power,
represented the doniinus or lord Superior, he tdk-
eth the whole ; but let that pass, as a kittle ques-
tion in apicibus juris ■, as we wont to say at Saint
Andrews — Well, sir and ladies, when I went to the
upper chamber, what should f see but an ugsoma
ill-shaped, and most uncouth dwarf, that wanted
but hoofs and horns to have made an utter devil of
him, counting over the very hornfull of siller! V-
am no timorous man, Master Fowde, but judging
that I should proceed with caution in such a mat-'
ter — for I had reason to believe that there wa*
devilry in it— I accosted him in Latin, (whilk it I*
maist becoming to speak to aught whilk taketh up-
on it as a goblin,} and conjured him in nomine, and
so forth, with such words as my poor teaming could
Airnish of a suddenty, whilk, to say truth, were not
so many, nor altogether so purely latineesed **
Plight have been, had 1 not been few years at col*
lege, and many at the pleugh. Well/sirs, he start-

THE PIKATBv. 1ST

ed at first, as one that heafetb that which he ex-
pects not; but presently recovering himself, he
walls on me with his grey eeh, like a wild cjrt, and
opens his mouth, whilk resembled the mouth of an
oven, for the de'H a tongue he had in it that I
could spy, and took upon bis ugly self, altogether,
the air and bearing of a bull-dog, whilk I have seen
loosed at a fair upon a mad staig ; whereupon I
was something daunted, and withdrew myself to
call upon sister Babie, who fears neither dog nor,
devil, when there is in question the little pernny
siller. And truly she raise to the fray as I hae
seen the Lindsays and Ogilvies bristle up, when
Donald MacDonnoch, or the like, made a start
down frae the Highlands on the braes of Islay.
Bat an auld useless cartine, called Tronda Drons-
daughter, (they might call her Drone the sell of
her, without farther addition,) flung herself right in
ay sister's gate, and yellpched and skirled, that
you would have thought her a whole generation of
wounds; whereupon I judged it best to make ae
joking of it, and stop the pleugh until I got my sis-
ter's assistance. Whilk when I had done, and we
Counted the stair to the apartment in which the
ttid dwarf, devil, or other apparition was to be
seen, dwarf, horn, and siller, were as clean gane as
if the cat had lickit the place where I saw them. 55

Here Triptolemua paused in his extraordinary
narration, while the rest of the party looked upon
each other in surprise, and the Udaller muttered
to Claud Halcro — " By all tokens, this must have
been either the devil or Nicholas Strumpfer ; and
tf it were him, he is more of goblin than e'er I gave
him credit for, and shall be apt to rate him as such
i& future," Then addressing th$ Factor, he ia-

12* vou 2.

136 THE PIRATE.

quirted— *'S*W jfe nought ho* this dwarf of jours
parted company ?"

" As I shall answer it, Ao, w answered Triptotev
mus, with a cautions look around him as if daunt-
ed by the recollection, M neither I nor Babie, who
had her wits more aboot her, not hating seen this
unseemly vision, could perceive any way by whiflc
he made evasion. Only Ttonda said she saw him
flee forth of the window of the west roundel of the
auld house, upon a dragon, as she averred. But,
as the dragon is held a fabulous animal, I suld .pro*
nogncc her averment to rest upon decepM visas."

"But may we not ask farther; 1 ' said Brenda,
stimulated by curiosity to know as much of he#<
cousin Noma's family as was possible, " how all
this operated upon Master Yellowley, so as to oc-
casion his being in this place a* so unseasonable aa
hour?"

u Seasonable it must be, Mistress Brenda, since
it brought us into your sweet company, answered
Claud Halcro, whose mercurial brain far outstrip-
ped the slow conceptions of the agriculturist,
and who became impatient of beingso long silent.
" To say the truth, it was I, Mistress Brenda, who
recommended to our friend the Factor, whose
house I chanced to call at just after this mischance,
(and where, by the way, owing doubtless to the
hurry of their spirits, 1 was but poorly received,)
to make a visit to our other friend at Fitful-head,
well judging, from certain points of the story, at,
which mj other and more particular friend than
oither (looking at Magnus) may chance to form a
guess, that they who break a head are the beat to
hnd a plaister. And as our friend the Factor scru-
pled travelling on horseback, in respect of some
tumbles from our ponies "

THE- HRATE. * 139

*' Which are incarnate devils," said Triptelemus
aloud, muttering under his breath, " like every live
thing that I have found in Zetland/ 1

4fc WeU> Fqwde, 1 ' continued Halcro, " I under-
took to carry him to Fitful-head in my little boat,,
which Giles and I can manage as if it were an Ad-
miral's barge full manned ; and Master Triptole-
raus Yellowley will tell you how seaman like I pi-
loted him to the little haven, within a quarter of a
mile of Noma's dwelling."

" I wish to heaven you had brought me as safe
back again, 11 said the Factor*

u : Why, to be sure, 1 ' replied the minstrel, "I
am, as glorious John says,—

A daring pilot in extremity,

Pleased with the danger when the waves go hi gh^.

I seek the storm— but, for a calm unfit,

Will steer too near the sands to shew my wit."

? I shewed little wit in entrusting myself to
jour charge,** said Triptolemus ; u and yoti still
less when you upset the boat at the throat of the
Vqe* as you call it, when even the poor bairn, that
was mair than half drowned,told you that you were
carrying too much sail \ and then ye wad fasten
the rape to the bit stick on the boat-side, that ye
might have time to play on the fiddle* 11

'! What! 11 said the Udaller, "make fast the
sheets to the thwart ? a most unseamanlike prac-
tice, Claud Halcro* 11

" And sae came of it, 11 replied the agricultur-
ist ; " for the neist blast, and we are never lang
without ane in these parts, wbolmed us as a gude-
wife would whomle a bowie, and ne'er a thing wad
Maieter Halcro save but his fiddle. His puir bairn
swam out like a water-spaniel, wd Ijgg&itvteA
fcacd for my life, wi' t^hgJ^^f-g^oT^ **** >

1

Hft TffltPIBATK.

and here we are, comfortless creatures, that, till •
good wind blew you here, had naething to eat but
a mouthful of Norway rusk, that has mair saw-dust
than rye-meal in it, and tastes iiker turpentine than
any thing else."

** I thought we heard you very merry," said
Brenda, " as we came along the beach.' 1

" Ye heard a fiddle, Mistress Brenda," said the
Factor ; " and maybe ye may think there can be
nae dearth, Miss, where that is skirling. But then
it was Maister Claud Halcro's fiddle, whilk, 1 am
apt to think, wad skirl at his father's death*bed,
or at his ain, sae lang as his fingers could pinch
thairm. And it was nae sma 1 aggravation to my.
misfortune to have him bumming a 9 sorts of
springs,— Norse and Scots, Highland and Lawland,
English and Italian, in my lug, as if nothing had
happened that was amiss, and we all in such stress
and perplexity."

" Why, I told you sorrow would never right the
boat, Factor," said the thoughtless minstrel, "afld
I did my best to make you merry ; if*^ failed,
it was neither my fault nor my fiddleV* \ I have
drawn the bow across it before glorious John
Dryden himself."

" I will hear no stories about glorious John
Dryden," answered the Udaller, who dreaded
Halcro's narratives as much as Triptolemus did
his music. " I will hear nought of him but one
story to every three bowls of punch,— it is our old
paction, you know* But tell me instead, what said
Noma to you about your errand ?"

" Ay, there was anither fine up-shot," said Maj
ter Yellowley. " She wadna look at us, or listjr
to us ; " only she bothered our acquaintant
Master Halcro here, who thought he could haj
sne mucli to say wi' her, with about a score

1

!

THE PIRATE, 141

questions about your family and household estate,
master Magnus Troil ; and when she had gotten a'
she wanted out of him, 1 thought she wad hae dung
him ower the craig, like an empty pea-cod,"

"And for yourself?" said the Udaller.

"She wadna listen to my story, nor hear sae
much as a word that I had to say, 9 ' answered
Triptolemus ; " and sae much for them that seek
to witches and familiar spirits."

"You needed not to have had recoure to Nor-
na's wisdom, Master Factor," said Minna, not un-
willing, perhaps, to stop his railing against the
friend who had so lately rendered her service f
"the youngest child in Orkney could have told
jou, that fairy treasures, if they are not wisely em-
ployed for the good of others, as well as of those to
*hom they are imparted, do not dwell long with
their possessors." '

' " Your humble servant to command, Mistress
Minnie,' 9 said Triptolemus ; " I thank ye for thef ?
hint,— and I am blithe that you have gotten your
wits — I beg pardon, 1 meant your health— -into the
Wn-vard again. For the treasure, I neither used
&or abused it, — they that live in the house with.
Wy sister Babte wad find it hard to do either!— *.'
and as for speaking of it, whilk they say muckle
offends them whom we in Scotland call Good
Neighbours, and you call Drows, the face of the
auld Norse kings on the coins themselves might
have spoken as much about it as ever I did^V ,

"The Factor," said Claud Hale ro, not unwill-
ing to seize the opportunity of revenging himself
Op Triptolemua, for disgracing his seamanship and
disparaging his music, — " the Factor^gs so scru-
pulous, as to keep the thing quiet even from hit
master, the Lord Chamberlain ; but now that the
tetter has ta'an wind, he i* likely to have to %&•

142 THE PIRATE.

'count to his master for that frhicb is no - longferiin
his possession ; for the Lord Chamberlain will bfe
ip no harry, I think, to believe the story qf the
dwarf. Neither do I think, (winking to the Udal*
ler,) that Noma gave credit to a word of s6 odd a
story ; and 1 dare say that was the reason that she
received us, I must needs say, in a very dry man*
ner* 1 rather think she knew that TriptoJetmis;
our friend here, had found some other hiding hole
for the money, and that the story of the goblin was
all his own invention. For my part, I will nevfcr
believe there was such a dwarf to be seen aslhe

.creature Master Yellowley describes, until .1 set
my Own eyes on him."

" Then you may do so at this moment," said
the Factor ; " for by , (he muttered a deep as-
severation as he sprung on his feet in great horror))
there the creature is !"

All turndd their eyes in the direction in Which
he pointed, and sat* the hideous mis-shapen fleoit
of Pacolet, with his eyes fixed and glaring at tbem
through the smoke. He had stolen upon their
conversation, unperceived, until the Factor's eye
lighted upon him in the manner we have described*
There was something so ghastly in his sudden and
unexpected appearance, that even the Udaller, to
whom his form was familiar, could not help start*
kig. Neither pleased with himself for having tes-
tified this d^rce^of emotion, however slight, nor
with 'hpi iIwhH who had given cause to it, Magnu*
a.4;ci! h»m sHa^U, what was his business there?
Pacolet icjp»»t»« by producing a letter, which he
gave to the Udaller, uttering a aound resembfiog
the word $kogh.

" That is the Higblandman's language," §*'»<*
the Udaller— ki did'st thou learn that, Nisholtf,
when you lost your own ?'*

THE PIRATE. 143

Facoiet nodded, and signed to him to read his
letter.

" That is no such easy matter by fire-light, my
good friend/' replied the Udaller ; " but it may
concern Minna, and we must try."

Brenda offered her assistance, but the Udaller
answered, "No, no, my- girl,— Noma's letters
must be read by those they are written to. Give
the knave, Strumpfer, a drop of brandy the while,
though he little deserves it at my hands, consider •
ing the grin with which he sent the good Nantz
down the crag this morning, as if it had been as
much ditch-water."

"Will you be this honest gentleman's cup-
bearer — his Ganymede, friend Tellowley, or shall
I ?>' said Claud Halcro aside to the Factor ; while
Magnus Troil, having carefully wiped his specta-
cles, which he produced from a large copper-case,
lad disposed them on his nose, and was studying
the epistle of Noma.

'< I would not touch him, or go near him, for
all the Carse of Gowrie," said the Factor, whose
fears were by no means entirely Removed, though
lie saw that the dwarf was received as a creature
of flesh and blood by the rest of the company;
"but I pray you to ask him what he has done with
toy horn of coin ? .

The dwarf, who heard the question, threw back
las head, and displayed his enormous throat,
pointing to it with his finger.

« Nay, if he has swallowed them there is no
more to be said," replied the Factor; "only I
hope he will thrive on them as a cow on wet clover.
Be is dame Noma's servant it's like,— such man,
such mistress ! But if thteft and witchcraft are to
go unpunished in this land, my Lord must find
another factor ; for I have been used to live in a
country where men's worldly gear was kcepit

144 THE PIRATE.

from infang and outfang thief,, as well ar their
immortal souls from the claws of the de'il and bb
cummers, — sain and savers !"

The agriculturist was perhaps the less reserved
in expressing his complaints* that the Udaller wai
for the present out of hearing* having, dram
Claud Halcro apart into another corner of tbt

hut.

" And tell me," said-hj3, « friend Halcro, whit
•rrand took thee to Sumburgh, since I reckoa it
was scarce the mere pleasure of sailing in part-
nership with yonder barnacle ?" »

" In faith, Fowde," said the Bard, <* and if yon
will have the truth* I went to speak to Noma on
your affairs,"

« On my affairs?" replied the Udaller; "oa
what affairs of mine?"

"Just touching your daughter's health. I
heard that Noma refused your message, ani
would not see Eric Scambester* Now, said I to
myself, I have scarce joyed in meat, or drink, or
music, or aught else, since Jarto Minna has b*en
so ill ; and I may say, literally- as well as figar**
lively, that my day and night have been nadi
sorrowful to me. In short, I thought I might
have some more interest with old Noma tlww
another, as Scalds and wise women were always
accounted something akin ; and I undertook tfee
journey with the hope to be of some use to myoM
friend and his lovely daughter."

" And it. was mast kindly done of you, good
Warm-hearted Claud," said the Udatter, shakinf
him warmly by the hand, — "I ever said yd)
shewed the good old Norse heart amongst all thy
fiddling and thy folly. Why, man, never wince
for the matter, hut be bl'tf;jro that thy heart M
better than thy head. Wt-ft, — and I warrant you
got no answer from Noma?"

THE HRATIL I**

« None to purpose/' replied Claud Halcro;
"but she held me close to question about Miami's
illness too, — and I told her bow I had met her
abroad the other morning in no very &3od weath-
er, and how her sister Brenda said she had hurt
her foot; — in short, I told her all and every thing
I kftew."

« And something more besides, it would seem,"
said the Udaller ; « for I, at least, never heard
before that Minna had hurt herself."

" Q, a scratch ! a mere scratch !" said the old
man; " but I was startled about it — terrified lest
it bad been the bite of a dog, or some hurt from
a venemoua thing. I told all to Noma, however."

« And what," answered the Udaller, " did she
aay in the way of reply ?"

" She bade me begone about my .business, and
told me that the issue would be known at the
Kirkwall Fair; and said just the like to this
noodle of a Factor — it was all that either of us
Jot for our labour," said Halcro.

" That is strange," said Magnus. « My king-
Woman writes me in this letter not to fail .going
thither with my daughters. This Fair runs
strongly in her head; — one would think she in-
tended to lead the market, and yet she has nothing /
to buy or to sell there which I know of. And so
you came away as wise as you went, and swamped
your boat at the mouth of the Yoe ?"

" Why, bow could I help it ?" said the poet
"I had set the boy to steer, and as the flaw
came suddenly off shore, I could not let go the
tack and play on the fiddle at the same time.
But it is all well enough,— salt-water never harm*
ed Zetlander, so he could get out of it ; and, as
Heaven would have it, we were within man's

13 vol. 3.

1

146 THE PtHATE.

depth of the shore, and chancing to find this skio
we should have done well enough, with shelter and
fire, and are much better than well with youi
good cheer and good company. But it wears late,
and Night and Day must be both as sleepy as ok
Midnight can make them. There is an innei
crib here, where the fishers slept,— somewhat fra-
grant with the smell of their fish, but that is
wholesome. They shall bestow themselves theri,
with the help of what cloaks you have, and
then we will have one cup of brandy, and one
stage of glorious John, or some little trifle of my
own, and so sleep as sound as coblers."
, « Two glasses of brandy, if you please/' said
the Udaller, " if our stores do not run dry ; bat
not a single stave of glorious John or of any one
else to*night."

And this being arranged and executed agree-
ably to the peremptory pleasure of the Udaller,
the whole party consigned themselves to slumber
for the night, and on the next day departed for
their several habitations, Claud Halcro having
previously arranged with the Udaller that j#
would accompany him and his daughters on their
proposed visit to Kirkwall. '

. >

" i

THE HRAT&. 147

CHAPTER XI.

ik bold, fern tttnk'rt me as te fa the derir* booh mAm tod
for •bdnncy «&d ptniptejKy. . Let U» cad try thenar. ......

sould tell to tfcee, (•» to one it pleases nae* for fool* of a. better*
friend,) I could be sad, and tad indeed too."

Henry IV, Part 2d.

must now change the scene from Zetland
ney, and request oar readers to accompa-
to the rains of an elegant, though ancient
ire, called the Earl's Palace. These re-
t hough much dilapidated, still exist in the
ourhood of the massive and venerable pije,
Norwegian devotion dedicated to Saint
jly&e Martyr, and, being contiguous to the
fsPalace, which is also ruinous, the place
ressive, as exhibiting vestiges of the mutsu"
>oth in Church and State which have aflect-
kney, as well as countries more exposed to
onvulstons. Several parts of these ruinous
igs might be selected (under suitable modi-
ns) as the model of a Gothic mansion, pro-
architects would be contented rather to im-
vhat is really beautiful in that species of
rig, than to make a medley of the caprices
order ; confounding the military, ecclesias-
and domestic styles of all ages at random,
dditional fantasies and combinations of their
levice, « all formed out of the builder's

\ Earl's Palace forms three sides of an ob-
quare, and has, even in its ruins, the air of

140 THE PIRATE.

«i elegant yet massive structure, uniting, as was
usual in the residence of feudal princes, the char-
acter of a palace and of a castle, A great ban*
quetting-hall, communicating with several large
rounds, or projecting turret-rooms, and having at
either end an immense chimney, testifies the an-
cient Northern hospitality of the Earls of Ork-
ney, and communicates, almost in the modern
fashion, with a gallery, or withdrawing-room, of
corresponding dimensions, and having, like the
hall, its projecting turrets. The lordly ball itself
it lighted by a fine Gothic window of shafted stone
at one end, and is entered by a spacious and ele?
gant staircase, consisting of three flights of stone
steps. The exterior ornaments and proportion!
of the ancient building are also very handsome ;
but, being totally unprotected, this remnant of the

Eomp ana grandeur of Earls,, who assumed the
cense as well as the dignity of petty sovereigns*
is now fast crumbling to decay, and has suffered
considerably since the date of our story.

With folded arms and downcast looks, the pi-
rate Cleveland was pacing slowly the ruined hall
which we have just described, a place of retire-
ment which he had probably chosen because it
was distant from public resort. His dress w&p
considerably altered from that which he usually
wore in Zetland, and seemed a sort of uniform,
richly laced, and exhibiting no small quantity of
^embroidery ; a hat with a plume, and a small-
sword, very handsomely mounted, then the con-
stant companion of every one who assumed the
rank of a gentlepiaif, shewed his pretensions tp
that character. But if his exterior was so far
improved, it seamed to be otherwise with his
health and spirits. He was pale, and had lost
both the fire of his eye and the vivacity of bis

\

THfi' PIRATE. 140

step, and his whole appearance.indicated melan-
choly of mind, or suffering of body, or a com*
bination of both evils.

; As Cleveland thus paced these ancient ruins,
a young man, of a light and slender form, whose
showy dress seemed to have been studied with
pare, jet exhibited more extravagance than judge-
ment or taste, whose manner was a janty affecta-
tion of the free and easy rake of the period, and
the expression of whose countenance was lively,
with a cast of effrontery, tripped up the staircase*
entered the hall, and presented himself to Cleve-
land, who merely nodded to him, and pulling his
hat deeper over his brows, resumed his solitary
*fcd discontented promenade.

.The stranger adjusted bis own hat, nodded in
teturn, took snuff, with the air of a petit maitre,
from a richly chased gold box, offered it 'to
Cleveland as he paced, and being repulsed rather
coldly, replaced the box in his pocket, folded his
arms in his turn, and stood looking with fixed
attention on his motions whose solitude he had
interrupted. At length Cleveland stopped short,
as if impatient of being longer the subject of his
observation, and said abruptly, " Why can I not
be left alone for half an hour, and what the devil
W it that you want V 9

"lam glad you spoke first," answered the
stranger, carelessly ; " I was determined to know
whether you were Clement Cleveland, or Cle»
Rent's ghost, and they say ghosts never take the
first word, so I now set it down for yourself in life
&od limb ; and here is a fine old hurly-house you
have found out for an owl to hide himself in at
mid-day, or a ghost to revisit the pale glimpses of
1be moon, as the divine Shakespeare says/*

13* vol. 2. .

156 ^ •rtnBPiftATfc

« WeB, Wen," answered Cleveland abfopfly,
* your jest far made; and now let as hare yea*
earnest"

; " In earnest, then, Captain Cleveland/* re-
plied his companion, « I think you know me fol
your friend." '

*« 1 am content to suppose so," replied Cleve
land.

" It is more than Supposition,* replied the
young man ; " I have proved it — proved it botk
nere and elsewhere."

" Well, well," answered Cleveland, " I aditrii
you' have been always a friendly feHow— add
what thin l»

« Well, well— and what then ?" replied tic
other \ " this is but a brief way of thanking folks.
Look you, Captain, here is Benson, Bariowe,
Dick Fletcher, and k fetar others' of us who wish-
ed yon well, hate kept your old comrade Cap-
tain Goffe in these seas upon* the look-out for
you, when he and Hawkins, and the greater part
of the ship's company, would fain have been down
on the Spanish Main, and at the old trade." »•

"And I wish to God that yon had all geae
about your business, 1 ' said Cleveland, " and left
me to my fete/*

<« Which would have been < to he informed

against and hanged, Captain, the first time that

any of these Dutch or English rascals, whefeyiii

"have. lightened of tbWr cargoes, came towttWr

eyes ujion you, and no place ntore likely to 4neet

with sea-faring men, than in theste Islands. Asd

* • here, to screen yon f rota such a risk, we hatfe been

» wasting our precious time here, till folk* are grown

' very peery ; and when we hare no more goods #r

money to spend -amongst them, the fettowfc will

be for grabbing the ship."

*V. -AM.

J * W#l then, ^Ky do yon n6t sail off Without
*ef"sa<H Clt*el*nd—* There has been fair
partition, and all hate had their share — let all do
w they like. I have lost mf ship, and having
•teett once a Captain* 1 will not go to sea under
command -of- GoflTe or any other man* Besides,
•JWindw well enough that both Hawkins and he
bear rile ill-will for keeping them from sinking
ibe Spanish brig, 'with the podr devils of negroes
'(to 'board.** '

" Why, what the fool fiend is the matter with
thee ?^ sard his companion ; "Are you Clement
^Cleveland, onr own old trne-bearted Clem of the
Cleugft, and do you talk of being afraid of flaw-
kins and Goffe, arid a sbore of such fellows, when
)mi have myself, and Barlow, and Dick Fleteh-

Ut^oor back f When was it we deserted yo*»
either in council or in fight, that you should he
tfr&idnf our flinching now f And as for serving

^nder Goffe, I hope it is no new thing forgen-
tfetneti of fortune who are going on the account,

% change a Captain now and then. Let us (done
for that, Captain you shall be ; for death rock me
wleep if I serve under that felhiw GoSe, who is

••to very a felodd-hoand as ever sucked bitch — no,
no, I thank you — my Captain must have a little

-of the gentleman about him, howsoever. Besides,
yofu know, it was you who first dipped my hands

'in the drrty water t and' turned me from a stroller

f by land, to a rover by sea*" • *

• ** Alas, poor Bwncc !* said Cleveland, «< you

fcffre me little tbaAks for that service."

•ii "That is as you take -it," replied Bunce; " for*
Sly part, I see no harm in levying contributions

*W*he public either oneway or t'other. But I
Wisfcyouttotfld forget that name of Bunco, arid
call iqo Altamont, as I have often desired you to

152 THEPIflATE

do. I hope a gentleman of the roving trade hatf
as gpod a right to have an alias as a stroller,
and I never stepped on the boards but what I waf
Altamont at the least." , *

" Well then, Jack Altamont*" replied Cleve-
land, " since Altamont is the woird-^— r" .

" Yes, but Captain, Jack is not the word,
though Altamont be so. Jack Altamont ? — why*
'tis a velvet coat with paper lace— Let it be Fre-
derick, Captain ; Frederick Altamont is all of
apiece/' ' < . *

" Frederick be it then, with all ray heart," said
Cleveland ; " and pray tell me, which of yoqr
names will sound best at the head of the Last
Speech, Confession, and Dying Words of John
Bunce, alias Frederick Altamont, who was this
morning hanged at Execution-dock, for the crime
pf Piracy upon the High Seas?"

" Faith, I cannot answer that qi|estion f with-
out another can of grog, Captain ; 90 if you will
go down with me to Bet Haldane's on the quay, I
will bestow some thought on the matter, with tip
help of a right pipe of Trinidado. We will have
the gallon bowl filled with the best stuff you
ever tasted, and I know some smart wenches who
will help us to drain it. But you shake your
head — you're not V the vein ?— Well then, I will
stay with you ; for by this hand, Clem, you shift
me not off. Only I will ferret you out of this
burrow of old stones, and carry you into sutt-
, shini* and fair air. — Where shall we go ?"..

« JVhere you will," said Cleveland, «« so that
you keep out of the way of our own rascals, and
all others."

"Why, then*?' replied Bunce, "you and I

will go up to the Hill of Whitford, which oyer*

. looks the town, and walk together as gravely

THE PIRATE. 153

aftd honestly as a pair of well employed attor-
neys."

As they proceeded to leave the ruinous castle,
Bunce, turning back to look at it, thus addressed
his companion :

"Hark ye, Captain, doest thou know who last
inhabited this old cock-loft ?"

'f An Earl of the Orkneys, they say," replied
Cleveland.

'f And are you advfaed what death he died of?"
laid Bunce ; "for I have heard that it was of
a tight neck-collar— a hempen fever, or the like ?"

"The people here do say ," replied Cleveland,
"that his lordship, some hundred years ago, had
the mishap to become acquainted with the nature
ef a loop and a leap in the air."
• " Why, la*ye there now P* said Bunce ; "there
was some credit in being hanged in those days,
and in such worshipful company. And what
Slight his. lordship have done to deserve such pro*
ipotion?" *

"Plundered the liege subjects, they say, n re-
plied Cleveland ; " slain and wounded them, fir-
ed upon bis Majesty's flag, and so forth."

" Neir a»kin to a gentleman rover, then," said
Bonce, making a theatrical bow towards the old
{wilding ; " and,thcrefore,my most potent,grave,
and reverend Signior Earl, I crave leave to call
you my loving cousin, and bid yotf most heartily
adieu.- I leave you in the good company of rats
and mice, and so forth, and I carry with roe an
kfoest gentleman, who, having of late had no
more heart' than a mouse, i* now desirous tb run
away frbha his profession and friends like a rat,
ftid would therefore be a most fitting denizen of
Joar Earlship's palace." * *

"I would advise you not to »peak so loud, my

154 THE PIRATE,

good, friend Frederick Altamont, or John Bunce,*
said Cleveland ; " when you were on the stage,
you might safely rant as loud as you listed ; but,
in your present profession, of which you are so
fond, every man speaks under correction of the
yard-arm* and a running noose,"

The comrades left the little town of Kirkwall
in silence, and ascended the Hill of Whiteford,
which raises its brow of dark heath, uninterrupt->
ed by inclosures or cultivation of any kind, to the
northward of the ancient Burgh of Saint Magnus.
The plain at the foot of the bill was already occu-
pied by numbers of persons who were engaged in
making preparations for the Fair of Saint Olla, to
be held upon the ensuing day, and which forms a
general rendezvous to all the neighbouring islands
of Orkney, and is even frequented by many per-
sons from the more distant archipelago of Zet-
land. It is, in the words of the Proclamation*
" a free Mercat and Fair, holden at the good
Burgh of Kirkwall on the third of August being
Saint Ollaw's day," and continuing for an indefi-
nite space thereafter, extending from three days
to a week, and upwards. The Fair is of great
antiquity, and derives its name from .Oiaus,
Olave, Ollaw, the celebrated monarch of Nor-
way, who, rather by the edge of his sword than
any milder argument, introduced Christianity
* into those isles, and was respected as the patron
of Kirkwall some time before he shared, that
honour with Saint Magnus the Martyr.

It was no part of Cleveland's purpose to.
mingle in the busy scene which was here going;
on ; and, turning their route to the left, they soon
ascended into undisturbed solitude, save where,
the grouse, more plentiful in Orkney, perhaps,
than in any other part of the British dominiotie,

a

THE PIRATE. 155

rose in covey, and went off before < them. Having
continued to ascend till they had well nigh reach-
ed the summit of the conical hill, both turned
round, as with one consent, to look at and admire
% prospect beneath.

• The lively bustle which extended between the
foot of the bill and the town, gave life and variety
to that part of the scene ; then was seen the town
itself, out of which arose, like a great mass, supe-
rior in proportion as it seemed to the whole burgh,
the ancient Cathedral of Saint Magnus, of the
heaviest order of Gothic architecture, but grand,
solemn, and stately, the work of a distant age,
and of a powerful hand. The quay, with the
shipping, lent additional vivacity to the scene ;
aod not only the whole beautiful bay, which lies
betwixt the promontories of Inganes* and Quan-
teroess, at the bottom of which Kirkwall is situa-
ted, but all the sea, so far as visible, and in parti-
cular the whole strait betwixt the island of Shaping
aba and that called Pomona, or the Mainland, was
covered and enlivened by a variety of boats and
mall vessels, freighted from distant islands to
convey passengers or merchandize to the Fair of
Saint Ollaw.

;' Having attuned the point by which this fair and
busy prospect was most completely commanded,
each of the strangers, in seaman fashion, bad re-
course to his spy-glass, to assist the naked eye in
considering the bay of Kirkwall, and the numerous
Vessels by which it was traversed. But the atten-
tion of the two companions seemed to be arrested
by different objects* That of Bunce, or Altaniofit,
tthe chose to call himself, was ri vetted to the arm-
ed sloop* where,' conspicuous by her square rig*
gingand length of beam, with the English, jack
*od pennon, which they had the precaution to keep

W THE PIRATE.

fl>ing> she by aaaeogtbe mofchaa l vcmeh, a* dis-
tinguished from them bv the trim neatness of <her
Appearance, a* .a trams d soldier among a crowd of

" Yonder she lies," said Bene*; " I with to CM
*fce «rasin the bay of Honduras— yoo, captain, on
the quartartdeck, I your . lieu tenant, ood Fletcher

Siarter*n*a*ier,aird $Ay,stoot fellows under us— 4
ould not wish to see thene blasted heaths sod
foefca again for: one while !— nAnd captain yon shall
soorv be* The old brute Gofie gets-drunk as a lord
.ever j day, .swaggers,. and shoots, and eats among
.the orew v and besides, he* has quarrelled with As
«peopleiiere.so ^amaably, that they will scarce let
water* or provisions go on board of us, and we e«-
4^ectan epen»breach every day.' 1
. As Bonce received no answer, be turned short
round on his companion, and perceiving his atteo*
4ioa otherwise engaged, exclaimed,— u What the
4ewil is the patter with you ? or what can yob see
iiialLtbat trumpery small-craft, wtiich is only loa*-
ted with stookrfish and ling, and smoked geese, sad
4»ibeof butter that is worse than tallow — the car*
.goes of the whole lamped together would not be
worth the flash of a pistol. — No, no, give me suc^
.a chase as we might see from the mast-head off thy
jslemlof Trinidado. Your Don, rolling as deefc
in the water as a grampus, deep-loaden with ropfc
juger, and bales of tobacco, and all the rest ingoti,
;flseidofles, and gold dust ; then set aH sail,' clear tfat
.deck, stand to quarters, up with the Jolly Roger*
—we near her— .we make her out to be well mAq

,ced and armed."

»

. * The pirntcf gave this name to the black flag, wM<*, **
many horrible devices to enhance its terrors was their ttaflfy

THE FtRAtffc: 1*7*

-^Twenty goat on fccr lowered*** ttrid Cleve-

kadi. - -• < r i '•- * "v _ '•

* Forty, if yen will," rttwmd Bom*, ^iMwe
have but ten trntotits*— never mind. The Don
Mum away-nneVerwiind yet, my biftve hrfs— rua
br alongside, and on beard wlthyoo— 4o trork.
with) ybui* gwtiddtfetf, yottf €tftto*»ea, pofe-otta* and'
pstelg~Tbe Don eites Mirer* cordia,*rtd we sham
te oargo without io tf*m«(> SW < fi7itor. ,r - '

* By my fifth," said Cleveland, "thoutfckest
wkmdry to the trade, that all the world may see
test no hornet man was spoiled wfoen you wfetfe
fiwde aerate. But you shall not prevail on me
ta go farther in the devil's wad with' yea ; ; for yoa
know yourself that what is got over his' bats fe
spent — you wot how. In a week, 6t a month at
foost, the Tiwn and the sugar fe out; the 1 bates 6f
tobacco have become smoke, the moidores, ingots,
fcid gold dust, hare got out of our hands, into those
«f the quiet, honest, cotiscfetitfott* folks wtft>>
dwell at Port Rftyarand elsewhere— ^wink hard or^
**rtradea* long as we have money, bttt not a jot
beyond* Then we have cold looks, and it may be
t'hint' is given to the Judge Marshal f for when our
rackets ate worth nothing, our honest friends, rfc-
ther than want, wHl make money upon our heads.
Then comes a' high gattow* and a Short halter ^ add
«odiea the Gentleman Rorer. 1 tell thee 1 wifl
leave, this trade ; and when 1 torn my glfcss ftoffl
ODe of these barks and boats td another,' there is
uotthe worst of them which 1 would tfof roW Tor
Kfe, rather (ban continue to be What I have befcn.
These poor men make the sea a means of honest

livelihood and friendly communication between
ifcore and shore; for the mutual benefit of the in-
habitants ; but we have made it a road to the mitt

14 vol.2«

158 TOE PJfcATB.

of other** and to oanowo daatroctk*
eternity. — I mm determined to turn honest
and a*& this life tio long**" , 1

* " And whejte will your, boae#ty take op its al
if it please you f'Vsaid Bunce#r- U You have 1
the laws of every nation* and, the hand <ol Mm
will detect mad crush you wherever ,ypt* may
reftige,— -Cleveland * 1 apfcak to jeti *nore i«e#ii
than I am wont to do. 1 hate bad my reflec
too, and they have been had enough and I
enough, though they lasted that a few , minute
spoil me weeks of joviality* But here is the
ter, what can we <k> button as we have <S
unless we have a direct, purpose of adorning
yard-arm P' r - ..... .

» *' We may claim the benefit of the proelam
to those of our sort who come to and attrrnni
said Cleveland, * . <

•* Umph !" answered hi& companion, 4rily ;
data of that day of grace, has been for some
over, and they may take the penalty or gmp
pardon at their pleasure. Were J yo*, I woul
put my neck in such a venture.^

" Why, others have been admitted bat .lata
fervour, audi why should not I ?" said Cleye3a»

u Ay, >? replied his associate, /' Harry Glasbj
gome , other* ha ve been spared; hat QJasb;
what' was called good service* in betraying ;hi*
fade?* and retaking the Jolly Fortune ; and t
think you would scotfV even to be revenged pi
brute Goffe yonder**'

-• ' ** I would die a thousand time* f aoopor,?'
Cleveland*

" I will beaworn for it," saidVBudce ; " a&<
Others ivefe forecastle fetlows— — petty .. lar
j$gaes, scarce worth thp hemp it would have
to hang them. But your name haa stood too

TBKT>m>lTB. is$

»m(mjst the^cntlenwn of fortoae for you to get
tsffio easily. Yoo are the prime buck of the herd,
.Mid vri\\ be marked accordingly."

"And why so, I pray you ?» said Cleveland ;
"yoo know well enough my aim, Jack* n j h ;

* " Frederick, if you please," said Bonce.

" The devil take your folly !—Pr'y thee keep thy
ttfy and let us be grave for a moment*"
~ •■ For a moment— *be it so," said Bunco ^ c * but
Ifeel the spirit/ of Alta moot coming fast upo* me,
~4 have been a grave man for ten minutes al-
ready.** r. >-. . x \- ... .

leso then for a little longer," said Cleve-
: u l know, Jack, that you really love me;
and since we have come thus far in this talk, I will
trtst yoo entirely. Now tell me why should I be
refused the benefit of this gracious proclamation f
I have borne a rough outside, as thou knowest;
bat, in time of need, I can shew the number of
lies which I have been the means of saving, the
property whicji I have restored to those who owa-
^d it, when, without my intercession, it would have
been wantonly destroyed* In short, Bunce, I cap
♦shew——"

"That you were as gentle a thief as Robin Hood
himself," said Bunce, u and for that reason, I,
fleteher, and the better sort amongst us, love you,
to one who saves the character of us Gentlemen
Rovers from' utter reprobation.— Well, suppose
four pardon made out, what are. you to do next?—
what class in society will receive you ?— with whom
will you associate ? Old Drake, in Queen Bess's
%e, could- plunder Peru and Mexico without a
tine of commission to shew for it, and, blessed be
**r memory, he was knighted for it on his return;
'And there was Hai Morgan, the Wrlchman, near-
er oar time,, in the days of merry King Charles,

m the pnuun.

brought aH his gettings borne, had his estate api
bis caunfry-house,ahd who but be* iiut that isaH
ended no#— once a pirate, and an outcast for evefe
The poor devil may go ^nd live, shunned and de,f
spised bf every one, in some obscure sea-port,
Vith such part of his guilty earnings as courtiers.
and clerics leave him — for pardons do not pass the
seals for nothing ;— and when he takes his walfc
along the pier, if a stranger asks, who tethedown-
looktng t swarthy, melancholy man, fer whom all
make way* as if he. brought the plague in his per*
son, tbe answer shall bey that is such-a-one, the
pardoned pifate!— No Hdnest man wild speak to
him, — mi woman of repute will gi ve him her hand.*

" You picture is too highly coloured, Jack,"
said Cleveland, suddenly interrupting his friend*
"there are women— there ia one at least, that
would be Arue to her lover, even if he were wbat
vo'i hrve described. 9 ' '. •

Bi.nce was silent for a moment, and looked ftu-
edly at hjs friend* "By my sou}! 99 he said *t
length, "1 begin to think myself a <conjftrbr* .Un-
likely as it all was, I could *©t . help suspecting
from the beginning that there was a g«4 in tie
ease. Why, this is worse than Prince Volsrius
inkw»,hai ha! na!"

" Laugh as you will, 9 ' said Cleveland, u ttfe
true :— there is a maiden who is contented to \&ft
me, pirate as I am j and 1 will fairly own to you,
Jack, that though I have often at times detested
our roving life, and myself for following it, yet 1
•doubt if I could have found resolution to make the
break which I have now resohfed on, but for her
*ake."

"Why, then, <3od-a*raercy! w replied Bunce,
"there is n6 -speaking sense to a madman ;aod
Uve in one of your trade, Captain, ia little better

PI BATE. 161

tn lunacy. The girl roost be a rare Creature;
fa wise man to risk hanging for her* Bat hark
), may she not be a little touched as well as your-
Jf?*-and is it aotsvmriathj that has done it ? She
I understand, not one of our ordinary cockatri-
s, but a"girl of conduct and character."
"Both are as undoubted as that she is the most
a&tiful and' bewitching creature whom the eye
er opened upon^ answered Cleveland*
"And she loves thee, knowing thee, most noble
plain, to be a commander' among those gentle-
fcof fortune whom the vulgar call pirates ?"^
14 Even so— I am assured of it," said Cleve-

a. ?

1 Why, then," answered Bunce,f'she is either
din good earnest, as I said before, or she does
know what a pirate is.'*
l You are right in the last point,! 1 replied Cleve-
d. "She has been bred in such remote sim-
rity, and utter igndrance of what is evil, that she
spates our occupation with that of the old
rthmen, who swept sea and haven with their
orious galleys, established colonies, conquered
ntries, and took the name of Sea-Kings."
And a better one it is than that of pirate, and
tes much to the same purpose, f dare say,"
t Bunce. " But this must be a mettled wench !
rhydidyou not bring her aboard? methinks it
i pity to baulk her fancy."
And do you think," said Cleveland, " that I
1£ so utterly play the pajtof a fallen spirit as to
il myself of her enthusiastic error, and bring an
£l of beauty and innocence acquainted with such
)H as exists on board of yonder infernal ship of
b ? — I toll yon, my friend,; that were all my for>
4* vol. 2.

<

nan? smsdoafoted in weight aodtn dye,sa*h a vilfaft?
WeeWbave oo4glared and witweighedtbeffi »1W 5 '

^Why^n^p^ioCiw^tia^d^aidiiMCOttfidart)
^»etbink» it was hut a fool's part te come hither as
*U» The new* mutt one day hare gone abfoadV
that the celebrated pirate Captain Cleveland, with
hi* good sloop the Reveage, had been leat on the
Mamlaad of Zetland, and all hands peaiuhed ; so
you would have remained hid both from friend anft
enemy, and might have married your pretty Zdt*
lander, and converted year ssshiand scarf tnto»fishi
ing*Bets r and yoarcatlast into a harpooa r amis wepl
the seas for fish instead of florins"

41 And so I had determined* 5 * said the eaptairiq
a but a dagger, asthoy call them here, like a med-
dling, peddling thief as he is, brought down intalsfp
gence to Zetland of your lying bere^ and 1 wai
fain to set off, to see if you were the contort td
whom I had told them, long before 1 thought of
leaving the rating trade." • **

« Ay," said Bunce, " and so far yoo judged weH.
For as you bad heard of our being at &irJcw*JI, e*
we sttould have soon learned that you were at
Zetland; and some of as for friendship, tome for
hatred, and seme for fear of your playing Haftf
flashy upon as, would helve come down for the
purpose of getting you into our company again*?

" 1 saapected as aiudi," said the Captain, "and
therefore was fain to decline the courteous offeraf
a friend, who proposed to bring me here about tbi*
time. Besides, Jack, } recollected that, as y€»
say, my pardon will not pass the seals withoat n*>
ney, my own was waxing low~no wander, tto*
knowest 1 was never a churl of it— And so—— " :
:. ** And so you came for your share of the cobs??
replied his friend*—" It was wisely done ; .and WC
shared honourably — so far Goflb has acted up **

Tfi» *I1 ATR ft**

iratk^it miwt be^ltowjNi. But Jreep your ptfr-
pose of learHaghioft clow in your breast, for I dread
fa pkviag you «oa*e do*>& triek or other \ for he
ctsbtaly thought himself sure of your share, and
irtbbardly forgiveyoAiFComingelive to disappoint

^1 fwt him *ot,» sstd Cleveland, " and he
taows that welt* I would I were m wett clear of
&sconseq»eiic€* of havw^been his comrade, a*
1 hold myself to be of all thdte which may attend
bwiH-wilt. Another unhappy job I may be troa-
Wed wM*-*l L hurt a young feilow, who ha* beet*
my plague for some time, in an unhappy brawl that
•bttietd the morning I left Zetland."
bi^h he dead ? r aakfcdBimce ; " It is a mere se-
rioafc qoertion here, than it would be on the Grand
Gstmaina, or *he Bahama Isles, ami where a brace
Qt tw& of fellows may be shot in a morning, and
vo mora heard of or asked about them than if they
were bo many wood-pigeons. But here it may be
otherwise ; so I hope you hate not made your
foetid immortal*"

14 1 hope not," said the Captain, " though my
*Hg&rbas been fetal to those who have given me
feu provocation. To say the truth, I was sorry
fo the lad uot withstanding, and especially as I wa*
fetted to leave him in mad keeping."

u In mad keeping P said Bunce ; "why, what
hearts that 'f* t

44 : You shall hear," replied bis friend* ' u Jn the
Ant place, you are to know, this young man came
suddenly on me while f wae trying to gain Minna'*
**r for a private interview before I ^set sail, that
\ «iight explain niy purpose to her. Now to«be
Ifteken in on by the accursed rudeness of this-
J«u»g feltew at such a moment——*'

16ft . * *ftE MRAtBL

« Well," replied his friend, "I krfoW" ytfur e&8
now, and can the better help and advise. - I H
be true to you, Clement, as the blade to the MH
but 1 cannot think that you should leave m
As the old Scottish sohg says, "* WaeS my he*
that we 'should sunder, * — B\it come, you #il
aboard with us to-day, at any rate V
* "I have no' other place of refuge j" said Clevi
land, with a sigh.

k He then once fnore ran his eyes over the baj
directed his spy -glass upon several of the vessel
which traversed its surface, in hopes, doubtless, o
discerning the vessel of Magnus Troil, and the
followed his companion down the hill in silence*

ii m pw.t u i

CHAPTER XI!.

T' 1 tor*.fflce to the msal in tte tide-way,

Wfcieb* laek^faveqrigg; t***** •**$ not,the pow<r
To stem tbepowerfal current.— £ren so,

- Meearrint; daily to fortake imy view,

Habit, «ttaa\y etrcpmitanee, reaew'd temptation^
Sweep a* to eea affaia.— O baeranly breats,
F ill tkm my aaib,and aid die feeble veeNl,
WUek ae'er en react the bleased port without thee !

'2Y# Odd* when Even* maeu

Cleveland, with his confidant Bunce, i*
itended the hill for a time in silence, until a
length the latter renewed their conversation.
• " You have taken this fellow** wound more oi
your conscience than you need. Captain — I hut
Imown you do more aud think less 4>n V

a

. _<f.«Np$ <w 9ucb si^pbt provocation, Jack/ 1 re-
plied Cleveland. " Besides* the lad saved my life ;
ami $ay that I requited him the favour still we
should not hfiye met. on such evil terms ; but I
trust that he may receive aid from that woman,
who has certainly strange skill in simples."
v "And oVer simpletons, Captain/' said his
fricmj, " in which class I must e'en put you down,
if you think more on this subject. That you
should be made a fool of by a young woman,
why, it is many an honest man's case ; — but to
puzzle your pate about the mummeries of an old
one, is far too great a folly to indulge a friend
in. Talk to me of your Minna, since you so call
her, as much as you will ; but you have no title to
trouble your faithful squire-errant with your old
mumping mr^iciarf. And now here we are once
ntore amongst the booths and tents, which these
good folks arc pitching-— let us look and see whe-
ther we may not find some fun and frolic amongst
them. In merry England, now, you would have
seen, on such an occasion, two or three bands of
^rollers, as many fire-eaters and conjurors, as
fliany shows of wild beasts; but amongst these
grave folks, there ^nothing but what savours of
business and of commodity — no, not so much as
a single squall from my merry gossip Punch and
Us rib Joan. w

As Bunce thus spoke, Cleveland cast his eyes
<to ^>mc very gay clothes, which, with other ar-
ticles, hung out upon one of the booths, that had
a good deal more of ornament and exterior deco-
ction than the rest There was in front a smalt
fen of canvas painted, announcing the variety *
W goods which the owner of the booth, Brycc
Sflaelsfoot, had upon sale, and the seasonable
prices at which he proposed to offer them to the

m THE PmATH

public. For the further gr*atifictftmn ef the epei
tator, the sign bore un the opposite side all ea
blematic -device, resembling our first parents i
their vegetable garments, with this legend—

*

" Poor sinners whom the soak* deceive*,
Are fain to coverthem with leaves.
Zetland hath no leaves, 'tis true,
Because that trees are none, or lew*
But we have flax and taits of wooV
For linen cloth and wadmaal blue ;
And we have maxly of foreign knacks
' Of finer wait, than woo' or flax.
Te gallant? Lambsaw lads* appear,
And bring your Latnbmas sisters here,
Bryce Snaelsfoot spares not cost or care,
To pleasure every gentie pair.*'

While Cleveland was perusing these godlj
rliimes, which brought to bu> min<* Claud Hal
cro, to whom, as the poet laureat of the islaodi
ready with his talent alike in the service qftfc*
great and small, they probably owed their erigift
the worthy proprietor of the booth, having cad
eye upon him, began with t nasty and a tremWiBfl
hand to remove some of the garments, which, as
the sale only commenced upon the ensuing da/i
he had expe&ed either for the purpose of airiii
them, or to excite the admiration of the specta-
tors,

" By my word, Captain/' whispered Bunce to
Cleveland, " you must have had that fellow on*
der your clutches one day, and he remembips oaf
gripe of your talons, and fears another. See ho*

* It was anciently a. custom at Saint Ollaw's Fair at Kirkwaft
that the young pepple of the lower class, and of either ses, & '
ciated in pairs for the period of the Fair, during which the
couple were termed Lambinas brother and sister. It is east tt
conceive that the exclusive familiarity arising out of this costo*
was liable to abuse, the rather that it is said little scandal ***
attached to the indiscretions which it occasioned.

THE PIRATE. Id*

fait he is packing lug wares out of sight so soon
M he set eyes on you."

* Big wares P* said Cleveland, on looking more
ftttefttively at his proceedings ; " By heaven, they
are my clothes which I left in a chest at Jarls*
hoff when the Revenge was lost there. — Why,
Bryce Snaelsfoot, thou thief, dog, and villain,
what means this ? Have you not made enough of
us by cheap baying and dear selling, that you have
seized on my trunk and wearing apparel ?"

Bryce Snaelsfoot who probably would other-
wise not have been willing to see his friend the
Captain, was now by the vivacity of his attack
obliged to pay attention to him. He first whisper-
ed to his little foot page, by whom, as We have
Already noticed, he was usually attended, "Run
to the town»council house, Jarto, and tell the
provost and baillies they maun send some of their
efficers speedily, for here is like to be wild wark
in the fair,"

So having said, and having seconded his com-
mands by a push on the shoulder of his messen-
ger, which sent him spinning out of the shop as
&st as heels could carry him, Bryce Snaelsfoot
tamed to his old acquaintance, and with that
amplification of words atid exaggeration of man-
ner, which in Scotland is called < making a phrase,*
te ejaculated — « The Lord bp gude to us ! the
worthy Captain Cleveland, th^t we were all sae
£rievetf about, returned to Relieve our hearts
*gain ! Wat have my cheeks been for you, (here
Bryce wiped his eyes,) and blithe am I now to
see you restored to your sorrowing friends."

" My sorrowing friends, you rascal j" said
Cleveland; "I \vill give you better cause for
*wrow than ever yon had on my account, if you

IS vol. 2.

190 THE PffiATO

£q not tell we instantly where you stole all aqt
clothes."

" Stole !" ejaculated Bryce, casting up bis eyes
to heaven ; " now the powers be gudeto us !*-4he
poor gentleman baa lost his reason in that weary:
gale of wind," I

" Why, you insolent rascal !" said Cleveland,
grasping the cane which he carried, "4I0 yoa
think to bamboosle me .with your impudence ?
As you would have a whole head on your ahoul*
ders, and your bones in a whale skin one, minute
lunger, tell me where the devil you stole my
wearing apparel/ 9

Bryce Snaelsfoot ejaculated once more a re-»
petition of the word « Stole ! Now Heaven be
gude to us !" but at the same time conscious that
the Captain was likely to be. sudden in execu-
tion* cast an anxious look to the town, to see tfce
loitering aid of the civil power advance to his
rescue. <

«« I insist on an instant answer," said the Cap-
tain, with upraised weapon, " or else I will beat
you to a mummy, and throw out all your frip*
pery upon the common."

Meanwhile, Master John Bunce, who consider-
ed the whole affair as an excellent good jest, and
not the Morse one that it made Cleveland very an-
gry, seized hold of the Captain's arm, and withort
any idea of ultimately preventing him from ev-
enting his threats, interfered just so much as was*
necessary to protract a discussion so amusing. J
, " Nay, let the honest man speak," he. said,
" messmate 1 he has aa fine a cozening face »r
ever stood on a knavish pair of* shoulders, and
his are the true flourishes of eloquence, in the*
course of which men snip the cloth an inph too*
short. Now, I wish you to consider that you

THE PIRATE. 171

m bath of a trade,— he meastirfes bales by the
yard, and you by the sword, — and so I will not
fcate him chopped up till he has bad a fafr chase.'!
' "You are a fool!" said Cleveland, endeavour-
ing tu shake his friend off. — " Let me go ; for by
Heaven I will be Foul of him !"

"Hold hrn* fast,' 1 said the pedlar, "good dear
ftei*y:gentieman, hold him fast!"

"Then say something for yourself," said
Bunce ; " use your gob-box, man ; patter away,
w by my soul I will let him loose on you !"

« He says I stole these goods," said Bryce,
who now saw himself ran so close, that pleading
to the charge became inevitable. "Now, how
cooW I steal them, when they are mine by fair
tad tew&il purchase ?»

« Purchase! you beggarly vagrant !" said
Weveland ; « from whom did you dare to buy
fcy clothes? or who Jiad the impudence to sell
ttem?"

« Just that worthy professor, Mrs. S wertha,
the housekeeper at Jarlsbeff* who acted as your
*x*cuter, n said the pedlfcr ; " and a grieved heart
rtehad."

"And so she was resolved to make a heavy
itacketof it, I soppose," said the Captain; "but
W did she dare to sell the things left in her
*arge ?» . .

f* Why, she acted all for the best, good wo-
**a«P> said the pedlar, anxious to protract the
discussion until the arrival of succours ; " and if
7*ii will: but hear reason, I am ready to account
*Uh you for the chest and all that it holds."

* Speak out then, and left us have none of thy

ts| tamable evasion^" said Captain Cleveland ; " if

Joa shew ever so little purpose of being some-

a

172 THE rPIRATE.

what honest for once in thy life, I will not beat
thee ?»

" Why you see, noble Captain," said the ped-
lar, — and then muttered to himself, " plague on
Pate Peterson's cripple knee, they will be waiting
on him, hirpling useless body !" then resumed
aloud—" The country, ye see, is in great per-
plexity, — great perplexity indeed, — much per-
plexity truly. There was your honour missing,
that was loved by great and small — clean miss-
ing — no where to be heard of — a lost man —
imiquhile — dead — defunct."

" You shall find me alive to your cost, you
scoundrel !" said the irritable Captain.

" Weel, but take patience, — ye will not hear a
body speak, said the J agger. — " Then there wa3
the lad Mordaunt Mertoun "

" Ha !» said the Captain, " what of him ?" ,

" Cannot be heard of," said the pedlar, " clean
and clear tint, — a gone youth; — fallen, it p
thought, from the craig into the sea — he was aye
venturous. I have had dealings with him for furs
and feathers, whilk he swapped against powder
and shot and the like ; and now he has worn out
from among us — clean retired — utterly vanished,
like the last puff of an auld wife's tobacco pipe."

" But what is all this to the Captain's clothes,
my dear friend ;" said Bunce ; " I must presently
beat you myself until you come to the point."

«« Weel, weel, — patience, patience," said Bryce,
waving his hand ; " you will get all time enough.
Weel, there are two folks gane, as I said, forbye
the distress at Burgh- Westra about Mistress Min-
na's sad ailment—"

« Bring not her into your buffoonery, sirrah,?
said Cleveland, in a tone of anger, not so loud,
but far deeper and mora concentrated than be

Tfffi HRATR 1*»

ia'd hitherto used ; " for if you name her with
less than reverence, I will crop the ears out of
jotrr head, and make you swallow them on the
apot !»

• "He, he, he!" fhintly laughed -the Jagger;
Mhat were a pleasant jest! you art pleased to
he witty. But to say naething of Burgh-Westra,
there is the carle at Jarlshoff, he that was the auld
Mertotin, Mordaunt's father, whom men thought
as fast hound t<f the place he dwelt in as the Sum-
burgh-head itsell, naething maun serve him but he
is lost as weel as the lave about whom I have
Spoken, And there's Magnus Troil, (wi* favour
to be named,) taking horse ; and there is pleasant
Master Claud Halcro taking boat, whilk he steers
Worst of any man in Zetland, his head running on
rambling rhimes ; and the Factor body is on the
•tir — the Scots Factor, — him that is aye speaking
of dikes and delving, and such unprofitable wark,
"which has naething of merchandize in it, and he is
on thelang trot too ; so that ye might say, upon a
Wanner, the tae half of the mainland of Zetland
fa lost, and the other is running to and fro seeking
it— awfu 1 times !"

Captain Cleveland had subdued his passion, and
listened to this tirade of the worthy man of mer-
chandize, with impatience indeed, yet not without
the hope of hearing something that might concern
him. But his companion was now become impa-
tient in his turn : — "The clothes!" he exclaimed,
"the clothes, the clothes, the clothes !" accompa-
nying each repetition of the words with a flourish
°f his cane, the dexterity of which consisted in
coming mighty near the Jagger's ears without
^toally touching him.

15* vozi, 2.

1.74 THE PIRATE.

The Jagger, shrinking from each of these de-
monstrations, continued to exclaim, " Nay, sir—*
good sir — worthy sir — for the clothes— I found the
worthy dame in great distress on account of her
old master, and on account of heryoung master,
and on account of worthy Captain Cleveland ;
and because of the distress of the worthy FowdeV
family, and the trouble of the great Fowde him-
self, — and because of the Factor, and in respect
of Claud Halcro, and on other accounts and re*
spects. Also we mingled our sorrows and our
tears with a bottle, as the holy text hath it, and
called in the llanzelman to our council, a worthy
man, Niel Ronaldson by name, who bath a good
reputation."

Here another flourish of the cane came so very
near that it partly touched his ear. The Jagger
started back, and the truth, or that which he de-
sired should be considered as such, bolted from
him without more circumlocution ; as a cork, af-
ter much unnecessary buzzing and fizzing,
springs forth from a bottle of spruce beer.

« In brief, what the de'il mair would you have
of it ? — the woman sold me the kist of clothes—
they are mine by purchase, and that is what I
will live and die upon."

"In other words," said Cleveland, "thb
greedy old hag had the impudence to sell what
was none of hers ; and you, honest Bryce Snaels-
foot, had the assurance to be the purchaser. v

«« Ou dear, Captain," said the conscientious
pedlar, " wfiat wad ye hae had twa poor folk to
do ? There was yoursell gane that aught the
things, and Master Mordaunt was gane that had
them in keeping, and the things were but damp-
ly put up, where they were rotting with moth affd
mould, and— — "

THE PI*ATp. 175

"And so this old tbief sold them, and you
bought them, I suppose, just to keep them from
spoiling," said Cleveland.

"Weel then," said the merchant, "I'm thinking*
noble Captain, that wad he just the gate of it"

"Well then, hark ye, you impudent scoun-
drel," said the Captain. " I do not wish to dirty
my fingers with you, or to make any disturbance
in this place——"

" Good reason for that, Captain— aba !" said
the J agger slily.

« I will break your hones if you speak another
Word," replied Cleveland. *« Take notice — I offer
you fair terms— give me back the black leathern
pocket-book with the lock upon it, and the purse
with the doubloons, with some few of the clothes
I want, and keep the rest in the devil's name."

" Doubloons ! ! !"— exclaimed tbe Jagger, with
an exaltation of voice intended to indicate the ut-
most extremity of surprise, — " what do I ken of
doubloons ? my dealing was for doublets, and not
for doubloons — If there were doubloons in the kist,
doubtless, Swertha will have them in safe keeping
for your honour — the damp wouldna harm the
fold, ye ken."

« Give me back my pocket-book and my goods,
you rascally thief," said Cleveland, "or without
% word more I will beat your brains out."

Tbe wily Jagger, casting eye around him, saw
that succour was near, in the shape of a party of
officers, six in number; for several rencontres
with the crew of the pirate had taught the magis-
trates of Kirkwall to strengthen their police par-
ties when these strangers were in question.

" Te had better keep the thief to suit yoursell,
honoured Captain," said the J< ggcr, emboldened
fey the approach of the civil power j " for wha

IW THE PttATffi;

kens how a 9 these fine goods and bonny-dies wer*
oome by ?»

This was uttered with such provoking slyness
of look and tone, that Cleveland made no further
delay, but, seizing upon the Jagger by the collar,
dragged him over his temporary counter, which
was, with all the goods displayed thereon, overset
i* the scuffle; and holding him with one hand,
inflicted on him with the other a severe beating*
with his cane. All this was done so suddenly
and with such energy, that Bryce Snaelsfoot*
though rattier a stout man, was totally surprised!
by the vivacity of the attack, and made scarce
any'* other effort at extricating himself than by
roaring for assistance like a bull-calf. The " loi-
tering aid" being at length come up, the officers
made an effort to seize on Cleveland, and by their
united exertions succeeded in compelling him to
quit hold of the pedlar, in order to defend himself
from their assault. This he did with infinite
strength, resolution, and dexterity, being at the
same time well seconded by his friend Jack Bunce,
who had seen with infinite glee the drubbing si*Sf
tained by the pedlar, and now combated tightly
to save his companion from, the consequences
But as there had been for some time a growing
feud between the town's people, and the crew of
the Rover, the former/provoked by the insolent
deportment of the seamen, had resolved to stand
by each other, and to aid the civil power upon
such occasions of riot as should occur in future;
and so many assistants came up to the rescue of
the constables, that Cleveland, after fighting most
manfully, was at length brought to the ground
and made prisoner. His more fortunate com-
panion had escaped by speed of foot, so soon as he

THE PIRATE, 177

ww that fhe day roust needs be determined against
ftem.

The proud heart of Cleveland, which, even in
its perversion, had in its feelings something of
original nobleness, was like to burst, when he felt
kimself borne down in this unworthy broil- -drag-
ged into the town as a prisoner, and hurried
through the streets towards the Council-house,
Were the magistrates of the burgh were theft
seated in council. The probability of imprison-
ment, with all its conseqiiences*riished also upon
bis mind, and he cursed an hundred times the
folly which had not rather submitted to the ped-
lar's knavery, than involved him in so perilous an
embarrassment.

But just as they approached the door of the
Council-house, which is situated in the middle of
the little town, the face of matters was suddenly
changed by a new and unexpected incident. •

Bunce, who had designed by his precipitate re-
treat to serve as well his friend as himself, had
hied him to the haven, where the boat of the Ro-
ver was then lying, and called the coxswain and
boat's crew to the assistance of Cleveland. They
flow appeared on the scene, fierce desperadoes,
as became their calling, with features bronzed
by the tropical sun under which they had pursu-
ed it. They rushed at once amongst the crowd,
laying about them with their stretchers, and, for-
cing their way up to Cleveland, speedily de-
livered him from the hands of the officers,
who were totally unprepared to resist an at-
tack so furious and so sudden, and carried him
off in triumph towards the quay, two or three
of their number facing about from time to time
to keep back the crowd, whose efforts to recov-
er the prisoner were the less violent, tka\

fc

178 IBB M1ATB.

«

most of the seamen were armed wifb ptsiok

cutlasses, as well as with the less lethal wes
which alone they had as yet made use of.

They gained their .boat in safety, and jui
into it, carrying along with them CI eve Ian
whom circumstances seemed to offer no othe
fuge, and pushed off for their vessel, singii
chorus to their oars an old ditty, of which th<
tives of Kirkwall could only hear the first stan

"ThoMaid the Rover

To mi gallant crew, .
'Up with the black flag,

J>own with the blue !— N .
Fire on the main-top,

Fire on the bow,
Fire on the gnu-deck,

Fire down below.' "

The wild chorus of their voices was heard
after the words ceased to be intelligible.—
thus was the pirate Cleveland again thrown a!
involuntarily among those desperate assoc
from whom be had so often resolved to detach
self*

CHAPTER XIII.

Parental branny friend, has paw ft^r wisdom.
And is the charm which, like the falconer's lure,
Can bring from heaven the highest soaring spirits.—
So, wfcenfataed Pratpero doflPd hit magie voir.
It was Munnda pludt'd it tkm hi «hb*Mers.

Old Pity.

Our wandering narrative must now retcii
Mordaunt Mertoun. — We left him in the pel
condition of one who has received a severe wc

WB FIBATft I7i

aud ire mw fidd him in the 'situation of a con va-
taetnt,~pale indeed, and feeble, from the toes of
much blood, and the effects of a fever whieb had
ftlfowed or the iojury, bat so far fortunate, that
the Weapon, having glanced on the ribs, had only
occasioned a great effusion of blood, without touch-
ing on any vital part, and Was now well nigh heal-
ed; so efficacious were the vulnerary plants and
salves with which it had been treated by the sage
Korna of Fitful-bead.

The matron and her patient n<Rv sat together in
a dwelling in a remote island. He had been trans*
ported during his illness, and ere he had perfect
consciousness, first to her singular habitation near
Fitful-head, and thence to her present abode, by
one of the fishing-boats on the station of Burgh-
Westra. For such was the command possessed
by Noma over the superstitious character of her
countrymen, that she never failed to find, faithful
agents to execute her commands, whatever these
happened to be ; and as her orders were generally
given under injunctions of the strictest secrecy,
men reciprocally wondered at occurrences which
had in fact been. produced by their awn agency
and that of their neighbours, and in which, had
they communicated freely with each other, no
shadow of the marvellous would have remained.

Mordaunt was now seated by the fire, in an
apartment indifferently well furnished, having a
hook in his hand, which he looked upon from time
to time with signs of ennui and impatience; feel-
ings which at length so far overcame him, that,
flinging the volume on the table, he fixed his eyes
°n the fire, and assumed the attitude of one who is
engaged in iinpieasant meditation*

Noma, who sat opposite to him, and appeared
Wy in the composition of some drug, or unguent,

180 fHE PIRATft.

anxiously left her seat, and approaching Mordaunt,
felt bis pulse, making at the same time the most
affectionate inquiries whether he felt any sudden
pain, and where it was seated. The manner in
which Mordaunt replied to these earnest inquiries,
although worded so as to express gratitude for her
kindness, while he disclaimed any feeling of indis 1 -

?osition, did not seem to give satisfaction to the
pythoness*

" Ungrateful boy !" she said, " for whom I havt
done so much ; fou whom I have rescued, by my
power and skill, from the very gates of death, — are
you already so weary of me, that you cannot re-
frain from shewing how desirous you are to spend,
at a distance from me, the very first intelligent days
of the life which 1 have restored to thee V y

" You do me injustice, my kind preserver,* 1 re-
plied Mordaunt ; " f am not tired of your society J
but I have duties which recall me to ordinary life."

" Duties !" repeated Noma ; 4< and what duties
can or ought to interfere with the gratitude which
you owe to me ? — Duties ! your thoughts are on
the use of your gun, or on clambering among the
rocks in quest of sea-fowl. For these exercises
four strength doth not yet fit you, and yet these
are the duties to which you are so anxious to re-
turn ?"

44 Not so, my good and kind mistress," said Mor-
daunt. — " To name one duty out of many which
makes me seek to leave you, now that my strength
permits, let me mention that of a son to his father.*

" To your father ?" said Noma, with a sort iff
laugh that had something in it almost frantic* U C$
you know not how we can, in these islands, at ofice
cancel such duties! And for your father," slfe
added, proceeding more calmly, " what halite
done for you to deserve the regard and duty you

TH£ PRATt. Iftt

t of t— Is he not the fame, who, as you hare
since told me, left you for so many years
y nourished among strangers, without inqair-
trhetber you were alive or dead, and only
ing, from time to time, supplies in such fashion,
en relieve the leprous wretch to whom they

alms from- a distance ? And, in these later
i, when he bad made you the companion of
lisery, he has been by starts your pedagogue,
tarts your tormentor, but never, Mordaunt,
r your father*" *

Something of truth there is in what vou say,"
ed Mordaunt ; " my father is not fond ; but *
, and has ever been, effectively kind* Men

not their affections in their power ; and it is
Id's duty to be grateful for the benefits which
•eceives, even when coldly conferred. My
sr has conferred instruction on me, and I am
tinced he loves me ; he is unfortunate, and
i if he loved me not-—"
And he does not love yon," said Noma,
ily ; "he never loved any thing, or any one,

* himself. — He is unfortunate, but well are his
ortunes deserved. — O, Mordaunt, you have

parent only, — one parent, who loves you as

drops of the heart-blood!" I

I know I have but one parent, replied Mor-

Eit — "my mother has been long dead ; but your

da contradict each other*"

They do not — they do not," said Noma, in a

>xysm of the deepest feeling ; " you have but

parent, — your unhappy mother is not dead — I
ild to God that she were ! but she is not dead*
r mother is the only parent that loves thee ;

I — I, Mordaunt," throwing herself on bis neck

* that most unhappy— yet most happy mother."
8 vol. 2*

1

*v

IS? THE PIRATK.

She closed him in a strict and convulsive em-
brace, and tears, the first perhaps which she had
shed for many years, burst in torrent! as she sob-
bed on his neck* . Astonished at what he heard,
felt, and saw, — moved by the excess of her agita-
tion, yet disposed to ascribe this burst of passion
•to insanity, J^ordaunt vainly endeavoured to tran-
quillize the mind of this extraordinary person*

" Ungrateful boy !" she said ; " who but a mo*
th? r would have watched over thee as I have
watched ? From the instant I saw thy father, wheo
he little knew by whom he was observed, a space
now many years, back, 1 knew him well, and under
his charge J saw you then a stripling, while Nature,
.speaking loud in my bosom, assured me thou wert
blood jof my blood, and bone of my bone. Think
bow often yo,u have wondered to see me, when
least expected, in your places of pastime and re-
sort ! Thinfc haw often my eye has watched yos
on the giddy precipices^and muttered those charms
which subdue the evil demons who shew them-
selves to the climber on the giddiest point of hie
path, and /orce him to quit his bold! Did I not
hang aroupd thy neck, in pledge of thy safety,
that chain of gpld which an Elfin King gave to the
founder of our race ? Would I have given that
. -dear gill to any but the son of my bosom ? — Mor-
daunt, my power has done that for thee that a
mere mortal mother would dread to think of.— 4
have coiynred the Mermaid at midnight that thy
bark might be prosperous on the haaf ! — I have
hushed the winds, and navies have flapped tbek
empty sails against the mast in inactivity, that yon
might safely indulge your sport upon the crags! 1

Mordaunt, perceiving that she was growing yet
gilder in her talks endeavoured to frame an an-
swer which should be at once indulgent, soothing,

i

THE PIRATE. 'Itt

and calculated to allay the rising warmth of her
imagination.

"Dear Noma," he said, u l have indeed many
reasons to call you mother, who have bestowed s6
toany benefits upon me, and from me you shall ever
receive tfie affection and doty of a child. Bat the
chain you mentioned, it has vanished from my neck
-J have not seen it since the ruffian stabbed me. w

^ Alas 1 and can you think of it at this moment ? w
said Noma, in a sorrowful accent.— - 4< But be it so ;
—and know it was I took it from thy neck, and
tied it around the neck of her who is dearest to you,
in token thatthe union betwixt you, which has been
the only earthly wish which I have had the power
io form, shall yet, even yet be accomplished— ay,
although hell should open to forbid the batons*!"

"Alas!" said Mordaunt, with a sigh, " you re-
member not the difference betwixt our situation—
Her father is wealthy and of ancient kirthi"

"Not more wealthy than will be the heir of Non-
na of Fitful-head,'*- answered the Pythoness—
1 not of better or more ancient blood than that
which flows in thy veins, derived from thy mother,
he descendant of the same Jarls and Sea-Kings
rom whom Magnus boasts his origin. — Or does*
hou think, like the pedant and fanatic strangers
rho have come amongst us, that thy blood is dfo*
jonoured because my union with thy father did
lot receive the sanction of a priest! — Know, that
ve were wedded after the ancient manner of the
?orse — our hands were clasped within the circle
>f Odin, with such deep vows of eternal fidelity,
s even the laws of these usurping Scots would
ave sanctioned as equivalent to a blessing before
be altar. To the offspring of such a union, Mag-
us has nought to object. It was weak— it war

1

1M TBS PIRATE.

criminal on my part, but it cooreyed no infi
the birth of my son.' 9

y The composed and collected manner in
Noma argued the?e points began to impost
Mordaunt an incipient belief m the truth oi
she said ; and indeed she add4d so many ei
stances, satisfactorily and rationally com
with each other* as seemed to confute the
that her story was altogether the delusion <
insanity which sometimes shewed itself
speech and actions. A thousand confaset
rushed upon him, when he supposed it p
that the unhappy person before him might j
ly have a right to claim from Wm the respti
affection due to a parent from a son* He
only surmount them by turning his mind to -a
eat, and scarce less interesting topic, rei
wkhin himself to take time for rartber inqui
mature consideration, ere be either reta
admitted the claim which Noma preferred u
affection and duty* His benefactress, at lei
undoubtedly was, and he could not err in
her, as such, the respect and attention due
son to a mother ; and so far, therefore, he
gratify Norna without otherwise standing eomi
. " And do you then really think, my i
(since so you bid me term you), 9 ' said Mo
"that the proud Magnus T roil may, by i
dacemeot,be prevailed upon to relinquish tb<
feelings which he has of late adopted towai
and to permit my addresses to hid di
Brenda ?"

"Brenda?" repeated Noma— * who t
Brenda ?— it is of Minna that I spoke to yo

" But it was of Brenda that I thought,"
Mordaunt, u of her that I now think, and
alone that 1 will ever think*"

>

THE PIRATE. 185

J "Impossible, my son !" replied Noma. " You
cannot be so dull of heart, so poor of spirit, as to-
prefer the idle mirth and . housewife simplicity of
tbftrjroitnger sister, to * the., deep feeling and high '
fund of the noble-spirited Minna'? Who would
stoop to gather the lowly violet, that might hare
fee rose for stretching out -his hand ?9
* " Spine think- the lowliest flowers are the sweet-
est," replied Mordauot, " and in that faith will I
8?e and die."

- u Yon dare not tell me - so," answered Noma,
letcely ; then instantly changing her tone, and
titiagins hand in the most affectionate manner,
ihe proceeded :— u Yo« must not— you will not
tell me so, my dear son— yon will not break a
mother's heart in the very first hoar in which she *
has embraced her child ! — Nay, do not answer, but
bear .me. You must wed Minna—I have bound
Hoaud her neek a fatal amulet, on which the hap
finess of both depends. The labcmrs of my Ikfis
hive, for years had thk direction* Thus it must
be, and not otherwise*— Minna most be the bride
of my son !"•

1 '* But is not Brenda equally* near* equally dear
kyou ?" replied Jtfordaunt: .
.' "As near in blood," said Norna, u but' not so»
foar, no not half so dear in affection. Mkma'i -
mild, yet high and contemplative spirit, renders •
ber a companion meet for one, whose ways, like
tt^ine, are beyond the ordinary paths of this wprld*-
firenda isathiog of common and ordinary iife%.
*& idle laugher and scoffer, who would level art*
*Hh ignorance, and reduce power to weakness, by*
^believing and turning into ridicule whatever ie>
ktyond the grasp of her shallow intellect* 1 ?
1** toin'3.* ,

!EIIS FHtAm ^ **

^iSlte i»,iadaed,» answered Merda*ot , ",
sepeestttkras per e n thnatastic, and I love her 4:
baiter for it* Remember also* my mother, t
she itetum mjf affection, aAd that Minna, if el
k>ve any one, loves the Granger Cleveland.."

* "She does not~—she dares not," answered N
at, " nor dares he p uraue her farther* 1 told hi
when firat he came to Burgh West*a> that I d
fined her for you."

" And to* that rash annunciation," said M
daunt, " I owe this man's persevering enmity
isy wound, and well nigh' the loss of my life* S«*/
my mother, to what point yoor intrigues have si*
teady conducted as, and in heaven's name pnm*
cute them tie farther.' 5

* It seemed as if this reproach struck Noma with
fke force at once, and vivacity of lightning ; for she
struck her forehead with her hand, and seemed
afeoet to drop from her seat* Mordasrat, greatly
locked, hastened to catch her in his atm*,an4
though scarce knowing what to say, attempted is
utter some incoherent expressions.

" Spare me, heaven, spare me !" were the felt
jvsorda which she motUmd ; ••• do not let my crime
•he avenged hy his means, — -Yes, yonng man«" *h*
*aid, after a paose, u yon- have dared to tell vhst
i dared not tell myself.— You have pressed dart
epon roe, which, if it be truth, I cannot bekeft,
*aod yefc cootifiee to liveJ*
. MprdaamV in 'item endeavoured to interrupt bs*
with protestations of his ignorance how be bad
t)fleaded or grieved her t and of his extreme**
gtet that he had intentionally done either* She
<praceededy white her voice trembled wildly, *Hb
vehemence*.

" Yes ! you have touched on that -dark suspi-
cion which poisons the consciousness of my power,

.< m FflLATS. 187

•oteJsaiB wfatak was ftren mfe to e»hange
fer innocence andfsr pence of mini I Yoor voice
jfeens that of the dasmon Wbieb* even white the s**
oateots confess ifce their mistress, whispers tointy
4 Nor na, this is but delusion-*— your power » rests?
Vwt in the* idia belief of the wswraiit, supported by
a- thousand petty artifices of your own/— This if
wfeat Brenda says—this is what you would say j
and fake, scandalously false as it is, there are re-
bellious thoughts in tUa wild brain of mine * (touch-
ing her forehead with her finger as she spofee^
that, like an insurrection in an invaded cowbtry,
afeiseto take part against their distressed stover*
eigB*«t--Spafe me, my sen 1" she continued, in a
voice of supplication, " spare me!— the sorer*
eigaty of which yoor words would deprive me, is
no enviable exaltation* Few would coYetto ruli
<*er gibbering ghosts, and bowling winds, and rag*
ttg currents* My throne is a cloud, my sceptre
* meteor, my reals* is only peopled with ptntots*
ties? but 1 most either cease to be, or continue
to be the mightiest as well as she most miserable of

" Do cot speak thus raournsotly, my dear and
chappy heae&ctress," said Mordaunt, much af>
fected ; " 1 will think of yoor power, whatever yon
wtmld bate me believe* But for your own sake,
new the matter otherwise* Turn your thoughts
from such agitating and mystical studies— from
such wild subjects of contemplation, into another
and a better channel. ' Life will again have
chants, tod religion will have comforts for you. w
. She listened to him with some composure, as if
she weighed bis counsel, and desired to be guided
by it ; butas she ended) he shook her bead aad

Its THE PIlAm

"Itcftflnrt-be* I mutt remain the
the mystical— 4he Reimkeaaar*— the coataeufternfe
the elements, or I most be i no more. I have a&
alternative, no middle station* My post must ta&>
high on yon lofty headland, where never stoo&bn*-
ilan foot save mine*— -or 1 must sleep at the bet*
torn of the unfathomable ocean, its white billow*
booming over my senseless corpse* The parricide
shall never also be denounced as the impostor.*';*

u The parricide !'• echoed fitordnunt, steppiag
back in horror, > *

u ¥es, my son !" answered Noma with a -stenr
composure, even more frightful than her former
impetuosity, "within these fatal waHa my father
met his death by my jneans^ In yonder chamber
was he found a livicband lifeless corpse. Beware
of filial disobedience, for such are its fruits."

So saying, she arose and left the apartamtf
where Mordaunt remained alone to meditate at
leisure upon the extraordinary communicatis*
which he bad received. He himself had beta
taught by his father a disbelief: in the ordinary svt*
perstitions of Zetland ; and he now saw that Nor* i
na; however ingenious < in duping others, cooid ftoi i
altogether impose on herself This was a strong
circumstance in favour of her sanity' of intellect^
bat, on the other hand, her imputing to herself tb£
goilt of parricide seemed so wild and improbable^
as, in Mordaunt's opinion, to throw ranch dook*
upon her other assertions*

-, He had leisure enough to make up his mind oa
these particulars, for no one approached the sob*
tary dwelling, of which Noma, her dwarf, and b*
himself, were the sole inhabitants. The island ii
•which it stood is rude, bold, and lofty, or rather;
indeed, consists entirely of three hills— one -hag*
mountain divided wtfo throe summits, with the

TBE fivatx* *w

a* reals, laid vellies which dtescendsrein it*
t to the sea, white its crest, rising to great
, end shivered into rocks which seem almost
ssibte, intercepts the mists as they drive from;
Jaotic, and, often ottocured from the human*
'eras the dark and unmolested retreat of
, eagles, and other birds of prey.
5 soil of the island is wet, mossy, cold, and
iactive, presenting a sterile and desolate ap-
ace, excepting where the sides efamail rivu*
r mountain ravines, are fringed with dwr °*
s of birch, hazel, and 'wild currant, son 8 two
so tail as to be defiominated trees, in som *
and bare country. " lt ""

: the view from the sea-beach, which was*
rant's favourite walk, when his convalescent
began to permit him to take exercise, had
« which compensated the wild appearance
; interior. A broad and beautiful sounds or
divides this lonely and mountainous island
Pomona, and in the centre of that sound lies,
tablet composed of emerald, the beautiful
erdant little island of Graemsay. On the dis-
lainland is seen the town or village of Strom*
the excellence of whose haven is generally
3d by a considerable number of shipping ill
md^stead, and from the bay growing narrow*
d lessening as it recedes, runs inland into Po%
, where its tide fills the fine sheet of water
1 the Loch of Stennts.
this beach Mordaunt was wont to wander
Hire, with an eye not insensible to the beau-*
f the view, though his thoughts were agitated
the most embarrassing meditations on his own
ion* He was resolved to leave the island at
ts the establishment of his health should per-

inUoUaveif yetgn*it«4etaNofiia,Qf wbe»

190 TfiE piRArar

he was at least the adopted, if bat . the real son,
would not alio* him to depart without her per-
mission, even if hectiuld obtain roeanfr of convey-
ance, of Which be saw tittle possibility. It wad
only bf importunity that he extorted fromhis'hos-
0es8 a promise* that, if henwould consent to regd-
late his motions according, to her directions, she
#ould herself convey him to the capital of the
Orkney Islands, when the approaching Fair of
Saint Olla. should take {dace there.-
bac : . . •■'.''

31'-. • ' •

comr ■■'. " — ., ..- :• '

imp. ,

" r CHAPTER XIV.

Hark to the insolt tood, the bitter sneer,
The fierce threat answering to the bratal jeer ;-
Oaths fly Kke pistol-shots, and Tengefol words
Clash with each other like eontieting swords*—
The robber's quarrel by soch sounds is shewn,
And tree men ha?e some ehance to gain their own*

Captivity, a Poem*

When Cleveland, borne off in triumph frortf
his assailants in Kirk wall} found himself once
more on board the pirate-vessel, his arrival was
hailed with hearty cheers by a considerable part
of the crew, who rushed 4p shake hands with him;
And offer their congratulations on his return ; ft> r
the situation of a Buccaneer Captain raised hirn
Very little above the level with the lowest of hi*
crew, who, in all social intercourse, claimed the
privilege of being his equal.

When his faction, for so these clamorous friends
might be termed, had expressed their own greet-
ings, they hurried Cleveland forward to the stern?
where Goffe, their present commander, wafr seated

THEWRATBL I»l

on a gun, listening in a sullen and discontented
manner to the shout which announced Cleveland 1 *
welcome. He was a man betwixt forty and fifty,
rather under the middle size, but so very strongly
made, that his crew used to compare him -to a si% T
4j-four cut down. Black-haired, ball-necked,
and beetle-browed, his clumsy strength and fero-
cious countenance contrasted strongly with the
manly figure and open countenance of Cleveland,
in which even the practice of his atrocious profes-
sion had been unable to eradicate a natural grace of
motion and, generosity of expression. The two
piratical captains looked upon each other for some
time in silence, while the partizans of each gath-
ered around him. The elder part of the crew
Were the principal adherents oi Cfofie, while the
young fellows, amongst whom Jack Bunce was a
principal leader and agitator, were in general at-
tached to Cleveland.

At length Goffe broke silence. — " You are wel-
come aboard, Captain Cleveland.— Smash my taff-
rail ! I suppose you think yourself commodore
yet! but that was over, by G — , when you lost
your ship, and be d — d !"

And here, once for all, we may take notice, that
*t was the gracious custom of this commander to
ftix his words and oaths in nearly equal propor-
tions, which he was wont to call shotting his dis-
course. As we delight not, however, in the dis- '
charge of such artillery, ^we will only indicate by

a space like this the places in which these

expletives occurred ; and thus, if the reader will
pardon a very poor pun, we will reduce Captain
•Goffe's volley of sharp-shot into an explosion of
Hank cartridges. To his insinuations that he was
come on board to assume the chief command,
Cleveland replied, that he neither desired, nor

1§2 THE FttAXE.

woold accept, apy soeh prooaotioo, bat woo
ask Captain Go§e, for a cast of the boat, to p
ashore io Me of the other islands, as he
wish either to command Gofle, or to reona
Teasel voder his orders.
. u And whj not under my orders, brother

maoded Goffe, very austerely ; a

you too good a man, with your c

toaster and gib there, to serve und

orders, and be d — 4 to yoo, where there
many gentlemen that are elder and bettc
men than yourself P*

" 1 wonder which of these capital seai
was," said Cleveland coolly, " that laid tfa
trader the fire of yoo six-gun battery, tha
blow her out of the water, if they had a
before you could either cut or slip ? Eld
better sailors than I may like to serve unde
a lubber, but 1 beg to be excused for my owe
Captain — that's all I have got to tell you.'*

" By G — , I think you are both mad !" sai<
kins, the boatswain — "a meeting with swc
pistol may be devilish good fun in its way,
no better is to be bad ; hut who the devil tl
common sense, amongst a set of gentlemen
condition, would fall a-quarrelling with eadl
to let these duck-winged, webb-footed is!
have a chance of knocking us all upon the I

" Well said, old Hawkins !" said Derr
quarter-master, who was an officer of very <
erable importance among these rovers ; '
if the two captains "wont agree to live t<
quietly, and club both heart and head to
the vessel, why, d — n me, depose them both
and chuse another in their stead !*

THE PfRATlB. 193

" Meaning yourself, I suppose, Master Quarter-
Master!" said Jack'Bunce; " but that cock wont
fight— He that is to command gentlemen, should
be a gentleman himself, I think ; and I gire my
vote for Captain Cleveland, as spirited and as
gentleman- like a man as ever daffM the world
aside and bid it pass !"

"What ! you call yourself a gentleman, I war*
rant ! M retorted Derrick ; " why, — — your eyes !
a tailor would make a better out of the worst suit
of rags in your strolling wardrobe ! — It is a shame
for men of spirit to have such a Jack-a-dandy
scarecrow on board !"

Jack Bunce was so incensed at these base com-
parisons, that, without more ado, he laid his hand
•n his sword* The carpenter, however, and boat-
swain interfered,, the former brandishing his broad
axe,, and v swearing he would put the skull of the
fifst who should strike a blow past clouting, and
the latter reminding them, that, hy their articles,
aft quarrelling, striking, or more especially fight-
ing on board, was strictly prohibited ; and that it
any gentleman had a quarrel to settle, they weref
to go ashore, and decide it with cutlass and pistol
at the sight of two of their messmates.

M I have no quarrel with any one, — — — !'*
said Goffe, sullenly ; " Captain Cleveland has wan-
dered about among the islands here, amusing him-
self, — ! and we have wasted our time and

property in waiting for him, when we might have
been adding twenty or thirty thousand dollars to
the stock-purse. However, if it pleases the rest
of the gentlemen-adventurers, I shall not grumble

aiboutit, !"

" I propose," said the boatswain, " that there
should be a general council called in the great
17 vol. %

194 THE PIRATE.

cabin, according to our articles, that we may con-
aider what course we are to bold in this matter."

A general assent followed the boatswain's pro-
posal ; for every one found his own account in
these general councils, in which each of the rovers
bad a free vote. By far the greater part of the
crew only valued this franchise, as it allowed them,
upon touch solemn occasions, an unlimited quantity
ol liquor— a right which they failed not to exercise
to the uttermost, by way of aiding their delibera-
tions. But a few amongst the adventurers, who
united some , degree of judgment with the daring
and profligate character of their profession, were
wont, at such periods to limit themselves within
the bounds of comparative sobriety, and by these,
under the apparent form of a vote of the general
council, all things of moment relating to the voy-
age and undertakings of the. pirates were in fact
determined. The rest of the crew, when they re-
covered from their intoxication, were easily per-
suaded that the resolution adopted had been the
legitimate effort of the combined wisdom of the
whole senate.

Upon the present occasion, the debauch bad
proceeded uAtil the greater part of the crew were,
as usual, displaying inebriation in all its most bru-
tal £nd disgraceful sbapesr— swearing empty and
unmeaning oaths — venting the most hocrid impre-
cations in the mere gaiety of their heart-^singiag
songs, the ribaldry of which was only equalled by
thpir profaoeness, and, from the middle of this
earthly hell, tlie two Captains, together with one
or tvyo of their principal adherents, as also the car-
penter and boatswain, who always tonka lead on
auch,pcc^ioos f iftd drawn, together into a paadc-
raoniuigb or. ppivy^punciloC their own, to consider
what was to be dope ; for, as the boatswain meta-

THE PIRATE. 195

phorically observed, they were in a narrow chan-
nel, and behoved to keep sounding the tide-way. '

When they began their consultations, the friends
«f Goffe remarked, to their great displeasure, that
aeiad not observed the wholesome rule to which
ipe have just alluded; but that, in endeavouring to
dfo*Q hie mortification at the sudden appearance
of Cleveland* and the reception he met with from
the crew, the elder Captain had not been able to
do so without overflowing his reason at the same
time. His natural sullen taciturnity had prevented
this from being observed until the council began its
deliberations, when ft proved impossible to hide it.

The first person who spoke was Cleveland, who'
Slid, that, so far from wishing the command of the
vessel, he desired no favour at any one's hand, ex-
cept to land him upon some island or holm at a
distance from Kirkwall, andieaVe him to shift for
himself.

The boatswain remonstrated strongTy against
resolution. ** The lads-,* 5 he said, " all knew
Cleveland, and could trust his seamanship, as well
as his courage ; besides, he never let (he grog get
quite uppermost, and was always in proper trim,
either to sail the ship or to fight the ship, whereby
she was never without some one to keep her course
when be was on board. — And as for the noble
Captain Goffe," continued the mediator, " he is
as stout a heart as ever broke biscuit, and that L
witi uphold him ; but then, when he has his grog
aboard-*— I -speak it to his face—he is so damned
fanny with bis cranks and his jests, that there is no
living with him. You all remember how nigh be
had run the ship on that cursed Horse of Copinsha,
as they cattit, just fy way of frolic ; and then you
know how ha b red oif his pistol under the table,
when *e were at the great council, and shot Jack

H» TBE MRATE.

Jenkins in the knee, and cost the p6#r -dcvtMiii
Jeg, with hit pleasantry."

" Jack Jenkins was not a chip the worse," said
the carpenter ; u I took the leg off with my saw as
well as any loblolly boy in the land could have
done— heated my broad axe, and seared the -stomp
— ay, by — — ! and made a jury-leg that he sham-
bles about with as well as ever he did — for Jack
could never cut a feather."*

"You are a clever fellow, carpenter !" replied

die boatswain, u a d* -d clever fellow I but 1 bad

rather you tried your saw and redrhot axeapon
the ship's knee-timbers than on mine, sink me J— •
But that here is not the case — The question is, if
we shall part with Captain Cleveland here, wboi»
a roan of thought and action, whereby it is ttiy be-
lief it would be heaving the pilot overboard when
the gale is blowing on a lee-shore. And 1 meat
say, it is not the part of a true heart to leave his
mates, who have been here waiting for bio till
they have missed stays* : Our water is well >nigb
out, and we have junketed till provisions are low
with us* We cannot sail without provisions— ^e
cannot get provisions without the good will of tfce
Kirkwall folks. If we remain here longer, the
Halcyon frigate will be down upon us— sheiwfc
seen off Peterhead two days sfnce,-~and we shsU
bang up at the yard-arm to be sun-dried. NeW*
Captain Cleveland wilt get us e*t<of the hobble,
if .any can. He c&a play the gentleman with
these, Kirkwall folks, and knows how to deal with
them on fair terms, aud foul too, if there be oec**
Sim* for it." /•; •.,;.•

" And so you wooid torn honest Captain G*tb>
^-grazing, would ,y«e JP* > said an

'*Aship going fait thtough th4 sea far mW to <ut a fei^n*.
aUudtaf to th$ rippfe which «b^ 1hrev«4ff frost fat bow9. <*-

THE PIRATE. 147

fiate, irbe had but one eye ; " what though • he
bas bis humours, and made my eye dowse the glim
inik faacte* and frolics, he is as honest a man as
&et> walked a quarter-deck, for all that; and
i— me htit I stand by him so Jong as t'other lan-
fcraislit! 99

; <4 Why, yon would not hear me out," said Haw-
bins ; "a man might as well talk to so many tie-
gen! — 1 tell you I propose* that Cleveland shall
Only be Captain from one, post meridiem, to five,
««w* during which time Gofle is always drunk. 9 '
' The Captain of whom he last spoke gave suffi-
cient proof of the truth of his words, by uttering an
inarticulate growl, and attempting to .present a pis-
tol at the mediator Hawkins*
4 * Why, look ye now P 9 said Derrick, " there is
All the sense he has, to get drunk on council-day,
fike one of these poor silly fellows ! ,?
"Ay," said Bunce, " drunk as Davy's sow, in

&ee of the "field, the fray, and senate!"
"Bat nevertheless, 99 continued Derrick, "it
*i)l never do to have two captains in the same day.
1 think week about might suit better — and let
Cleveland take the first turn* 99

44 There are as good here as any of them, 99 said
Hawkins ; w bowsomdever,! object nothing to Cap*
^tia Cleveland, and I think he may help us into
deep water as well as another. 99 .•

''Ay* 99 exclaimed Bunce, " and a better figure
ie will make at bringing these Kirkwallers to or-
<ter than his sober predecessor !~So Captajpt
Cleveland for ever !*? ;t

" Stop, gentlemen," said Cleveland, who had
hitherto been silent; "I hope you will not chuse
**e Captain without my own consent .?"

." Ay, by the blue vault of heaven will we* 99 said
Bunce, " if it be prvbwio pubtico J"
17* vein %

~" But heat wie, at tealt P said CIctasttTKhW* 1
4a consent (6 take command of the vend, sine*
ytou wish it, tod because 1 see you WiH ill get ott
Hf the scrape without *fte. M * ••' ?^ (

"Whythdb 1 say, Cleveland for ever again-!*
shouted Bunce.

* 4 * Be quiet, prithee, dear Bunce 1~ banest At*
ttmont f n said Cleveland.—*' } undertake the imsi-
faess on this condition ; that' when I have get^be
Uhip cleared for her voyage, with - provisions, and
so forth, you wrtl be content to restore Captaaa
Goflfe to the command, as I said before, end put me
bsVore somewhere; to shift for mys*r£—¥ou will
"tlrei* be sure it is impossible Tcttiv betray yea,
since I will remain with you to the last moment/'
' ** Ay, and after the last moment too, by the blse
vault f or I mistake the matter, 1 ' muttered Btoce
to himself.

' ' The matter was now put to the vote ;*ad so con-
fident were' the crew in Clevelalwt'a superior ai-
Hress'aftd management, that the temporary deposi-
tion bf Groffe "found little opposition even acaoug
Trig own partizans, who reasonably enough observ-
ed, "he might at least have kept sober td k*k
*after his Own business— E'en let him put it to rights
agairi himself next mornifig, if he will.^ »

* But When the next morning came, the drunken
part of the crew, being informed of the issue of
f the deliberations of the council, to which tber
were virtually held to have assented, shewed sock

'a superior sense of Cleveland's merits; that Gal^
sulky and malcontent as he was, judged ft wisest
'for thepresent to suppress his feelings of tes At*
ment until a safer opportunity for suffering tfcm
to explode, arid to sftbrhit to the degradation Which
*o frequently took place araoog a piratical creitt

i

TBE mATB. im

\ Cleveland, fm 1hs part, reared to tike upon
Urn, with spirit and without loss of time, the task
*t '*& ridtttftg his ship's company from their peri*
Ions situation. For this purpose, he ordered the
test^ with the purpose of going ashore in person,
tacrying with him twelve of the stoutest and best
Afeordf- the ship** »o**tprt>y<, all very handsomely
epp^Hrted, (for the Success of their nefarious pro-
faiion had enabled the pirates to assume nearly
togay dresses as their officers,) and above all each
ttaabeing sufficiently armed with cutlass and pis*
Ws> add several having pole-axes and poniards.

Cleveland himself was gallantly dressed in a blue
tost, lined with UrWosoo silk, and laced with-goM
Very ricWy,<rimson damask waistcoat and breeches,
% f elvet cap, richly embroidered, with a white
father, ^rhrte silk stockings, and red-heeled shoes,
which were the eittemity of finery among thegal-
lanfts of the day. He had a gold chain several times
feMed round his neck, which sustained a whistle
*f the same metal, the ensign of his authority*
Above all,*he wore a decoration peculiar to those
faring depredators, who, besides one, or perhaps
'too brace of pistols at their belt, bad usually two
additional brace, of the finest mounting and work*
manship, suspended over their shoulders in a sort
of sling of scarf of crimson ribband. The hilt and
mounting of the CaptaiaY sword, corresponded in
tfetafe to the rest of his equipment, and his natural
food mien was so well adapted to the whole equip-
%*£irt, that when be appeared on deck, he was re-
ceived with a general shout by the crew, who, as
toother popular societies, judged a great deal by
Ae eve.

Ctervetondtook with him in the boat, amongst
•others, his predecessor in office, Goffe, who was
also very richly dressed, but who, not having the

an* THE JHSASEV

advantage ef fcuth an erterior as C ievdaad V
looked like a boorish down to the dress of «a«eoiu
tier,or rather like a vulgar-faced; footpad dtcketf |&
the spoils of some one whom he had mfnadeced.*
aad whose claim to the property of his . garment*
is rendered doubtful in the eyes of all who look
tipoo him* . by the mixture of ajwkwardneis, re*
morse, cruelty, and insolence* < which clouds his
countenance* Cleveland probably chose to take
Goffe ashore with him, to prevent bis havii^ any
opportunity, during his absence, to debauch the
crew from their allegiance. In this guise they left
the ship, and singing to their oars, while the water'
foamed higher at the chorus, soon reached the
quay of Kirkwall*

The command of the vessel was ia the mea*
time entrusted to Bunce, upon whose allegiance
Cleveland knew that he might perfectly depend*
and, io a private conversation with him of some
length, he gave him directions bow to. act in sack:
emergencies as might occur. *

These arrangements being made, and Bunce
having been repeatedly charged to stand upon his
guard alike against the adherents of Gotfe an4
any. attempt from the shore, the boat put off. Ar
she approached the harbour, Cleveland displayed'
a white flag, and could observe. that their appears
a nee seemed to occasion a good deal of bustle and?
alarm. People were seen running to and fro, and
some of them appeared to be getting under arms*
The battery was manned hastily, and the English
colours displayed. These were alarming symp*.
iotns, the rather that Cleveland Jcnew, that, though
there were no artillery-men in Kirkwall, yet there
twere many sailors perfectly competent to the

THE PIE ATE SO*

atfaagetnent of great guns, and willing enough to
sodeatakeiSttcb service in case of need.

Noting ttwse hostile preparations with a heedful
ejfe, bat sobering nothing tike doubt or anxiety to
appear on has countenance, Cleveland ran the
nat right for the quay, on which several people,
aimed with muskets, rifles, and fowling-pieces, and
other*, with half-pikes and wha4ing4cnives were
as* assembled, as if to oppose his landing* Ap-
parently, however, they had not pot iti rely deter-
mined what measures they were to pursue ; for
wbeo the boat reached the quay, those immedi-
ately opposite bore back, and sufiered Cleveland
Mi his party to leap ashore without hindrance.
They immediately drew up on the quay, except-
ing two, who, as their Captain had oommao4ed v
toBMmed in the boat, which they put off to a little
distance ;— « manoeuvre which? while it placed the
beat. (the only one belonging to the sloop) out of
daagerof being seiaed, indicated a sort of careless
Confidence in Cleveland -and his party, which
* wascakulated to intimidate their opponents.
<Tbe Kirkwai leva, however, shewed the old Nor*
taesn blood, put a manly face upon the matter, and
stood on the cjuay, with their arms shouldered,
(faeptly opposite to the rovers, *b& blocking
ftp* against them the sfeeei which leads to the
town. >

. ^Cleveland was the first who spoke,- as the par*
ties atood Hws looking trpon each others— u How is
tijss, geatleirea burghers?" he said; "ere yoifc
Orkney folks turned Highlandmeo, that yon aha
attvonder asms*o «iarfy this rooming ? or have you
manned the* quay to give me the honour of a salute,
uftea takings the cosimnod of ray ship ?"

$03 THE PIRATE.

The burghers looked on each other, and one of
them replied to Cleveland — " We do not know wh<*
you are; it was that other man," — pointing to
GcdBfe — ^ who used to £ome ashore as Captain."

u That other gentleman is my mate, and com-
mands in my absence," said Cleveland ; — " but
what is that to the purpose 1 1 wish to speak with
jour Lord Mayor, or whatsoever you call him."

" The Provost is sitting in council with the
Magistrates," answered the spokesman.

" So much the. better," replied Cleveland.—
44 Where do their Worships meet ?"

" In the Council-house," answered the other.
" Then make way for us, gentlemen, if you
please, for my people and 1 are going there."

There was a whisper among the townspeople ;
but several were unresolved upon engaging in a
desperate, and perhaps an unnecessary conflict
with desperate men; and the more determined
citizens, formed the hasty reflection that the stran-
gers might be more easily mastered in the house;
or perhaps in the narrow streets which they bad
to traverse, than when they stood drawn up and
prepared for battle upon the quay. They suffer*
ed them, therefore, to proceed unmolested; and
Cleveland, moving very slowly, keeping his pea-
pie close together, suffering no one to press uptii
the flanks of his little detachment, and making tW
men, who constituted his rear-guard, turn round
and face to the rear from time to time, Tendered ft;
by his caution, a very dangerous task to make Wj
attempt upon them*

In this manner they ascended the nawow street
and reached the Council-house, wbere the Magis-
trates were ^actually sittiog, aa the citizen hadiot
formed Cleveland. Here the inhabitants began
to press forward, with the purpose of mingling

THE HRATE. 203

with (be pirates, and availing themselves of the
crowd in the narrow entrance* to secuure &s many
as they could, without allowing them room for thef
free use of their weapons. But this also had Cleve-
land foreseen, and, ere entering the council-
room, he paused the entrance to be cleared and se-
wed, commanding four of hie men to face down
the street, and as msoiy to confront the crowd who
were thrusting each other forward from above*
The burghers recoiled bade from the ferocious,
swarthy, and sun-burned countenances, as well as
the levelled anfis, of these desperadoes, and Cleve-
land, with the rest of his party ,entered the council-
foom, where the Magistrates were sitting in coun-
cil, with very little attendance. These gentlemen
were thus separated effectually from the citizens,
whos looked to tbem for orders, and were perhaps
more completely at the mercy of Cleveland, than
he, with. his little handful of men, could be said to
be at that of the multitude by whom they were
grounded*

!. The Magistrates seemed sensible of their dan-
ger; for they looked upon each other in some con-
fusion, when Cleveland thu&addressed them :
* " Good morrow, gentlemen, — } hope there is no
qokindoesa betwixt us* 1 am come to talk with
joh about getting supplies fer my ship yonder id
the roathstead — we cannot sail without them. 15
\„ ? Youtfahip, air?" said the Provost, who was a
^ap^fiftnse and' spirit, — " how do we know that
jpu are hw Captain ?"

," Loofc'at tne," said Cleveland, " and you will;
I tfunJCt&Httce ask the question again."

The Magistrate looked at him, and accordingly
did not Abiiikipiopfer to pursue that part of the m-

2 airy, but proceeded to jay — " And if you are her
aptaiu, wbeqe* comes she* and where is she

904 THE PIRATE.

boond far ? You look too much Hke a man-of-wart
man to be matter of a trader, and we know thai
you do not-belong to the British navy."

" There are more men-of-war on the sea thai
sail under the British flag," replied Cleveland
" but say that I were commander of a free-tradei
here, willing to exchange tobacco, brandy, gin
and such like, for cared fish and bides; why, I d<
not think I deserve so very bad usage from the mer
chants of Kirkwall as to deny me provisions for nr
money?"

"Look yon, Captain," said the Town-Clerk
"it isnot that we are so-very strait-laced neither-*
for when gentlemen of your cloth come this way.
it ia as weel,a* I tauld the Provost, just to do as the
cottier did when, he met die devil,—- and that is, to
have naetbing to say to them, if they have nae-
thing to say to us ; — and there is the gentleman,"
pointing to Goffe, "that was Captain before yon*
and may be Captain after you*"— (" The cuckold
speaks truth in that," muttered Goifie,) — "b«
knows well how handsomely we entertained
him, till he and bis men took upon them to mo
through the town like hellicat devils,— I see one
of them there h— that was the very fellow that stop*
ped toy servant-wench on the street, as she car-
ried the lantern home before me, and insulted bet
before my face •!" >

" If it please your noble Mayorship^ honoor
and glory," said Derrick, the fellow at whom the
Town-clerk pointed, "it was not 1 that brought*
to the bit of a tender that carried the lantern in
the poop — it was quite a different sort of a per*
aon."

" Who was it then, sir ?" said the Provost

" Why, please your majesty's worship," said
Derrick, making seferal sea-bows, and describ-

THE PIRATE. 201

ingfts nearly as he could the exterior of the wor-
th; Magistrate himself, " he was an elderly gen-
tleman, — dutch-built, round in the stern, with a
white wig and a red nose — very like your majes-
ty, I think ;" -then turning to a comrade, he ad-
ded, " Jack, dont you think the fellow that wanted
to kiss the pretty girl with the lantern t'other night
was very like his worship ?"

" By God, Tom Derick," answered the party
appealed to, " I believe it is the very man !"

" This is insolence which we can make you. re-
pent of, gentlemen !" said the Magistrate, justly
imitated at their effrontery ; >" you have behaved
in this town, as if you were in an Indian village at
Madagascar* You yourself, Captain, if captain
you be, were at the head of another riot, no far-
ther since than yesterday. We will give you no
provisions till we know better whom we are sup-
plying. And do . not think to bully us ; when I
shake this handkerchief out at the window, which
is at my elbow, your ship goes to the bottom.
Remember she lies under the guns of our battery."

" And how many- of these guns are honey-
combed, Mr. Mayor?" said Cleveland. He put
the question by chance ; but instantly perceiv-
ed from, a sort of confusion which the Pro-
vost in vain endeavoured to hide, that the artillery
of Kirkwall was not in the best order " Come,
come, Mr. Mayor," he said, " bullying will go
down with us as little as with you. Your guns
yonder will do more harm to the poor old sailors
who are to work them, than to our sloop ; and if
we bring a broadside to bear on the town, why,
your wives' crockery will be in some danger.
And then to* talk to us of seamen being a little

1 8 vol. 2.

206 THE PIRATE.

frolicsome ashore, why, when are tbey otherwise ?
You have the Greenland whalers playing the devil
among you every now and then ; and the very
Dutchmen cut capers in the streets of Kirkwall*
like porpoises before a gale of wind. I am /told
you are a man of sense, and I am sure you and I
could settle this matter in the course of a five
minutes palaver."

" Welly sir/' said the Provost, " I will hear
what you have to say, if you will walk this way."
Cleveland accordingly followed him into a small
interior apartment, and, when there, addressed the
Provost thus : " I will lay aside my pistols, sir, if
you are afraid of them/ 9

" Damn your pistols/' answered the Provost,
« I have served the king, and iear the smell of
powder as little as you do."

" So much the better," said Cleveland, " for
you will hear me the more coolly .—-Now, sir, let us
be what perhaps you suspect us, or let us be any
thing else, what, in the nam? of Heaven, can yoa
get by keeping us here, but blows and blood-
shed? For which, believe me, we are much better
provided than you can pretend to be. The point
is a plain one — yon are desirous to be rid of u&—
we. are desirous to be gone. Let us have the
means of departure, and we leave you instantly*"
"Look ye, Captain," said the Provost, "I
thirst for no man's blood. You are a pretty fel-
low, as there were many among the buccaneers
in my time — but ther^ is no harm in wishing you
,a better trade. You should have the stores and
welcome, for your money, so you would make
these seas clear of you. But then, here lies the
rub. The Halcyon frigate is expected here in

THE MRAfB. ' 207

these parts immediately ; when she hears of you
sh4 will be at you ; for there is nothing the White
lapelle loves better than a rover — you are seldom
without a cargo of dollars. Well, he comes down,
gets you under his stern," —

"Blows us into the air, if you please," said
Cleveland.

" Nay, that must be as you please, Captain,"
said the Provost ; " but then, what is to come of
the good town of Kirkwall, that has been packing
and peeling with the King's enemies ? The burgh
*ill be laid under a round fine, and it may be that
the Provost may not come off so easily."

" Well, then," said Cleveland, " I see where
your pinch lies. Now, suppose that I run round
this island of yours, and get into the roadstead
fct Stronmess ? We could get what we want put
in board there, without Kirkwall or the Provost
ieemitig to have any hand in it ; or, if it should
>e ever questioned, your want of force, and our
mptfrior strength, will make a sufficient apology."
"That may be/* said the Provost ; *< but if- 1
suffer you to leave your present station, and go
elsewhere, I must have some security that you
prill not do harm to the country."

« And we," said Cleveland, "must have same
security on our side, that you will not detain us,
!>y dribbling out our time till the Halcyon is on
the coast. Now I am myself perfectly willing to
continue on- shore as a hostage, on the one side,
providing you will give me your word not to be-
fray me, and send some magistrate, or person of
consequence, aboard the sloop, where his safety
trill be a guarantee for mine. 9 '
The Provost shook his head, and intimated it

1

208 THE PIRATE.

would be difficult to find a person willing to place
himself as hostage in such a perilous condition;
but said he would propose the arrangement to such
of the council as were fit to be trusted with a mat-
ter of such weight.

CHAPTER XV.

" I left my poor plough to go ploughing the deep!"

Dibdin. .

When the Provost and Cleveland had returned
into the public council-room, the former retired ?
second time with such of his brethren as he thought
proper to advise with ; and, while they were en-
gaged in discussing Cleveland's proposal, refresh-
ments were offered to him and his people. These
the Captain permitted his people *to partake of.
but with the greatest precaution against surpiisal,
one party relieving the guard, whilst the others
were at their food.

He himself, in the meanwhile, walked up' and
down the apartment, and conversed upon indif-
ferent subjects with those present, like a person
quite at his ease.

Amongst these individuals he saw, somewhat to
his surprise, Triptolemus Tellowley, who chanc-
ing to be at Kirkwall, had been summoned by the
Magistrates, as representative, in a certain de-
gree, of the Lord Chamberlain, to attend council

TflE PIRATE. 20$

on this occasion. Cleveland immediately renew-
ed the acquaintance which he had formed with the
agriculturist at Burgh Westra, and asked him his
present business in Orkney.

" Just to look after some of my little plans,
Captain Cleveland. I am weary of fighting with
wild beasts at Ephesus yonder, and I just cam
<>Wer to sec how my orchard was thriving, whilk
I had planted four or five miles from Kirkwall,
it may be an year bygane, and how the bees were
thriving, whereof I had imported nine skeps, for
the improvement of the country, and for the turn-
tog of the heather-bloom into wax and honey. "

u And they thrive, I hope," said Cleveland,
^ho, however little interested in the matter, sus-
tained the conversation, as if to break the chilly
5lnd embarrassed silence which hung upon the
Company assembled.

i« Thrive \" replied Triptolemus ; " they thrive
like every thing else in this country, and that is
the backward way."

« Want of"care 9 I suppose," said Cleveland.

« The contrary, sir, quite and clean the con-
trary," replied the Factor ; " they died of ower
inuckle care, like Luckie Christie's chickens. — I
asked to see the skeps, and cunning and joyful
lid the fallow look who was to have taken care of
ihem—- * Had there been ony body in charge but
mysell,' he said, « ye might have seen the skeps,
>r whatever you ca* them ; but there wad hae
teen as mony solan-geese as flees in them, if it
had na been for my four quarters ; for I watch-
ed them so closely, that I saw them a' creeping
out at the little holes one sunny morning, and if I
had not stopped the leak on the instant with a bit
clay, the de'il a bee, or flee, or whatever they are,

18* vol. 2.

%

2ie THE PIRATE.

would have been left in the sleeps, as ye ca' them!'
— In a word, sir, be had clagged up tbe hives, as
if the puir things had had the pestilence, and my
bees were as dead as if they had been smeaked—
and so ends my hope, generandi gloria mellis> as
Virgilius hath it."

" There is an end of your mead, then," repli-
ed Cleveland ; " but what is your chance of cy-
der ? — how does the orchard thrive V 9

" Of Captain ! this same Solomon of the Or-,
cadian Ophir— I am sure no man need to send
tbither to fetch either talents of gold or talents of
sense !— I say, this wise man had watered the
young apple-trees, in his great tenderness, with
hot water, and they are perished, root and
branch ! But what avails grieving ? — And I wish
you would tell me, instead, what is all the din
that these good folks are making about pirates ?
and what for all these ill-looking men, that are
armed like so mony Highlandmen. assembled in
the judgment-chamber ? — for I am just come from
the other side of the island, and I have heard
nothing distinct about it. — And, now I look at
you yoursell, Captain, I think you have mair of
these foolish pistolets about you than should suf-
fice an honest man 1n quiet times V 9

« And so think I too," said the pacific Trifbn f
old Haagen, who had been an unwilling follower;
of the daring Montrose ; <« if you had been in the
Glen of Edderachyllis, when we were sae sair

worried by Sir John Worry "

" You have forgot the whole matter, neigh;
hour Haagen," said the Factor z " Sir John Urry
was on your side, and was ta'en with Montrose;
by the same token, he lost his head !"

«« Did he V 9 said the Triton. — " I believe yon
may be right ; for he changed sides mair than

THE PIRATE. 211

anes, and wha kens jvhilk be died for ? — But al-
ways he was there, and so was I ; — a fight there
Was, and I never wish to see another V 9

The entrance of the Provost here interrupted
their desultory conversation.-—" We have deter-
mined," he said, " Captain, that your ship shall
go round to Stromness, or Scalpa-flow, to take
in stores* in order that there may be no more
Quarrels between the Fair folks and your seamen.
And as you wish to stay on shore to see the Fair,
"Vre intend to send a respectable gentleman on
Voard your vessel to pilot her round the Main-
land, as the navigation is but ticklish."

" Spoken like a sensible and quiet magistrate,
^Ir. Mayor," said Cleveland, " and no otherwise
Ithan as I expected. — And what gentleman is to
tonour our quarter-deck during my absence ?"

*« We have fixed that too, Captain Cleveland,"
said the Provost ; " you may be sure we were
each more desirous than another to go upon so
pleasant a voyage, and in such good company ;
tut being Fair time, most of us have some affairs
in hand — I myself, in respect to my office, cannot
be well spared — the eldest Baillie's wife is lying-
in — the Treasurer does not agree with the sea
—two Baillies have the gout — the other two are
absent from town — and the other fifteen mem-
bers of council are all engaged on particular
business."

«• All that I can tell you, Mr. Mayor," said
Cleveland, raising his voice, " is that I ex-
pect "

. « A moment's patience if you please, Captain,"
said the Provost, interrupting him—*' So that we
have come to the resolution that our worthy Mr.
Triptolcmus Yellowley, who is Factor to the
Lord Chamberlain of these islands, shall, in re-

Sit TPHE PIRATE.

spect of his official situation, be preferred to the
honour and pleasure of accompanying you."

" Me! " said the astonished Triptolemus ;
*' what the devil should I do going on your voy-
ages ? — my business is on dry land !"

" The gentlemen want a pilot," said the Pro-
vost, whispering him, " and there is no eviting
to give them one,''

«* Do they want to go bump on shore, then V s
said the Factor — « how the devil should I pilot
them, that never touched rudder in my life ?"

" Hush !— hush !— be silent !" said the Pro-
vost ; " if the people of this town heard ye say
such a word 9 your utility and respect, and rank,
and every thing else, is clean gone 1 — No msn is
any thing with us island folks, unless be can hand,
reef, and steer ! — besides, it is but a mere form ;
and we will send old Pate Sinclair to help you.
Tou will have nothing to do but to eat, drink,
and be merry all day."

« Eat and drink ?" said the Factor, not able to
comprehend exactly why this piece of duty was
pressed upon him so hastily, and yet not very
capable of resisting or extricating himself from
the toils of the more knowing Provost — u Eat
and drink ! that is all very well ; but, to speak
truth, the sea does not agree with me any more
than with the Treasurer; and I have always a
better appetite for eating and drinking ashore."

"Hiish, hush, hush !" again said the Provost,
in an under tone of earnest expostulation ; " would
you actually ruin your character out and out ?—
A Factor of the High Chamberlain of the Isles
of Orkney and Zetland, and not like the sea !—
you might as well say you are a Highlander, and
do not like whiskey I"
"You must settte it aow&W«, ^^smW >

THE PIRATS. 313

said Captain Cleveland ; " it is time we were un-
der weigh — Mr. Triptolemus Yellowley, are we
to be honoured with your company ?"

" I am sure, Captain Cleveland," stammered
the Factor, " I would have no' objection to go
^ny where with you — only "

" He has no objection," said the Provost, catch?
ing at the first limb of the sentence, without
^waiting the conclusion.

" lie has no objection," cried the Treasurer.

" He has no objection," sung out the whole
four Baillies together; and the fifteen Councillors,
sill catching up the same phrase of assent, re-
peated it in chorus, with the additions of — " good
man" — « public spirited" — " honourable gentle-
man"—" burgh eternally obliged" — " where will
you find such a worthy Factor ?" and so forth.

Astonished and confused at the praises with
Avhich he was overwhelmed on all sides, and in no
-shape understanding the nature of the transaction
that was going forward, the astounded and over-
whelmed agriculturist became incapable of re-
sisting the part of the Kirkwall Curtius thus in-
sidiously forced upon him, and was delivered up
by Captain Cleveland to his party, with the
•strictest injunctions to treat him with honour and
attention. Goffe and his companions began now
to lead him off, amid the applauses of the whole
meeting, after the manner in which the victim of
ancient days was garlanded and greeted by shouts,
when consigned to the priests, for the purpose of
being led to the altar as a sacrifice for the com-
monweal. It was while they thus conducted, and
in a manner forced him out of the council-cham-
ber, that poor Triptolemus, much alarmed at find-
ing that Cleveland, in whom he had some confi-
deace, was to remain behind the party, tried,

214 THE PJRATE.

when just going out at the door, the effect of one re*
monstrating bellow.— " Nay, but - Provost !-^
Captain ! — Baillies! — Treasurer! — Councillors.]
— if Captain Cleveland does not go aboard to pro-
tect me, it is nae bargain, and go I will not, un-
less I am trailed with cart-ropes !"

His protest was, however, drowned in the una^
nimous chorus of the Magistrates and Councillors
returning him thanks for his public spirit — wish-
ing him a good voyage— and praying to Qparen
for his happy and speedy return.. Stunned and
overwhelmed, and thinking, if he had any dis-
tinct thoughts at all, that remonstrance was vain,
where friends and strangers seemed alike deter-
mined to carry the point against him, Triptule-
miis, without further resistance, suffered himself
to be conducted into the street, where the pirate's
boat's crew,assembling around him,began to move
slowly towards the quay, many of the townsfolk^
following out of curiosity, but without any attempt
at interference or annoyance ; for the pacific com*
promise which the dexterity of the first Magis-
trate had achieved was unanimously approved of
as a much better settlement of the disputes be-
twixt them and the strangers, than might have
been attained by the dubious issue of an appeal
to arms.

Meanwhile, as they went slowly along, Tripto-
lernus had time to study the appearance, counte-
nance, and dress of those into whose hands he had
been thus delivered, and began to imagine that
he read in their looks not only the general expres-
sion of a desperate character, but some sinister
intentions directed particularly towards 'himself*
He was alarmed by tbetrjtculent looks of Goffe.
in particular, who, holding his arm with a gripe
which resembled in delicacy of touch the com-

THE PIRATE. 215

pression of a smith's vice, cast on him from the
outer corner of his eje oblique glances, like those
which the eagle throws- upon the prey which she
has clutched, ere yet she proceeds to plume it.
At length Yellowley's fears got so far the better
of his prudence, that he fairly asked his terrible
conductor, in a sort of crying whisper, " Are
you going to murder me, Captain, in the face of
the laws baith of God and man ?"

" Hold your peace, if you are wise," said Gofle,
who had his own reasons for desiring to increase
the panic of his captive ; " we have not murdered
a man these three months, and why should you
put us in mind of it ?"

** You are but joking, I hope, good worthy Cap-
tain, 9 ' replied Triptolemus. u This is worse than
witches, dwarfs, dirking of whales, and cowping of
cobles, put all together! — this is an away-ganging
crop, with a vengeance ! — What good, in Heaven's
name, would murdering me do to you ?"

" We might have some pleasure in it, at least,"
said Goffe, — " Look these fellows in the face, and
see if you see one among them that would not
rather kill a man than let it alone ? — But we will
speak more of that when you have first had a
tasie of the bilboes — unless, indeed, you come
down with a handsome round handful of Chili
boards* for your ransom."

" As I shall live by bread, Captain/' answered
the Factor, " that misbegotten dwarf has carried
off the whole hornful of silver !"

" A cat-and-nine- tails will make you find it
again," said Goffe, gruffly ; " flogging and pickling
is an excellent receipt to bring a man's wealth in*-
to his mind—twisting a bow-string round his skutl
till the eyes start a little is a very good way too."

* Commonly called by landsmen Spanish dollars.

/

SIC THE PIRATES.

u

Captain," replied Yellowley, stoutly, "I hate
no mooej — seldom can improvers have. — We turn
pasture to tillage, and barley into aits, and heather
into greensward, and the poor yarpha, as the be-
nighted creatures here call their peat-bogs, into
baittle grass-land ; bat we seldom make any thing
of it that comes back to our ain pouch. — The carles
and the cart-avers make it all, and the carles and
the cart-avers eat it all, and the de'il clink doon
with it!"

"Well, well," said Goffe, "if you be really a
poor fellow, as you pretend, I'll stand your friend;"
then inclining iiis head so as to reach the ear of the
Factor, who stood on tip- toe with anxiety, he said,

If you love your life, do not enter the boat with

us!"

" But how am 1 to get away from you, while you
hold me so fast by the arm, that 1 could not get off
if the whole year's crop of Scotland depended on
it ?"

" Harkye, you gudgeon," said Goffe, '"just
when you come to the water's edge, and when the
fellows are jumping in and taking their oars, slue
yourself round suddenly to the larboard — I will let
go your arm — -and then cut and run for your life!"

Triptolemus did as he was desired, Goffe's will-
ing hand relaxed the grasp as he had promised,
the agriculturist trundled off like a foot-ball that
has just received a strong impulse from the foot
of one of the players, and, with celerity which
surprised himself as well as all the beholders, fled
through the town of Kirkwall. Nay, such was
the impetus of his retreat, thnt, as if the grasp of
the pirate was still open to pounce upon him, he

THE F1RATE. , 217

A

aever stopped till he had traversed the whole
town, and attained the open country on the other
ride. They who had seen him that day — his hat
itul wig lost in the sudden effort he had made to
>o!t forward, his cravat awry, and his waistcoat
mbuttoned, — and who had an opportunity of com-
taring his round spherical form and short legs
fith the portentous speed at which he scoured
trough the streets, might well say, 'that if Fury
ftinisters arms, Fear confers wings.

There was no pursuit after the agriculturist;
md though a musket or two were presented, for
turpose of sending a leaden messenger after him,
r et Gofie, turning peace-maker for once in his
tfe, so exaggerated the dangers which would at-
tend a breach of the truce with the people of
f&rkwalf, that he prevailed Upon the boat's-crew
to forbear any active hostilities, and to pull off
for their vessel with all dispatch. ' ' , '

The burghers, who regarded the escape of .
Triptolemus as a triumph On their side, gave the
boat three cheers, by way of an insulting farewell ;
while the Magistrates, on the other hand, enter-
tained great anxiety respecting the probable con-
sequences of this breach of articles between them
ma the pirates ; and, could they have seized upon
the fugitive very privately, instead of compliment-
ing him with a civic feast m honour of the agility
which he displayed, it is likely Ihey might have
delivered the runaway hostage once more into
the hands of his foemen. But it was impossible 'o
let their face publicly to such an act of violeike,
and therefore they contented themselves with
closely watching Cleveland, whom they deter-
mined to make responsible for any aggression
which might J>e attempted by the pirates. Cieve-
htod, on his* part, easily conjectured that tkfc

19 vol. 2.

%

218 THE PIRATE.

motive which Goffe had for suffering the hostage
to escape was to leave him answerable for all coo-
sequences, and, relying more on the attachment
and intelligence of his friend and adherent Fre-
deric Altainont, alias Jack Bunce, than on asy
thing else, expected the result with considerable
anxiety, since the Magistrates, though they con-
tinued to treat him with civility, plainly intimated
they would regulate his treatment upon the beba*
viour of the crew, though he no longer command-
ed them.

It was not, however, without 'some reason that
he reckoned on the devoted fidelity of Buuce ; to
no sooner did that trusty adherent receive from
Goffe, and the boat's crew, the news of tbe es-
cape of Triptolemus, than be immediately con-
cluded it had been favoured by the late Captain,
in order (hat, Cleveland being either put to death
or consigned to hopeless imprisonment, Goffe
might be called upon to resume the command °'
the vessel.

" But the drunken old boatswain shall miss his
mark," said Bunce to his confederate Fletcher;
44 or else I am contented to quit the name of Al-
tamont, and be called Jack Bunce, or Jack
Dunce, if you like it better, to the end of the
chapter."

Availing himself accordingly of a sort of nau-
tical eloquence, which his enemies termed slack-
jaw, Bunce set before the crew, in a most animat-
ed manner, the disgrace which they ail sustained
by their Captain remaining, as he was pleased to
term it, in the bilboes, without any hostage to
answer for his safety, and succeeded so far, that,
besides exciting a good deal of discontent against
Goffe, he brought Ihe crew to the resolution of
seizing the first vessel of a tolerable appearance.,

THE PIRATE. 219

and declaring that the ship, crew, and cargo,
should be dealt with according to the usage which
Cleveland (should receive on shore. It was judged
at the same time proper to try the faith of the
Orcadians, by removing from the road-stead of
Kirkwall, and going round to that of Stromness,
where, according to the treaty betwixt Provost
Torf and Captain Cleveland, they were to vic-
tual their sloop. They resolved, in the mean-
time, to entrust the command of the vessel to a
council, consisting of Goffe, the boatswain, and
Bunce himself, until Cleveland should be in a
situation to resume bis command.

These resolution* having been proposed and
acceded to, they weighed anchor, and got their
sloop under weigh, without experiencing any op-
position or annoyance from the battery, which
relieved them of one important apprehension in*,
cidental to their situation.

CHAPTER XVI.

Clap on more sail, pursue, up with your fights,

Give fire — -she is my prize, or ocean whelm them all*

Shaksp£are.

A very handsome brig, which, with several
other vessels, was the property of Magnus Troil,
the great Zetland Udaller, had received on board
that Magnate himself, his two lovely daughters,
and the facetious Claud Halcro, who, for friend-
ship's sake chiefly, and the love of beauty proper
to his poetical calling, attended them on ttavc.

220 THE PIRATE.

journey from Zetland to the Capital of Ork-
ney, to which Norpa had referred them, as the
place where her mystical oracles should at length
receive a satisfactory explanation. They passed
at a distance the tremendous cliffs of the lone-
ly spot of earth called the Fair Isle, which, at an
equal distance from either Archipelago, lies in
the sea which divides Orkney from Zetland, ami
at length, after some baffling winds, made the
Start of Sanda. Off the headland so named, they
became involved in a strong current, well known
by those who frequent these seas, as the Roost of
the Start, which carried them considerably out of
their course, and, joined to an adverse wind, for-,
ced them to keep on the east side of the island of
Stronsa, and, finally, compelled them to li^ bye
for the night in Papa; Sound, since the navigation
in dark or thick weather, amongst sp many low
islands, is neither pleasant nor safe*

On the ensuing morning, they resumed their
voyage under more favourable auspices, and coast*
ing along the island of Stronsa, whose flat, ver-
dant, and comparatively fertile shores, formed a
strong contrast to the dun hills and dark cliffs of
their own islands, they doubled the cape called
the Lambhead, and stood away for Kirkwall*

They had scarce opeiiH the beautiful bay
betwixt Pomona and Shapinsha, and the sisters
were admiring the masshe church of Saint Mag-
nus, as it was first seen to rise from amongst the
inferior buildings of Kirkwall, when the eyes
of Magnus and of Claud Halcro were attracted
by an object which they thought more interest*
ing. This was an armed sloop with her sails set,
which bad just left the anchorage in the bay,
and was running before the wind by which the
hrig of the Udaller was beating in*

THE PIRATE, 221

"A tight thing that, by my ancestor's bones,"
Aid the old Udaller ; " but 1 cannot make out of
vhat country, as she shews no colours, Spanish
ftuilt, ( should think her."

"Ay, ay," said Claud Halcro, "she has all
lie look of it. She runs before the wind that we
must battle with, which is the wonted way of the
ffrorld. As glorious John says,

'With roomy deck, and guns of mighty strength,
* Whose low-laid mouths each mountain billow laves,
J)e«p in her draught, and warlike in her length.
She seems a sea-wasp flying on the waves.'

Brenda could not help telling Halcro, when
be, had spouted this stanza with great enthusi-
asm, " that though the description was more
like a first-rate than a sloop, yet the simile of the
>ea-wasp served but indifferently for either*"

" A sea- Wasp,' V said Magnus, looking with
some surprise, as the sloop, shifting her course,
suddenly bore down on them. "Egad, 'I wish
die may not shew us presently that she has a
■ting."

What the Udaller said in jest, was fulfilled in
Earnest ; for, without hoisting colours, or hail-
ing, two shots were discharged from the sloop,
&ne of which ran dipping and dancing upon the
•rater, just a-head of the Zetlander's bows, while
the other went through his main-sail. Magnus
Caught up a speaking-trumpet and hailed the
iloop, to demand what she was, and what was
the meaning of this unprovoked aggression.
He was only answered by the stern command,
c Down top-sails instantly, and lay your main-
sail to the mast— you shall s«e who we are pre-
sently."

1 9 *- vot. 2.

2*2 THE PIRATfi.

There was do means within the rfeach of pos-
sibility by which obedience could be evaded,
where it would instantly have been enforced by
a broadside ; and with much fear on the part of
the sisters and Claud Halcro, mixed with anger
and astonishment on that of the Udafler, the brig
lay-to to await the commands of the captors. The
sloop immediately lowered a boat, with six armed
hands^ommanded by Jack Bunce, which rowed
directly for their prize. As they approached her,
Claud Halcro whispered to the Udaller, *'If wfiat
we hear of buccaneers be true, these men, with
their silk scarfs and vests, have the very cut of
them."

" My daughter* ! my daughters V* muttered
Magnus to himself, with such an agony as only
a father could feel — " Go down below, and hide
yourselves, girls, while I "

He threw down his speaking-trumpet, and
Seized on a handspike, while his daughter, more
afraid of the consequences of his fiery temper to
himself than of any thing else, hung round Mm,
and begged him to make no resistance. Claud
Halcro united his entreaties, adding, " It were
best pacify the fellows with fair words. — They
might, 9 ' he said, " be Dunkirkers, or insolent man-
of-war's men on a frolic."

" No, no," answered Magnus, " it is the sloop
which the J agger told us of. But 1 will take
your advice — I will have patience for these girl*'
sakes ; — yet- "

He had no time to conclude the sentence, for
Bunce jumped on board with his party, and
drawing his cutlass, struck it upon the compa-
nion-ladder, and declared the ship wa4 theirs.

" By what warrant or authority do you stof
us on the high seas ?" said Magnus,

I

THE PIRATE. 2*3

u Here are half a dozen of warrants/ 1 said
Bunce, shewing the pistols which were hung
found him, according to a pirate-fashion already
mentioned, " chuse which you like, old gentle-
man, and you shall have perusal of it presently/ 1

"That is to say, you intend to rob us ? w said
Magnus. — "So be ifc — we have no means to help
it— only be civil to the women,* and take what
ou please from the vessel. There is not much,
lit 1 will and can make it worth more, if you
ase us well.'*

" Civil to the women !" said Fletcher, who
had also come on board rfith the gang—" when
were we else than civil to them ? ay, and kind to
hoot 1 — Look here, Jack Bunce ! — what a trim-
going little thing here is ! — By G — , she shall
make a cruize with us, come of old Squaretoes
what will !"

He seized upon the terrified Brenda with one
hand, and insolently pulled back with the other
the hood of the mantle in which she had muf&ed
herself.

* Help, father ! — Ijelp, Minna !*' exclaimed the
affrighted girl, unconscious at the moment that
they were unable to render her assistance.

Magnus again uplifted the handspike, but Bunce
stopped his hand. — " Avast, father !" he said,
" or you will make a bad voyage of it presently—-
And vou, Fletcher, let go the girl V J

" And d — n me ! why should I let tier go ?" said
Fletcher.

"Because I command you, Dick," said the
other, "and because 1*11 make it a quarrel else.
— And now let roe know, beauties, is there one of
you bears that queer heathen name of Minna, for
which I bave a certain sort of regard?'* :

22* THE PIRATE.

" Gtllaat sir !" said Hakro, " unquestionably
it is because you have some poetry in your heart. r

" I have had enough of it in my mouth in my
time,' 1 auswered Bunce; "hut that day is by,
old gentleman — however, I shall soon find out
which of these girls is Minna. — Throw back your .
nonfilings from your faces, and don't be afraid,
my bright Lindamiras, no on% here shall meddle
with you to do you wrong. — On my soul, two
pretty wenches — I wish 1 were at sea in an egg-
shell, and a rock under my, lee-bow, if I would
wish abetter leaguer-lass than the worst of them!
Hark you, my girls, which of you would like to J
swing in a rover's hammock ? — you should have
gold for the gathering !"

The terrified girls clung close together, and

Sew pale at the bold and familiar language of
e desperate libertine.

u Nay, don't be frightened," said he ; " no one
shall serve under the noble Altamont but by her
own free choice. — There is no pressing amongst
gentlemen of fortune. And do not look so shy
upon me neither, as if I spoke of what you never
thought of before. Que of you, at least, has heard
of Captain Cleveland, the Rover."

Brenda grew still paler, but the blood mount-
ed at once in. Minna's cheeks, on- hearing the name
of her lover thus unexpectedly introduced ; for
the scene was in itself so confounding, that the
idea of the vessel's being the consort of wlucb
Cleveland had spoken at Burgh-Westra had oc-
curred to no one save the Udaller.

" r see how it is," said Bunce, with a familiar
nod, %4 and 1 .will hold my course accordingly*
You need not be afraid of any injury, father,''
he added, addressing Magnus familiarly; "and
though I have made many a pretty girl pay trf-

THE PIRATE. 22f

bote in nay time, yet yours shall go ashore with-
out either wrong or ransom."

If yoa will assure me of that," said Magnus,

you are as welcome to the brig and cargo as
&ver I made man welcome to a can of punch."

"And it is no bad thing that same can of
punch," said, Bunce, "if we had any one here
that could mix it well."

" I will do it," said Claud Halcro, " with any
tean that ever squeezed lemon, — Erick Scambes-
ter, the punch-maker of Burgh* Wettra/ tyeing
HJone excepted.''

"And yod are within a grapnell's length of
bun too," said the Udaller. — "*Go down below,
Ony girls," be added, " and send up the rare old
Kuan and the punchbowl."

"The punchbowl!" said Fletcher; "I say
the bucket, d~n me ! — Talk of bowls in the
fcabin of a paltry merchantman, but not to gen-
tlemen strollers — rovers, 1 woukl say," correcting
himself, as he observed that Bunce looked sour
at the mistake*

"And I say these two pretty girls shall stay
an deck and fill my, can," said Bunce; "Ide-
ierve v some attendance at least for all my gene-
rosity,"

" And they shall fill mine too," said Fletcher—
'< they shall fill it to the brim; and 1 will have
a kiss for every drop they spills — brpil me if 1
won't!"

"Why then I tell you you shan't!" said
Bunce ; u for Til be d — d if any one shall kis*
If inpa but one, and that's neither you nor I ; and
ler other little bit of a consort shall scape for
:ompany ; — there are plenty of willing weucbet
n Orkney. And so, now I think on it, these girl*
hall go down below and bolt theiftselvea into *&•

S*6 THE PIRATE.

cabin, and we will have the punch up here
deck, al fresco, as the eU gentlemen propose!
< " Why, Jack, I wish you knew year i
mind/ 9 said Fletcher ; " i have been your a
mate these two yeare, and I love yon ; and
flay me lik^ a wild bullock, if you have no
many humours as a monkey!— And what i
we have to make a little fun o£ since you I
sent the girls down, below ?"

"Why, we will have Master Punch-ra
here^," answered Bunce, "16 give us toasts
sing us songs — And in the meantime, you tt
stand by sheets and tacks, and get her under t
— and you, steersman, as you would keep ;
brains in your skull, keep her under the i
of the sloop. — If you attempt to play us
trick, I will scuttle your sconce as if it wei
old calabash!?'

The vessel was accordingly got under '
and moved slowly on in the wake of the s
which, as had been previously agreed upon,
her course not to return to the Bay of Kirk
but for an excellent roadstead called Ingi
Bay, formed by a promontory which extern
the eastward two or three miles from the C
dian metropolis, and where the vessels might
veniently lie at anchor, while the rovers main
ed any.communication with the Magistrates u
the new state of things seemed to require.

Meantime Claud Halcro had exerted his
most talents in compounding a bueket-fu
punch for the use of the pirates, which they d
out of large cans ; the ordinary seamen, as w
Bunce and Fletcher, who acted as officers,
ping them into the bucket with very little •
mony, as they came and went upon their
Magnus, who was particularly apprehensive

L

THE PIRATE, £27

>r might awaken the brutal passions of these
eradoea, w*» yet so mud* astonished at the
ttities which he saw them drink, without pro-
ng any visible effect upon their reason, that
ouW not help expressing his surprise to Bunce
telf,wbo, wild as be was, jet appeared by far
most civil and conversable of his. party, and
m he was, perhaps, desirous to conciliate, by
rapliment of which all boon topers kuow the
e*

Bones of Saint Magnus !" said the Uddier,
iaed to think 1 took off my can like a gentle-
i ; but to see your men swallow, Captain, one
Jd think their stomachs were as bottomless
he hole of Laifell in Foula, which I have
ided myself with a line of an hundred fa-
ns."

In our way of life, sir," answered Bunce,
ere is no stint till the duty calls, or the pun-
on is drank out."

By my word, sir/' said Claud Halcro, " I be-
e there is not one of your people but could
kk out the mickle bicker of Scapa, which was
ay* offered to the Bishop of Orkney brimful of
best bemmock that ever was brewed/ 1
1 If drinking could make them bishops," said
nee, " I should have a reverend crew of them ;
,aa they have no other clerical qualities about
m, I do not propose that they shall get drunk
iay ; so we will cut our drink with a song."
*And I'll sing it, by — — !" said or swore
;k Fletcher, and instantly struck up the old
ty—

" It was a ship, and a ship of fame,
Launch'd off the stocks, bound for the main.
With a hundred and fifty brisk you«g men,
Ml picked a»d chosen every one."

I

9*8 THK f IRATE.

. "1 would sooner be keel-hauled than bear
that song over again," said Bunce ; " and con-
found your lantern jaws, you can squceae bo*
thing else out pf them/'

« By " said flatcker, " I mil sing oj

gong, whether you like it or no ;" and again be
fung, with the doleful lone of a north-easter
whistling through sheet afid ahrouds,

" Captain Glen was our captain's name ;
A very gallant and brisk young man j
# A 6 bold ct sailor's ere went to sea,
.^n<\ we were, bound for lligb Bajrbary ."

"1 tell you again,'' said Bunce, " we will na*«
none of your screech-owl music nere ; and I'll
be d — d if you shall sit here and make that ra-
fernal noise. 1 '

" Why then, Til tell you what," said Fletcher,
getting up, " 111 sing when I walk about, and
1 hope there is no harm in that, Jack Bunce."
And sa getting up from his seat, he began ty
walk up and down . the sloop; croaking out bis
long and disastrous ballad.

u You see how I manage them," said Bunce,
with a smile of self-applause — "allow that fel-
low two strides on his own Way, and you make
a mutineer of him for life. But I tie him strict
up, and he folio w3 me as kindly as a fowler's
spaniel, after he has got a good beating.— And
now your toast anoVyour song, sir/ 1 addressing
Halcro ; " or rather jour song without your
toast. I have got a toast fe>r myself. Here is
success to all roving blades, and confusion to all
honest men !"

" I should be sorry to drink that toast, if '
could help it," said Magnus Troil.

THE PIRATE. 229

" What, you reckon yourself one of the ho-
nest folks, I warrant," said Bunce. — " Tell me
your trade, and I'll tell you what I think of it*
As for the punch-maker here, I knew him at first
glance to be a tailor, who has, therefore, no more
pretensions to be honest than not to be mangy.
But you are some High Dutch skipper, I war-
rant me, that tramples on the cross when he is in
Japan, and denies his religion for a day's gain."

" No," replied the Udaller, u I am a gentle-
man of Zetland."

" O, what," retorted the satirical Mr. Bunce,
"you are come from the happy climate where
gin is a groat a bottle, and where there is day-
light for ever ?"

" At your service, Captain, 5 * said tfie Udaller,
suppressing with much pain some disposition to
resent these jests on his country, although under
every risk, and at all disadvantage.

"At my service!" said Bunce — " Ay, if there
was a rope stretched from the wreck to the beach,
you would be at my service to cut the hawser,
make floatsome and jetsome of ship and cargo,
and well if you did not give me a rap on the head
with the back of the cutty-axe; and you. call
yourself honest? But never mjnd— here goes the
aforesaid toast—and do you sing me a song, Mas- '
ter Fashioner ; and look it be as good as your
punch." #

Halcro internally praying for the powers of a
new Timotheus, to turn his strain and check his
pride, as glorious John had it, began a heart-
soothing ditty with the following lines :

" Maidens fresh as fairest rose,
Listen to this lay of mine."

2p vol. 2.

230 THE PIRATE.

"I will bear nothing of maidens or rose^/'
•aid Banco ; " it puts me in mind what sort «/

a cargo we hare got on board ; and, by 9 I

will be true to my messmate and my captain as
long as I can.— And now I think on't, Pll have
no more punch either — that last cap made in-
novation, and I am not to play Cassio to-night
—and if I drink not, nobody else shall*"

So saying, he ^manfully kicked over the backet,
which, notwithstanding the repeated applications
made to it, was still half full, got up from bis
•eat, shook himself a little to rights, as he ex-
pressed it, cocked his hat, and walking the quar-
ter-deck with an air of dignity, gave, by word
and signal, the orders for bringing the ships to
anchor, which were readily Obeyed by both,
Goffis being then, in all probability, past any ra-
tional state of interference.

The Udaller, in the meantime, condoled with
Halcro on their situation. "It is bad enough, 91
said the tough old Norseman; "for these are
rank rogues— and yet, were it not for the girls,
I should not fear them. That young vapouring
fellow, who seems to command, is not such a bom
devil as he might have been.' 5

" He has queer humours, though," said Halcro;
"and I wish we were loose from him. To kick
down a bucket half full of the best punch ever
was made, and to cut me short in the sweetest
song I ever wrote,-—! promise you, I do not
know what he may do next — it is next door to
madness."

Meanwhile the ships being brought to anchor,
the valiant Lieutenant Bunce called upon Fletch-
er, and resuming his seat by his unwilling passen-
gers, he told them they should see what message
he was about to jend to the wittols of Kirkwall, si

THE PIRATE. 231

&ey were something concerned in it. " It shall
ruo in Dick's name," be said, " as well as in mine.
I love to give the poor young fellow a little coun-
tenance now and then — don't I 9 Dick, you d — d
stupid ass?"

" Why, yes, Jack Bunce," said Dick, " I can't
say but as you do; only you are always bullock-
ing one about something or other too — but, how-
lamdever, d'ye see "

" Enough said — belay your jaw, Dick," said
Bonce, and proceeded to write bis epistle, which
being read aloud, proved to be of the following
tenor : " For the Mayor and Aldermen of Kirk-
wall — Gentlemen, As, contrary to your good
faith given, you have not sent us on board a host-
age for the safety of our Captain remaining on
shore at your request, these come to tell you, we
are not thus to be trifled with. We have already
in our possession a brig, with a family of dis-
tinction, its owners and passengers ; and as you
deal with our Captain, so will we deal with them
in every respect. And as this is the first, so as*
sure yourselves it shall not be the last damage
winch we will do to your town and trade, if you
do not send on board our Captain, and supply *
us with stores according to treaty.

" Given on board the brig Mergoose of Burgh
Westra, lying in Inganess Bay. Witness our
hands, commanders of the Fortune's Favourite,
and gentler&en adventurers. "

He then subscribed himself Frederick Alta-
mont, and handed the letter to Fletcher, who
lead the .said subscription with much difficulty ;
and admiring the sound of it very much, swore he
would have a new name himself, and the rather
that Fletcher was the most crabbed word to spell
and conster, he believed, in the whole dictiwarj*

N

*3£ THE PIRATE.

himself accordingly Timothy Tag-

motton.

"Will you not add a few lines to the cox-
combs ?" said Bunce, addressing Magnus*

" Not 1/' returnejd the Udaller, stubborn ip
his ideas of right and wrong, even in so formi-
dable an emergency. " The Magistrates of Kirk-
wall know their duty, and were I they — " But
here the recollection that his daughters were at
the mercy of these ruffians, blanked the bold
visage of Magnus Troil, and checked the defi-
ance which was just about to issue from bis
lips,

" D — n me," said Bunce, who easily conjec-
tured what was passing in the mind of his pri-
soner — " that pause would have told well on tbe
stage — it would have brought down pit, box, and
gallery, egad, as Bayes has it."

" I will hear nothing of Bayes," said Claud
Halcro, (himself a little elevated,) " it is an im-
pudent satire on glorious John ; but he tickled

Buckingham off for it—

» •

' In tbe first rank pf these did Zirari aland f

A man so various— — ' " - v

" Hold your peace," said Bunce, drowning the
voice, of the admirer of Dryden in louder and more
vehement asseveration, " the Rehearsal is tbe best
farce ever was written — and I'll make him kiss tbe
gunner's daughter that denies it*. D — n me, 1
l^as the best Prince Prettyman ever walked tbe
boards— -

< *

' Sometimes a fisher's son, " suuieiimcs a prince '

THE PIRATE. «S8

Sat let us to basi new. —Hark ye, old getitleman,
(to Magnus,) you have a sort of sulkiness about
you, for which some of my profession would cut
your ears out of your head, and broil them for your
dinner with red pepper. I have known Goffe do so
to a poor devil, for looking sour and dangerous
when be saw his sloop go to Davy Jones 9 locker
with his only son on board. But I'm a -spirit of
another sort ; and if you or the ladies are ill used,
it shall be the Kirkwall people's fault, and not
nine, and that's fair ; and so you had better let
them know your condition, and your circum-
stances, and so forth,-— and that's fair too."

Magnus, thus exhorted, took up the pen, and
attempted to write ; but his high spirit so strug-
gled with his paternal anxiety, that his hand re*
fused its office. . " i cannot help it," he said,
after one or two illegible attempts to write— "I
cannot form a letter if all out' lives depended
upon it."

And he could not, with his utmost efforts, so
suppress the convulsing emotions which be expe-
rienced, but that they agitated his whole frame*
The willow which bends to the tempest often es-
capes better than the oak which resists it ; and so,
in great calamities, it sometimes happens, that
light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and
presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier cha-
racter. In the present case, Claud Halcro was
fortunately able to perform the task which the
deeper feelings of his friend and patron refused*
He took the pen, and, in as few words as possi-
v We, explained the situation in which they were,
placed, and the cruel risks to which they were
exposed, insinuating, at the same time, as deli-
cately as he could express it, that, to the magis-
trates of the country, the life "and honour <sC \\& ^
20* ' vol. U. m

£34 THE PIRATE.

citisans should be a dearer object than even the
apprehension or punishment of the guilty ,; tak*
ing care, however, to qualify the last expression
as much as possible, for fear of giving umbrage
to the pirates*

Bonce read over the letter, which fortunately
met his approbation ; and, on seeing the name
of Claud Halcro at the bottom, he exclaimed, io
great surprise, and with more energetic expra*
sions of asseveration than we chuse to record--*
" Why, you are the little fellow that played the
fiddle to old Manager Gadabout's company) at
Hogs Norton, the first season I came out there !
I thought I knew your catch-word of glorious
John,"

At another time this recognition might not
have been : very grateful to Halcro's minstrel
pride ; but, as matters stood with him, the disco-
very of a golden mine could not have made hrrti
more happy. He instantly remembered the
very hopeful young performer who came out in
Don Sebastian, and judiciously added, that the
muse of glorious John had never received such
excellent support during the time that he was
first (he might have added, and only) violin to
Mr. Gadabout's company.

" Why yes, 9 ' said Bunce, " I beKeve you are
right— 1 think I might have shaken the scene as
well as Booth or Betterton either. But i was
destined to figure on other boards, (striking his
foot upon the deck,) and 1 believe I must stick
by them, till I find no board at all to support
me. But now, old acquaintance, I will do some-
thing for you — slue yourself this way a bit — 1
would have you solus." They leaned over the
taffrail, while Bunce whispered with more seri-
ousness than he usually shewed, " I am sorry for

THE PIRATE. 23*

this honest old heart of Norway pine — blight
if I am not— -and for the daughters too— besides*
I have my own reasons for befriending one of
them* I can be a wild fellow with a willing lass
of the gave ; hot to such decent and innocent
creatures— d—n me, I aa Scipio at Nuroantia,
and Alexander in the tent of Darius. You re-
member how I touch off Alexander, (here he
started into heroics.)

* Thus from the grave I rise to save my love ;
All draw your swords, with wings of lightning" move.
When I rush on, sure none will dare to stay —
'Tis beauty calfe, and glory shews the way..' "

<

Claud Halcro failed not to bestow the neces*
sary commendations on his declamation, declar-
ing that, in his opinion as an honest man, he had
always thought Mr. Altamont's giving that speech
far superior in tone and energy to Betterton.

Bunco, or Altamont, wrung his hand tenderly.
"Ah, you flatter me, my dear friend," he said;
"yet, why had not the public some of your judg-
ment !— 1 should not then have been at this pass.
Heaven knows, my dear Mr. Halcro— heaven knows
with what pleasure I could keep you on board
with me, just that I might have one friend who
loves as much to hear, as I do to recite, the
choicest pieces of our finest dramatic authors*
The most of\us are beasts — and, for the Kirk-
wall hostage yonder, be used me, egad* as i use
Fletcher, I think, and huffs me the more, the
more 1 do for him. But how delightful it would
be in a tropic night, when the ship was hanging
on the breeze, with a broad and steady sail, for
me to rehearse Alexander, with you for my pit,
box, sjnd gallery ! Nay, for you are a follower of
tije muses, as ^ remember, who knows but you

1

*36 THE PIRATE.

and I might be the means of inspiring^ like Of*
pheus and JEurydice, a pure taste into oar eom*
panions, and softening their manner*, while we
excited their better feelings ?"

This was spoken with so much uw tion, that
Claud Halcro began to be afraid he had both
made the actual punch over potent, and mixed
too many bewitching ingredients in the cap of
lattery which he bad administered ; and that, oft'
der the influence of both potions, the sentimen-
tal pirate might detain him by force, merely to
realize the scenes which bis imagination present-
ed. The conjuncture was, however, too delicate
to admit of any active effort, on Halcro's part,
to redeem his blunder, and therefore he only re-
turned the tender pressure of his friend's band,
and uttered the interjection, "alaa,'' in as pa-
thetic a tone as he could.

Bunee immediately resumed : u You are right,
my friend, these are but vain visions of felicity,
and it remains but for the unhappy Aitamont to
serve the friend to whom he is now to bid fare-
well. I have determined to put you and the two
girls ashore, with Fletcher for your protection;
and so call up the young women, and let them
be gone before the d$vii get aboard of me, or of
some one else. You will carry my letter to tfce
magistrates, and second it with your own elo-
quence, and assure them, that if thgy hprt bat
one hair of Cleveland's head, there will be tbe
devil to pay, and no pitch hot/'

Relieved at heart by this unexpected termina-
tion of Bunce's harangue, Halcro descended tbe
companion ladder two steps at a time, and knock-
ing at the cabin door, could scarce find intelli-
gible language enough to say his errand. The sit*
ters bearing, with unexpected joy, that they 'were

THE PIRATE. 237

to be set ashore, muffled themselves in their
cloaks, and when they learned that the boat was
hoisted out, came hastily on deck, where they
were apprized, for tjie first time, to their great
horror, that their father was still to remain on
board of the pirate*

" We will remain with him at every risk," said
Minna — " we may be of some assistance to him,
were it but for an instant — we will live and die
with him."

" We will aid bhn more surely," said Brenda,
who cosjpprehended the nature of their situation
better than Minna, "by interesting the people
of Kirkwall to grant these gentlemen's de-
mands." ,

" Spoken like an angel of sense and beauty,"
said Bunce ; Q and now away with you $ for,
d — n me, if this is not like having a lighted lin-
stock in the powder-room— if you speak another
word more, confound me if I know how I shall
bring myself to part with you."

"Go, in God's name, my daughters," said
Magnus. " I am in God's hand ; and when yen
are gone I shall care little foi* myself— a^d I shall
thiftk and say, as long as I live, that this good
gentleman deserves a better trade. — Go— get-
away with you" — for they yet lingered in unwil-
lingness to leave him. -

" Stay not to kiss," said Bonce, " for fear 1
be tempted to ask my share. Into the boat with
you — yet stop an instant." He drew the tbrte
captives apart — "Fletcher," said he, "will an-
swer for the rest of the fellows, and will see you
safe off the sea-beach. But how to answer for
Fletcher, I know not, except by trusting Mr.
Halcro with this little guarantee*"

«M THE PIRATE.

He offered the minstrel a small double-bt
led pistol, which, be said, was loaded with a I
of balls. Minna observed Halcro's hand trc
as he stretched it out to take the weapon. "
it to me, sir," she said, taking it from the
law; u and trust to me for defending my
and myself."

" Bravo, bravo ! n shouted Bunce. u 1
spoke a wench worthy of Cleveland, the Ki

novers."
" Cleveland !" repeated Minna, " do you

know that Cleveland, whom you have twic
med ?»

"Know him! Is there a man alive,' 1
Bunce, " that knows better than I do tb<
and stoutest fellow ever stepped betwixt
and stern ? . When he is out of the bilbo
please Heaven be shall soon be, I reckon
you come on board of us, and reign the qu<
every sea we sail over.— You have got the

fiardian, I suppose you know how to use i
letcher behaves ill to you, you need only
up this piece of iron with your thumb, so
if he persists, it is but crooking your prettj
finger thus, and I shall lose the most <
messmate that ever man had— though, d—
dog, he will deserve his death if he disobe
orders. And now, into the 4>oat — but staj
kiss for Cleveland's sake."

B rend a, in deadly terror, endured his c
sy, but Minna, stepping back with disdai
fered her hand. Bunce laughed, but Irisset
a theatrical air, the fair hand which she e
ed as a ransom for her lips, and at length t
ters and Halero were placed in the boat,
rowed off under Fletcher's command.

k

THE PIRATE. f»

Bunce stood on the quarter-deck, soliloquizing
after the manner of his original profession. " Were
tins told at Port Royal now, or at the Isle of
Providence, or in the Petits Guaves, I wonder
what they would say of me ? Why, that I was a

food-natured milksop — a Jack a-lent — an ass.—
Fell, let them. I have done enough of bad to
think about it ; it is worth while doing one good
action, if it were but for the rarity of the thing,
and to put one in good humour, with one's self."
Then turning to Magnus Troil, he proceeded —

"By these are bona robas, these daughters

of yours. The eldest would make her fortune on
the London boards. What a dashing attitude
the wench had with her, as she seized the pistol-*-,
d— n me, that touch would have brought the
house down. What a Roxalana the jade would
have made ! (for, in his oratory, Bunce, like San-
cho's gossip, Thomas Cecial, was apt to use the
most energetic word which came to hand, with-
out accurately considering its propriety*) "I
would give my share of the next prize but to hear
her spout

' Away, be gone, and give a whirlwind room,
Or I will blow you up like dust.— A vaunt !
Madness but meanly represents my rage.'

-And then, again, that little, soft, shy, tearful
trembler, for Statira, to bear her recite,

* He speaks the kindest words, and looks such things,
Vows with such passion, swears with so much grace,
That 'tis a kind of heaven to be deluded by him.'

What a play we might have run up!— I was a
beast not to think of it before 1 sent them off—
I to be Alexander — Claud Halcro, Lysimachus —

THE PIRATE.

this old gentleman might have made a Clitus,
for a pinch. 1 was an ideot not to think of it!"
There was much in this efiusion which might
have displeased the Udaller ; bat, to speak truth,
he paid no attention to it. His eye, and, finally,
hi? spy-glass, was employed in watching the re*
turn of his daughters to the shore. He saw them
land on the beach, and, accompanied by Halcro,
and another man, (Fletcher doubtless,) he saw
them ascend the acclivity, and proceed upon the
road to Kirkwall, and he could even distinguish
that Minna, as if considering herself as the guar-
dian of the party, walked a little aloof from the
rest, on the watch, as it seemed, against surprise,
and ready to act as occasion should require. At
length, as the Udaller was just about to lose sight
of them, be had the exquisite satisfaction to see
the party halt, and the pirate leave them, after a
space just long enough for a civil farewell, and
proceed slowly back, on his return to the beacb.
Blessing the Great Being who had thus relieved
htm from the most agonizing fears which a father
can feel, the worthy Udaller, from that instant,
stood resigned to his own fate, whatsoever that
might be. ; '

THE PIRATE. Mi

CHAPTER XVII.

Ovnr the mountains and under the waves,
Over the fountains and under the graves,
Over floods that are deepest,

Which Neptune obey.
Over rocks that are steepest,
Lore will find out the way.

Old Song.

The parting of Fletcher from Claud Halcro
and the sisters of Burgh- Westra, on the spot
where it took place, was partly occasioned by a
small party of armed men being seen at a dis-
tance in the act of advancing from Kirkwall, an
apparition hidden from the Udaller's spy-glass
by the swell of the ground, but quite visible to
the pirate, whom it determined to consult his
own safety by a speedy return to his boat. He
was just turning away, when Minna occasioned
the short delay which ber father had observed*

"Stop," she said; "I command you! — Tell
your leader from me, that whatever the answer
may be from Kirkwall, he shall carry his vessel,
nevertheless, round to Stromness; and, being
anchored there, let him send a boat ashore /or
Captain Cleveland ^hen he shall see a smoke on
the Bridge of Broisgar."

Fletcher had thought, like his messmate Bunce,
of asking a kiss, at least, for the trouble of es-
corting these beautiful young women ; and, per-
haps, neither the terror of the approaching Kirk-
wall men, nor of Minna's weapon, might have
Erevented his being insolent, but the name of
is Captain, and still more, the unappalled, dig-

21 vol. 2.

%& THE PIRATE.

nified, and commanding manner of Minn*. Troil,
overawed him* He made a sea-bow, promised
to keep a sharp look-out, an4 returning to his
boat, went on board with his message*

As Halcro $nd the sisters proceeded to ad-
vance towards the party whom they saw on the
Kirkwall road, and who, on their part, had halt-
ed as if to observe them, Brenda, relieved from
the fears of Fletcher's presence, which had hither-
to kept. her silent, exclaimed, "Merciful Hea-
ven! — Minna, in what hands have we left our

faarfetber?"

"In the bands of brave men," said Minos,

ateadily-*-" I fear not for him*''

" As brave a* you please," said Claod Hakro,
" but very dangerous rogues for all that.-— 1 knot
that fellow Altamont, as he calls himself, though
that is not his. right name neither, as debosbed a
Sag as ever made a barn ring with blood and
b)*nk verse* He begaa with Bam well, and every
body thought he would end with the gallows,
like the last scene in Venice Preserved.' 1

" It matters not," said JVIimia— ^ thq wilder
the waves, the more powerful is the voice that
roles them* The name alone of Cleveland ruled
the mopd of the fiercest amongst tbera. ,>
-, " 1 am sorry for Cleveland," said Brenda,
"if such are his companions,-*r-bui I care little
for him in comparison to my father*"
. " Reserve your compassion for those who need
ity" said Minna, "and fear aofhiog for our fa*
titer*— £jod knows, every silver hair oo his head
is to me worth the treasure of an unsunned mine ;
but I know that he is safe while in yonder ves-
sel, and I know that he will be soon aafe on
shore."

mm PIRATE/ liar

"I wool* I cotikTsee H," aaidCIaad Halcro;
"bnt'I fear the Kirkwall people, supposing
Cleveland to be such as I dread, will not dare to
exchange trim against the Udaller. The Scott
hare vlrj severe laws against theft-boot, as they
call it."

u Bet who* are thoea on the road before us ?>*
said Brenda; "and why do thej bait there so
jealously !" :

' " They are a patrote of the militia," answered
Halcro. " Glorious John touches them off a
little sharply,— bat then John was a Jacobite,^-

* Mouths without heads, mtintain'd at vast expence,
In peace a charge, in war a weafc. defence ;
Stout once a month, they niafctf, a blustednfc band,
And ever/ but in time of naed, at hand,

* *

•

I ftfrtcy they halted just now-, taking us, as they
saw us on the brow of the hill, for a party Of the
sloop's men, and, now they can distinguish that
you wear petticoats, they are moving on again*"

They came on accordingly, arid proved to be,
Is Claud Halcro had suggested, a patrole sent
out to watch the motions of the pirates, and to
prevent their attempting descents to damage the
country*

They heartily congratulated Claud Halcro,
wbo was Well known to more than one of them,
upon his escape from captivity; and the com-
mander of the party** while offering every assist*
ance to the ladies, could not help condoling with
them on the circumstances in which their father
stood, hinting, though in a delicate and doubtful
manner, the difficulties which might be in the
way of his liberation*

When they arrived at Kirkwall, and obtained
an audience eC the Provost and ota ot tsi* <&

24* *HE PIRATE,

the Magistrates, these difficulties ; #ere more
plainly insisted upon*— u The Halcyon frigate
m upon the coast," said the Provost ; " she was
teen off Duncansbav-head ; and though I have
the deepest respect for Mr. Troil of Buigb-Wes-
tra, yet I shall be answerable to law if I release
from prison the Captain of this suspicions vessel,
on account of the safety of any individual who
nay be unhappily endangered by his detention^
This man is now known to be the heart and soul
of these buccaneers, and am I at liberty to send
him aboard, that he may plunder the country, or
perhaps go fight the Kings's ship ? — for he has im-
pudence enough for any thing."

" Courage enough for any thing, you mean,
Mr* Provost," said Minna, unable to restrain her
displeasure.

" Why, you may call it as you please, Miss
tfroil," said the worthy Magistrate ; " but, in
my opinion, that sort of courage which proposes
to fight singly against two is little better than a
kind of practical impudence."

" But our father ?" said Brenda, in a tone of
the most earnest entreaty — u our father — the
friend, I may say the father, of bis country — to
whom so many look for kindness, and so many
for actual support — whose loss would ba the
extinction of a beacon in a storm—* will you in-
deed weigh the risk which he runs, against suet
a trifling thing as letting an unfortunate man
from prison, to seek his unhappy fate elsewhere ?"

"Miss Brenda is right,'' said Claud Halcro;
" I am for let-a-be, for let- a be, as the boys say ;
and never fash about a warrant of liberation,
Provost, but just take a fboPs counsel, and let
the goodrnan of the jail forget to draw his bolt
on the wicket) or leave a chink of a window open;

TJHE BHU2EE, ?45

V.

er the like, and we will be rid of the rover, and
have the one best honest fellow in Orkney or
Zetland on the lea-side of a bowl of punch with
tis in five hours."

The Provost replied in nearly the same terms
as before, that he had the highest respect for Mr.
Magnus Troil of Burgh-Westra, but that he
could not suffer his consideration for any indivi-
dual, however respectable, to interfere with the
discharge of bis duty.

' Minna then addressed her sister in a tone of
calm and sarcastic displeasure.— " You forget,"
she said, " Brenda, that you are talking of the
safety of a poor insignificant Udaller of Zetland
to no less a person than the Chief Magistrate of,
the metropolis of Orkney— can you expect so
great a person to condescend to such a trifling
subject of consideration ? it will be time enough
for the Provost to think of complying with the
terms sent to him — for comply with them at
length he both must and will — when the Church
of Saint Magnus is beat down about his .ears."

" You may be angry with me, my pretty young
lady," said the good humoured Provost Torfe,
" but" I cannot be ofiended with you. The
Church of Saint Magnus has stood* many a day,
and 1 think will outlive both you and me, much
more yonder pack of unhangedjdogg. And besides
that your father is half An Orkneyman, and has
hoth estate and friends among us, I would, I give
you my word, do as much for a Zetlander in dis-
tress as I would for any one* excepting one of our
own native Kirkwallers, who are doubtless to be

Eeferred. And if you will take up your lodgings
ire with ray wife and tnysdlf, we will endeavour
to shew you," continued be, " that you are as
21* vou 2.

*4* THE PIRATE.

welcome hi Kirkwall a*<e*er yeuodnWbeinLef*
wick or Scalloway ." >

* Minna deigned no reply to this good humour-
ed invitation, but Brenda declined it in civil
terms, pleading the necessity of taking up their
abode with a wealthy widow of Kirkwall, a re*
latioa, who already expected them.

Halcro made another attempt to move the
Provost, but found him inexorable.— 11 The
Collector of the Customs had already threaten-
ed, V he said, " to inform against him for enter*
ing into treaty, or, as he called it, packing and
peeling with those strangers, even when it seemed*
the only means of preventing a bloody affray la
the town ; and, should he now forego the advan-
tage afforded by the imprisonment of' Cleveland
and the escape of the Factor, he might incur
something worse than censure." The burthen of
the whole was, " that 1m was sorry for the UdaUer,
he was sorry even for the lad Cleveland, who had
some sparks of honour about him ; but his duty was
imperious, and must be obeyed.' 9 The Provost
then precluded further argument, by observing,
that another affair from Zetland called for h»
immediate attention* A gentleman named Mer-
toon, residing at JaitshoflT had made complaint
against Snaelsfoot the Jagger for having assisted*
a domestic of his in embezzling aoine valuable
articles which bad been deposited in his custody,
and he was about to take examinations on the
subject, and cause them to be restored to Hw
Mertoun, who was accountable for them to the
right owner.

In all this information, there was nothing
which seemed interesting to the sisters excepting
the fcord Mertoun, which went like a dagger to
the heart of Minna, when she recollected the cir-

THE PIRATE. M?

cootftances under which Mordamt Mertotin bad
disappeared, and which, with an emotion leu
painful, though still of a melancholy nature, call"
ed a faint blush into Breoda's cheek, and a alight
degree of moisture into her eye* But it was soon
evident that the Magistrate spoke not of Mor-
daunt, but of his father; and the daughters of
Magnusy little interested in his detail, took leave
of the Provost to goto their own lodgings.

When they arrived at their relation's, Minim
made it her business to learn, by such inquiries
as she could make without exciting suspicion,
wfafct was the situation of the unfortunate Cleve-
land, which she soon discovered to be exceed-
ingly precarious. The Provost had not, indeed,
committed him to close custody, us Claud Hal*
cro had anticipated, recollecting, perhaps, the
favourable circumstances under which he had
mrretidered himself, and loth, till the moment of
the last necessity, altogether to break faith with
bias. But although left apparently at large, he
was strictly watched by persons well armed and
appointed for the porpose, who had directions
to detain him by force, if he attempted to pass
certain narrow precincts which were allotted to
biow He was quartered in a strong room with*
in what is called the King's Castle, and at night
bis chamber door was locked on the outside, and
a sufficient guard mounted to prevent his escape*
He therefore enjoyed ooly the degree of liberty
which the cat, in her cruel sport, is sometimes
pleased to permit to the mouse which she has
clutched ; and yet, such Was the terror of the ,
resources, the courage, and ferocity of the pi-
rate Captain* that the Provost was blamed by the
Collector, and many other sage citizens of Km*-

« ■.*

S4* THE EttUTE.

wall, for permitting him to be at large ap
conditions*

It may be well believed that, under si
comstances, Cleveland had no desire to si
place of public resort, conscious that he
object of a mixed feeling of 'curiosity and
His favourite place of exercise, , fherefo
the external aisles of the Cathedral o
Magnus* of which the eastern end alone
up for public worship. This solemn old
having escaped the ravage which attgni
first convulsions of the Reformation, still
some appearance of episcopal dignity. Th
of worship is separated by a screes fromtt
and western limb of the cross, and the n
preserved in a state of cleanliness and d
which might be well proposed as an exai
the proud piles of Westminster and Saint

It was in this exterior part of thfc Ct
that Cleveland was permitted, to walk, th<
that his guards, by watching the single o
trance, had the means, with very little ii
nience to themselves, of preventing any ]
attempt at escape. The place' itself w
suited to his melancholy circumstances. T
and vatflted roof rises upon ranges of Sa:
iars, of massive size, four of which, stil
than the rest, N once supported the loft;
which, long since destroyed by accident, h
rebuilded upon a disproportioned and tw
plan. The light is admitted at the east*
through a lofty, well proportioned, and ri<
namented Gothic window, and the pavei
covered with inscriptions, in different lac
distinguishing the graves of noble Orcadia
hive at different times been deposited wi
sacred precincts*

TriE PIRATE. t*0

* Here walked Cleveland, musing over ibe events
of a mis spent life, which it seemed probable might
be brought to a violent and shameful close, while
be was yet in the prime of youth. u With these
dead, 7 * he said, looking on the pavement, " will
1 soon be numbered— bat no holy man will speak
1 blessing— no friendly hand register an inscription
—no proud descendant sculpture armorial bear-
ings over the grave of the pirate Cleveland* My
Whitening bones will swing in the gibbet-irons on
some wild beach or lonely cape, that will be es-
teemed fatal and accurapd for my sake. The old
mariner, as he passes the sound, will shake his
head, and tell of my name and actions as a warning
to his younger comrades. — But Minna !--Minna !—
What will be thy thoughts when the news reaches
thee ? — Would to God the tidings were drowned
in the deepest whirlpool betwixt Kirkwall and
Burgh- Westra ere they came to her ear! — and O,'
Would to Heaven that we had never met, since
We never can meet again!"

He lifted up his eyes as he spoke, and Minna
tVoil stood before him. Her face was pale, and
her hair dishevelled, but her look was composed
and firm, with its usual expression of high-mind*
ed melancholy. She was still shrouded in thfe
large mantle which she had assumed on leaving
the Vessel. Cleveland's first emotion was astonish*
ment, his next was joy, not unmixed with awe.
He would have exclaimed — he would have thrown
himself at her feet, but she imposed at once si-
lence and composure on him, by raising her fin-
ger, and saying, in a low but commanding ac-
cent— 4 ' Be cautious — we are observed— there-
are men without- they let me enter with diffi-
culty, I dare not remain long* — they would
think— they might believe- -O, Ctael*sA\ \\»s%
hazarded every thing to save youY"

X

tW THE PIRATE.

" To save me ?— alas ! prior Minna P* answered
Cleveland; "to save me is impossible—enough
that I have seen you once more, were it but to
say 9 for ever farewell !">
' tt We mast indeed say farewell," said Minna j
"for fete and your guilt have divided us for ever.'
•—Cleveland, I have seen your associates— need
I tell you more— need I say that I know now
what a pirate is?"

44 You have been in the ruffians 9 power !" said
Cleveland, with a start of agony-* u Did they pre-
sume— •" *

" Cleveland," replied Minna, " they presumed
nothing— your name was a spell over them ; by
the power of that spell over these ferocious ban-
ditti, and by that alone, I was reminded of tbfc
qualities I once thought my Cleveland's P*
' " Yes,'' said Cleveland, proudly, " my name '
has and shall have power over them, when tbe/
are at the wildest ; and had they harmed you by
one rude word, they should have found— Yet
what do I rave about— 1 am a prisoner!' 9

" You shali be so no longer, 9 ' said Minna~ :
" Your safety — the safety of tny dear father, all
demand your iustant freedom. 1 have formed a.
scheme for your liberty, which, boldly executed,
cannot fail. The light is failing without — muffle
yourself in my cloak, and you will easily pass

the guards 1 have given them the means

of carousing, and they are deeply engaged;
Haste to the Loch of Stennis, and hide your-
self till day dawns ; then make a smoke on the
point *where the land, stretching into the lake
on each side, divides it nearly in two at the
Bridge of Broisgar. Your vessel, which Hes
not far distant, will send a boat ashore— Do not
hesitate an intent."

THE PIRATE, £51

- "But you, Minna 1— should this wild scheme
succeed," said Cleveland— 44 what is to become
of you?"

" For my share in your escape," answered the
tnaiden, " the honesty of my own intention—- the
honesty of my intention will vindicate me in the
sight of Heaven, and the safety of my father,
whose fate depends on yours, will he my excuse
to man,"

In a few words, she gave him the history of their
capture, and its consequences. Cleveland cast op
his eyes and raised his hands to heaven, in thank*
fulness for the escape of the sisters from his evil
companions, and then hastily added, " But you
^re right, Minna, I must fly at all rates — for your
fathers sake I must fly. Here, then, we -pert-
vet not, I trust, for ever."

" For ever !" answered a voice, that sounded
as from a sepulchral vault.

They started, looked around them, and then
gazed on each other. It seemed as if the echoes
of the building had returned Cleveland's last
words, hut the pronunciation was too emphati-
cally accented.

" Yes, for ever !" said Noma of the Fitful-
bead, stepping forward from behind one of the
massive Saxon pillars which support the roof of
the Cathedral.— " Here meet the crimson foot
and the crimson hand— well for both that the
wound ia healed whence that crimson was derived
— well for both, but best for him who shed it. —
Here, then, you meet — and meet for the last
time!" •

" Not so," said Cleveland, as if about to take;
Minna's hand — " to separate me from Minna, while
1 have life, must be the work of herself alone." ...

26* TSE PIRATE.

*

"Away!" and Nora*, stepping betwixt thM,
* away with such vain folly! — nonriah no faia
dreams of future meetings — yon part here, and
you part for ever. The hawk paira not with the
dove-— guilt matches not with innocence. Miana
Troil, you lode for the bat tkne on this bold aal
criminal man — Cleveland, you behold Minna to*
the last time !"

u And dream yon," aaid Cleveland, indignantly
44 that your mummery imposes on me, and that I
am among the (bob who see more than trick in
yourpretended art ?"

" Forbear, Cleveland, forbear," said Minna*
her hereditary awe of Noma augmented by the
circumstance of her sudden appearance. "0,
forbear— she is powerful-— she is . but too power-
ful. And do you, O Noma, remember my mthert
aafety is linked with Cleveland's."

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

" Obey her," stammered Minna ; " remonstrate
not, but obey her."

Cleveland, grasping bsjt band, and kissing it

THE PIRATE, *53

afttefttly , said, bat so low that she only could hear
it, " Farewell, Minna, but not for ever."

* And now, maiden, begone," said Noma,
* and leave the rest to the Reimkennar."

"One word more," said Minna, "and 1 obey
yd*— tell me but if I have caught aright your
meaning— Is Mordaunt Mertoun safe and reco-
vered ?»

•^Recovered, and safe," said Noma, u else woe
to the hand that shed his blood !"

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

" The Zetland girl stays a long time with this
pirate fellow,' 9 said one. " 1 wish they have not
more to speak about than the ransom of her
father."

** Ay, truly," answered another, " the wenches
will have more sympathy with a handsome young
pirate than an old bed- ridden burgher."

Their discourse was here interrupted by her
of whom they were speaking; and, as if taken in
the manner, they pulled off their hats, made tbeir
awkward obeisances, and looked a little confus-
ed.

22 vol. 2.

254 THE PIRATE.

Minna retained to the house where she lodged,
much affected, yet, on the whole, pleased with the
result of her expedition, which seemed to put her
father out of danger, and assured her at once of
the escape of Cleveland and of the safety of
young Mordaunt. She hastened to communicate
both pieces of intelligence to Brenda, who join*
ed her in thankfulness to heaven, and was herself
well nigh persuaded to believe in Noma's super-
natural pretentions, so much was she pleased with
the manner in which they had been employed.
Some time was spent in exchanging their mutual
congratulations, and mingling tears of hope, mix-
ed with apprehension, when, at a late hour in the
evening, they were interrupted by Claud Halcro,
who, full of a fidgetting sort of importance, not
unmingled with fear, came to acquaint them, that
the prisoner, Cleveland, had disappeared from the
Cathedral, in which he had been permitted to
walk, and that the Provost, having been informed
that Minna was accessary to his flight, was coming
in a mighty quandary in make inquiry into the .cir-
cumstances*

When the worthy Magistrate arrived, Minna
did not conceal from him her own wish that Cleve-
land should make his escape, as the only means
which she saw of redeeming her father from im-
minent danger. But that she had any actual ac-
cession to his flight she positively denied, and
stated, " that she had parted from Cleveland in
the Cathedral, more than two hours since, and
then left him in company with a third person,
whose name she did not conceive herself obliged
to communicate. 7 '

" It is not needful, Miss Minna Troil," answer-
ed Provost Torfe ; " for although no person but
(his Captain Cleveland and yourself was seen te

THE PIRATE. tbb

enter the kirk of Saint Magnus this dav, we know
well enough that your cousin, old Ulla Troil,
whom you Zetlanders call Noma of Fitfulhead,
has been cruizing up and down, upon sea and
land, and air, for what 1 know, in boats and ponies,
and it may be on broomsticks ; and here has been
her dumb Brow, too, coming and going, and play-
ing the spy on every one. And a good spy he
is, for he can hear every thing, and tells nothing
again, unless to his mistress. And we know, be-
sides, that she can enter thq kirk when all the
doors are fast, and has been seen there more than
once, God save us from the evil one. And so,
without farther questions asked; I conclude it was
old Noma whom you left in the kirk with this
slashing blade ; and if so, they may catch them
again that can. I cannot but say, however, pretty
Mistress Minna, that you Zetland folks seem to
forget both taw and gospel, when you use the help
of witchcraft to fetch delinquents out of a legal
prison ; and the least that you, or your cousin, or
your father, can do, is to use influence with this
wild fellow to go away as soon as possible, with-
out hurting the town or trade, and then there will
be little harm in what has chanced ; for, heaven
knows, I did not seek the poor lad's life, so I
could get my hands free of him without blame ;
and far less did 1 wish that through his imprison-
ment any harm should come to worthy Magnus
Troil of Burgh Westra."

" I see where the shoe pinches you, Mr. Pro-
vost, 9 ' said Claud Halcro, " and I am sure 1 can
answer for my friend Mr. Troil, aa well as for my-
self, that we will say and do all in our power with
this man Cleveland, to make him leave the coast
directly."

256 THE PIRATE,

" And I, 55 said Minna, " am so convinced tbat
what you recommend is best for all pactiet, tbat
my sister and 1 will set off early to-morrow gain-
ing to the House of Stennis, if Mr. Halcro will
give us his escort, to receive my father when he
comes ashore, that we may acquaint him with
yoor wish, and to use every influence to induce
this unhappy man to leave the country."

Provost Torfe looked upon her with soaie sur-
prise. " It is not every .young woman," he said,
" would wish to move eight miles nearer to a band
of pirates."

" We run k no risk," said Claud Halcro inter-
fering. "The House of Stennis is strong; and
my cousin* whom it belongs to, has men and
arms within it — the young ladies are as safe there
as in Kirkwall, and much good may arise from an
«arly communication betwixt Magnus Troil and
his daughters. And happy I am to see that in
your case, my good old friend*— as glorious Jobs
•says,- ^

< After much debate,
The man prevail above the magistrate.' "

The Provost smiled, nodded his head, and in-
dicated, as far as he thought he could do so with
decency, how happy he should be ff the For-
tune's Favourite, and her disorderly crew, would
leave Orkney without further interference or vi-
olence on either side. He could not authorize
their being supplied from the shore, he said;
but, either for fear or favour, they were certain
to get provisions at Stromness, This pacific
magistrate then took leave of Halcro and the
two ladies, who proposed the next morning to
transfer their residence to the House of Steniiis,

THE PIRATE. 257

situated upon the banks of the salt-water lake of
the same name, and about four miles by water
from the Road of Stromness, where the rover's
vessel was lying.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Fly, Fleance, fly I — Tbou mayest escape.

Macbeth.

It was one branch of the various arts bj which
Noma endeavoured to maintain her pretentions te
supernatural powers, that she made herself fami-
liarly and practically acquainted with all the se-
cret passes and recesses, whether natural or ar-
tificial, which she could hear of, whether by tra-
dition or otherwise, and was, by such knowledge,
often enabled to perform feats which were other-
wise unaccountable. . Thus, when she escaped
from the tabernacle at Burgh Westra, it was by
a sliding board which covered a secret passage
in the wall, known to none but herself and Mag-
nus, who, she was well assured, would not be-
tray her. The profusion also, with which she
lavished a considerable income, otherwise of no
use to her, enabled her to procure the earliest
intelligence respecting whatever she desired to
know, and, at the same time, to secure all other
assistance necessary to carry her plans into ef-
fect. Cleveland, upon the present occasion, had
occasion to admire both her sagacity and her re-
sources*

22 * voi,. 2.

/

1

\

258 THE. PIRATE.

Upon her applyieg seme useaaa of farctbk
pressure, a door, which wu concealed under-
some rich wooden sculpture in the screes* which
divides the eastern aide from the rest of the
Cathedral, opened, and disclosed a dark narrow
winding passage, into which she entered, telling
Cleveland, in a whisper, to follow, and be sure
he shut the door behind him. He obeyed, and
followed her in darkoess and silence, sometimes .
descending steps, of the number of which sheaK
ways apprized him, sometimes ascending, aad
often turning at short angles* The air waa more
free than he could have expected, the passage
being ventilated at different parts by enseen and
ingeniously contrived spiracles, which communi-
cated with the open air* At leogtb their long,
course ended, by Noras drawing aside a sliding
panne), which, opening behind a wooden, or
box bed, as it is called in Scotland, admitted
them into* aa ancient, but very mean apartment,
having a latticed window, aad a groined- roef.
The furniture was much dilapidated; and its
only ornaments were, on the one side of the watt*
a garland of faded ribbons, such as are used to
decorate whale vessels ; and on the other, an es-
cutcheon, bearing an Carl's arms and coronet,
surrounded with the usual emblems of mortality.
The mattock and spade, which lay in one corner,
together with the appearance of an old men,
who, in a rusty black coat, and elouehed hat,
sat reading by a table, announced that they were
in the habitation of the chorch beadle, or sex*
ton, and in the presence of that respectable func-
tionary.

When his attention was attracted by the noise
of the sliding pannel, he arose, and testifying
much respect, but no surprise, took Us shadowy

THE PlftATE. $59

hat loom Mi this grey locks, and stood uncover-
ed in 4he presence or Nonwu, with an air of pro-
found iiumility.

« Bo faithful," said Norna to the old man,
"and; beware you shew not to any living mortal,
the secret path to the Sanctuary."

The old man bowed in token of obedience,
and of thanks, for she put money in hit hand as
she spoke. With a fathering voice, he express-
ed im hope that she would remember his son, who
was. on die Greenland voyage, that he might re-
turn fortunate and safe, as he had done last year,
when be brought back the garland, pointing to
that upon the wall.

"ily cauldron shell boil, and my rhyme shall
be said in his behalf," answered Noma. u Waits
Pacoiet without with the heme* ?"

The old ieiton assented, and the Pythoness,
commanding CWvetoud to iellow her y went
through a back door of the apartment into, a
small garden,: corresponding, m Ms desolate ap~
peanince, to the habitation they had just quitted.
The low and broken wall easily permitted them
to pass into another and larger garden* though
not orach better kept, and a gate, which was up-
on* the latch, let them into a long and winding
lane, through which, Noma having whispered
to <her companion that it waa the only dangerous
place on their road, they walked with a hasty pact.
It was now nearly dark, and the inhabitants of
the poor dwellings, on either hand, had betaken
themselves to their bouses* They saw only one
woman, who was looking from her door, but
blessed herself, and retired into her house with

Srecipitafion, when she saw the tall figure of
[erna stalk past her with long strides* The lane
conducted tbeua into the country where thfc

360 THE PIRATE.

dumb dwarf of Norm waited with three hones,
ensconced behind the wall of a desetfed shed.
On one of these Noma instantly seated herself,
Cleveland mounted another, and, followed by
Pacolet on the third, they moved sharply on
through the darkness; the active and spirited
animals on which they rode being of a breed
rather taller than those reared in Zetland.
- After more than an hour's smart riding, is
which Noma acted- as guide, they stopped be-
fore a hovel, so utterly desolate in appearance,
that it resembled rather a cattle-shed than a
cottage.

" Here you must remain till dawn, when
your signal can be seen from your vessel," said
Noma, consigning the horses to the care of Pa-
colet, and leading the way into the wretched ho-
vel, which she presently illuminated by lighting
the small iron lamp which she usually carried
along with her* "It is a poor,' 9 she said, "but
a safe place of refuge ; for were we pursued
hither, the earth would yawn and admit us into
its recesses ere you were taken. For know,
that this ground is sacred to the Gods of old Val-
halla. — And now say, man of mischief and of
blood, are you friend or foe to Noma, the sole
priestess of these disowned deities ?"

" How is it possible for me to be your enemy ?"
said Cleveland — " common gratitude "

" Common gratitude," sa*d Noma, interrupt-
ing him, " is a common word — and words are the
common pay which fools accept at the hands of
knaves ; but Noma must be requited by actions
— by sacrifices,"

" Well, mother, name your request."

" That you never seek to see Minna Troil
again, and that you leave this coast in twenty-
four hours," auawett& Rom*.

•

THE PIRATE. 2$1

v u It is impossible," said the Captain; "I can*
not be sqoii enough found in the sea-store s which
the sloop qrost have."

t " Yerc can. I will take care you are fully sup-
plied * and Caithness and the Hebrides are not
fitr distant — you can depart if you will."
« And why should 1," said the Captain, " if I

will pot?"

44 Because jour stay endangers, others," said

Nonta,, "and will prove your own destruction.
tiear me with attention. From the first moment
I .saw you lying senseless on the sand beneath
the cliffs of Sumburgh, 1 read that in your counte*
jounce which linked you with me, and those who
were dear to me ; but whether for good or evil,
wna hidden from mine eyes. I aided in saving your
life— in preserving your property. I aided in
doing so, the very youth whom you have crossed
in his dearest affection*— crowed by tale-bearing
*pd slander."

. "1 slao4er Mertoun!" exclaimed the Captain.
" By heaven, I scarce mentioned his naipe ai
Burgh Weatra, if itjia that which you mean. The
periling fellow Bryce, meanings J belieye^ to be
my friend^ because he found, something could he
made by pe, did, I have since heard, carry tat-
tle or truth, I know not which, to the old man,
which was confirmed by the report of the whole
island. But, for roe, I scarce thought of him as
a rival, else I had taken a more honourable wajr
to rid myself of him."

" Was the point of your double-edged knife,
directed to the bosom of an unarmed man, in-
tended to carve out that more honourable way ?"
said Noma, sternly.

Cleveland was conscience struck, and remain-
ed silent for an instant, ere be replied, u Th*^

ft* THE PIRATE.

indeed, I was wrong ; bat be is, I thank heaven,
recovered, and welcome to an honourable satis*
faction."

"Cleveland," said the Pythoness, "No! The
Send who employs yon as his implement is power-
ful ; bat with me be shall not strive. Too are of
that temperament which the daik Influences desire
as the took of their agency ; bold, haughty, and
undaunted, unrestrained by principle, and having
only in its room a wild sense of indomitable pride,
which such men call honour. Such you are, and
as such your course through life has been— on-
ward and unrestrained, bloody and tempestuous^
By me, however, it shall be controlled," she con-
cluded, stretching out her staff, as if in the atti-
tude of determined authority — u ay, even at
though the demon who presides over it should
even now arise in his terrors."

Cleveland laughed scornfully. "Good mo-
ther," he said, " reserve such language for the
rude sailor that implores you to bestow him fair
wind, or the poor fisherman that asks success to
his nets and lines. I have been long inaccessible
both to fear and to superstition. Call forth your
demon, if you command one, and place him be-
fore me. The man that has spent years in com-
pany with incarnate devils, can scarce dread tbe
presence of a disembodied fiend."
' This was said with a careless and desperate
bitterness of spirit, which proved too powerfully
energetic even for the delusions of Noma's in-
sanity f and it was with a hollow and tremulous
voice that she asked Cleveland — "For what,
then, do you hold me, if you deny the power I
have bought so dearly ?"

" You have wisdom, mother," said Cleveland ;
" at least you have art, and art is power. I hold

THE PIRATE. 2$3

«

you for one who knows bow to steer upon the
current of events, but I deny your power to
change its course. Do not, therefore, waste
words in quoting terrors for which I have no
feeling, but tell me at once, wherefore you Would
have me depart ?"

" Because I will have you see Minna no more,"
answered Noma — "Because Minna is the des-
tined bride of him whom men call Mordaunt
Mertoun — Because if you depart not within
twenty-four hours, utter destruction awaits you*
In these plain words there is no metaphysical de-
lusion- — Answer me as plainly."

" In as plain words, then," answered Cleve-
land, " 1 will noi leave these islands — not, at
least, till 1 have seen Minna Troil ; " and never
shall your Mordaunt possess her while, I live."

" Hear him !" said Noma — " hear a mortal
man spurn at the means of prolonging his life !
—hear a sinful — a most sinful being, refuse the
time which fate yet affords for repentance, and
for the salvation of an immortal soul ! — Behold
him how he stands erect, bold and confident in
his youthful strength and courage! My eyes,
unused, to tears — even my eyes, which have so
little cause to weep for him, are blinded with
sorrow, to think what so fair a form will be ere
the second sun set !"

"Mother," said Cleveland, firmly, yet with
some touch of sorrow in his voice, "1 in part
understand your threats. You know more than
we do of the course of the Halcyon — perhaps
have the means (for I acknowledge you have
shewn wonderful skill of combination in such
affairs) of directing her cruize our way. Be it
go, — I will not depart from my purpose for that
rislt. If the frigate comes hither, we have still

ft** THE PIRATE.

our shoal water to trust to ; and 1 think they #W
scarce cut us out with boats, as if we were a
Spanish xebeck. I am therefore reserved i will
hoist once more the flag under which I httve
cruized, avail ourselvetf of the thousand charred
which have helped us in greater odds, and at
the worst, fight the vessel to the very last ; and,
when mortal man can do nt> more, it is but snap 2

I ring a pistol in the powder-rooni, and as we haro
ived, so will we die."

• There was a dead pause as Clevelarnd ended;
and it was broken bj his resuming, in a softtf
tone — " You hare beard my answer, mother ; let
ns debate it no further, but part in peace. J
would willingly leave you a remembrance, that
you may not forget a poor fellow to whom yo<rt
•services have been useful; and who parts with
you in no unkindness, however unfriendly yon
are to his dearest interests. — Nay, do not start
to accept such a trifle," he said, forcing upon
'Noma the little silver enchased bo* which haa
been once the subject of strife betwixt Mertotrt
and him ; ** it is not for the sake of the metal,
which r know you value not, hot simply as »
memorial that you have met him of whom manjr
a. strange tale wilt hereafter be told in the seat
be has traversed."
I accept your gift," said Noitoa, u in fokefi
that, if I have in aught been accessary to your fate,
it was as the involuntary and grieving agent of
ether powers. Well did you say we direct not
the current of the events, which hurry us for-
ward, and render our utmost efforts unavailing;
even as the wells of ToftilOe* can wheel the

* A well, in the language of those seat denotes one, of those
whirlpools, or circular eddiee, which wheel and boil with art*

4t

THE PIRATE. SOS

tioyteafc vessel round and round, in despite of ei-
ther sail or steerage.— Pacolet !" she exclaimed*
in a louder yoke, " what, ho ! Pacolet !"

A large stone, which Jay at the tide of th$
wall of the hovel, fell aft she spoke, and to Cleve-
land's surprise, if not somewhat to his fear, the
floishapen form of the dwarf was a$en, like eotne
overgrown reptile, extricating himself out of a
subterranean passage, the entrance to which the
stone had covered.

Noma, as if impressed by what Cleveland had
said on. the subject of her supernatural preien>
sions, was so far from endeavouring to avail heiv
self of this opportunity to enforce them, that she
hastened to explain the phenomenon he bad wit*
nessed.

" Such passages," she said, " to which the en*
trances are carefully concealed, are frequently
found in these islands — the places of retreat of
the ancient inhabitants, where they sought refuge
from the rage of the Normans, the pirates of that
day » It was that you might avail yourself of this,
in case of need, that 1 brought you hither* Should
you observe signs of pursuit, you may either lurk
in the bowels of the earth until it bos passed by,
or escape, if you will, through the farther entrance
near the lake, by which Pacolet entered but now*
—And now farewell! Think on what I have
said j for as sure as you now move and breathe a
living man, so surely is your doom fixed and seal*
ed, unless, within four-and-twenty hours, ybu have
doubled the Burgh-head*"

nishing strength* and are yejqr dangerous* fiance the distinc-
tion, in old English, betwixt wtUs and waves, the latter signify-
ing the direct onward course of the tide, and the former the
smooth, glassy, oily-looking whirlpools, whose strength seems to
the eye almost irresistible.
23 VOL* 2.

266 THE PIRATE.

" Farewell, mother !" said Cleveland,
departed, bending a look upon him, in wl
he could perceive by the lamp, sorrow w
gled with displeasure*

The interview, which thus concluded,
powerful effect even upon the mind of Cle
accustomed as he was to imminent dangi
to hair-breadth escapes* He in vain att
to shake off the impression left by the w
Norna, which he felt the more impressive, 1
they were in a great measure divested of he
ed mystical tone* which he contemned* -
sand times he regretted that he' had from
time delayed the resolution, which he hi
adopted, to quit his dreadful and dai
trade ; and as often he firmly determine*
could he but see Minna Troil once more,
but for a last farewell, he would leave tbes
soon as his comrades were extricated froi

Eerilous situation, endeavour to obtain th
t of the King's pardon, and distinguish I
if possible, in some more honourable co
warfare*

This resolution, to which he again an
pledged himself, had at length a sedativ
upon his mental perturbance, and, wrapt
cloak, he enjoyed, for a time, that imper

Kse which exhausted nature demands as
te, even from those who are situated
verge of the most imminent danger* Bt
far soever the guilty may satisfy his owr
and stupify the feelings of remorse, by sue!
ditional repentance, we may well questic
ther it is not, in the sight of Heaven, rathe
sumptuous aggravation, than an expiation
sins.

THE PIRATE. |67

When Cleveland awoke, the grey dawn was aU
ready mingling with the twilight of an Orcadian
night. He found himself on the verge of a beauti-
ful sheet of water, which, close by the place where
he had rested, was nearly divided by two tongues
of land that approach each other from the opposing
sides of the lake, and are in some degree united by
the Bridge of Broisgar, a long causeway, contain*
ing openings to permit the flow and reflux of the
tide. Behind him, and fronting to the Bridge,
stood that remarkable semi-circle of huge upright
stones, which has no rival in Britain, excepting
the inimitable monument at Stonehenge. These
immense blocks of stone, all of them above twelve
feet, and several being even fourteen or fifteen feet
in height, stood around the pirate in the grey
light of the dawning, like the phantom forms of
antediluvian giants, who, shrouded in the habi-
liments of the dead, came to revisit, by this pale
light, the earth which* they bad plagued by their
oppression and polluted by their sins, till they
brought down upon it the vengeance of long suf-
fering Heaven.

Cleveland was less interested by this singular
monument of antiquity than by the distant view
of Stromness, which he could as yet scarce dis*
cover. He lost no time in striking a light, by the
assistance of one his pistols, and some wet fern
supplied him with fuel sufficient to make the ap-
pointed signal. It had been earnestly watched
for on board the sloop ; for Goffe's incapacity
became daily more apparent ; and even his most
steady adherents agreed it would be best to sub-
mit to Cleveland's command till they got back
to the West Indies.

Bunce, who came with the boat to bring off
t his favourite commander, danced, cursed, shout-

teS N THE PIRATE.

ed, and spouted for joy, when be saw him onee
aaore it freedom. " They had already," he said,
*' made tome progress in victualling thcraloop, and
tbey might have made more, but for that drunken
•Id swab Goffe, who minded nothing but splicing
the mats-brace."

The boat's crew were inspired with the same
enthusiasm, and rowed so hard, that, although
the tide was against them, and the air of wind
failed, they soon placed Cleveland once more on
the quarter-deck of the vessel which it was hit
misfortune to command*

The first exercise of the Captain's power was to
make known to Magnus Trail that he was at foil
freedom to depart— that be was willing to tnakft
him any compensation in bis power, for the inter-
ruption of bis voyage to Kirkwall ; and that Cap
tain Cleveland was desirous, if agreeable to Mr.
Troil, to pay his respects to him on board his
brig-— thank him for former favours, and apolo-
gise for the circumstances attending Ms detention.

To Bunco, who, as the most civilised of the
crew, Cleveland had entrusted this message, As
old plain-dealing Udaller made the following
answer:— "Tell your Captain that I should be
glad to think he had never stopped any one up-
on the high sea, save such as have suffered as
little as I have. 'Say, too, that if We are to con-
tinue friends, we will be most so at a distance;
for I like the sound of his cannon balls as little
by sea, as he would like the whistle of a bullet
by land from my rifle-gun. Say, in a word, that
I am sorry I was mistaken in him, and that he
would have done better to have reserved for the
Spaniard the usage he is bestowing on his coun-
trymen."

v.

* THE PIRATE. «0

"And so that is your message, old Snap*
cholerick ?" said Bunce — " now, Btap my vitals
if I have. not a mind to do your errand for yoa
pve* the left shoulder, and teach you more re*
spect for gentlemen of fortune* ) But I wont, and
chiefly for the sake of your two pretty wenches,
not to mention my old friend Claud Hale ro, the
very, visage of whom brought back all the old
days of scene-shifting and candle-snuffing* So
good morrow to you, Gaffer Seal's*cap, a,nd all
is said that need pass between us."

No sooner did the boat put off with the pirates,

.who left the brig, and now returned to i their own

vessel, than Magnus, in order to avoid reposing

unnecessary confidence in the honour of these

gentlemen of fortune, as they called themselves,

tot his brig under way; and the wind coming
tvourably round, and increasing as the sun rose,
be crowded^ all /sail for Scalpa-flow, intending
there to disembark and go by land to Kirkwall,
where he expected to meet his daughters and bis
friend Claud Halcro.

CHAPTER XIX.

Now, Emma, now the last reflection make,
What thou wouldst follow, what thou must forsafce,
By our ill-omen'd stars and adverse Heaven,
< No middle object to thy choice is given.

Henry and Emma*

The sun was high in heaven \ the boats were
busily fetching off from the shore the promised
supply of provisions and water, which, as many
fishing skiffs were employed in the service, were

23* VOI* °

• 4**

270 THE PIRATE,

got on board with unexpected speed, and stow-
ed away by the crew of the sloop, with equal
dispatch. All worked with good will ; for all*
save Cleveland himself, were weary of a coast
where every moment increased their danger, and
where, which they esteemed a worse misfortune,
there was no booty to be won* Bunce and Der-
rick took the immediate direction -of this duty,
while Cleveland, walking the deck alone, and in
silence, only interfered from time to time, to give
some order which circumstances required, and
then relapsed into his own sad reflections.

There are two sorts of men whom situations
of guilt, terror, and commotion, bring forward as
prominent agents. The first are spirits so natu*
rally moulded and fitted for deeds of horror,
that they stalk forth frotn their lurking-places
like actual demons, to work in their native ele-
ment, as the hideous apparition of the Bearded
JMan came forth at Versailles, on the memorable*
5th October 1789, the delighted executioner of
tile victims delivered up to him by a blood-thirsty
rabble. But Cleveland belonged to the second
class of these unfortunate beings, who are in*
volved in evil rather by the concurrence of exter-
nal circumstances than by natural inclination, be-
ing indeed one in whom his first engaging in this
lawless/ mode of life, as the follower of his father,
nay, perhaps, even his pursuing it as his father's
avenger, carried with it something of mitigation
and apology ;— one also who often considered bis
guilty situation with horror, and had made repeat-
ed, though ineffectual, efforts to escape from it*

Sach thoughts of remorse were now rolling in
his mind, and he may be forgiven, if recollections
of Minna mingled with and aided them* He look'
ed around, too, on his mates, and, profligate and

THE ftftATE. 27!

hardened as he knew them to%c, he couW not think
of their paying the penalty of his obstinacy . " We
shall be ready to sail with the ebb tide, 9 ' he said
to himself— '' why should I endanger these men,
by detaining them till the hour of danger, pre-
dicted by that singular woman, shall arrive? Her
intelligence, howsoever acquired, has been always
strangely accurate ; and her warning was as so-
lemn as if a mother were to apprize an erring son of
his crimes, and of his approaching punishment*
Besides,' what chance is there that 1 can again
see Minna? She is at Kirkwall, doubtless, and
to bold my course thither would be to'steer right
upon the rocks. No, I will not endanger these
poor fellows — 1 will sail with the ebb tide. On
the desolate Hebrides, or on the north-west coast
of Ireland. 1 will leave the vessel, and return hi*
ther in some disguise — yet, why should I return,
Since it will perhaps be only to see Minna the
bride of Mordaunt ? — No — let the vessel sail with
this ebb tide without me* I will abide and take
my fate. 55

His meditations were here interrupted by Jack
Bunce, who, hailing him noble Captain, said they
were ready to sail when he pleased.

" When you please, Bunce ; for I shall leave
the command with you, and go ashore at Strom-
ness, 55 said Cleveland.

" You shall do no such matter, by Heaven ! w
answered Bunce* *' The command with me, tru-
ly ! and how the devil am I to get the crew to
obey me ? Why,' even Dick Fletcher rides rusty
on me now and then. You know well enough
that without you, we shall be all at each other's
throats in half an hour ; and if you desert us, what
a rope's end does it signify whether we are de-
stroyed by the king's cruizers, or by each, qfttastl

272 THE PIRATE. ,

Come, come, noble Captain, th^re are black-eyed
girls enough in the world, bat where will you find
so tight a sea-boat as the little Favourite here,
manned as she is with a set of tearing lads,

' Fit to disturb the peace of all the world,
And rule it when *tis wildest I* "

" You are a precious fool, Jack Bunce," said
Cleveland, half angry, and, in despite of himself,
half diverted by the false tones and exaggerated
gesture of the stage struck pirate.

" It maj be so, noble Captaiu,'' answered
Bunce, "and it may be that I have my comrades
in my folly. Here are you, now, going to play
All for Love, and the World well Lost, and, yet
you cannot bear a harmless bounce in blank
verse — Well, 1 can talk prose for the matter, for
I have news enough to tell — and strange news
too — ay, and stirring news to boot." _,

" Well, pr'ythee deliver them (to speak thy
own cant,) like a man of this world."

" The Stromnes6 fishers will accept nothing for
their provisions and trouble," said Bunce — " there
is a wonder for you !"

"And for what reason, 1 pray?" said Cleve-
land; " it is the first time I have ever heard of
cash being refused at a sea-port."
,. " Tftie — they commonly lay the charges on as
thick as if they were caulking. But here is the
matter. The owner of the brig yonder, the father
of your fair Imoinda, stands paymaster, by way of
thanks for the civility with which we treated his
daughters, and that we may not meet our due,
as he calls it, on these shores."

"It is like the frank hearted old Udaller!"
said Cleveland ; " but is he then at Stromness ?

v THE PIRATE. 273T

i thought he wasto havfe crossed the' island for
KirkwalL"

" He did so purpose," said Bunce ; w hut more
fo!k9 than King Duncan change the course of their
Voyage. He was oo sooner ashore, than he was met
with by a meddling oW witch of these parts, who
has her finger in every man's pye, and by her coun?
sel be changed his purpose of going to Kirkwall,
and lies at anchor for the present fn yonder white
house, that you may see with your glass up the
lake yonder* 1 am told the old woman clubbed
also to pay for the sloop's stores. Why she should
shell out the boards I cannot conceive an idea r
except that she is said to be a witch, and may
befriend us as so many devils."

" But who told you all this? 9 ' said Cleveland,
without usinjg his spy-glass, or seeming so much
interested in the news as his comrade had ex*
pected. ^

" Why," replied Bunce, " I made a trip ashore
this 'morning to the village, and had a can with
in old acquaintance, who had been sent by Mas-
ter Troil to look after matters, and I fished it all
out of him, and more too than I am desirous of
telling you, noble Captain."

" And who is your intelligencer V J said Cleve-
land ; " has he got no name ?"

" Why, he is an old, fiddling, foppish acquaint-
ance of mine, called Halcro, if you must know,"
said Bunce.

" Halcro P* echoed Cleveland, his eyes spark-
ling with surprise — "Claud Halcro? — why, he
went ashore at Inganess with Minna and her sis-
ter — Where are they ?''

" Why, that is just what I did not want to
tell you," replied the confidant— u yet hang mc

c

*74 THE PIRATE.

if I can help it, for I cannot baulk- a fine situation*
—That start had a fine effect — O ay, and the spy-
glass is turned on the House of Stennis now /—
Well, yonder they are, it must be confessed — in-
differently well guarded too* Some of the old
witch's people are come ovor from that mountain
jf an island— Hoy, as thojr call it ; and the old
gentleman has got some fellows under arms him-
self. But what of all that, noble Captain ! — give
you but the word, and we snap up the wenches
to-night— clap them under hatches— man the cap-
stern by day-break — up top-sails— and sail with
the morning-tide."

u You sicken me with your villainy ," said*
Cleveland, turning away from him.

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

"Mention it not again, 9 ' said Cleveland; then
took a turn along the deck, in deep meditation,
and coming back to Bunce, took him by the hand,
and said, " Jack, I will see her once more."

**' With all in) heart," said Bunce, sullenly.

" Once more will I see her, ahd it may be to
abjure at her feet this cursed trade, and expiate
my offences "

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

" Nay — but, dear Jack !" said Cleveland.

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

THE PIRATE. 275

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

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

Cleveland sighed, for Noma's prediction rushed
on his mind ;» but the opportunity of a last meet-
ing with Minna was too tempting to be resigned
either for presentiment or prediction.

" I will go presently ashore to. the place where
they all are," said Bunce; "and the payment of
these stores shall serve me for a pretext ; and I
will carry any letter or message from you to Min-
na with the dexterity of a valet de chqmbre."

"But they have armed men— you may be in
danger," said Clevelan A

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

" You say true," said Cleveland, "it is not in
his nature. I will instantly write a note to Min-
na.'* And be ran down to the cabin for that pur-
pose, where he wasted much paper, ere witb a
trembling hand, and throbbing heart, he achieved
such a letter as he hoped might prevail on Minna
to permit him a farewell meeting on the succeed-
ing morning.

His adherent, Bunce, in the meanwhile, sought
out Fletcher, of whose support to second any mo-

376 THE PIRATE.

tion whatsoever, he accounted himself perfectly
sure ; and, followed by this trusty satellite, he in-
truded himself on the awful presence of Hawkins
the boatswain, said Derrick the quarter-master,
who were regaling themselves wijb a can of rumbo,
after the fatiguing duty of the day.
, " Here comes be can tell us," said Derrick.—
'.' So, Master Lieutenant, for so we must call yoa
now, I think, let us hare a peep into your couor
tela— When will the anchor be a-trip ?"
. " When it pleases heaven, Master Quarter-
master," answered Bunce, " for I know no more
than the stern-post.''

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

" Or to-morrow's tide, at farthest ?" said the
Boatswain — " Why, what have we been slaving
the whole company for, to get all these stores
aboard?" \

" Gentlemen," said Bunce, " you are to knot
that Cupid has laid our Captain on board, car-
ried the vessel, and nailed down his wits under
hatches "

"What sortW play-stuff is all this?" said the
Boatswain gruffly. " If you have any thing to
tell us, say it in a word, like a man.'*

" Howsoindever," said Fletcher, " I always
think Jack Evince speaks like a man, and acts
like a man too — and so, d'ye see- "

" Hold your peace, dear Dick, best of bullj-
hacks, be silent,'' said Bunce — " Gentlemen, in
one word, the Captain is in love."

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

Up.'*'

THE PIRATE. 277

" Well, but," coutinued Bunce, " Captain
Cleveland is in love— ■- Yes — Prince Volscius is in
love; and though that's the cue for laughing on
{be stage, it is no laughing matter here. He ex-
pects to meet the girl to-morrow, for the last
time ; and that, we all know, leads to another
meeting, and another, and so on till the Halcyon
is down on us, and then we may look for more
kicks than halfpence."

46 By — ," said the Boatswain, with a sounding
oath, "weMl have a mutiny, and not allow him
to go ashore, — eh, Derrick ?V

" And the best way too," said Derrick.

" What dy'e think of it, Jack Bunce ?" said
Fletcher, in whose ears this counsel sounded
very sagely, but who still bent a wistful look
upon his companion.

" Why, look ye, gentlemen," said Bunce, "I
will mutiny none, and stap my vitals if any of
you shall."

". Why then I won't, for one," said Fletcher ;
u but what are we to do, since howsomdever "

u Stopper your jaw, Dick, will you ?"• said
Bunce. — u Now, Boatswain, I am parti} of your
mind, that the Captain must be brought to reason
by a little wholesome force. But you all know he
ha9 the spirit of a lion, and will do nothing un-
less he * is allowed to hold* on his own course.
Well, I'll go ashore and make this appointment.
The girl comes to the rendezvous in the morning,
and the Captain goes ashore — we take a good
boat's crew with us, to row against tide and cur-
rent, and we will he ready at the signal, to jump
ashore and bring off the Captain and the girt,
whether they will or no. The pet child will not
quarrel with us, since we brine: off his whirligig
alongst with him ; and if he is still fracUou^^Vx^

24 vol.2.

278 THE PIRATE.

we will weigh anchor without his orders, arf let
him come to his senses at leisure, and know his
friends another time."

" Why this has a face with it, Master Derrick,"
said Hawkins.

" Jack Bunce is always right," said Fletcher;
" howsomdever, the Captain will shoot some of
us, that is certain*"

" Ho 1 J your jaw, Dick," said Bunce ; " pray
who the devil cares, do you think, whether you
are shot or hung ?"

"Why, it don't much argufy for the matter of
that," replied Dick \ " howsomdever "

" Be quiet, I tell you," said his inexorable pa-
tron, " and hear me out. — We will take him at
unawares, so that he shall neither have time to
use cutlafes nor pops ; and I myself, for the dear
love I bear him, will be the first to Jay him on his
back. There is a nice tight-going bit of a pin-
nace, that is a consort of this chase of the Cap-
tain's, — if 1 have an opportunity, I'll snap her op
on my own account."

" Yes, yes," said Derrick, " let you- alone
for keeping on the look-out for your own com*
forts."

" Faith, nay," said Bunce, " 1 only snatch at
them when they come fairly in my way, or are
purchased by dint of my own wit; and none of
you could have fallen on such a plan as this. We
shall have the Captain with us, head, hand, and
heart and all, besides making a scene fit to finish
a comedy. So 1 will go ashore to make the ap-
pointment, and do you possess some of the gen-
tlemen who are still sober, and fit to be trusted,
with the knowledge of our intentions,"

Bunce, with his friend Fletcher, departed ac*
cordingly, and the two veteran pirates remained

THE PIRATE. '279

looking at each other in silence, until the Boat-
strain spoke at last. " B — me, Derrick, if I like
these two daffadandilly young fellows ; they are
not the true breed* Why, they tfre. no more like
the rovers I have known, than this sloop is to a
first-rate* Why, there was old Sharpe that read
prayers to his ship's company every Sunday,
what Would he have said to have heard it pro-
posed to bring two wenches on board ?"

? And what would tough old Black Beard have
said," answered his companion, " if they had ex-
pected to keep them to Ihemselves ? They deserve
to be made to walk the plank for their impudence ;
or to be tied back to back and set a diving, and I
care not how soon."

44 Ay, but who is to command the ship then ?"
said Hawkins.

" Why, what ails you at old Goffe?" answered
Derrick.

" Why, he has sucked the monkey so long
and so often," said the Boatswain, " that the best
of him is buflPd. He is little better than an old
woman when he is sober, and be is roaring
mad when he is drunk — we have had enough of
Goffe."

" Why then what d'ye say to yourself, or to
roe, Boatswain ?" demanded the Quarter-master.
46 1 am content to toss up for it."
- " Rot it, no," answered the Boatswain, after
a moment's consideration \ " if we were within
reach of the trade-winds, we might either of us
make a shift ; but it will take all Cleveland's na-
vigation to get us there ;<fnnd *so, 1 think,. there
is nothing like Bunce's project for the present.
Hark, he calls for the boat — I must go on deck

and have her lowered for his honour, d his

eyes."

«

£80 THE PIRATE.

The boat was lowered accordingly, made its
voyage up the lake with safety, and landed fiunce
within a few hundred yards of the old mansion*
house of Stennis. Upon arriving in front of the
house, he found that hasty measures bad been
taken to put it in a state of defence, the lower
windows being barricaded, with places left for
use of musketry, and a ship gun being placed so
as to command the entrace, which was besides
guarded by two centinels. Bunce demanded ad-
mission at the gate, which was briefly and -unce-
remoniously refused to him, with an exhortation
to him, at the same time, to be gone about his
business before worse came of it. As he conti-
nued, however, importunately to insist on seeing
some one of the family, and stated his business
to be of the most urgent nature, Claud Halm
at length appeared, and with more peevishness
than belonged to his U9ual manner, that admirer
of glorious John expostulated with his old ac-
quaintance upon his pertinacious folly.

" You are," he, said, "lifce foolish moths flat-
tering about a candle, which is sure at last to con-
sume you."

" And you," said Bunce, "are a set of sting-
less drones, whom we can smoke out of your de-
fences at our pleasure, with half a dozen of hand-
grenades."

" Smoke a fooPs head !" said Halcro ; " take
my advice, and mind your own matters, or there
will be those upon you will smoke you to pur-
pose. Either begoue,or tell me in two words what
you want ; for you are like to receive no welcome
here save from a blunderbuss. We are men
enough of ourselves ; and here is young Mor-
daunt Mertoun come from Hoy, whom your
Captain so nearly murdered."

THE PIRATE. ill

X

-. "Tush, man," said Bunce, " he did but let out
a little malapert blood."

<fc We want no such phlebotomy here," said
Claud Halcro ; " and besides, your patient turns
out. to be nearer allied to us than either you or
we thought of; so you may think how tittle weir
come the Captain or any of his crew are like to
be here."

" Well ; but what if I bring money for the stores
sent on board ?" » « •

. " Keep it till it is asked of you," said Halcro.
£ There are two bad paymasters — he that pays
too soon, and he that does not pay at all*"

u Well then, let me at least give our thanks to
the donor," said Bunce.

** Keep them, too, till they are asked for," an-
swered the poet.

" So this is, all the welcome I have of you for
old acquaintance sake?" said Bunce.

." Why, what can I do for you, Master Alta-
mont ?" said Halcro, somewhat move d — " If
young Mordaunt had "had his own will, be would
have welcomed you with the red Burgundy, Num-
ber a thousand. For God's sake begone, eke
the stage direction will be, Enter guard, and seize
Altamont.",

" I will not give you the trouble,'? said Bunce,
" but will make my exit instantly. — Stay a mo-
ment — I had almost forgot that -I have a slip of
paper for the tallest of your girls there — Minna,
ay, Minna is her name. It is a farewell from
Captain Cleveland— you cannot refuse to give it
her."

"Ah, poor fellow!" said Halcro — <' I com-
prehend — 1 comprehend — Farewell, fair Ar-
mida —

24* vol. %

tm THE P1RATB. \

\

' "Mid pikes and mkl bullets, mid tempests and ikrtj . '

The danger is less than in hopeless desire. 9

Tell me but this — is there poetry in it ?"

" Choke full to the seal, with song, sonnet, and
elegj," answered Bunce; "but let her have it
cautiously and secretly." *

41 Tush, man ! — teach me to deliver a billet-
doux ! — me, who have been in the Wits' Coffee-
house, and have seen' all the toasts of the Kit-
Cat Club! — Minna shall have it then, for old
acquaintance sake, Mr. Altamont, and for your
Captain's sake too, who has less of the core of de-
vil about him than his trade requires. There can
be no harm in a farewell letter/'

" Farewell then, old hoy, for ever and a day,"
said Bunce ; and seizing the poet's hand, gave it
so hearty a gripe, that he left him roaring, and
shaking his fist, like a dog when a hot cinder hat
fallen on his foot.

Leaving the rover to return on board the ves-
sel, we remain with the family of Magnus Troll,
assembled at their kinsman's mansion ofStennis,
where they maintained a constant and careful
watch against surprise.

m Mordaunt Mertoun had been received with
much kindness by Magnus Trail, when he carfte
to his assistance, with a small party of Noma's de-
pendants, placed by her under- his command.
The Udaller was easily satisfied that the reports'
instilled into his ears by the Jagger, in zealous
desire to augment his favour towards his more
profitable customer, Cleveland, -by diminishing
that of Mertoun, were without foundation. They
had, indeed, been confirmed by the good Lady
Glow row rum, and by common fame, both of whom
were pleased to represent Mordaunt Mertoun as

THE PIRATE. 283

an arrogant pretender to the favour of the sisters
of Burgh-Westra, who only hesitated, sultan-like,
on whom he should bestow the handkerchief*
But common fame, Magnus considered, was a
common liar, and he was sometimes disposed
(where scandal was Concerned) to regard the good
Lady Glowrowrum as rather an uncommon speci-
men of the same jjenus. He therefore received
Morcjaunt once more into full favour, listened with
much surprise to the claim which Noma laid to the
young man's duty, and with no less interest to her
intention of surrendering to him the considerable

Property which she had inherited from her father.
Fay, it is even probable that, though he gave no
immediate answer to her hints concerning an
union betwixt his eldest daughter and her heir,
he might think such an alliance recommended, as
well by the young mau's personal merits, as by
the chance it gave of retaining the very large
estate which had been divided betwixt his own
father and that of Noma. At all events, the
Udaller received his young friend with much
kindness, and he and the proprietor of the man-
sion joined in entrusting to him, as the youngest
and most active of the party, the charge of com-
manding the night-watch, and relieving the cen-
tinels around the House of Stennis*

9>» THE PIRATE.

CHAPTER XX.

Of an outlawe, tins is the lawe—

That men bun take aud bind,
Without pitie hatng'd to be,

And waive with the wind.

The Ballad of the, Nut Brown Mail

Mordauht had caused the ceotinels who had
been an duty since midnight to be relieved ere
the peep of day, and having given directions that
the guard should be again changed at sun-rise,
be had retired to a small parlour, and placiug his
arms beside him, was slumbering in an easy chaif,,
when he felt himself pulled by the watch-cloak in
which he was enveloped* : . .

44 Is it sun-rise," said he, " already ?" as, start-
ing up, he discovered the first beams lying level
upon the horizon.

" Mordaunt !" said a voice, every note of which
thrilled to his heart. .

He turned his eyes on the speaker, and Breads*
Troil, to his joyful astonishment, stood before
him. As' he. was about to address her eagerly,
he was checked by observing. the signs of sorrgir
and discomposure in her pale cheeks, trembling
lips, and brimful eyes.

" Mordaunt," she said, " you mus* do Minna
and me a favour — you must allow us to leave the
house quietly, and without alartniug any one, ia
order to go as far as the Standing Stones of
Stennis."

"What freak can this be, dearest Brenda?"
said Mordaunt, much amazed at the request —
" some Orcadian observance of superstition, per-
haps; but the time is too dangerous, and my

A

THE PIRATE. 28§

charge from your father too strict, that I should
permit you to pass without his consent. Consi-
der, dearest Brenda, I am a soldier on duty, and
must obey orders*"

" Mordaunt," said Brenda, " this is no jesting
matter — Minna's reason, nay, Minna's life, de-
pends on your giving us this permission."

"And for what purpose?" said Mordaunt —
" let me at least know that,"

" For a wild and a desperate purpose," replied
Brenda — a It is that she may meet Cleveland."

" Cleveland!" said Mordaunt— " should the
villain come ashore, he shall be vteltoraed with a
shower of rifle-balls. Let me within a hundred
. yards of him," he added, grasping his piece, " and
all the mischief be has done me shall be balanced
with an ounce bullet !"

" His death will drive Minna frantic," said
Brenda ; " and he who injures Minna, Brenda
will never again look upon."

" This is madness — raving madness !" said
Mordaunt — " Consider your honour — consider
your duty."

"I can consider nothing but Minna's dan*
ger, v said Brenda, breaking into a flood of tears;
" her former illness was nothing to the state sh£
has been in all night. She holds in her hand his
letter, written in characters of fire, rather than
of ink, imploring her too see him for a last fare-
well, as she would save a mortal body and an
immortal soul — pledging himself for her safety,
and declaring no power shall force him from the
coast till he has seen her. — You must let us pass."

" It is impossible !" replied Mordaunt, in
great perplexity — " This ruffian has imprecations
enough, doubtless, at - his fingers' ends, but what
better pledge has he to offer ? — I cannot permit
Minna to go."

2S6 THE PIRATE.

" I suppose, 1 ' said Brendfr, somewhat reproach-
fully, while she dried her tears, jet still con-
tinued sobbing,'" that there is something in* what
Horna spoke of betwixt Minna and you; atil
that you are too jealous of this poor wretch to at
low him even* to speak with her an instant before
his departure."

"You are unjust,'' said Mordaunt, hurt, and
yet sdmewhat flattered by her suspicions, " you
are as unjust as you are imprudent. You know
—you cannot bdt know — that Minna is chiefly
dear to me as your sister* Tell me, Brenda — and
tell roe truly— if I aid you in this folly, have you
no suspicion of the Pirate's faith ?" «

44 No, none," said Brenda ; " if I had any, do
you think l would urge you thus ? — he is wild and
unhappy, but I think we may in this trust him."

44 Is the appointed place thf Standing Stones/
and the time day-break?" again demanded Mor-
daunt. •

44 It is, and the time is come," said Brenda— r
" for Heaven's sake let us depart !"

44 1 will myself," said Mordaunt, "relieve the
eentinel at the front door for a few minutes, and
suffer you to pass — You will not protract thit-
interview, so full of danger ?" * •

44 We will not," said Brenda; **and you, on
your part, you will not avair yourself of this un-
happy man s venturing hither, to harm or to
seize him ?"

44 Rely on my honour," ^said Mordaunt; 44 ha
shall have no harm, unless he offers any."

"Then I go to call my sister," said Brenda,
and tripped out of the apartment.

Mordaunt considered the matter for an in-
stant, and then going to the eentinel at the front
door, he told him to run instantly to the main-

THE PIRATE. 2«7

guard, and order the whole to torn out with their
arms — to see the order obeyed, and to return
when they were in readiness. Meantime, he
himself, he said, would remain upon the post*
During the interval of the centinel's absence, the
front door was slowly opened, and Minna and
Brenda appeared, muffled in their mantles. The
former leaned on her sister, and kept her face
bent on the ground, as one who felt ashamed* of
the step she was about to take. Brenda also
passed her lover in silence, but threw back upon
him a look of gratitude and affection, which
doubled, if possible, bis anxiety for their safety^

The sisters, in the meanwhile, passed out of
aigjit of the house, when Minna, whose step, till
that timjfc had been faint and feeble, began to
erect her person, and to walk with a pace so firm
end so swift, that Brenda, who had some diffi-
culty to keep up with her, could not forbear re-
monstrating on , the imprudence of hurrying her
spirits* and exhausting her force, by such unne-
cessary haste.

"Fear not, my dearest sister,'' said Minna;
" the spirit which I now feel will, and must, sus-
tain tpe through the dreadful interview. ] could
not but move with a drooping head and dejected
pace, while I was in view of one who must nec-
essarily deem me deserving of his pity or his scorn.
But you know, my dearest Brenda, and Cleve-
land shall also know, that the love 1 bore to that
unhappy man, was as pure as the rays of that sun,
that is now reflected on the waves. And 1 dare
attest that glorious tun, and yonder blue heaven,
to bear me witness, that, but to urge him to
change his unhappy course of life, 1 had not, for
all the temptations this round world holds, ever
consented to see him more."

M6 THE PIRATE.

•

As she spoke thus, in a tone which afforded
orach confidence to Brenda, the sisters attained
the summit of a rising ground, whence they com*
manded a full view of the Orcadian Stonehenge,
consisting of a huge circle and semicircle of the
Standing Stones, as they are called, which already
glimmered a greyish white in the rising sun, and
projected for to the westward their long gigantic
shadows. At another time, the scene would have
operated powerfully on the imaginative mind of
Minna, and interested the curiosity at least of her
less sensitive sister. But, at this moment, neither
was at leisure to receive the impressions which
this stupendous monument of antiquity is so well
calculated to impress on the feelings of those who
behold it; for they saw, in the lower ^Me, be-
neath what is termed the Bridge* of Broisgar, si
boat well manned and armed, which had disem-
barked one of its crew, who advanced alone, and
wrapped in a naval cloak, towards that monumen-
tal circle which they themselves were about to
reach from another quarter.

" They are many, and they are armed," said
the startled Brenda, in a whisper to her sister.

" It is for precaution's sake," answered JMin-
na, " whi^h, alas, their condition renders but too
necessary. Fear no treachery from him — that, at
least, is not his vice."

As she spoke, or shortly afterwards, she at-
tained the centre of the circte, on which, in the
midst of the tall erect pillars of rude stone
that are raised around, lies one flat and prostrate,
supported by short stone- pillars, of which some
reliques are still visible, that had once served,
perhaps, the purpose of an altar. x

" Here," she said, u in heathen times (if we
may believe legends, which have cost me but tot

THE P«ATEr <M»

dear,) our ancestors, offered saerffityss < to heathen
deities— and here will I, from my sopl, renounce,
abjure* and offer up to a better and a more mer-
ciful God than was known to > them, the vain
ideas with which my youthful imagination has
been seduced* 9 '

She stood by the prostrate, table of stone, and
saw Cleveland advanced towards her, with a ti-
mid pace, and a downcast look, a* different Jmn
his usual character and bearing, as Minna's high
look and. lofty demeanour, and calm .contempla-
tive posture, was distant from that of the love-lorn
and broken-hearted maiden, whose weight had
almost borne down the support of her sister as she
left the House of Stennis. If the belief of those is
true, who assign these singular monuments exclu^
sively to the Druids, Minna might have seemed the
Haxa, or high priestess of the order, from whom
some champion of the tribe expected inauguration.
Or, if we. hold the circles of Gothic and Scan-
dinavian origin, she might have seemed a descend-
ed Vision of Freya, the spouse of the Thunder-
ing Deity, before whom some bold Sea-king or
champion bent with an awe, which no mere mor-
tal terror could have inflicted upon him* . Brenda,
overwhelmed with inexpressible fear and doubt, .
re'mained a p%ce or two behind, anxiously ob-
serving the motions of Cleveland, and attending
to nothing around, save to him and to her sis-
ter.

Cleveland approached within two yards of
Minna, and bent hi* head to the ground. There
was a dead pause, until Minna said, in a firm
but melancholy tone, " Unhappy man, why didst
thou seek this aggravation of our woe ? Depart
in peace, and may Heaven direct thee to a bet-
ter course than that winch thy life has yet held>"

25 vol, 2.

«lfe Mate

+ Heav« will net aid me," said Cleveland,
* excepting by your voice. I came hither rode
asd wild, scarce knowing that my trade, my des-
perate trade, was more criminal in the sight of
flaw or of heaven, than jthat of those privateers
whom your law acknowledges. I was bred in
it, and, but for the wishes you have encouraged
me to form, I should have perhaps died in it,
desperate and impenitent. O, do not throw roe
from you— let me do -something to redeem what
I have done amiss, and do not leave your own
work baltfmsbed !"

' ** Cleveland, 9 ' said Minna, " I will not reproach
you with abusing my inexperience, or with avail-
ing yourself of those delusions which the cre-
dulity of early youth had flung around me, and
which led me to confound your fatal course of
life with the deeds of our ancient heroes, Alas,
when I saw your followers that illusion was no
more ! — but 1 do not upbraid you with its hav-
ing existed* Go, Cleveland; detach yourself
from those miserable wretches with whom yon
are associated, and believe me, that if heaven
yet grants you the means of distinguishing your
Hume by one good or glorious action, there are
eyes left in these lonely islands, that wi)l weep
as much for joy as — as — they must do now for
sorrow."

"And is this all ?' 9 said Cleveland ;"and may
I not hope, that if 1 extricate myself from my
present associates — if I can gain my pardon by be-
ing as hold in the right, as 1 have been too often
in the wrong cause — if after a term, I care not
howlong—ibut still a term which may have an
end, I can boast of having redeemed my fame-
may I not — may 1 not hope that Minna may for-
give what my God and my country shall have

pardoned ? M

THE. PHUT& *#

" Never, Cleveland, never !" said Micu» t with
the utmost firmness 5 "or this spot we part, and
part for ever, and part without longer indulgence*
Think of me as of one dead, if you continue m
you now *re; bi* if, which may heaven grant*
you change your fatal course, think of me the*
as one, whose morning and evening prayers will
fie for your happiness, though she has lost he*
own — Farewell* Cleveland !" . * :

He kneeled, overpowered by his own bitter
feelings, to take the hand which she held out to
him, and in that instant, his confidant Bunco*
starting from behind one of the large upright
pillars, his eyes wet with tears, exclaimed—

" Never saw such a parting scene on amr
stage. But I'll be d— d if you make your est
as you expect."

And so saying* ere Cleveland could employ
either remonstrance or resistance, and indeed be-
fore be could get upon his feet» he easily secured
him by pulling him down on his back, so that
two or three of the boat's crew seized him by
the arms and legB, and began to hurry him to-
wards the lake. Minna and Brenda shrieked
and attempted to fly, but Derrick snatched op
the former with as much ease as a falcon poun-
ces on a pigeon ; while Bunce, with an oath or
two, which were intended to be of a consolato-
ry nature, seized on Brenda, and the whole
party, with two or three of the other pirates,
who, stealing from the water-side, had accompa-
nied them on the ambuscade,' began hastily to
run towards the boat, which was left in charge -of
two of their number. Their course, however,
was unexpectedly, and, for their criminal pur-
pose, fatally interrupted.

292 THE PIRATE.

When Mordaoui Mertoun had turned out hie
guard in arms, it was with the natural purpose
of watching over the safety of the two sisters.
They had accordingly closely observed the mo-
tions of the pirates* and when they saw so many
of them leave the boat and steal towards tht
place of rendezvous assigned to Cleveland, they
naturally suspected treachery, and by cover of
an old hollow way or trench, which perhaps had
anciently been connected with the naonumen-
tal circle, they had (brown themselves uaper-
ceived between the pirates and their boat* At
the cries of the sisters, they started up and
placed themselves in the way of the ruffians^ pre*
aenting their pieces, which, notwithstanding, they
dared not fire, for fear of hurting the young la-
dies, secured as they were in the rude grasp of
the marauders. Mordaunt, however, advanced
with the speed of a wild deer on Bunco, who,
> loth to quit his prey, yet unable to defend himself
otherwise, turned to this side and that alternate*
ly, exposing Brenda to the blows which Mor-
daunt offered at him. This defence, however,
proved in vain against a youth possessed of the
lightest foot and most active hand ever known in
Zetland, and after a faint or two, Mordaunt
brought the pirate to the ground with a stroke
from the butt of the carabine, ^which he dared not
use otherwise. At the same time fire-arms were
discharged dn either side by those who were lia-
ble to no such cause of forbearance, and . the pi-
rates who had hold of Cleveland, dropped him,
naturally enough, to provide for their own de-
fence or retreat. But they only added to the
number of their enemies,; for Cleveland, per-
ceiving Minna in the arms of Derrick, snatched
her from the ruffian with one hand, and with the

THE PIRATE. 203

other shot him dead on the spot* Two or three
more of the pirates fell or were taken, the rest fled
to their boat, poshed off, and fired repeatedly on the
Orcadian party, which they returned, vtith little in-
jury on either side. Meanwhile Mordaunt, ha-
ving first seen that the sister* were at liberty and
in full flight towards the house, advanced on
Cleveland with his cutlass drawn. The pirate pre-
sented a pistol, and calling out at the same time,
— " Mordaunt, I never missed my aim," he fired
it into the air, and threw it into the lake ; then
drew his cutlass, brandished it round his head, and
flung that also as far as his arm could send it, in
the same direction. Yet such was the universal
belief of his personal strength and resources, that
Mordaunt still used precaution, as, advancing on
Cleveland, he asked if he surrendered.

"I surrender to no man, 9 ' said the Pirate-
captain ; " but you may see 1 have thrown away
my weapons."

He was immediately seized by some of the
Orcadians without his offering any resistance;
but the instant interference of Mordaunt pre-
vented his being roughly treated, or bound. The
victors conducted him to a well-secured upper
apartment in the House of Stennis, and placed a
centinel at the door. Bunce and Fletcher, both
of whom bad been stretched on the field during
the skirmish, were lodged in the same chamber ;
and two prisoners, who appeared of lower rank,
were confined- in a vault belonging to the man-
sion.

Without pretending to describe the joy of
Magnus Troil, who, when awakened by the noise
and firing, found his daughters safe, and his ene-
my a prisorief, we shall only say, it was so great,
that he forgot, for the time at least, to inquire

25 * vol. 2.

S

€94 THE HRATE.

r

what circumstances were those whien placed (hem
id danger; and that he hugged Mordaunt to
his breast a thousand times, as their preserver;
and swore a& often bj the bones of his sainted
namesake, that if be had a thousand daughters,
so tight a lad, and so true a friend, should have
the choice of them, let Lady Glowrowrum say
what she would.

A very different scene was passed in the prison-
chamber of the unfortunate Cleveland and his as-
sociates. The Captain sat by the window, his eyes
bent on the prospect of the sea which it present*
ed, and was seemingly so intent on it, as to be
insensible of the presence of the others. Jack
Bunce stood meditating some ends of verse, ia
order to make his advances towards a reconcili-
ation with Cleveland ; for he began to be sen-
sible, from the consequences, that the part he
had played towards his Captain, however well in-
tended, was neither lucky in its issue, nor likely to
he well taken. His admirer and adherent Fletcher
> lay half asleep, as it seemed, on a truckle-bed in
the room, without the least attempt to interfere
in the conversation which ensued.

" Nay, but speak to me, Clement,'' said the
penitent Lieutenant, " if it be but to swe?r at
me for my stupidity. —

• What, not an oath ? — Nay, then the world goes hard,
If Clifford cannot s{/are his friends: an oath.' "

»

« i pr'ythce peace, and be gone !" said Cleve-
land ; " 1 have one bosom friend left yet, and
you will make me bestow its contents on you, or .
, on myself."

, " 1 have it !" said Bunce, " I ha,ve it !" and on
he went, in the vein of Jaffier—

THE PIRA1TE. £95

•' * Then, by t^e hell I merit, 111 not leave thee,
Till to -thyself at least thou'rt reconciled,
However thy resentment deal with me !' *

'{Tpray you once more to be silent," said
Cleveland — u Is it not enough that you have un-
done me with your treachery, but you must stun
me with your silly buffoonery ? — 1 would not
have believed you would have lifted a finger
against me, Jack, of any man or devil in yonder
.utihappy ship."

*'** Who, I?" exclaimed Bunce, "I lift a finger
against you ! — And if I did, it was in pure love,
and to make-yon the happiest fellow that « ever
trode a deck, with your mistress beside you, and
fifty fine fellows at your command. Here is Dick
Fletcher cata bear witness I did all for the best,
if he would but speak, instead of lolloping there
like a Dutch dogger laid up to be careened—
Get up, Dick, and speak for me, won't you ?"

" Why, yes, Jack Bunce," answered Fletcher,
raising himself with difficulty, and speaking
feebly, ** I will if I can — and I always knew you
spoke and did for the best — but howsomdever,
d'ye sfee, it has turned out for the worst for me this
time, for I am bleeding to death, I think."

'* You cannot be such an ass !" said Jack
Bunce, springing to his assistance, as did Cleve-
land. But human aid came too late — he sunk
back on the bed, and, turning on his face, ex-
pired without a groan.

" I always thought him a d — d fool," said
Bunce, as he wiped a tear from his eye, " but
never such a consummate ideot as to hop the
perch so sillily. — I have lost the best follower — "
and he again wiped his eye*

Cleveland looked on the dead body, the rugged
features of which had remained unaltered by the

29C THff PIRATE.

death-pang — "A bull dog," he 6ak), "of the
true British breed, and, with a better counsellor,
would have been a belter man.''

44 You may, say that of some other folks loo,
Captain, if you are minded to do them justice,"
said Bunco.

" I may indeed, and especially of yourself,"
said Cleveland, in reply.

44 Why then, say, Jack, I forgive you? said
Bunce ; " it's but a short word, and soon spoken.**

44 1 forgive you from all my soul, Jack," sgid
Cleveland, who had resumed hie situation at the
window ; " and the rather that your folly is of
little consequence — the morning is come that
must bring ruin on us all."

44 What, you are thinking t>f the old woman's
prophecy you spoke of?" said Bunce.

44 It will soon be accomplished," answered
Cleveland. * 4 Come hither; what do you takp
yon large square-rigged vessel for, that you see
doubling the head-land on the east, and opening
the Bay of Stromness ?"

44 Why, I can't make her well out," said
Bunce, " but yonder is old Goffe, takes her for
a West Indiaman loaded with rum and sag?r, I
suppose, for d— n me if he does not slip cable,
and stand out to her!"

44 Instead of running into the shoal-water,
which was his only safety," said Cleveland-*
" The fool ! the dotard ! the drivelling, drunken
ideot ! — he will get his liquor hot, enough ; for
yon is the Halcyon— See, she hoists her colours
and fires a broad-side ! and there will soon be aq
end of the Fortune's Favourite! I only hope
they will fight her to the last plank. The, Boat-
swain used to be staunch enough, and so is Goffe,
ibeugh an incarnate demon.— Now the abootv

c^*.. "*."**

THE PIRATE, 2$7

away, with all the sail she can spread, and that
shews some sense."

" Up goes the Jolly Hodge, the old black flag,
with the death's head and hour glass, and that
ahews some spunk." y

" The hour glass is turned for us, Jack, for
this bout — our sand is running fast. — Fire away
yet, my roving lads! The deep sea or the blue
sky, father than a rope and a yard arm."

There was a moment of anxious and dead si*
lence; the sloop, though hard pressed, main-
taining still a running fight, and the frigate con-
tinuing in full chase, but scarce returning a shot.
At* length the vessels neared each other, so as to
shew that the man-of-war intended to board the
sloop, instead of sinking her, probably to secure
die plunder which might be in the pirate vessel.

" Now Goffe — now Boatswain !" exclaimed
Cleveland, in an ecstacy of impatience, »and as
if they could have heard his commands, " stand
by sheets and tacks — rake her with a broadside,
when you are under her. bows, then about ship,
and go off on the other tack like a wild goose*
The sails shiver— the helm's a-lee— Ah !— deep-
sea sink the lubbers !— they miss stays, and the
frigate runs them a-board !" .

Accordingly the various manoeuvres of the
chase had brought them so near, that Cleveland,
with' his spy-glass, could see the man-a- war's*
man boarding by the yards and bowsprit, in ir-
resistible numbers, their naked cutlasses flashing
in the sun, when, at that critical moment, both
ships were enveloped in a cloud of thick black
smoke, which suddenly arose on board the cap*
tured pirate.

" Exeunt omnes," said Bunce, with clasped
hands.

*98 THE PIRATE.

" There went the, Fortuned Favpurite, ship
and crew," said Cleveland, at the same instant

But the smoke immediately clearing away,
shewed that the damage had only been partial,
and that from want of a sufficient quantity qj
powder, the pirated had failed in their desperate
attempt to blow up their vessel with the Hat
cyon.

Shortly after the action was over, Capt&ia
Weatherport of the Halcyon sent an officer and
a party of marines to the House of Stennis, to
demand of them the pirate seamen who were
their prisoners, and, in particular, Cleveland and
Buace, who acted as Captain and Lieutenant of
the gang.

This was a demand which was not to be resist-
ed, though Magnus Troil could have wished sin-
cerely that the roof under which he lived had
been allowed as an asylum at least to Cleveland*
But the officer's orders were peremptory ; and
he added, it was Captain Weatherport's inten-
tion to land the other prisoners, and send the
whole, with a sufficient escort, across the island
to Kirkwall, in order to undergo an examination
there before the civil authorities, pre viouHo their
being sent off to London for trial at the High
Court of Admiralty. Magnus could therefore
only intercede for good usage to Cleveland, and
that he might not be stripped or plundered,
which the officer, struck by his good mien, and
compassionating his situation, readily promised.
The honest Udaller would have said something
in the way of comfort to Cleveland himself, but
he coutd not find words to express it, and only
shook his head.

" Old friend," said-Cleveland, u you may have
much to complain of— yet you pity instead of ex-

THE PIRATE. M

uhiog over me-*-for the sake of yoa and yourc;
1 will never harm human being more. Take
this from me — my last h*pe, but my last temp-
tation also" — he drew from his bosom a pocket-
pistol, and gave it to Magnus Troil. "Remem-
ber me to — but no — let every one forget me. — I
afifr your prisoner, sir," said he to the officer*

'"And Iateo,'' said poor Bunce; and putting
on a theatrical countenance, he ranted, with no
vety perceptible faultering in his tone, the words
ofrjerre:

4 Captain, you should be a gentleman of honour:
Keep off the rabble, that I may have room
To entertain my fate, and die with decency ."

CHAPTER XXI.

Joy, joy, in London now !

Souths y.

The news of the capture of the rover soon
reached to Kirkwall, about an hour before noon,
and filled all men with wonder and with joy. Lit-
tle business. was that day done at the Fair, whilst
people of all ages and occupations streamed from
the place to seethe prisoners as they were marched
towards Kirkwall, and to triumph in the different
appearance which they now bore from that which
they had exhibited when ranting, swaggering, and
bullying in the streets of that town. The bayonets
of the marines were soon seen to glisten in the
sun, and then came on the melancholy troop of
captives, hand cuffed two and two together. Their

THE PIRATE.

finery had been partly torn from them by their
captors, partly hung in rags about them ; many
were wounded and covered with blood, many
blackened and scorched with the explosion, by
which a few of the most desperate had in vain
strove to blow up the vessel. Most of them seem-
ed sullen and impenitent, some were more becom-
ingly affected with their condition, and a few
braved it out, and sung the same ribald songs
to which they bad made the streets of Kirkwall
ring when they were in their frolics.

The Boatswain and Goffe, coupled together,
exhausted themselves in threats and imprecations
against each other; the former charging Goffe
with want of seamanship, and the latte lleging
'that the Boatswain had prevented him from firing
the powder that was stowed forward, and so send*
ing them all to the other world together* Last
came Cleveland and Bunce, who were permitted
to walk unshackled ; the decent melancholy, yet
resolved manner of the former, contrasting strong-
ly with the stage strut and swagger which prior
Jack thought it fitting to assume, in order to con-
ceal some less dignified emotions. The former
was looked upon with compassion, the latter with
a mixture of scorn and pity; while most of the
others inspired horror, ana even fear, by their
looks and their language*

Th^re was one individual in Kirkwall, who
was so far from hastening to see the sight which
attracted all eyes, that he was not even aware of
the event which agitated the town. This was the
elder Mertoun, whose residence Kirkwall had been
for two or three days, part of which had been spent
in attending to some judicial proceedings* under-
taken at the instance of the Procurator fiscal,
against that grave professor, Bryce SnaeUfoot.

THE PIRATE. 301

In consequence of an inquisition into the pro*
ceedings of this worthy trader, Cleveland's chest,
with his papers and other matters therein con-
tained, had been restored to Mertoun, as the law-
ful custodier thereof, until the right owner should
be in a situation to establish his right to them*
Mertoun was at first desirous to throw back upon
Justice the charge which she was disposed to en-
trust him with ; but, on perusing one or two of
the papers, he hastily changed his mind — in bro-
ken words, requested the Magistrate to let the
chest be sent to his lodgings, and, hastening home-
ward, bolted himself into the room, to consider
and digest the singular information which chance
had thus conveyed to him, and which increased,
in a tenfold degree, his impatience for an inter-
view with the mysterious Noma of the Fitful-head.

It may be remembered that she bad required
of him, when they met in the Church-yard of
Saint Ninians, to attend in the outer aisle of the
Cathedral of Saint Magnus, at the hoyr of noon,
on the fifth' day of the Fair of St. 011a, there to
meet a person by whom the fate of Mordaunt
would be explained to him. — u It must be herself,'?
be said, " and that I should see her at this moment
is indispensable. How to find her sooner, I
know not; and better lose a few hours even.in
this exigence, than offend her by a premature. at-
tempt to force myself on her presence."

Long, therefore, before noon — long before the
town of Kirkwall was agitated by the news of the
events on the other side of the island, the elder
Mertoun was pacing the deserted aisle of the
Cathedral, awaiting, with agonizing eagerness,
the expected communication from Noma. The
bell tolled twelve — no door opened — no one was
seen to enter the Cathedral -, but the last sounds

26 voii. 2.

1

908 THE PIRATE.

had not ceased to reverberate through the vault-
ed roof, when, gliding from one of the interior
ride^afelefl, Noma stood before Urn. Mertouft,
indifferent to the apparent mystery of her soddeft
approach* (with the secret of which the reader is
acquainted,) went op to her at once, with the
earnest ejaculation — " Ulla — Ulla Troi) — aid rae
to Bare our unhappy boy !"

"To UU* Troil," said Noma, " I answer not—
1 gave that name to the winds, on the night that
cost me a father !"

* "Speak not of that night of horror," said
Mertovn $ " we have need of our reason— let us
not think on recollections which may destroy it;
but aid me, if thou canst, to save our unfortunate
child!"

- " Vaughan," answered Noma, " he fe already
saved— -long sinee saved; think you a mother's
band— »and that of such a mother as I am—
would await your crawling, tardy, ineffectual as-
sistance? .No, Yaugban — I make myself known
to you, but to shew my triumph pver you — it is
the only revenge which the powerful Noma per-
mits herself to take for the wrongs of Ulli
Trott."

" Have you indeed saved him— saved him from
the murderous crew ? — speak! — and speak truth!
-**•! will believe every thing — all you would re-
quire me to assent to !— prove to me only he is
Escaped and safe !"

• " Escaped and safe, by my means," said Nor-
na — ""safe* and in assurance of an honoured and
happy alliance. Yes, great unbeliever! — yes,
wise and tetf-opinioned infidel !— these were the
works of *Norna ! I knew you many a year since ;
but never bad I made myself known to you, save
with the triumphant consciousness of having con*
trolled the destiny ta&t titae&tata& t*i vmu AH

THE TfRATE. MS

combined against him— planets which threatened
drowning— combinations which menaced blood-**
but my skill was superior to all.**-! arraogedw-
I combined — I found mean*-*-! made* 4hentH»-
each disaster lias been averted ;— and wfcat uA»
del da earth, or stubborn demon beyosid the
bounds of earth, shall hereafter deny my power ?"

The wild ecstacy with which she spoke, so
much resembled triumphant insanity, that Mer-
toun answered-** 4 Where your pretentions leas
lofty, and your speech more plain, I should be
better assured of my son's safety," >

" Doubt on, vain sceptic '!" said Noraa— *" And
yet know, that not only is our sen safe, but ven-
geance is mine, though I sought H not— ven-
geance on the powerful implement of the darker
influences by whom toy schemes were so often
thwarted, and even the' life of my son endanger-
ed. — Yes, take it as a guarantee of the truth of
nay. speech, that Cleveland*— the pirate Cleve*
land — even now enters Kirkwall as a prisoner,
and will sooh expiate with his life the having
shed blood which is of kin to Noma's."
, " Who didst thou say was prisoner ?" exckim~
cd Mertoun, with a voice of thunder*—" Who,
woman, didst thou say should expiate hie criaaee
with his life ?"

a Cleveland— the pirate Cleveland 1" ae&wftred
Noma ; " and by me, whose counsel he -scorned,
he has been permitted to meet his fate.' 9
. " Thou most wretched of women !*' said If ei>
toub, speaking from between his clenched teeth,
— " thou hast slain thy son, as well as thy &p
ther !"

u My son ! — what son ? — what mean yeu ?— -
Mordaunt is your son— your only son !*' exclaim-

CI

304 THE HRAT.E,

ed Noma — " is he not ? — tell me quicjdy — is he
not?"

- " Mordaunt is indeed my son," said Mertoun-r-
" the laws, at least, give him to me as such—
But O, unhappy Ulla ! Cleveland is your son as
well as mine— hlood of oar blood, bone of our
bone; and if you have given him to death, I will
end my wretched life along with him !"

" Stay— hold— stop, Vaughan !'? said Noma ;
"I am not yet overcome— prove but to me the
truth of what you say, I would find help,. if I
should evoke hell !— But prove your words, else
believe them I cannot."

" Thou help ! wretched, over- weening woman !
—in what have thy combinations and thy stra-
tagems — the legerdemain of lunacy— the mere
quackery of insanity — in what have these involved
thee ?— and yet I will speak to thee as reasonable
—nay, I will admit thee as powerful — Hear then,
Ulla, the proofs which you demand, and find a
remedy, if thou canst : —

"When I fled from Orkney," he continued,
after a pause—" it is now five and twenty years
since— I bore with me the unhappy offspring to
whom you bad given light. It was sent to me by
one of your kinswomen, with an account of your
illness, which was soon followed by a generally
received belief of your death* It avails tkot to
tell in what misery I left Europe. I found re-
fuge in Hispaniola, wherein a fair young Spa*
niaid undertook the task of comforter. 1 married
her— she became mother of the youth called Mor-
daunt Mertoun/'

" You married her !" said Noma, in a tone of
deep reproach.

"I did, Ulla,'' answered Mertoun ; "but you
were avenged. She proved faithless, and her in*

THE PIKATS. *>d

fidelity left me in doubt* whether the child she
bore had a right to call me father— But I kite*
was avenged."

■• « Y*a miirthered her ! rt said Noma, with' a
dreadful shriek.

"I did that, 55 said Mertoun, without a mote
direct reply, " which made an instant flight from
Htspanioia necessary. Your son I carried with
me to Tortuga, where we had * snhall settlement.
Mordamt Vaughan, my son by marriage, about
three or four years younger, was residing in Port-
Royal, for the advantages of an EngHsh educa-
tion. I resolved never to see him again, but I
contmaed te support htm. Our settlement was
plundered by the Spaniards, when Clement was
but fifteen*- Want came to aid despair and a trou-
bled conscience. I became a corsair, and involv-
ed Clement in the same desperate trade. Hni
skill and bravery, though then a mere boy, gain-
ed him a separate command; and after a lapse
of two or three years, while we were on different
ervffees, my crew rose on me, and left me for dead
on the 'beach of one of the Bermudas. I recover-
ed, however, and my first inquiries, after a tedi-
ous illness, were after Clement. He, I heard, had
been also marooned by a rebellious crew, and put
ashore on a desert islet, to perish with want — I
believed he bad so perished."

" And what assures you that he did not?" said
UHa ; " or how comes this Cleveland to be idea* "*
iified with Vaoghah?"

" To change a name is common with such ad-
venturers," answered Mertoun, "and Clement
had apparently found that of Vaughan had be-
come too notorious — and this change, in his case",
prevented me from hearing any tidings of him*
It was then that remorse seized me, and that, de*

26* vol. 2.

30* THE PIRATE.

testing all nature, hut especially the sex to which
Louisa belonged, I resolved to do penance in the
wild islands of Zetland for the rest of my life.
To subject myself to fasts and to the scourge, was
the advice of the holy Catholic priests, whom I
consulted. But I devised a nobler penance — I
determined to bring with me the unhappy boy
Mordaunt, and to keep always before me the li-
vii^ memorial of my misery and my guilt. 1 have
done so, and I have thought over both, til) rea-
son, has often trembled on ber throne. And now,
to drive me to utter madness, my Clement — my
own, my undoubted son— revives from the dead
to be consigned to an infamous death, by the ma«
chinations of his own mother!"

"Away, away!*' said Noma, with a laugh,
when she had heard the story to an end, " this
is a legend framed by the old corsair, to interest
my aid in favour of a guilty comrade. How could
I mistake Mordaunt for my son, their ages being
so different ?"

" The dark complexion and manly stature may
have done much,'' said Basil Mertoun ; " strong
imagination must have done the rest."

" But, give me proofs— give me proofs that
this Cleveland is my son, and believe me, this sun
shall sooner sink in east, than they shall have
power to harm a hair of bis head.''

44 These papers, these journals," said Mertoun,
offering the pocket-book.

" I cannot read them," she said,"* after an efc
fort, " my brain is dizzy."

" Clement had also tokens which you may re-
member, but they tjuist have become the booty
of his captors. He bad a silver box with a Runic
inscription, with which in far other days you pre-
rented me—a golden chaplet."

THE PIRATE. 307

"A box!" said Noma, hastily; "Cleveland
gave me one but a day since — I have never look-
ed at it till now."

Eagerly she pulled it out — eagerly examined
the legend around the lid, and as eagerly exclaim*
ed — " They may now indeed call me Reimken-
nar, for by this rhime I know myself murderess of
of my son, as well of my father !'*

The conviction of the strong delusion under
which she had laboured, was so overwhelming,
that she sunk down at the foot of one of the pil-
lars — Mertoun shouted for help, though in des-
pair of receiving any ; the sexton, however, en-
tered, and hopeless of all assistance from Noma,
the distracted father rushed out to learn, if pos-
sible, the fate of his son*

CHAPTER XXII.

Go, some of you, cry a reprieve !

Beggar's Opera,

Captain Weatherport bad, before this time,
reached Kirkwall in person, and was received with
great joy and thankfulness by the Magistrates,
who had assembled in council for the purpose.
The Provost, in particular, expressed himself de-
lighted with the providential arrival of the Hal-
cyon, at the very conjuncture when the Pirate
could not escape her. The Captain looked a lit-
tle surprised, and said— " For that, sir, you may
thank the information you yourself supplied."

30* THE F1IATEJ

* That 1 soppliedf " said it* tPrtftarf* stale-
wheiasfcHMibecL .- ..<,.•>. •*, .

" Yes, sir," answered Captain Weatharpott*
«l tsatastaad you to ba George Toifa* Chief
Magtttcate of Kirkwall, who substnbuAhis letter*"

The astoaiehed Provost took the let tec addpesfc-
Od to Captain Weatherpoit of the* Hdlqwn, staft*
ing the arrival, force, &.<afitbe>pii«tQs'. vessel?
but adding, that they had heard of the Hakyon
being on the coast, aad that tbey were ant their
guard and Beady to baffle ber v by going ameeg
the sboab, aad through the nlaads, and betas*
wheip the frigate could not easily felkwr; and at
the worst, tbejrweie desperate enough to propose
rumiag the sloop ashore and blowing her up, by
which much booty and treasure would be lost to
the captors. The letter, therefore, suggested,
that the Halcyon should cruise betwixt Duncans-
bay Head and Cape Wrath, for two or three days,
to relieve the pirates of the alarm her neighbour-
hood occasioned, and lull them into security, the
more especially as tbe> letter-writer knew it to be
their intention, if the frigate left the coast, to gp
into Stromnes6 Bay, and there put their guns
ashore for some necessary repairs, or even for
careening, if they conld find means. The letter
co*$luded by assuring Captain Weatherport, that
if he cpujd bring hi* frigate into Sif&utMsa Bay
on the moi*>iug of the 24tb of. August, be woald
Jbavoa good bargain of the pirates— if sooner, he
was not unlikely taipiss theo»«

u Thpp letter js pot of my writing or Subscribing,
Captain Weatherport,' ' said the Provost;; *nor
wpi^ld I fraye ventured* to advke any delay in your
coming hither."

The Captain was surprised in his tarru "AH
I know is, that it reached me when I was in the

THE PIRATE. 309

bay of Thurso, and that I gave the boat's crew
that brought it five dollars for crossing the Pent-
land Firth in very rough weather. They had a
dumb dwarf as coxswain, the ugliest urchin my
eyes ever opened upon. I give you much credit
for the accuracy of your intelligence, Mr* Provost."

" It is lucky as it is," said the Provost; "yet
I question whether the writer of this letter would
not: rather that you had found the nest cold and
the bird flown."

So saying, he handed the letter to Magnus
Troil, who returned it with a smile, but without
any observation, aware, doubtless, with the saga-
cious reader, that Noma had her own reasons for
calculating with accuracy on the date of the Hal-
cyon's arrival.

Without puzzling himself further concerning
a circumstance which seemed inexplicable, the
Captain requested that the examinations might
proceed ; and Cleveland and Altamont, as he
choee to be called, were brought up the first of
th* pirate crew, on the charge of having acted as
Captain and Lieutenant. They had just com-'
menced the examination, when, after some ex-
postulation with the officers who kep^the door,
Basil Mertoun burst into the apartment and ex-
claimed, "Take the old victim for the young
one ! — 1 am Basil Vaughan, too well known on
the windward station— -take my life, and spare
mj son's !"

All were astonished, and none more than Mag-
nus Troil, who hastily explained to the Magis-
trates and Captain Weatherport, that this gentle-
man bad been living peaceably and honestly on
the mainland of Zetland for many years.

" In that case," said the Captain, " I wash my
hands of the poor man, for he is safe, under two

610 SHE

pvdamatitm* 1 of wercy i ahd, by any soul, wfcea
i see them hanging oft «aeh other 1 * Melr, I frisk
4 could say as <nuc& forth* *om"' »— • • ■>
''But bow is ifc-^haw canrit be **? said the Pro-
vost; •* we always-called, the old m** Mertoup,
and the young, Cleveland, sod now it items they
fere both named Vaaghan.''
- " Vatoghan," answered Magnus, " is> a nam*
which 1 have some reason to Toaietnber ; and,
from what I have lately heard from my ceutin
Portia, thrtt old mae had a right to bear, in"

" Aad, i troit,- the young man aho,?' said the
Captain, who bad been • looking over «< naeittoraa*
dam. u Listen to me a aaomei**" added he, ad*
•dressing the younger Varagban,. item we have
hitherto called Cleveland. " Hark. you. sir, year
jname is said tb be Clevseht Vaughn— ore you
-the same, who, then a mere bey, oocamaaded a
Jpbrty of rovers, who, about eight or tune yean
*sgOi pilaged a Spanish village tailed Quempoa,
ontke Spanish Moia, with the purpose of sewing
some treasure?" <

u It will'avail me nodriag to delny it*" answer-
ed the prisoner* t .

">No," said Captain Weatherport, M lwt it
nay do you service to admit it* Well, the. iwle-
-teeia escaped with the treasdreywHile yea were
engaged in protecting, at the haaard of ybtw osf*
life, thefeonourof two Spanish ladies ogaiast the
brutality of your followers. Do you remember
any thing of this ?"

u I am sure I do," said Jade. Bamee ; * for J>ur
Captain here was marooned fcr bis?£ dllafttry, and
Lnarrowty escaped flogging and pasklirig for ha-
ving taken h;s part. 3 ' .;..*.
- '^Wbeh these points *re established," said Cap-
tain Weatherport. " Vaughan s life is safe — the

THE PIRATE- 314

women be soared were pen*** of quality, daugh-
ters to the governor of the province, and appli-
cation was long since e>ade, by the grateful Spa-
niard, to eer government, for, favour to be sbewa
to their preserver* I had special orders about
Clement Vaughan, when I had a commission for
cruising upon the pirates, 7 in the West Indies,
six or sevee years wnce. But Vaughan ifaa gone
then as a ; earne amongst then* ; and I beard
enough of Cleveland in bis room. However,
Captain, be yoe Cleveland on Vaughan, I think
I can assure you a free pardon when you arrive
in London," . .

Cleveland bowed, and the bjood mounted to his
face. Merteun fell on his knees, and exhausted
himself in thanksgiving to Heaven. They were
removed, amidst the sympathising sobs of the
spectators*

" And now, good Master .Lieutenant, , what
have yon got to say for yourself," paid Captain
Weatherport to the cidevant.Rpscius,,

" Why, little or nothing, please^our honour j
only that I wish your honour could find my name
in that book of mercy yon have in your band;
for I stood by Captain Clement Vaughan in that
Qtiempoa business*"

"You call yourself Frederick Altamont?" said
Captain Weatberport, " I can see nc> such nsjme
here; one John Bonne, or Bunce, the lady put
on her tablets."

"Why, that is me — that is I myself,. Cap^ih
—I can prove it ; and I am determined, though
the sound be . something plebeian, rather to. live
Jack Beiice, than to bapg as Frederick Altar
mont."

" In that case," said the Captain, u I can give
you some hopes as John Bunce."

<:

^u

fellows; there wa be
the**. I think." Aad this
be aasply MolieiL «
was brought against

The Halcyon was accordingly

to cany the whole prisoners 'to London, for
which the set amil in the coarse of two days.

Daring the time that the unfortunate Cleve-
land remained at Kirkwall, he was treated with
chrility by the Captain of the Halcyon ; and the
kindness of his old acquaintance, Magnus Troil,
who knew in secret bow closely he was allied to
his blood, pressed on him accommodations of
every kind, more than he coald be prevailed on
to accept.

Noma, whose interest in the unhappy prisoner
was still more deep, was at this time unable to ex-
press it. The sexton bad found her laying on the
pavement in a swoon, and when she recovered,
her mind for the time had totally lost its equipoise,
and it became necessary to place her under the
restraint of watchfol attendants.

Of the sisters of Burgh Westra, Ctontisnd only
beard that they remained ill, in consequence of
the fright to which they had been subjected, un-
til the evening before the Halcyon sailed, when
ho received, by a private conveyance, the follow-
ing billet :—"Farewell, Cleveland— we part for

THE PIRATE. 313

ever, and it it right that we should— Be virtuous
and be happy. The delusions which a solitary
education and limited acquaintance with the mo-
dern world bad spread around me, are gone and
dissipated for ever. But in you, 1 am sure I
hare been thus far free from error — that you are
one to whom good is naturally more attractive
than evil, and whom only necessity, example,
and habit, have forced into your late course of
life* Think of me as one who no longer exists,
unless you should become as much the object
of general praise, as now of general reproach ;
and then think of me as one who will rejoice
hi your reviving fame/ though she must never
see you more ! ,> — The note was signed M. T. ;
and Cleveland, with a deep emotion Which he
testified even by tears, read it an hundred times
ever, and then clasped it to his bosom.

Mordaunt Mertoun heard by letter from his
fatter, but in a very different style. Basil bade
him farewell for ever, and acquitted him hence*
forward from the duties of a son, as one on "whom
he, notwithstanding the exertions of many years,
had found himself unable to bestow the affections
of a parent* The letter informed him of a recess
in the old house of Jarlshof, in which the writer
bad deposited a considerable quantity of specie
and of treasure, which he desired Mordaunt to use
aa his own. " You need not fear, 71 the letter bore,
" either that you lay yourself under obligation
to me, or that you are sharing the spoils of pira-
cy. What is now given over to you, is almost
entirely the property of your deceased' mother,
Louisa Gonzago, and is yours by every right.
Let us forgive each other, 1 ' was the conclusion,
* as they who must meet no more."— And they
n$ver met more ; for the elder Mertoun, against

27 vol. 2.

314. THE PIRATE.

/
whom no charge was ever preferred, disappeared
after the fate of Cleveland was determined, and
was generally believed- to have retired into a fo-
reign convent.

The fate of Cleveland will be most briefly ex-
pressed in a letter which Minna received within
two months after the Halcyon left Kirkwall.
The family were then assembled at Burgh-
Westra, and Mordaunt was a mtember of it for
the time, the good Udaller thinking be could
never sufficiently repay the activity which he
had shewn in the defence of his daughters. Nor-
na, then beginning to recover from her tempo-
rary alienation of mind, was a guest in the fa-
mily, and Minna, who was sedulous in* her at-
tention upon this unfortunate victim of mental
delusion, was seated with her, watching each
symptom of returning reason, when the letter
we allude to was placed in her hands.

" Minna," it said — " dearest Minna ! — fare-
well, and for ever. Believe me, 1 never meant
you wrong — never. From the moment I came
to know you, I resolved to detach myself from
my hateful comrades, and had framed a thou-
sand schemes, which have proved as vain as they
deserved to be — for why, or how, should the fate
of one so lovely, pure, and innocent, be involved
with that of one so guilty ? — Of these dreams I
will speak no more. The stern reality of my si-
tuation is much milder than I either expected or
deserved ; and the little good I did has out-weigh-
ed, in the minds of honourable and merciful
judges, much that was evil and criminal. I
have not only been exempted from the ignomi-
nious death to which several of my compeers are
sentenced ; but Captain Weatherport, about once
more to sail for the Spanish Main, under the ap-

THE PIRATE. 316

prehension of an immediate war with that coun-
try, has generously solicited and obtained permis-
sion to employ me, and two or three more of my
less guilty associates, in the same service — a mea-
sure recommended to himself by his own gene*
rous compasaion, and to others by our knowledge
of the coast, and of local circumstances, which,
by whatsoever means acquired, we now hope to
use for the service of our country. Minna, you
will hear my name pronounced with honour, or
you will never hear it again. If virtue can give
happiness, I need not wish it to you, for it is yours
already. — Farewell, Minna."

Minna wept so bitterly, over this letter, that
it attracted the attention of the convalescent
Noma. She snatched it from the hand of her
kinswoman, and read it over at first with the con-
fused air of one to whom it conveyed no intelli-
gence — then with a dawn of recollection — then
, with a burst of mingled joy and grief, in which
* she dropped it from her hand. Minna snatched
it up, and retired with her treasure to her own
apartment.

From that time Noma appeared to assume a
different character. Her dress was changed to
one of a more simple and less imposing charac-
ter. Her dwarf was dismissed, with ample pro-
vision for his future comfort. She shewed no de-
sire of resuming her erratick life ; and directed
her observatory, as it might be called, on Fitful-
head, to be dismantled. She refused the name of
Noma, %nd would only be addressed by her real
appellation of Ulla Troil. But the most impor-
tant chapge remained behind. Formerly from the
dreadful dictates of spiritual despair, arising out
of the circumstances of her father's death, she
seemed to have considered herself as an outcast

31* THE PIRATE.

from divine grace ; besides, that, enveloped in tin
Tain occult sciences which she pretended leprae*
tise, her study, like that of Chaucer's physician}
had been " but little in the Bible." Now, the sa-
cred volume was seldom laid aside ;and, to the poor
ignorant people who came as formerly to invoke
her power over the elements, she only replied-*-
" The winds are in the hollow of His hmndJ"-*
Her conversion *ps not, perhaps, altogether ra-
tional ; for this, the state of a ooind disordered
by such a complication of horrid incidents, proba-
bly prevented* But it seemed to be sincere, and
was certainly useful* She appeared deeply to
repent of her former presumptuous attempts to
interfere with the course of human events, super-
intende4 as they are by tar higher powers, and
expressed bitter compunction when sach her for-
mer pretensions were in any manner recalled to
her memory. She still shewed a partiality to
Mordaunt, though, perhaps, arising chiefly from
habit ; nor was it easy to know bow much or how
little she remembered of the complicated events
in which she had been connected. When sbe
died, which was about four years after the events
we have commemorated, it was found that at the
special and earnest request of Minna Troil, she
had conveyed her very considerable property to
Breads* A clause in her will specially directed,
that all the books, implements of her laboratory,
and other things connected with her former stu-
dies^ should be committed to the flames.

About two years before Noma's death, Brenda
was wedded to Mordaunt Mertoun. It was some
time before old Magnus Troil, with all his afieo
tkm for his daughter, and all bis partiality for
Mordaunt, was able frankly to reconcile himself
to tins match. . But Mordaunt's accomplistwsents

THE PIRATE. 317

were peculiarly to the Udatler's taste, and the old
man felt the impossibility of supplying his place in
his family so absolutely, that at length his Norse
blood gave way to the natural feelings of the
heart, and he comforted his pride while he looked
around him, and saw what he considered as the
encroachments of the Scottish gentry upon the
country, (so Zetland is fondly termed by its in-
habitants,) that as well "his daughter married
the son of an English pirate, as of a Scottish
thief,'* in scornful allusion to the Highland and
Border families, to whom Zetland owes many re-
spectable landholders ; but whose ancestors were
generally esteemed more renowned for ancient *
family and high courage, than for accurately re-
garding the trifling distinctions of Meum and
Tonal. The jovial old man lived to the extre-
mity of human life, with the happy prospect of a
numerous succession in the family of his younger
daughter; and having his board cheered alter-
nately by the minstrelsy of Claud Halcro, and
enlightened by the lucubrations of Mr. Triptole-
mus Yellowley, who, laying aside his high pre*
tensions, was, when he became better acquainted
with the manners of the islanders, and remem*
bered the various misadventures which had at-
tended bis premature attempts at reformation,
an honest and useful representative of his prin-
cipal, and never so happy as when he could escape
from the spare commons of his sister Barbara, to
the genial table of the Udaller. Barbara's tem-
per also was much softened by the unexpected
restoration of the horn of silver coiner, (the pro-
perty of Noma,) which she had concealed in the
mansion of old Stourbourgh, for achieving some of
her mysterious plans, but which she now restored
to those by whom it bad been accidentally disco-

318 THE PIRATE. .

vered; with an intimation, however, that it would
again disappear unless a reasonable portion was
expended on the sustenance of the family ; a pie-
caution to which Tronda Dronsdaoghter, (proba-
bly an agent of Noma's,) owed her escape from a
alow and wasting death by inanition*

Mordaunt and Brenda were as happy as our
mortal condition permits us to be. They admifr
ed and loved eaeh other — enjoyed easy circum-
stances — had duties to discharge which they did
not neglect; and, clear in conscience as light of
heart, laughed, sung, danced, daffed the world
aside, and bid it pass.

But Minna — the hight and imaginative Minos
—she, gifted with such depth of feeling and e*
tbysiasm, yet doomed to see both blighted in early
youth, because, with the inexperience of a dispo-
sition equally romantic and ignorant she had built
the fabric of her happiness on a quicksand instead
of a rock, — was she, could she be happy ? Reader,
•she was happy ; for, whatever may be alleged to
the contrary by the sceptic and the acoroer, te
each duty performed there is assigned a degree of
mental peace and high consciousness of honourable
exertion, corresponding to the difficulty of the task
accomplished. That rest of the tmdy which suc-
ceeds to hard and industrious toil, is not to be
compared to the repose which the spirit enjoys
under similar circumstances. Her resignation,
however, and the constant attention which she
paid to her father, her sister, the afflicted Noma,
and to all who had claims on her, where neither
Minna's sole nor her most precious source of com-
fort. Like Noma, but under a more regulated
judgment, she learned to exchange the visions
of wild enthusiasm which had exerted and misled
her imagination, for a truer and purer connection

THE PIRATE. 319

with the world beyond us, than could be learned
from the sagas of heathen bards, or the visions of
latter rhymers. To this she owed the support by
which she was enabled, after various accounts of
the honourable and gallant conduct of Cleveland,
to read with resignation, and even with a sense of
comfort, mingled with sorrow, that he had at length
fidlen, leading the way in a gallant and honourable
enterprize, which was successfully accomplished
by those followers, to whom his determined brave-
ry had opened the road* Bunce, his fantastic fol-
lower in good, as formerly in evil, transmitted an
account to Minna of this melancholy event, in
terms which shewed, that though his head was
weak, his heart had not been utterly corrupted
by the lawless life which be for some time led, or
at least that it had been amended by the change ;
and that he himself had gained credit and pro-
motion in the same action, seemed to be of little
consequence to him, compared with the loss of his
old captain and comrade.* Minna read the intel-
ligence, and thanked heaven, even while the eyes
which she lifted up were streaming with tears,
that the death ef Cleveland had been in the bed
of honour ; nay she even had the courage to add
her gratitude, that he had been snatched from a
situation of temptation ere circumstances had
overcome his new-born virtue ; and so strongly
did this reflection operate, that her life, after the
immediate pain of this event had passed away,

* We have been able to learn nothing with certainty of
Bunce's fate ; but our friend Dr. Dryasdust believes he may be
identified with an old gentleman, who, in the beginning, of the
reign of George I. attended the Rose Coffee-house regularly,
went to the theatre every night, told mercilessly long stories
about the Spanish Main, controlled reckonings, and bullied
waiters, and was generally known by the name of Captain
Bounce.

320 THE PIRATE.

seemed net only as resigned, but even more cheer*
ful thai* before. Her thoughts, however, -were
detached from the world, and only visited it, with
an interest like that which guardian angels take
for their charge, in behalf of those friends with
whom she lived in love, or of the poor whom she
could serve and comfort. Thus passed her life,
enjoying, from all who approached ber, an affec-
tion enhanced by reverence ; insomuch, that when
her friends sorrowed for her, death, which arrived
at a late period of her existence, they were com-
forted by the fond reflection, that the humanity
which she then laid down, was the only circum-
stance which had placed ber, in the words of
Scripture, " a little lower than the angels !"

THE END.

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