Transcript

042 - Chapter 20 · Pirate

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty 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 of an outlaw. This is
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Speaker 1: the law that men him take and bind without pity,
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Speaker 1: hang to be and wave with the wind the Ballad
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Speaker 1: of the nut Brown Maid. Mordaunt had caused the sentinels,
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Speaker 1: who had been on duty since midnight to be relieved
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Speaker 1: ere the peep of day, and having given directions that
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Speaker 1: the guard should be again changed at sunrise, he had
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Speaker 1: retired to a small parlor, and, placing his arms beside him,
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Speaker 1: was slumbering in an easy chair when he felt himself
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Speaker 1: pulled by the watch cloak in which he was enveloped.
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Speaker 1: Is it sunrise, said he already, As starting up he
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Speaker 1: discovered the first beams lying level upon the horizon, Mordaunt
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Speaker 1: said a voice, every note of which thrilled to his heart.
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Speaker 1: He turned his eyes on the speaker, and Brenda Troyle,
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Speaker 1: to his joyful astonishment, stood before him. As he was
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Speaker 1: about to address her eagerly, he was checked by observing
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Speaker 1: the signs of sorrow and discomposure in her pale cheeks.
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Speaker 1: Trembling lips and brim full eyes. Mordaunt, she said, you
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Speaker 1: must do Minna and me a favor. You must allow
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Speaker 1: us to leave the house quietly and without alarming anyone,
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Speaker 1: in order to go as far as the standing stones
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Speaker 1: of Stennis. What freak can this be, dearest Brenda, said Mordaunt,
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Speaker 1: much amazed at the request. Some Orcadian observation of superstition. Perhaps,
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Speaker 1: But the time is too dangerous, and my charge from
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Speaker 1: your father too strict that I should permit you to
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Speaker 1: pass without his consent. Consider, dearest Brenda, I am a
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Speaker 1: soldier on duty and must obey orders. Mordaunt said, Brenda,
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Speaker 1: this is no jesting matter. Minna's reason, Nay, Minna's life
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Speaker 1: depends on your giving us this permission. And for what purpose,
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Speaker 1: said Mordaunt. Let me at least know that for a
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Speaker 1: wild and a desperate purpose, replied Brenda. It is that
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Speaker 1: she may meet Cleveland Cleveland, said Mordaunt. Should the villain
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Speaker 1: come ashore, he shall be welcomed with a shower of
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Speaker 1: rifle balls. Let me within a hundred yards of him,
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Speaker 1: he added, grasping his peace and all the mist. If
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Speaker 1: he has done me shall be balanced with an ounce bullet.
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Speaker 1: His death will drive Mena frantic, said Brenda. And him
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Speaker 1: who injures Menna Brenda will never again look upon this
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Speaker 1: is madness, raving madness, said Mordaunt. Consider your honor, consider
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Speaker 1: your duty. I can consider nothing but Mena's danger, said Brenda,
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Speaker 1: breaking into a flood of tears. Her former illness was
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Speaker 1: nothing to the state she has been in all night.
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Speaker 1: She holds in her hand his letter, written in characters
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Speaker 1: of fire rather than of ink, imploring her to see
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Speaker 1: him for a last farewell, as she would save a
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Speaker 1: mortal body and an immortal soul, pledging himself for her safety,
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Speaker 1: and declaring no power shall force him from the coast
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Speaker 1: till he has seen her. You must let us pass.
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Speaker 1: It is impossible, replied Mordaunt in great perplexity. This ruffian
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Speaker 1: has imprecations enough, doubtless at his fingers ends. But what
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Speaker 1: better pledge has he to offer? I cannot permit Minute
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Speaker 1: to go, I suppose, said Brenda, somewhat reproachfully, while she
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Speaker 1: dried her tears, yet still continued sobbing that there is
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Speaker 1: something in what Nornas spoke of betwixt Minute and you,
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Speaker 1: and that you are too jealous of this poor wretch
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Speaker 1: to allow him even to speak with her an instant
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Speaker 1: before his departure. You are unjust, said Mordaunt, hurt and
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Speaker 1: yet somewhat flattered by her suspicions. You are as unjust
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Speaker 1: as you are imprudent. You know you cannot but know
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Speaker 1: that many and it is chiefly dear to me as
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Speaker 1: your sister. Tell me, Brenda, and tell me truly if
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Speaker 1: I aid you in this folly, have you no suspicion
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Speaker 1: of the pirate's faith? No, none, said Brenda. If I
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Speaker 1: had any, do you think I would urge you? Thus?
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Speaker 1: He is wild and unhappy, but I think we may
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Speaker 1: in this trust Him is the appointed place, the standing stones,
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Speaker 1: and the time daybreak again, demanded Mordaunt. It is, and
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Speaker 1: the time is come, said Brenda. For Heaven's sake, let
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Speaker 1: us depart. I will myself, said Mordaunt, relieve the sentinel
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Speaker 1: at the front door for a few minutes and suffer
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Speaker 1: you to pass. You will not protract this interview, so
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Speaker 1: full of danger, we will not, said Brenda. And you,
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Speaker 1: on your part, will not avail yourself of this unhappy
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Speaker 1: man's venturing hither to harm or to seize him. Rely
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Speaker 1: on my honor, said Mordaunt. He shall have no harm
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Speaker 1: unless he offers any Then I go to call my sister,
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Speaker 1: said Brenda, and quickly left the apartment. Mordaunt considered the
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Speaker 1: matter for an instant and then going to the sentinel
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Speaker 1: at the front door, he desired him to run instantly
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Speaker 1: to the main guard and order the whole to turn
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Speaker 1: out with their arms to see the order obeyed, and
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Speaker 1: to return when they were in readiness. Meantime, he himself,
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Speaker 1: he said, would remain upon the post. During the interval
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Speaker 1: of the sentinel's absence. The front door was slowly opened,
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Speaker 1: and Minna and Brenda appeared, muffled in their mantles. The
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Speaker 1: former leaned on her sister and kept her face bent
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Speaker 1: on the ground, as one who felt ashamed of the
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Speaker 1: step she was about to take. Brenda also passed her
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Speaker 1: lover in silence, but threw back upon him a look
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Speaker 1: of gratitude and affection, which doubled, if possible, his anxiety
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Speaker 1: for their safety. The sisters in the meanwhile passed out
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Speaker 1: of sight of the house, when Minna, whose step till
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Speaker 1: that time had been faint and feeble, began to erect
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Speaker 1: her person and to walk with a pace so firm
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Speaker 1: and so swift, that Brenda, who had some difficulty to
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Speaker 1: keep up with her, could not forbear remonstrating on the
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Speaker 1: imprudence of hurrying her spirits and exhausting her force by
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Speaker 1: such unnecessary haste. Fear not, my dearest sister, said Minna,
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Speaker 1: the spirit which I now feel will and must sustain
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Speaker 1: me through the dreadful interview. I could not but move
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Speaker 1: with a drooping head and dejected pace while I was
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Speaker 1: in view of one who must necessarily deem me deserving
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Speaker 1: of his pity or his scorn. But you know, my
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Speaker 1: dearest Brenda, and Mordaunt shall also know that the love
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Speaker 1: I bore to that unhappy man was as pure as
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Speaker 1: the rays of that sun that is now reflected on
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Speaker 1: the waves. And I dare attest that glorious son and
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Speaker 1: yonder blue heaven to bear me witness that, but to
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Speaker 1: urge him to change his unhappy course of life, I
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Speaker 1: had not, for all the temptations this round world holds, ever,
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Speaker 1: consented to see him more. As she spoke thus in
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Speaker 1: a tone which afforded much confidence to Brenda, the sisters
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Speaker 1: attained the summit of a rising ground whence they commanded
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Speaker 1: a full view of the Kadian Stonehenge, consisting of a
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Speaker 1: huge circle and semicircle of the standing stones, as they
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Speaker 1: are called, which already glimmered a grayish white in the
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Speaker 1: rising sun and projected far to the westward their long,
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Speaker 1: gigantic shadows. At another time the scene would have operated
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Speaker 1: powerfully on the imaginative mind of Minna and interested the
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Speaker 1: curiosity at least of her less sensitive sister. But at
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Speaker 1: this moment neither was at leisure to receive the impressions
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Speaker 1: which this stupendous monument of antiquity is so well calculated
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Speaker 1: to impress on the feelings of those who behold it.
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Speaker 1: For they saw in the lower lake beneath what is
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Speaker 1: termed the Bridge of Broiskar, a boat, well manned and armed,
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Speaker 1: which had disembarked one of its crew, who advanced alone
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Speaker 1: and wrapped in a naval cloak, towards that monumental circle,
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Speaker 1: which they themselves were about to reach from another quarter.
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Speaker 1: They are many, and they are armed, said the startled
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Speaker 1: Brenda in a whisper to her sister. It is for
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Speaker 1: precaution's sake, answered Minna, which alas their condition renders, but
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Speaker 1: too necessary, fear no treachery from him, that at least
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Speaker 1: is not his vice. As she spoke, or shortly afterwards,
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Speaker 1: she attained the center of the circle, on which, in
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Speaker 1: the midst of the tall erect pillars of rude stone
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Speaker 1: that are raised around, lies one flat and prostrate, supported
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Speaker 1: by short stone pillars, of which some relics are still visible,
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Speaker 1: that had once served perhaps the purpose of an altar. Here,
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Speaker 1: she said, in heathen times, if we may believe legends
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Speaker 1: which have cost me but too dear, our ancestors offered
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Speaker 1: sacrifices to heathen deities. And here will I, from my
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Speaker 1: soul renounce abjure and offer up to a better and
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Speaker 1: a more merciful God than was known to them, the
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Speaker 1: vain ideas with which my youthful imagination has been seduced.
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Speaker 1: She stood by the prostrate table of stone, and saw
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Speaker 1: Cleveland advance towards her with a timid pace and a
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Speaker 1: downcast look, as different from his usual character and bearing
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Speaker 1: as menace. High air and lofty demeanor and calm, contemplative
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Speaker 1: posture were distant from those of the lovelorn and broken
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Speaker 1: hearted maiden, whose weight had almost borne down the support
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Speaker 1: of her sister as she left the house of Stennis.
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Speaker 1: If the belief of those is true who assign these
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Speaker 1: singular monuments exclusively to the Druids, Minna might have seemed
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Speaker 1: the Hexa, or high priestess of the order, from whom
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Speaker 1: some champion of the tribe expected inauguration. Or if we
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Speaker 1: hold the circles of Gothic and Scandinavian origin, she might
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Speaker 1: have seemed a descended vision of Freya, the spouse of
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Speaker 1: the thundering deity, before whom some bold sea king or
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Speaker 1: champion bent with an awe which no mere mortal terror
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Speaker 1: could have inflicted upon him. Brenda, overwhelmed with inexpressible fear
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Speaker 1: and doubt, remained a pace or two behind, anxiously observing
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Speaker 1: the motions of Cleveland and attending to nothing around save
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Speaker 1: to him and to her sister. Cleveland approached within two
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Speaker 1: yards of Minna and bent his head to the ground.
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Speaker 1: There was a dead pause until Menna said, in a
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Speaker 1: firm but melancholy tone, unhappy man, why didst thou seek
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Speaker 1: this aggravation of our woe? Depart in peace, and may
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Speaker 1: Heaven direct thee to a better course than that which
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Speaker 1: thy life has yet held. Heaven will not aid me,
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Speaker 1: said Cleveland, excepting by your voice. I came hither rude
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Speaker 1: and wild, scarce, knowing that my trade, my desperate trade,
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Speaker 1: was more criminal in the sight of Man or of
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Speaker 1: Heaven than that of those privateers whom your law acknowledges.
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Speaker 1: I was bred in it, and but for the wishes
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Speaker 1: you have encouraged me to form, I should have perhaps
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Speaker 1: died in it, desperate and impenitent. Oh, do not throw
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Speaker 1: me from you. Let me do something to redeem what
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Speaker 1: I have done. Miss, and do not leave your own
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Speaker 1: work half finished. Cleveland, said Menna. I will not reproach
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Speaker 1: you with abusing my inexperience, or with availing yourself of
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Speaker 1: those delusions which the credulity of early youth had flung
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Speaker 1: around me, and which led me to confound your fatal
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Speaker 1: course of life with the deeds of our ancient heroes.
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Speaker 1: Alas when I saw your followers, that illusion was no more.
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Speaker 1: But I do not upbraid you with its having existed.
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Speaker 1: Go Cleveland, detach yourself from those miserable wretches with whom
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Speaker 1: you are associated, and believe me that if Heaven yet
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Speaker 1: grants you the means of distinguishing your name by one
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Speaker 1: good or glorious action. There are eyes left in those
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Speaker 1: lonely islands that will weep as much for joy as
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Speaker 1: as they must now do for sorrow. And is this all?
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Speaker 1: Said Cleveland? And may I not hope that, if I
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Speaker 1: extricate myself from my present associates, if I can gain
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Speaker 1: my pardon by being as bold in the right as
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Speaker 1: I have been too often in the wrong cause, if
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Speaker 1: after a term I care not how long, but still
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Speaker 1: a term which may have an end, I can boast
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Speaker 1: of having redeemed my fame. May I not? May I
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Speaker 1: not hope that Minna may forgive what my God and
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Speaker 1: my country shall have pardoned. Never, Cleveland, never said Minna,
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Speaker 1: with the utmost firmness. On this spot we part, and
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Speaker 1: part forever, and part without longer indulgence. Think of me
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Speaker 1: as of one dead. If you continue as you now are,
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Speaker 1: but if which may Heaven grant you change your fatal course,
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Speaker 1: think of me then as one whose morning and evening
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Speaker 1: prayers will be for your happiness. Though she has lost
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Speaker 1: her own farewell, Cleveland. He kneeled overpowered by his own
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Speaker 1: bitter feelings, to take the hand which she held out
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Speaker 1: to him, and in that instant his confidante Bunch, starting
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Speaker 1: from behind one of the large upright pillars, his eyes
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Speaker 1: wet with tears, exclaimed never saw such a parting scene
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Speaker 1: on any stage. But I'll be damned if you make
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Speaker 1: your exit as you expect, and so saying ere Cleveland
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Speaker 1: could employ either remonstrance or resistance, And indeed, before he
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Speaker 1: could get upon his feet, he easily secured him by
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Speaker 1: pulling him down on his back, so that two or
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Speaker 1: three of the boat's crew seized him by the arms
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Speaker 1: and legs and began to hurry him towards the lake.
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Speaker 1: Minna and Brenda shrieked and attempted to fly, but Derek
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Speaker 1: snatched up the former with as much ease as a
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Speaker 1: falcon pounces on a pigeon, while Bunch, with an oath
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Speaker 1: or two which were intended to be of a consoliatory nature,
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Speaker 1: seized on Brenda, and the whole party, with two or
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Speaker 1: three of the other pirates who, stealing from the water side,
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Speaker 1: had accompanied them on the ambuscade, began hastily to run
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Speaker 1: towards the boat, which was left in charge of two
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Speaker 1: of their number. Their course, however, was unexpectedly interrupted, and
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Speaker 1: their criminal purpose entirely frustrated. When Mordaunt Mertown had turned
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Speaker 1: out his guard in arms, it was with the natural
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Speaker 1: purpose of watching over the safety of the two sisters.
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Speaker 1: They had accordingly closely observed the motions of the pirates,
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Speaker 1: and when they saw so many of them leave the
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Speaker 1: boat and steal towards the place of rendezvous assigned to Cleveland,
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Speaker 1: they naturally suspected treachery, and by cover of an old
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Speaker 1: hollow way or trench, which perhaps had anciently been connected
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Speaker 1: with the monumental circle, they had thrown themselves unperceived, between
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Speaker 1: the pirates and their boat. At the cries of the sisters,
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Speaker 1: they started up and placed themselves in the way of
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Speaker 1: the ruffians, presenting their pieces, which, notwithstanding, they dared not fire,
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Speaker 1: for fear of hurting the young ladies. Secured as they
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Speaker 1: were in the rude grasp of the marauders. Mordaunt, however,
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Speaker 1: advanced with the speed of a wild deer on bunch
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Speaker 1: who loath to quit his prey, yet unable to defend
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Speaker 1: himself up there was turned to his side, and that
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Speaker 1: alternately exposing Brenda to the blows which Mordaunt offered at him.
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Speaker 1: This defense, however, proved in vain against a youth possessed
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Speaker 1: of the lightest foot and most active hand ever known
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Speaker 1: in Zetland, and after a feint or two, Mordaunt brought
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Speaker 1: the pirate to the ground with a stroke from the
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Speaker 1: butt of the caraban, which he dared not use otherwise.
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Speaker 1: At the same time, firearms were discharged on either side
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Speaker 1: by those who were liable to no such cause of forbearance,
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Speaker 1: and the pirates who had hold of Cleveland dropped him
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Speaker 1: naturally enough to provide for their own defense or retreat,
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Speaker 1: but they only added to the numbers of their enemies.
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Speaker 1: For Cleveland, Perceivingnnna in the arms of Derek, snatched her
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Speaker 1: from the Ruffian with one hand, and with the other
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Speaker 1: shot him dead on the spot. Two or three more
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Speaker 1: of the pirates fell or were taken. The rest fled
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Speaker 1: to their boat, pushed off, then turned their broadside to
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Speaker 1: the shore, and fired repeatedly on the Orcadian party, which
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Speaker 1: they returned with little injury on either side. Meanwhile, Mordaunt,
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Speaker 1: having first seen that the sisters were at liberty and
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Speaker 1: in full flight towards the house, advanced on Cleveland with
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Speaker 1: his cutless drawn. The pirate presented a pistol and calling
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Speaker 1: out at the same time Mordaunt, I never missed my aim.
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Speaker 1: He fired into the air and threw it into the lake.
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Speaker 1: Then drew his cutlass, brandishing it round his head, and
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Speaker 1: flung that also as far as his arm could send
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Speaker 1: it in the same direction. Yet such was the universal
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Speaker 1: belief of his personal strength and resources that Mordaunt still
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Speaker 1: used precaution. As advancing on Cleveland, he asked if he surrendered.
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Speaker 1: I surrender to no man, said the pirate captain, but
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Speaker 1: you may see I have thrown away my weapons. He
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Speaker 1: was immediately seized by some of the Orcadians without his
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Speaker 1: offering any resistance, but the instant interference of Mordaunt prevented
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Speaker 1: his being roughly treated or bound. The victors conducted him
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Speaker 1: to a well secured upper apartment in the house of
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Speaker 1: Stennis and placed a sentinel at the door. Bunch and Fletcher,
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Speaker 1: both of whom had been stretched on the field during
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Speaker 1: the skirmish, were lodged in the same chamber, and two
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Speaker 1: prisoners who appeared of lower rank were confined in a
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Speaker 1: vault belonging to the mansion. Without pretending to describe the
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Speaker 1: joy of Magnus Troyle, who went away, weakened by the
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Speaker 1: noise and firing, found his daughter safe and his enemy
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Speaker 1: a prisoner. We shall only say it was so great
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Speaker 1: that he forgot, for the time at least to inquire
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Speaker 1: what circumstances were those which had placed them in danger,
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Speaker 1: that he hugged Mordaunt to his breast a thousand times
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Speaker 1: as their preserver, and swore as often by the bones
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Speaker 1: of his sainted namesake, that if he had a thousand daughters,
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Speaker 1: so tight a laud and so true a friend, should
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Speaker 1: have the choice of them. Let lady Gloorum say what
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Speaker 1: she would. A very different scene was passing in the
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Speaker 1: prison chamber of the unfortunate Cleveland and his associates. The
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Speaker 1: captain sat by the window, his eyes bent on the
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Speaker 1: prospect of the sea which it presented, and was seemingly
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Speaker 1: so intent on it as to be insensible of the
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Speaker 1: presence of the others. Jack Bunch stood meditating some ends
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Speaker 1: of verse in order to make his advances towards a
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Speaker 1: reconciliation with Cleveland. For he began to be sensible from
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Speaker 1: the consequences that the part he had played towards his
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Speaker 1: captain however, well intended, was neither lucky in its issue
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Speaker 1: nor likely to be well taken. His admirer and adherent,
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Speaker 1: Fletcher lay half asleep, as it seemed on a truckle
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Speaker 1: bed in the room, without the least attempt to interfere
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Speaker 1: in the conversation which ensued. Nay, but speak to me, Clement,
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Speaker 1: said the penitent lieutenant. If it but be to swear
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Speaker 1: at me for my stupidity, what not an oath? Nay?
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Speaker 1: Then the world goes hard if Clifford cannot spare his
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Speaker 1: friends an oath. I pri thee peace and be gone,
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Speaker 1: said Cleveland. I have one bosom friend left yet, and
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Speaker 1: you will make me bestow its contents on you or
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Speaker 1: on myself. I have it, said Bunch, I have it,
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Speaker 1: and on he went in the vein of Jaffier. Then,
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Speaker 1: by the hell, I merit, I'll not leave thee till
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Speaker 1: to thyself. At least thou art reconciled. However, thy resentment
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Speaker 1: deal with me. I pray you once more to be silent,
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Speaker 1: said Cleveland. Is it not enough that you have undone
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Speaker 1: me with your treachery, but you must stun me with
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Speaker 1: your silly buffoonery. I would not have believed you would
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Speaker 1: have lifted a finger against me, jack of any man
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Speaker 1: or devil in yonder unhappy ship? Who I exclaimed Bunch,
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Speaker 1: I lift a finger against you, And if I did,
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Speaker 1: it was in pure love and to make you the
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Speaker 1: happiest fellow that ever trode a deck with your mistress
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Speaker 1: beside you, and fifty fine fellows at your command. Here
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Speaker 1: is Dick Fletcher can bear witness. I did all for
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Speaker 1: the best. If he would but speak instead of lolloping
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Speaker 1: there like a Dutch dogger laid up to be careened.
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Speaker 1: Get up, Dick and speak for me, won't you? Why? Yes,
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Speaker 1: Jack Bunch, answered Fletcher, raising himself with difficulty and speaking feebly.
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Speaker 1: I will if I can. And I always knew you
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Speaker 1: spoke and did for the best. But howsome devor, do
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Speaker 1: you see it has turned out for the worst for
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Speaker 1: me this time, for I am bleeding to death. I
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Speaker 1: think you cannot be such an ass, said Jack Bunch,
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Speaker 1: springing to his assistance as did Cleveland, but human aid
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Speaker 1: came too late. He sunk back on the bed, and,
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Speaker 1: turning on his face, expired without a groan. I always
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Speaker 1: thought him a damned fool, said Bunch, as he wiped
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Speaker 1: a tear from his eye, but never such a consummate
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Speaker 1: idiot as to hop the perch. So sillily, I have
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Speaker 1: lost the best follower, and he again wiped his eye.
26:26
Speaker 1: Cleveland looked on the dead body, the rugged features of
26:29
Speaker 1: which had remained unaltered by the death. Pang a bulldog,
26:34
Speaker 1: he said, of the true British breed, and with a
26:38
Speaker 1: better counselor would have been a better man. You may
26:42
Speaker 1: say that of some other folks, too, Captain, if you
26:46
Speaker 1: are minded to do them justice, said Bunch. I may, indeed,
26:51
Speaker 1: and especially of yourself, said Cleveland in reply. Why then,
26:56
Speaker 1: say Jack, I forgive you, said Bunch, It's but a
27:00
Speaker 1: short word, and soon spoken. I forgive you from all
27:05
Speaker 1: my soul, Jack, said Cleveland, who had resumed his situation
27:09
Speaker 1: at the window. And the rather that your folly is
27:13
Speaker 1: of little consequence. The morning is calme that must bring
27:18
Speaker 1: ruin on us all. What you are thinking of the
27:22
Speaker 1: old woman's prophecy you spoke of, said Bunch, It will
27:26
Speaker 1: soon be accomplished, answered Cleveland. Come hither, what do you
27:31
Speaker 1: take yon, large square rigged vessel? For that you see
27:36
Speaker 1: doubling the headland on the east and opening the bay
27:40
Speaker 1: of stromness. Why I can't make her well out, said Bunch,
27:45
Speaker 1: But Yonder is old. Goff takes her for a West
27:49
Speaker 1: Indiaman loaded with rum and sugar. I suppose, for damn
27:53
Speaker 1: me if he does not slip cable and stand out
27:57
Speaker 1: to her instead of running into the shoal water, which
28:02
Speaker 1: was his only safety, said Cleveland, the fool, the doddered,
28:07
Speaker 1: the driveling, drunken idiot. He will get his flip hot
28:12
Speaker 1: enough for yon is the halcyon. See. She hoists her
28:17
Speaker 1: colors and fires a broadside, and there will soon be
28:21
Speaker 1: an end of the fortune's favorite. I only hope they
28:25
Speaker 1: will fight her to the last plank. The boatswain used
28:29
Speaker 1: to be staunch enough, and so is GoF though an
28:33
Speaker 1: incarnate demon. Now she shoots away with all the sail
28:38
Speaker 1: she can spread, and that shows some sense. Up goes
28:42
Speaker 1: the jolly Hodge, the old black flag with the death's
28:46
Speaker 1: head and hourglass, And that shows some spunk, added his comrade.
28:52
Speaker 1: The hourglass is turned for us, Jack, for this bout
28:56
Speaker 1: our sand is running fast. Fire away ye at my
29:00
Speaker 1: roving lads, the deep sea or the blue sky. Rather
29:05
Speaker 1: than a rope and a yard arm, there was a
29:08
Speaker 1: moment of anxious and dead silence, the sloop, though hard pressed,
29:13
Speaker 1: maintaining still a running flight, and the frigate continuing in
29:18
Speaker 1: full chase, but scarce, returning a shot at length. The
29:23
Speaker 1: vessels neared each other so as to show that the
29:27
Speaker 1: man of war intended to board the sloop instead of
29:31
Speaker 1: sinking her, probably to secure the plunder which might be
29:35
Speaker 1: in the private vessel. Now off. Now boatswain, exclaimed Cleveland,
29:41
Speaker 1: in an ecstasy of impatience, and as if they could
29:45
Speaker 1: have heard his commands. Stand by sheets and tacks, rake
29:50
Speaker 1: her with a broadside. When you are under her bows,
29:54
Speaker 1: then about ship, and go off on the other tack
29:57
Speaker 1: like a wild goose. The sail shiver, the helms a
30:01
Speaker 1: lee ah deep sea, sink the lubbers, they misstays, and
30:07
Speaker 1: the frigate runs them aboard. Accordingly, the various maneuvers of
30:13
Speaker 1: the chase had brought them so near that Cleveland, with
30:17
Speaker 1: his spyglass, could see the men of War's men boarding
30:21
Speaker 1: by the yards and bowsprit in irresistible numbers, their naked
30:26
Speaker 1: cutlasses flashing in the sun. When at that critical moment
30:31
Speaker 1: both ships were enveloped in a cloud of thick black smoke,
30:35
Speaker 1: which suddenly arose on board the captured pirate. Excellent, omnus,
30:41
Speaker 1: said Bunch with clasped hands. There went the fortune's favorite
30:46
Speaker 1: ship and crew, said Cleveland at the same instant. But
30:50
Speaker 1: the smoke immediately clearing away showed that the damage had
30:54
Speaker 1: only been partial, and that from want of a sufficient
30:59
Speaker 1: quantity of howder, the pirates had failed in their desperate
31:03
Speaker 1: attempt to blow up their vessel with the Helcian. Shortly
31:08
Speaker 1: after the action was over, Captain Weatherport of the Helcian
31:12
Speaker 1: sent an officer and a party of marines to the
31:16
Speaker 1: House of Stennis to demand from the little garrison the
31:20
Speaker 1: pirate seamen who were their prisoners, and in particular Cleveland
31:25
Speaker 1: and Bunch, who acted as captain and lieutenant of the gang.
31:30
Speaker 1: This was a demand which was not to be resisted,
31:34
Speaker 1: though Magnus Troyl could have wished sincerely that the roof
31:39
Speaker 1: under which he lived had been allowed as an asylum,
31:43
Speaker 1: at least to Cleveland, but the officer's orders were peremptory,
31:48
Speaker 1: and he added it was Captain Weatherport's intention to land
31:52
Speaker 1: the other prisoners and send the whole with a sufficient
31:57
Speaker 1: escort across the island to Kirk in order to undergo
32:02
Speaker 1: an examination there before the civil authorities previous to their
32:07
Speaker 1: being sent off to London for trial at the High
32:10
Speaker 1: Court of Admiralty. Magnus could therefore only intercede for good
32:16
Speaker 1: usage to Cleveland, and that he might not be stripped
32:20
Speaker 1: or plundered, which the officer, struck by his good mien
32:25
Speaker 1: and compassionating his situation, readily promised the honest you. Dollar
32:30
Speaker 1: would have said something in the way of comfort to
32:33
Speaker 1: Cleveland himself, but he could not find words to express it,
32:38
Speaker 1: and only shook his head. Old friend said, Cleveland, you
32:43
Speaker 1: may have much to complain of, yet you pity instead
32:48
Speaker 1: of exulting over me. For the sake of you and yours,
32:52
Speaker 1: I will never harm human being more. Take this from me,
32:57
Speaker 1: my last hope, but my last temptation. Also he drew
33:02
Speaker 1: from his bosom a pocket pistol and gave it to
33:05
Speaker 1: Magnus Troyl remember me too, But no, let everyone forget me.
33:11
Speaker 1: I am your prisoner, sir, he said to the officer,
33:15
Speaker 1: And I also said, poor bunch, And putting on a
33:19
Speaker 1: theatrical countenance, he ranted, with no very perceptible faltering in
33:25
Speaker 1: his tone. The words of Pierre Captain, you should be
33:30
Speaker 1: a gentleman of honor, keep off the rabble that I
33:34
Speaker 1: may have room to entertain my fate, and die with decency.
33:40
Speaker 1: End of chapter twenty