Transcript

039 - Chapter 17 · Pirate

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Speaker 1: Chapter seventeen of the Pirate by Sir Walter Scott. This
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Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Dion
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Speaker 1: Jine's Salt Lake City, Utah. Over the mountains and under
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Speaker 1: the waves, over the fountains and under the graves, over
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Speaker 1: floods that are deepest, which Neptune obey, over rocks that
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Speaker 1: are steepest, love will find out the way old song.
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Speaker 1: The parting of Fletcher from Claude Holcrow and the sisters
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Speaker 1: of Burgwestra on the spot where it took place, was
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Speaker 1: partly occasioned by a small party of armed men being
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Speaker 1: seen at a distance in the act of advancing from Kirkwall,
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Speaker 1: an apparition hidden from the U Dollar's spyglass by the
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Speaker 1: swell of the ground, but quite visible to the pirate,
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Speaker 1: whom it determined to consult his own safety by a
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Speaker 1: speedy return to his boat. He was just turning away
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Speaker 1: when Minna occasioned the short delay which her father had observed. Stop.
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Speaker 1: She said, I command you tell your leader from me
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Speaker 1: that whatever the answer may be from Kirkwall, he shall
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Speaker 1: carry his vessel nevertheless round to strongness, and being anchored there,
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Speaker 1: let him send a boat ashore for Captain Cleveland when
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Speaker 1: he shall see a smoke on the bridge of bois Car.
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Speaker 1: Fletcher had thought, like his messmate Bunch, of asking a
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Speaker 1: kiss at least for the trouble of escorting these beautiful
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Speaker 1: young women. And perhaps neither the terror of the approaching
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Speaker 1: Kirkwall men nor of Minna's weapon might have prevented his
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Speaker 1: being insolent. But the name of his captain, and still more,
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Speaker 1: the unappalled, dignified and commanding manner of minna troil overawed him.
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Speaker 1: He made a sea bow, promised to keep a sharp lookout, and,
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Speaker 1: returning to his boat, went on board with his message.
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Speaker 1: As Hulcrow and the sisters advanced towards the party whom
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Speaker 1: they saw on the Kirkwall road, and who, on their part,
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Speaker 1: had halted as if to observe them. Brenda, relieved from
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Speaker 1: the fears of Fletcher's presence, which had hitherto kept her silent, exclaimed,
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Speaker 1: Merciful Heaven, Minna, in what hands have we left our
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Speaker 1: dear father in the hands of brave men? Said Minna steadily.
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Speaker 1: I fear not for him, as brave as you please,
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Speaker 1: said Claude Hulcrow, but very dangerous rogues. For all that
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Speaker 1: I know that fellow Altamont as he calls himself, though
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Speaker 1: that is not his right name, neither as debauched a dog,
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Speaker 1: as ever made a barn ring with blood and blank verse.
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Speaker 1: He began with barnwell, and everybody thought he would end
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Speaker 1: with the gallows, like the last scene in Venice. Preserved
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Speaker 1: it matters not, said Minna. The wilder the waves, the
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Speaker 1: more powerful is the voice that rules them. The name
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Speaker 1: alone of Cleveland ruled the mood of the fiercest amongst them.
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Speaker 1: I am sorry for Cleveland, said Brenda, if such are
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Speaker 1: his companions, But I care little for him in comparison
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Speaker 1: to my father. Reserve your compassion for those who need it,
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Speaker 1: said Minna. And fear nothing for our father. God knows
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Speaker 1: every silver hair on his head is to me worth
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Speaker 1: the treasure of an unsummed mine. But I know that
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Speaker 1: he is safe while in yonder vessel, and I know
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Speaker 1: that he will be soon safe on shore. I would
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Speaker 1: I could see it, said Claude Holcroe. But I fear
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Speaker 1: the Kirkwall. People supposing Cleveland to be such as I dread,
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Speaker 1: will not dare to exchange him against the you dollar
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Speaker 1: the Scots have very severe laws against theft boot, as
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Speaker 1: they call it. But who are those on the road
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Speaker 1: before us, said Brenda, And why do they halt there
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Speaker 1: so jealously? They are a patrol of the militia, answered Holcrow.
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Speaker 1: Glorious John touches them off a little sharply, But then
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Speaker 1: John was a Jacobite. Mouths without hands, maintained at vast
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Speaker 1: expense in peace, a charge in war, a weak defense
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Speaker 1: stout once a month they march a blustering band, and ever,
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Speaker 1: but in time of need at hand, I fancy they
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Speaker 1: halted just now, taking us as they saw us on
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Speaker 1: the brow of the hill for a party of the
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Speaker 1: Sloop's men. And now they can distinguish that you wear petticoats.
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Speaker 1: They are moving on again. They came on accordingly and
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Speaker 1: proved to be as Claude Holcrow had suggested, a patrol
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Speaker 1: sent out to watch the motions of the pirates and
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Speaker 1: to prevent their attempting descents to damage the country. They
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Speaker 1: heartily congratulated Claude Holcrow, who was well known to more
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Speaker 1: than one of them, upon his escape from captivity, and
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Speaker 1: the commander of the party, while offering every assistance to
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Speaker 1: the ladies could not help doling with them on the
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Speaker 1: circumstances in which their father stood, hinting, though in a
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Speaker 1: delicate and doubtful manner, the difficulties which might be in
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Speaker 1: the way of his liberation. When they arrived at Kirkwall
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Speaker 1: and obtained an audience of the Provost and one or
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Speaker 1: two of the magistrates, these difficulties were more plainly insisted
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Speaker 1: upon the Halcian frigate is upon the coast, said the Provost.
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Speaker 1: She was seen off Duncan's e head. And though I
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Speaker 1: have the deepest respect for mister Troyle of Burgwestra, yet
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Speaker 1: I shall be answerable to law if I release from
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Speaker 1: prison the captain of this suspicious vessel, on account of
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Speaker 1: the safety of any individual who may be unhappily endangered
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Speaker 1: by his detention. This man is now known to be
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Speaker 1: the heart and soul of these buccaneers, and am I
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Speaker 1: at liberty to send him abroad that he may plunder
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Speaker 1: the country or perhaps go fight the King's ship. For
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Speaker 1: he has impudence enough for anything, courage enough for anything.
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Speaker 1: You mean, mister Provost, said Minna, unable to restrain her displeasure.
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Speaker 1: Why you may call it as you please, missus troyle,
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Speaker 1: said the worthy magistrate. But in my opinion, that sort
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Speaker 1: of courage which proposes to fight singly against two is
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Speaker 1: little better than a kind of practical impudence. But our father,
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Speaker 1: said Brenda, in a tone of the most earnest entreaty,
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Speaker 1: Our father, the friend, I may say, the father of
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Speaker 1: his country, to whom so many look for kindness, and
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Speaker 1: so many for actual support, whose loss would be the
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Speaker 1: extinction of a beacon in a storm? Will you indeed
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Speaker 1: weigh the risk which he runs against such a trifling
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Speaker 1: thing as letting an unfortunate man from prison to seek
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Speaker 1: his unhappy fate elsewhere. Miss Brenda is right, said Claude Holcrow.
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Speaker 1: I am for let a be, for let a be,
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Speaker 1: as the boys say, and never fash about a warrant
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Speaker 1: of liberation provost. But just take a fool's counsel and
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Speaker 1: let the good man of the jail forget to draw
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Speaker 1: his bolt on the wicket, or leave a chink of
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Speaker 1: a window open, or the like, and we shall be
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Speaker 1: rid of the rover and have the one best honest
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Speaker 1: fellow in Orkney or Zetland on the lee side of
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Speaker 1: a bowl of punch with us. In five hours The
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Speaker 1: Provost replied, in nearly the same terms as before, that
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Speaker 1: he had the highest respect for mister Magnus, Troyal of Burglestra,
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Speaker 1: but that he could not suffer his consideration for any individual,
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Speaker 1: however respectable, to interfere with the discharge of his duty.
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Speaker 1: Nna then addressed her sister in a tone of calm
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Speaker 1: and sarcastic displeasure. You forget, she said, Brenda, that you
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Speaker 1: are talking of the safety of a poor, insignificant u
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Speaker 1: dollar of Zetland to know less a person than the
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Speaker 1: chief Magistrate of the Metropolis of Orkney. Can you expect
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Speaker 1: so great a person to condescend to such a trifling
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Speaker 1: subject of consideration. It will be time enough for the
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Speaker 1: Provost to think of complying with the terms sent to him.
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Speaker 1: For comply with them at length he both must and
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Speaker 1: will when the Church of Saint Magnet is beat down
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Speaker 1: about his ears. You may be angry with me, my
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Speaker 1: pretty young lady, said the good humored Provost Torfey, But
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Speaker 1: I cannot be offended with you. The Church of Saint
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Speaker 1: Magnus has stood many a day, and I think will
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Speaker 1: outlive both you and me much more yonder pack of
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Speaker 1: unhanged dogs. And besides that your father is half an
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Speaker 1: Orkneyman and has both a state and friends among us.
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Speaker 1: I would I give you my word do as much
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Speaker 1: for a Zetlander in distress as I would for anyone,
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Speaker 1: excepting one of our own native Kirkwallers, who are doubtless
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Speaker 1: to be preferred. And if you will take up your
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Speaker 1: lodgings here with my wife and myself, we will endeavor
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Speaker 1: to show you, continued he that you are as welcome
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Speaker 1: in Kirkwall as ever you could be in Lerwick or Scalloway.
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Speaker 1: Men ordained no reply to this good humored invitation, but
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Speaker 1: Brenda declined it in civil terms, pleading the necessity of
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Speaker 1: taking up their abode with a wealthy widow of Kirkwall,
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Speaker 1: a relation who already expected them. Hull Crow made another
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Speaker 1: attempt to move the provost, but found him inexorable. The
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Speaker 1: collector of the customs had already threatened, he said, to
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Speaker 1: inform against him for entering into treaty, or as he
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Speaker 1: called it, packing and peeling with those strangers, even when
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Speaker 1: it seemed the only means of preventing a bloody of
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Speaker 1: frey in the town. And should he now forego the
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Speaker 1: advantage afforded by the imprisonment of Cleveland and the escape
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Speaker 1: of the factor, he might incur something worse than censure.
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Speaker 1: The burden of the life the whole was that he
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Speaker 1: was sorry for the u Dollar. He was even sorry
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Speaker 1: for the lad Cleveland, who had some sparks of honor
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Speaker 1: about him, but his duty was imperious and must be obeyed.
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Speaker 1: The Provost then precluded farther argument by observing that another
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Speaker 1: affair from Zetland called for his immediate attention. A gentleman
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Speaker 1: named Murtown, residing at Dralshoff, had made complaint against Snailsfoot
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Speaker 1: the Jagger, for having assisted a domestic of his in
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Speaker 1: embezzling some valuable articles which had been deposited in his custody,
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Speaker 1: and he was about to take examinations on the subject
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Speaker 1: and cause them to be restored to mister Murtown, who
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Speaker 1: was accountable for them to the right owner. In all
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Speaker 1: this information, there was nothing which seemed interesting to the sisters,
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Speaker 1: accepting the word Murtown, which went like a dagger to
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Speaker 1: the heart of Minna when she recollected the circumstances under
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Speaker 1: which Mordaunt Murtown had disappeared, and which with an emotion
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Speaker 1: less painful, though still of a melancholy nature, called a
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Speaker 1: faint blush into Brenda's cheek and a slight degree of
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Speaker 1: moisture into her eye. But it was soon evident that
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Speaker 1: the magistrate spoke not of Mordaunt, but of his father,
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Speaker 1: and the daughters of Magnus, little interested in his detail,
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Speaker 1: took leave of the Provost to go to their own lodgings.
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Speaker 1: When they arrived at their relations, Minna made it her
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Speaker 1: business to learn, by such enquiries as she could make
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Speaker 1: without exciting suspicion, what was the situation of the unfortunate Cleveland,
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Speaker 1: which she soon discovered to be exceedingly precarious. The Provost
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Speaker 1: had not indeed committed him to close custody, as Claude
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Speaker 1: Halcrow had anticipated, recollecting perhaps the favorable circumstances under which
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Speaker 1: he had surrendered himself, and loathe till the moment of
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Speaker 1: the last necessity altogether to break faith with him. But
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Speaker 1: although left apparently at large, he was strictly watched by
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Speaker 1: persons well armed and appointed for the purpose, who had
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Speaker 1: directions to detain him by force if he attempted to
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Speaker 1: pass certain narrow precincts. Which were allotted to him. He
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Speaker 1: was quartered in a strong room within what is called
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Speaker 1: the King's Castle, and at night his chamber door was
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Speaker 1: locked on the outside, and a sufficient guard mounted to
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Speaker 1: prevent his escape. He therefore enjoyed only the degree of
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Speaker 1: liberty which cat in her cruel sport, is sometimes pleased
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Speaker 1: to permit to the mouse which she has clutched. And
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Speaker 1: yet such was the terror of the resources, the courage
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Speaker 1: and ferocity of the pirate captain, that the Provost was
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Speaker 1: blamed by the Collector and many other sage citizens of
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Speaker 1: Kirkwall for permitting him to be at large upon any conditions.
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Speaker 1: It may be well believed that under such circumstances Cleveland
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Speaker 1: had no desire to seek any place of public resort,
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Speaker 1: conscious that he was the object of a mixed feeling
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Speaker 1: of curiosity and terror. His favorite place of exercise, therefore,
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Speaker 1: was the external isles of the Cathedral of Saint Magnus,
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Speaker 1: of which the eastern and alone is fitted up for
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Speaker 1: public worship. This solemn old edifice, having escaped the ravage
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Speaker 1: which attended the first convulsions of the Reformation, still retains
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Speaker 1: some appearance of episcopal dignity. This place of worship is
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Speaker 1: separated by a screen from the nave and western limb
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Speaker 1: of the cross, and the whole is preserved in a
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Speaker 1: state of cleanliness and decency, which might be well proposed
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Speaker 1: as an example to the proud piles of Westminster and
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Speaker 1: Saint Paul's. It was in this exterior part of the
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Speaker 1: cathedral that Cleveland was permitted to walk the rather that
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Speaker 1: his guards, by watching the single open entrance, had the means,
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Speaker 1: with very little inconvenience to themselves, of preventing any possible
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Speaker 1: attempt at escape. The place itself was well suited to
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Speaker 1: his melancholy circumstances. The lofty and vaulted roof rises upon
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Speaker 1: reis ranges of sex and pillars of massive size, four
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Speaker 1: of which still larger than the rest. Once supported the
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Speaker 1: lofty spire, which long since destroyed by accident, has been
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Speaker 1: rebuilt upon a disproportioned and truncated plan. The light is
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Speaker 1: admitted at the eastern end through a lofty, well proportioned
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Speaker 1: and richly ornamented Gothic window, and the pavement is covered
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Speaker 1: with inscriptions in different languages distinguishing the graves of noble
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Speaker 1: Orcadians who have at different times been deposited within the
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Speaker 1: sacred precincts. Here walked Cleveland, musing over the events of
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Speaker 1: a misspent life, which it seemed probable might be brought
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Speaker 1: to a violent and shameful close while he was yet
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Speaker 1: in the prime of youth. With these dead, he said,
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Speaker 1: looking on the pavement, shall I soon be numbered? But
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Speaker 1: no holy man will speak a blessing, no friendly hand
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Speaker 1: register and inscription, no proud descendant sculpture, armorial bearings over
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Speaker 1: the grave of the pirate Cleveland, My whitening bones will
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Speaker 1: swing in the gibbet irons on some wild beach or
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Speaker 1: lonely cape that will be esteemed fatal and cursed. For
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Speaker 1: my sake. The old mariner, as he passes the sound,
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Speaker 1: will shake his head and tell of my name and
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Speaker 1: actions as a warning to his younger comrades. But mena, mena,
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Speaker 1: what will be thy thoughts when the news reaches thee
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Speaker 1: would to God the tidings were drowned in the deepest
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Speaker 1: whirlpool betwixt kirkwal and burgwestra Ere. They came to her ear,
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Speaker 1: and Oh, would to Heaven that we had never met,
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Speaker 1: since we never can meet again. He lifted up his
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Speaker 1: eyes as he spoke, and Minne Troil stood before him.
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Speaker 1: Her face was pale and her hair disheveled, but her
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Speaker 1: look was composed and firm, with its usual expression of
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Speaker 1: high minded melancholy. She was still shrouded in the large
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Speaker 1: mantle which she had assumed on leaving the vessel. Cleveland's
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Speaker 1: first emotion was astonishment. His next was joy, not unmixed
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Speaker 1: with awe. He would have exclaimed he would have thrown
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Speaker 1: himself at her feet, but she imposed at once silence
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Speaker 1: and composure on him, by raising her finger and saying,
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Speaker 1: in a low but commanding accent, the cautious we are observed,
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Speaker 1: there are men without They let me enter with difficulty.
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Speaker 1: I dare not remain long. They would think, they might believe,
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Speaker 1: Oh Cleveland, I have hazarded everything to save you. To
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Speaker 1: save me, alas poor Minna answered Cleveland, to save me
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Speaker 1: is impossible, even that I have seen you once more
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Speaker 1: were it? But to say forever farewell? We must indeed
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Speaker 1: say farewell, said Minna, For fate and your guilt have
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Speaker 1: divided us forever, Cleveland, I have seen your associates. Need
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Speaker 1: I tell you more? Need I say that I know
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Speaker 1: now what a pirate is? You have been in the
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Speaker 1: ruffian's power, said Cleveland, with a start of agony. Did
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Speaker 1: they presume, Cleveland replied Minna, they presumed nothing. Your name
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Speaker 1: was a spell over them, but the power of that
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Speaker 1: spell over them, these ferocious banditti. And by that alone
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Speaker 1: I was reminded of the qualities I once thought my clevelands. Yes,
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Speaker 1: said Cleveland, proudly, my name has and shall have power
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Speaker 1: over them when they are at the wildest. And had
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Speaker 1: they harmed you by one rude word, they should have found.
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Speaker 1: Yet what do I rave about? I am a prisoner.
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Speaker 1: You shall be so no longer, said Minna. Your safety,
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Speaker 1: the safety of my dear father, all demand your instant freedom.
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Speaker 1: I have formed a scheme for your liberty, which boldly
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Speaker 1: executed cannot fail. The light is fading. Without muffle yourself
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Speaker 1: in my cloak, and you will easily pass the guards.
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Speaker 1: I have given them the means of carousing, and they
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Speaker 1: are deeply engaged. Haste to the law of Stennis, and
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Speaker 1: hide yourself till day dawns. Then make a smoke on
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Speaker 1: the point where the land stretching into the lake on
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Speaker 1: each side, divides it nearly in two. At the bridge
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Speaker 1: of boisgar, your vessel, which lies not far distant, will
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Speaker 1: send a boat ashore. Do not hesitate an instant, but you, Minna,
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Speaker 1: should this wild scheme succeed, said Cleveland, What is to
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Speaker 1: become of you for my share in your escape? Answered
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Speaker 1: the maiden. The honesty of my own intention will vindicate
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Speaker 1: me in the sight of Heaven, and the safety of
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Speaker 1: my father, whose fate depends on yours, will be my
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Speaker 1: excuse to man. In a few words, she gave him
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Speaker 1: the history of their capture and its consequences. Cleveland cast
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Speaker 1: up his eyes and raised his hands to Heaven in
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Speaker 1: thankfulness for the escape of the sisters from his evil companions,
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Speaker 1: and then hastily added, but you are right, Menna, I
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Speaker 1: must fly at all rates for your father's sake. I
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Speaker 1: must fly here. Then we part, Yet not I trust
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Speaker 1: forever forever, answered a voice that sounded as from a
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Speaker 1: sepulchrul vault. They started, looked around them, and then gazed
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Speaker 1: on each other. It seemed as if the echoes of
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Speaker 1: the building had returned Cleveland's last words, but the pronunciation
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Speaker 1: was too emphatically accented. Yes, forever, said Norna of the
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Speaker 1: fitful head, stepping forward from behind one of the massive
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Speaker 1: saxon pillars which support the roof of the cathedral. Here
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Speaker 1: meet the crimson foot and the crimson hand. Well for both,
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Speaker 1: that the wound is healed, whence that crimson was derived.
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Speaker 1: Well for both, but best for him who shed it.
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Speaker 1: Here then you meet, and meet for the last time.
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Speaker 1: Not so, said Cleveland, as if about to take Minna's hand,
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Speaker 1: to separate me from Minna while I have life must
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Speaker 1: be the work of herself alone. Away, said Norna, stepping
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Speaker 1: betwixt them. Away with such idle folly, nourish no vain
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Speaker 1: dreams of future meetings. You part here, and you part forever.
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Speaker 1: The hawk pears, not with the dove guilt matches, not
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Speaker 1: with innocence, Minna troil. You look for the last time
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Speaker 1: on this bold and criminal man, Cleveland, You behold Minna
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Speaker 1: for the last time, and dream you, said Cleveland, indignantly,
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Speaker 1: that your mummery imposes on me, and that I am
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Speaker 1: among the fools who see more than trick in your
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Speaker 1: pretended art. Forbear Cleveland, forbear, said Minna. Her hereditary awe
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Speaker 1: of Norna, augmented by the circumstance of her sudden appearance.
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Speaker 1: Oh forbear, she is powerful, she is but too powerful.
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Speaker 1: And do you, oh Norna, remember my father's safety is
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Speaker 1: linked with Cleveland's. And it is well for Cleveland that
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Speaker 1: I do remember, it, replied the Pythoness, and that for
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Speaker 1: the sake of one, I am here to aid both
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Speaker 1: you with your childish purpose of passing one of his
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Speaker 1: bulk and stature under the disguise of a few paltry
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Speaker 1: folds of wadmol What would your device have procured him?
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Speaker 1: But instant restraint, with bold and shackle, I will save him.
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Speaker 1: I will place him in security on board his bark.
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Speaker 1: But let him renounce these shores forever, and carry elsewhere
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Speaker 1: the terrors of his sable flag and his yet blacker name.
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Speaker 1: For if the sun rises twice and finds him still
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Speaker 1: at anchor, his blood be on his own head. I
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Speaker 1: look to each other, look the last look that I
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Speaker 1: permit to frail affection, and say, if ye can say it,
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Speaker 1: farewell forever obey her, stammered Minna remonstrate not but obey her. Cleveland,
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Speaker 1: grasping her hand and kissing it ardently, said, but so
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Speaker 1: low that she only could hear it. Farewell, Minna, but
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Speaker 1: not forever, and now maiden begone, said Norna, and leave
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Speaker 1: the rest to the rumkenner. One word more, said Minna,
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Speaker 1: And I obey you, but tell me. But if I
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Speaker 1: have caught arright, your meaning is mordaunt mertown, safe and recovered.
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Speaker 1: Recovered and safe, said Norna. Else, woe to the hand
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Speaker 1: that shed his blood. Minna slowly sought the door of
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Speaker 1: the cathedral and turned back from time to time to
27:24
Speaker 1: look at the shadowy form of Norna and the stately
27:28
Speaker 1: and military figure of Cleveland as they stood together in
27:33
Speaker 1: the deepening gloom of the ancient cathedral. When she looked
27:37
Speaker 1: back a second time, they were in motion, and Cleveland
27:41
Speaker 1: followed the matron as with a slow and solemn step.
27:46
Speaker 1: She glided towards one of the side aisles. When Minna
27:50
Speaker 1: looked back a third time, their figures were no longer visible.
27:55
Speaker 1: She collected herself and walked on to the eastern door
28:00
Speaker 1: by which she had entered, and listened for an instant
28:03
Speaker 1: to the guard who talked together on the outside. The
28:08
Speaker 1: Zettelin girl stays a long time with this pirate fellow,
28:12
Speaker 1: said one. I wish they have not more to speak
28:15
Speaker 1: about than the ransom of her father, I truly answered another.
28:21
Speaker 1: The wenches will have more sympathy with a handsome young
28:25
Speaker 1: pirate than an old, bed ridden burgher. Their discourse was
28:30
Speaker 1: here interrupted by her of whom they were speaking, and
28:35
Speaker 1: as if taken in the manner, they pulled off their hats,
28:39
Speaker 1: made their awkward obeisances, and looked not a little embarrassed
28:44
Speaker 1: and confused. Nina returned to the house where she lodged,
28:49
Speaker 1: much affected, yet on the whole pleased with the result
28:53
Speaker 1: of her expedition, which seemed to put her father out
28:57
Speaker 1: of danger, and assured her at one of the escape
29:01
Speaker 1: of Cleveland and of the safety of young Mordaunt. She
29:06
Speaker 1: hastened to communicate both pieces of intelligence to Brenda, who
29:11
Speaker 1: joined her in thankfulness to Heaven, and was herself well
29:15
Speaker 1: nigh persuaded to believe in Norna's supernatural pretensions. So much
29:22
Speaker 1: was she pleased with the manner in which they had
29:25
Speaker 1: been employed. Some time was spent in exchanging their mutual
29:30
Speaker 1: congratulations and mingling tears of hope mixed with apprehension, When,
29:36
Speaker 1: at a late hour in the evening, they were interrupted
29:39
Speaker 1: by Claude Holcrow, who full of a fidgeting sort of
29:44
Speaker 1: importance not unmingled with fear, came to acquaint them that
29:49
Speaker 1: the prisoner Cleveland had disappeared from the cathedral in which
29:54
Speaker 1: he had been permitted to walk, and that the Provost,
29:58
Speaker 1: having been informed that men was accessory to his flight,
30:02
Speaker 1: was coming in a mighty quandary to make enquiry into
30:07
Speaker 1: the circumstances. When the worthy magistrate arrived, Minna did not
30:12
Speaker 1: conceal from him her own wish that Cleveland should make
30:16
Speaker 1: his escape as the only means which she saw of
30:20
Speaker 1: redeeming her father from imminent danger, but that she had
30:25
Speaker 1: any actual accession to his flight, she positively denied, and
30:31
Speaker 1: stated that she had parted from Cleveland in the cathedral
30:35
Speaker 1: more than two hours since, and then left him in
30:39
Speaker 1: company with a third person, whose name she did not
30:43
Speaker 1: conceive herself obliged to communicate. It is not needful, Miss
30:49
Speaker 1: Minna Troil, answered Provos Torfe, for although no person but
30:54
Speaker 1: this Captain Cleveland and yourself was seen to enter the
30:59
Speaker 1: kirk of Saint Madness this day, we know well enough
31:03
Speaker 1: that your cousin old Ullah Troyl, whom you Zetlanders called
31:08
Speaker 1: Norna a fitful head, has been cruising up and down
31:12
Speaker 1: upon sea and land and air, for what I know
31:17
Speaker 1: in boats and on ponies, and it may be on broomsticks.
31:22
Speaker 1: And here has been her dumb draw to coming and
31:26
Speaker 1: going and playing the spy on everyone. And a good
31:30
Speaker 1: spy he is, for he can hear everything and tells
31:35
Speaker 1: nothing again unless to his mistress. And we know besides
31:41
Speaker 1: that she can enter the kirk when all the doors
31:44
Speaker 1: are fast, and has been seen there more than once.
31:48
Speaker 1: God save us from the evil one. And so, without
31:52
Speaker 1: farther questions asked, I conclude it was old Norna whom
31:57
Speaker 1: you left in the kirk with the slashing blade. And
32:02
Speaker 1: if so they may catch them again, that can I
32:06
Speaker 1: cannot but say, however, pretty Mistress Minna, that you Zettelin
32:11
Speaker 1: folks seem to forget both law and gospel when you
32:16
Speaker 1: use the help of witchcraft to fetch delinquents out of
32:20
Speaker 1: a legal prison. And the least that you or your
32:24
Speaker 1: cousin or your father can do is to use influence
32:29
Speaker 1: with this wild fellow to go away as soon as
32:33
Speaker 1: possible without hurting the town or trade. And then there
32:38
Speaker 1: will be little harm in what has chanced, For Heaven
32:42
Speaker 1: knows I did not seek the poor lad's life so
32:47
Speaker 1: I could get my hands free of him without blame,
32:51
Speaker 1: and far less did I wish that through his imprisonment
32:56
Speaker 1: any harm should come to worthy madness Troil of Burglestra.
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Speaker 1: I see where the shoe pinches you, mister Provost, said
33:05
Speaker 1: Claude Holcrow. And I am sure I can answer for
33:09
Speaker 1: my friend, mister Troyle, as well as for myself, that
33:14
Speaker 1: we will say and do all in our power with
33:18
Speaker 1: this man Captain Cleveland, to make him leave the coast directly.
33:24
Speaker 1: And I said, Minna, am so convinced that what you
33:28
Speaker 1: recommend is best for all parties, that my sister and
33:32
Speaker 1: I will set off early tomorrow morning to the House
33:36
Speaker 1: of Stennis. If mister Holcrow will give us his escort
33:41
Speaker 1: to receive my father when he comes ashore, that we
33:45
Speaker 1: may acquaint him with your wish and to use every
33:49
Speaker 1: influence to induce this unhappy man to leave the country.
33:54
Speaker 1: Provos Torfey looked upon her with some surprise. It is
33:59
Speaker 1: not every young woman, he said, would wish to move
34:03
Speaker 1: eight miles nearer to a band of pirates. We run
34:07
Speaker 1: no risk, said Claude Holcrow, interfering the house of Stennis
34:12
Speaker 1: is strong, and my cousin whom it belongs to, has
34:17
Speaker 1: men and arms within it. The young ladies are as
34:21
Speaker 1: safe there as in Kirkwall, and much good may arise
34:25
Speaker 1: from an early communication between Magnus Troyle and his daughters.
34:31
Speaker 1: And happy am I to see that in your case,
34:35
Speaker 1: my good old friend, as glorious John says, After much debate,
34:40
Speaker 1: the man prevails above the magistrate. The provost smiled, nodded
34:46
Speaker 1: his head, and indicated, as far as he thought he
34:50
Speaker 1: could do so with decency, how happy he should be
34:55
Speaker 1: if the fortune's favorite and her disorderly crew would leave
35:00
Speaker 1: Orkney without further interference or violence on either side. He
35:05
Speaker 1: could not authorize their being supplied from the shore, he said,
35:10
Speaker 1: but either for fear or favor, they were certain to
35:14
Speaker 1: get provisions at Stromness. This pacific magistrate then took leave
35:19
Speaker 1: of Holcrow and the two ladies, who proposed the next
35:24
Speaker 1: morning to transfer their residence to the House of Stennis,
35:28
Speaker 1: situated upon the banks of the salt water lake of
35:32
Speaker 1: the same name, and about four miles by water from
35:37
Speaker 1: the road of Stromness, where the rover's vessel was lying.
35:42
Speaker 1: End of chapter seventeen