Transcript

036 - Chapter 14 · Pirate

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Speaker 1: Chapter fourteen 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: Jane's Salt Lake City, Utah. Hark to the insult loud,
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Speaker 1: the bitter sneer, the fierce threat, answering to the brutal jeer.
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Speaker 1: Oaths fly like pistol shots, and vengeful words clash with
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Speaker 1: each other like conflicting swords. The robbers quarrel by such
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Speaker 1: sounds is shown, and true men have some chance to
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Speaker 1: gain their own captivity. A poem. When Cleveland, borne off
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Speaker 1: in triumph from his sailants in Kirkwall, found himself once
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Speaker 1: more on board the Pirate vessel. His arrival was hailed
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Speaker 1: with hearty cheers by a considerable part of the crew,
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Speaker 1: who rushed to shake hands with him and offer their
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Speaker 1: congratulations on his return. For the situation of a buccaneer
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Speaker 1: captain raised him very little above the level of the
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Speaker 1: lowest of his crew, who, in all social intercourse, claimed
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Speaker 1: the privilege of being his equal. When his faction, for
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Speaker 1: so these clamorous friends might be termed, had expressed their
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Speaker 1: own greetings, they hurried Cleveland forward to the stern, where Goff,
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Speaker 1: their present commander, was seated on a gun, listening in
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Speaker 1: a sullen and discontented mood to the shout which announced
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Speaker 1: Cleveland's welcome. He was a man betwixt forty and fifty,
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Speaker 1: rather under the middle size, but so very strongly made
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Speaker 1: that his crew used to compare him to a sixty
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Speaker 1: four cut down, black haired, bull necked, and beetle browed.
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Speaker 1: His clumsy strength and ferocious countenance contrasted strongly with the
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Speaker 1: manly figure and open countenance of Cleveland, in which even
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Speaker 1: the practice of his atrocious profession had not been able
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Speaker 1: to eradicate a natural grace of motion and generosity of expression.
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Speaker 1: The two piratical captains looked upon each other for some
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Speaker 1: time in silence, while the partisans of each gathered around him.
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Speaker 1: The elder part of the crew were the principal adherents
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Speaker 1: of Gough, while the young fellows, among whom Jack Bunch
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Speaker 1: was a principal leader and agitator, were in general attached
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Speaker 1: to Cleveland. At length, goth broke silence. You are welcome aboard,
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Speaker 1: Captain Cleveland. Smash my taffrail. I suppose you think your
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Speaker 1: self commodore yet, But that was over by God when
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Speaker 1: you lost your ship, and be damned. And here once
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Speaker 1: for all, we may take notice that it was the
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Speaker 1: gracious custom of this commander to mix his words and
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Speaker 1: oaths in nearly equal proportions, which he was wont to
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Speaker 1: call shotting his discourse as we delight not. However, in
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Speaker 1: the discharge of such artillery, we shall only indicate by
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Speaker 1: a space like this the places in which these expletives occurred.
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Speaker 1: And thus, if the reader will pardon a very poor pun,
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Speaker 1: we will reduce Captain Goff's volley of sharp shot into
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Speaker 1: an explosion of blank cartridges. To his insinuations that he
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Speaker 1: was come on board to assume the chief command, Cleveland
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Speaker 1: replied that he neither desired nor would accept any such promotion,
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Speaker 1: but would only ask Captain Goff for a cat us
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Speaker 1: of the boat to put him ashore in one of
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Speaker 1: the other islands, as he had no wish either to
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Speaker 1: command goth or to remain in a vessel under his orders.
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Speaker 1: And why not under my orders, brother, demanded Gough, very austerely,
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Speaker 1: are you too good a man, with your cheese toaster
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Speaker 1: and your jib there to serve under my orders? And
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Speaker 1: be damned to you where there are so many gentlemen
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Speaker 1: that are elder and better seamen than yourself. I wonder
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Speaker 1: which of these capital seamen it was, said Cleveland coolly,
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Speaker 1: that laid the ship under the fire of Yon's six
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Speaker 1: gun battery, that could blow her out of the water
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Speaker 1: if they had a mind before you could either cut
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Speaker 1: or slip. Elder and better sailors than I may like
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Speaker 1: to serve under such a lubber. But I beg to
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Speaker 1: be excused for my own share, Captain, That's all I've
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Speaker 1: got to tell you. By God, I think you are
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Speaker 1: both mad, said Hawkins. The boatswain. A meeting with sword
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Speaker 1: and pistol may be devilish, good fun in its way,
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Speaker 1: when no better is to be had. But who the
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Speaker 1: devil that had common sense amongst a set of gentlemen
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Speaker 1: in our condition would fall a quarreling with each other
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Speaker 1: to let these duck winged, web footed Islanders have a
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Speaker 1: chance of knocking us all upon the head? Well, said
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Speaker 1: old Hawkins, observed Derrick the Quartermaster, who was an officer
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Speaker 1: of very considerable importance among these rovers. I say, if
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Speaker 1: the two captains won't agree to live together quietly and
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Speaker 1: club both heart and head to defend the vessel. Why
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Speaker 1: damn me depose them both, say I, and choose another
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Speaker 1: in their stead, meaning yourself. I suppose master Quartermaster, said
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Speaker 1: Jack Bunch. But that cock won't fight. He that is
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Speaker 1: to command gentlemen, should be a gentleman himself, I think,
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Speaker 1: and I give my vote for Captain Cleveland, as spirited
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Speaker 1: and as gentleman like a man as ever doffed the
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Speaker 1: world aside, and bid it pass what you call yourself
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Speaker 1: a gentleman, I warrant, retorted Derrick, why your eyes a
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Speaker 1: tailor would make a better out of the worst suit
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Speaker 1: of rags in your strolling wardrobe. It is a shame
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Speaker 1: for men of spirit to have such a jack a
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Speaker 1: dandy scarecrow on board. Jack Bunch was so incensed at
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Speaker 1: these base comparisons that, without more ado, he laid his
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Speaker 1: hand on his sword. The carpenter, however, and boats I
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Speaker 1: interfered the former, brandishing his broad axe and swearing he
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Speaker 1: would put the skull of the first who should strike
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Speaker 1: a blow past, clouding and the latter reminding them that
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Speaker 1: by their articles, all quarreling, striking, or more especially fighting
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Speaker 1: on board was strictly prohibited, and that if any gentleman
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Speaker 1: had a quarrel to settle, they were to go ashore,
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Speaker 1: and decided with cutlass and pistol in presence of two
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Speaker 1: of their messmates. I have no quarrel with anyone, said Goff, sullenly.
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Speaker 1: Captain Cleveland has wandered about among the islands here amusing himself,
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Speaker 1: and we have wasted our time and property in waiting
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Speaker 1: for him, when we might have been adding twenty or
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Speaker 1: thirty thousand dollars to the stock purse. However, if it
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Speaker 1: pleases the rest of the gentlemen adventurers, why I shall
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Speaker 1: know grumble about it. I propose, said the boatswain, that
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Speaker 1: there should be a general council called in the Great
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Speaker 1: cabin according to our articles, that we may consider what
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Speaker 1: course we are to hold in this matter. A general
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Speaker 1: assent followed the boatswain's proposal, for everyone found his own
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Speaker 1: account in these general councils, in which each of the
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Speaker 1: rovers had a free vote. By far the greater part
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Speaker 1: of the crew only valued this franchise as it allowed them,
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Speaker 1: upon such solemn occasions and unlimited quantity of liquor, a
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Speaker 1: right which they failed not to exercise to the uttermost.
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Speaker 1: By way of aiding their deliberations. But a few amongst
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Speaker 1: the adventurers, who united some degree of judgment with the
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Speaker 1: daring and profligate character of their profession, were wont at
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Speaker 1: such periods to limit themselves within the bounds of comparative sobriety.
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Speaker 1: And by these under the apparent form of a vote
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Speaker 1: of the General Council, all things of moment relating to
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Speaker 1: the voyage and undertaking of the pirates were in fact determined.
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Speaker 1: The rest of the crew, when they recovered from their intoxication,
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Speaker 1: were easily persuaded that the resolution adopted had been the
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Speaker 1: legitimate effort of the combined wisdom of the whole Senate.
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Speaker 1: Upon the present occasion, the debauch had proceeded until the
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Speaker 1: greater part of the crew were as usual, displaying anybriation
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Speaker 1: in all its most brutal and disgraceful shapes, swearing empty
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Speaker 1: and unmeaning oaths, venting the most horrid imprecations, in the
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Speaker 1: mere gaiety of their heart singing songs, the ribaldry of
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Speaker 1: which was only equalled by their profaneness. And from the
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Speaker 1: middle of this earthly hell, the two captains, together with
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Speaker 1: one or two of their principal adherents, as also the
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Speaker 1: carpenter and boatswain, who always took a lead on such occasions,
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Speaker 1: had drawn together into a pandemonium or privy council of
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Speaker 1: their own to consider what was to be done. For
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Speaker 1: as the boatswain metaphorically observed, they were in a narrow
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Speaker 1: channel and behooved to keep sounding the tideway. When they
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Speaker 1: began their consultations, the friends of goth remarked, to their
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Speaker 1: great displeasure, that he had not observed the wholesome rule
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Speaker 1: to which we have just alluded, but that, in endeavoring
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Speaker 1: to drown his mortification at the sudden appearance of Cleveland
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Speaker 1: and the reception he met with from the crew, the
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Speaker 1: elder captain had not been able to do so without
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Speaker 1: overflowing his reason. At the same time, his natural sullen
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Speaker 1: taciturnity had prevented this from being observed until the council
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Speaker 1: began its deliberations, when it proved impossible to hide it.
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Speaker 1: The first person who spoke was Cleveland, who said that
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Speaker 1: so far from wishing the command of the vessel, he
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Speaker 1: desired no favor at any one's hand, except to land
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Speaker 1: him upon some island or home at a distance from Kirkwall,
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Speaker 1: and leave him to shift for himself. The boatswain remonstrated
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Speaker 1: strongly against this resolution. The lads, he said, all new
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Speaker 1: Cleveland and could trust his seamanship as well as his courage. Besides,
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Speaker 1: he never let the grog get quite uppermost, and was
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Speaker 1: always in proper trim, either to sail the ship or
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Speaker 1: to fight the ship, whereby she was never without someone
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Speaker 1: to keep her course when he was on board. And
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Speaker 1: as for the noble captain Goff, continued the mediator, he
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Speaker 1: is as stout a heart as ever broke biscuit, and
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Speaker 1: that I will uphold him. But then when he has
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Speaker 1: his grog aboard, I speak to his face. He is
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Speaker 1: so damned funny, with his cranks and his jests, that
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Speaker 1: there is no living with him. You all remember how
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Speaker 1: nigh he had run the ship on that cursed horse
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Speaker 1: of Copenshaw, as they call it, just by way of frolic.
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Speaker 1: And then you know how he fired off his pistol
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Speaker 1: under the table when we were at the Great Council
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Speaker 1: and shot Jack Jenkins in the knee and cost the
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Speaker 1: poor devil his leg. With his pleasantry, Jack Jenkins was
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Speaker 1: not a chip the worse, said the carpenter. I took
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Speaker 1: the leg off with my saw as well as any
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Speaker 1: lob lolly boy in the land could have done. He
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Speaker 1: did my broad axe and seared the stump. I bye
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Speaker 1: and made a jury leg that he shambles about with
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Speaker 1: as well as ever he did, For Jack could never
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Speaker 1: cut a feather. You are a clever fellow, carpenter replied
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Speaker 1: the boatswain, a damned clever fellow. But I had rather
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Speaker 1: you tried your saw and red hot axe upon the
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Speaker 1: ship's knee timbers than on mine sink me. But that
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Speaker 1: here is not the case. The question is if we
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Speaker 1: shall part with Captain Cleveland here, who is a man
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Speaker 1: of thought and action. Whereby it is my belief it
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Speaker 1: should be heaving the pilot overboard when the gale is
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Speaker 1: blowing on a lee shore. And I must say it
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Speaker 1: is not the part of a true heart to leave
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Speaker 1: his mates, who have been here waiting for him till
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Speaker 1: they have missed stays. Our water is well nigh out,
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Speaker 1: and we have junk did till provisions are low with us.
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Speaker 1: We cannot sail without provisions. We cannot get provisions without
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Speaker 1: the goodwill of the kirkwall folks. If we remain here longer,
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Speaker 1: the Halcian frigate will be down upon us. She was
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Speaker 1: seen off Peterhead two days since. And we shall hang
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Speaker 1: up at the yard arm to be sun dried. Now
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Speaker 1: Captain Cleveland will get us out of the hobble if
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Speaker 1: any can. He can play the gentleman with these Kirkwall folks,
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Speaker 1: and knows how to deal with them on fair terms,
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Speaker 1: and foul too, if there be occasion for it. And
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Speaker 1: so you would turn honest, Captain goff a grazing wouldjee,
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Speaker 1: said an old weather beaten pirate who had but one eye.
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Speaker 1: What though he has his humors and made my eye
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Speaker 1: dowse the glim in his fancies and frolics, he is
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Speaker 1: as honest a man as ever walked a quarter deck
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Speaker 1: for all that. And damn me, but I stand by
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Speaker 1: him so long as the other lantern is lit. Why
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Speaker 1: you would not hear me out, said Hawkins. A man
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Speaker 1: might as well talk to so many nuggers. I tell you,
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Speaker 1: I propose that Cleveland shall only be captain from one
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Speaker 1: post meridium to five a m, during which time GoF
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Speaker 1: is always drunk, the captain of whom he last spoke
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Speaker 1: gave sufficient proof of the truth of his words by
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Speaker 1: uttering an inarticulate growl and attempting to present a pistol
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Speaker 1: at the mediator Hawkins. Why look ye, now, said Derrick.
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Speaker 1: There is all the sense he has to get drunk
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Speaker 1: on council day like one of these poor silly fellows, ay,
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Speaker 1: said Bunch, drunk as Davy's sow in the face of
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Speaker 1: the field, the fray and the Senate. But nevertheless, continued Derrick,
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Speaker 1: it will never do to have two captains in the
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Speaker 1: same day. I think we about might suit better, and
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Speaker 1: let Cleveland take the first turn. There are as good
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Speaker 1: here as any of them, said Hawkins, how some devor.
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Speaker 1: I object nothing to Captain Cleveland, and I think he
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Speaker 1: may help us into deep water as well as another,
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Speaker 1: I exclaimed Bunch, And a better figure he will make
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Speaker 1: at bringing these Kirkwallers to order than his sober predecessor. So,
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Speaker 1: Captain Cleveland, forever stop, gentlemen, said Cleveland, who had hitherto
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Speaker 1: been silent. I hope you will not choose me captain
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Speaker 1: without my own consent. Aye, by the blue vault of heaven,
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Speaker 1: will we, said Bunch, if it be ro bono publico.
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Speaker 1: But hear me at least, said Cleveland. I do consent
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Speaker 1: to take command of the vessel, since you wish it,
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Speaker 1: and because I see you will ill get out of
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Speaker 1: the scrape without me, Why then, I say Cleveland forever again,
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Speaker 1: shouted Bunch. Be quiet, prithee, dear bunch, honest Altamont, said Cleveland,
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Speaker 1: I undertake the business on this condition that when I
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Speaker 1: have got the ship cleared for her voyage, with provisions
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Speaker 1: and so forth, you will be content to restore Captain
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Speaker 1: Goff to the command as I said before, and put
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Speaker 1: me ashore somewhere to shift for myself. You will then
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Speaker 1: be sure it is impossible I can betray you, since
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Speaker 1: I will remain with you to the last moment ay
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Speaker 1: and after the last moment too, by the blue vault,
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Speaker 1: or I'm the stake the matter, muttered Bunch to himself.
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Speaker 1: The matter was now put to the vote, and so
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Speaker 1: confident were the crew in Cleveland's superior address and management,
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Speaker 1: that the temporary deposition of Gough found little resistance even
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Speaker 1: among his own partisans, who reasonably enough observed he might
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Speaker 1: at least have kept sober to look after his own business,
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Speaker 1: even let him put it to rights again. Himself next morning,
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Speaker 1: if he will. But when the next morning came, the
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Speaker 1: drunken part of the crew, being informed of the issue
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Speaker 1: of the deliberations of the council to which they were
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Speaker 1: virtually held to have assented, showed such a superior sense
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Speaker 1: of Cleveland's merits that Gough sulky and malcontent, as he was, judged,
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Speaker 1: it wisest for the present to suppress his feelings of
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Speaker 1: resentment until a safer opportunity for suffering them to explode,
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Speaker 1: and to submit to that degradation which so frequently took
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Speaker 1: place among a piratical crew. Cleveland, on his part, resolved
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Speaker 1: to take upon him, with spirit and without loss of time,
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Speaker 1: the task of extricating his ship's company from their perilous situation.
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Speaker 1: For this purpose, he ordered the boat with the purpose
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Speaker 1: of going ashore in person, carrying with him twelve of
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Speaker 1: the stoutest and best men of the crew, all very
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Speaker 1: handsomely appointed for the success of their nefarious profession had
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Speaker 1: enabled the pirates to assume nearly as gay dresses as
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Speaker 1: their officers, and above all, each man being sufficiently armed
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Speaker 1: with cutlass and pistols, and several having poleaxes and poniards,
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Speaker 1: Cleveland himself was gallantly attired in a blue coat lined
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Speaker 1: with crimson silk and laced with gold, very richly crimson damask,
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Speaker 1: waistcoat and breeches, a velvet cap richly embroidered with a
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Speaker 1: white feather, white silk stockings, and red heeled shoes, which
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Speaker 1: were the extremity of finery among the gallons of the day.
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Speaker 1: He had a gold chain several times folded round his neck,
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Speaker 1: which sustained a whistle of the same metal, the ensign
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Speaker 1: of his authority. Above all, he wore a decoration peculiar
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Speaker 1: to those daring predators, who, besides one or perhaps two
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Speaker 1: brace of pistols at their belt, had usually two additional
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Speaker 1: brace of the finest mounting and workmanship suspended over their
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Speaker 1: shoulders in a sword of sling or scarf of crimson ribbon.
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Speaker 1: The hilt and mounting of the captain's sword corresponded in
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Speaker 1: value to the rest of his appointments, and his natural good.
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Speaker 1: Mian was so well adapted to the whole equipment that
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Speaker 1: when he appeared on deck, he was received with a
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Speaker 1: general shout by the crew, who, as in other popular societies,
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Speaker 1: judged a great deal by the eye. Cleveland took with
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Speaker 1: him in the boat, amongst others, his predecessor in office, Goff,
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Speaker 1: who was also very richly dressed, but who, not having
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Speaker 1: the advantage of such an exterior as Cleveland's, looked like
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Speaker 1: a boorish clown in the dress of a courtier, or
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Speaker 1: rather like a vulgar faced footpad decked in the spoils
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Speaker 1: of someone whom he has murdered, and whose claim to
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Speaker 1: the property of his garments is rendered doubtful in the
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Speaker 1: eyes of all who look upon him by the mixture
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Speaker 1: of awkwardness, remorse, cruelty, and insolence which clouds his countenance.
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Speaker 1: Cleveland probably chose to take off a shore with him
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Speaker 1: to prevent his having any opportunity during his absence to
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Speaker 1: debauch the crew from their allegiance. In this guise, they
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Speaker 1: left the ship, and, singing to their oars while the
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Speaker 1: water foamed higher at the chorus, soon reached the quay
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Speaker 1: of Kirkwall. The command of the vessel was, in the
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Speaker 1: meantime entrusted to Bunch, upon whose allegiance Cleveland knew that
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Speaker 1: he might perfectly depend, and in a private conversation with
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Speaker 1: him of some length he gave him directions how to
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Speaker 1: act in such emergencies as might occur. These arrangements being made,
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Speaker 1: and Bunch having been repeatedly charged to stand upon his
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Speaker 1: guard alike against the adherents of Gough and any attempt
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Speaker 1: from the shore, the boat put off. As she approached
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Speaker 1: the harbor, Cleveland displayed a white flag and could observe
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Speaker 1: that their appearance seemed to occasion a good deal of
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Speaker 1: bustle and alarm. People were seen running to and fro,
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Speaker 1: and some of them appeared to be getting under arms.
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Speaker 1: The battery was manned hastily, and the English colors displayed
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Speaker 1: these were alarming symptoms. The rather that Cleveland knew that
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Speaker 1: though there were no artillery men in Kirkwall, yet there
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Speaker 1: were many sailors perfectly competent to the management of great guns,
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Speaker 1: and willing enough to undertake such service in case of need.
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Speaker 1: Noting these hostile preparations with a heedful eye, but suffering
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Speaker 1: nothing like doubt or anxiety to appear on his covers,
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Speaker 1: Cleveland ran the boat right for the quay, on which
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Speaker 1: several people armed with muskets, rifles and fowling pieces, and
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Speaker 1: others with half pikes and whaling knives were now assembled.
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Speaker 1: As if to oppose his landing. Apparently, however, they had
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Speaker 1: not positively determined what measures they were to pursue, for
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Speaker 1: when the boat reached the quay, those immediately opposite bore
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Speaker 1: back and suffered Cleveland and his party to leap ashore
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Speaker 1: without hindrance. They immediately drew up on the quay, except two, who,
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Speaker 1: as their captain had commanded, remained in the boat, which
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Speaker 1: they put off to a little distance. A maneuver which,
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Speaker 1: while it placed the boat, the only one belonging to
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Speaker 1: the sloop, out of danger of being seized, indicated a
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Speaker 1: sort of careless confidence in Cleveland and his party, which
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Speaker 1: was calculated to intimidate their opponents. The Kirkwallers, however, showed
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Speaker 1: the old northern blood, put a manly face upon the matter,
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Speaker 1: and stood upon the quay with their arms shouldered directly
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Speaker 1: opposite to the rovers and blocking up against them the
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Speaker 1: street which leads to the town. Cleveland was the first
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Speaker 1: who spoke, as the parties stood thus looking upon each other.
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Speaker 1: How is this, gentleman Burghers, He said, are you Orkney
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Speaker 1: folks turned highlandmen that you are all under arms so
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Speaker 1: early this morning? Or have you manned the quay to
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Speaker 1: give me the honor of a salute upon taking the
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Speaker 1: command of my ship. The Burgers looked on each other,
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Speaker 1: and one of them replied to Cleveland, we do not
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Speaker 1: know who you are. It was that other man, pointing
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Speaker 1: to GoF who used to come ashore as captain. That
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Speaker 1: other gentleman is my maid and commit in my absence,
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Speaker 1: said Cleveland, But what is that to the purpose? I
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Speaker 1: wish to speak with your lord mayor or whatever you
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Speaker 1: call him. The provost is sitting in council with the magistrates,
26:14
Speaker 1: answered the spokesman, so much the better, replied Cleveland. Where
26:18
Speaker 1: do their worships meet in the council house? Answered the other,
26:23
Speaker 1: Then make way for us, gentlemen, if you please, for
26:27
Speaker 1: my people and I are going there. There was a
26:30
Speaker 1: whisper among the townspeople, but several were unresolved upon engaging
26:36
Speaker 1: in a desperate and perhaps an unnecessary conflict with desperate men,
26:42
Speaker 1: and the more determined citizens formed the hasty reflection that
26:46
Speaker 1: the strangers might be more easily mastered in the house,
26:50
Speaker 1: or perhaps in the narrow streets which they had to traverse,
26:55
Speaker 1: than when they stood drawn up and prepared for battle
26:58
Speaker 1: upon the quay. They suffered them therefore to proceed unmolested,
27:03
Speaker 1: and Cleveland, moving very slowly, keeping his people close together,
27:09
Speaker 1: suffering no one to press upon the flanks of his
27:12
Speaker 1: little detachment, and making four men who constituted his rear guard,
27:17
Speaker 1: turn round and face to the rear from time to time,
27:21
Speaker 1: rendered it, by his caution, a very dangerous task to
27:26
Speaker 1: make any attempt upon them. In this manner, they ascended
27:30
Speaker 1: the narrow street and reached the council house, where the
27:34
Speaker 1: magistrates were actually sitting, as the citizen had informed Cleveland.
27:39
Speaker 1: Here the inhabitants began to press forward, with the purpose
27:43
Speaker 1: of mingling with the pirates and availing themselves of the
27:47
Speaker 1: crowd in the narrow entrance, to secure as many as
27:51
Speaker 1: they could without allowing them room for the free use
27:55
Speaker 1: of their weapons. But this also had Cleveland foreseen, and
28:00
Speaker 1: ere entering the council room, he caused the entrance to
28:04
Speaker 1: be cleared and secured, commanding four of his men to
28:08
Speaker 1: face down the street, and as many to confront the crowd,
28:12
Speaker 1: who were thrusting each other from above. The burghers recoiled
28:16
Speaker 1: back from the ferocious, swarthy and sunburnt countenances, as well
28:22
Speaker 1: as the leveled arms of these desperadoes, and Cleveland, with
28:27
Speaker 1: the rest of his party, entered the council room, where
28:30
Speaker 1: the magistrates were sitting in council with very little attendants.
28:35
Speaker 1: These gentlemen were thus separated effectually from the citizens, who
28:40
Speaker 1: looked to them for orders, and were perhaps more completely
28:44
Speaker 1: at the mercy of Cleveland than he, with his little
28:48
Speaker 1: handful of men, could be said to be at that
28:51
Speaker 1: of the multitude by whom they were surrounded. The magistrates
28:56
Speaker 1: seemed sensible of their danger, for they looked upon each
28:59
Speaker 1: other in some confusion when Cleveland thus addressed them, good morrow, gentlemen,
29:06
Speaker 1: I hope there is no unkindness betwixt us. I am
29:10
Speaker 1: come to talk with you about getting supplies for my
29:13
Speaker 1: ship yonder in the roadstead. We cannot sail without them.
29:18
Speaker 1: Your ship, sir, said the provost, who was a man
29:22
Speaker 1: of sense and spirit. How do we know that you
29:25
Speaker 1: are her captain? Look at me, said Cleveland, and you
29:29
Speaker 1: will I think scarce ask the question again. The magistrate
29:34
Speaker 1: looked at Kim and accordingly did not think proper to
29:38
Speaker 1: pursue that part of the enquiry, but proceeded to say,
29:43
Speaker 1: and if you are her captain, whence comes she and
29:46
Speaker 1: where is she bound? For you look too much like
29:50
Speaker 1: a man of war's man to be a master of
29:53
Speaker 1: a trader, and we know that you do not belong
29:56
Speaker 1: to the British Navy. There are more men of war
30:00
Speaker 1: on the sea than sail under the British flag, replied Cleveland.
30:05
Speaker 1: But say that I were commander of a free trader here,
30:09
Speaker 1: willing to exchange tobacco, brandy, gin and such like for
30:14
Speaker 1: cured fish and hides. Why I do not think I
30:18
Speaker 1: deserve so very bad usage from the merchants of Kirkwall
30:23
Speaker 1: as to deny me provisions for my money. Look, you, captain,
30:27
Speaker 1: said the town clerk. It is not that we are
30:31
Speaker 1: so very straight laced neither, for when gentlemen of your
30:35
Speaker 1: cloth come this way, it is as well as I
30:38
Speaker 1: told the provost, just to do as the collier did
30:42
Speaker 1: when he met the devil, and that is to have
30:45
Speaker 1: nothing to say to them if they have nothing to
30:48
Speaker 1: say to us. And there is the gentleman pointing to
30:52
Speaker 1: GoF that was captain before you, and maybe captain after you.
30:58
Speaker 1: The cuckle speaks true in that muttered Gough. He knows
31:02
Speaker 1: well how handsomely we entertained him till he and his
31:07
Speaker 1: men took upon them to run through the town like
31:10
Speaker 1: hellicat devils. I see one of them there. That was
31:15
Speaker 1: the very fellow that stopped my servant Wench on the
31:18
Speaker 1: street as she carried the lantern home before me, and
31:23
Speaker 1: insulted her before my face. If it pleased your Noble
31:27
Speaker 1: Mayorship's honor and glory, said Derek, the fellow at whom
31:32
Speaker 1: the town clerk pointed, it was not that I brought
31:35
Speaker 1: to the bit of a tender that carried the lantern
31:39
Speaker 1: in the poop. It was quite a different sort of
31:42
Speaker 1: a person. Who was it, then, sir, said the provost.
31:46
Speaker 1: Why please your Majesty's worship, said Dereck, making several sea
31:51
Speaker 1: boughs and describing as nearly as he could the exterior
31:55
Speaker 1: of the worthy magistrate himself. He was an elderly gentleman Dutch,
32:00
Speaker 1: built round in the stern, with a white wig and
32:04
Speaker 1: a red nose, Very like your Majesty, I think. Then,
32:08
Speaker 1: turning to a comrade, he added, Jack, don't you think
32:12
Speaker 1: the fellow that wanted to kiss the pretty girl with
32:15
Speaker 1: the lantern the other night was very like his? Worship?
32:20
Speaker 1: By God, Tom Derrick answered the party appealed to I
32:25
Speaker 1: believe it is the very man. This is insolence which
32:29
Speaker 1: we can make you repent of. Gentlemen, said the magistrate,
32:33
Speaker 1: justly irritated at their effrontery. You have behaved in this
32:38
Speaker 1: town as if you were in an Indian village at Madagascar,
32:43
Speaker 1: you yourself, captain, if captain you b were at the
32:47
Speaker 1: head of another riot. No longer, since then yesterday, we
32:52
Speaker 1: will give you no provisions till we know better whom
32:55
Speaker 1: we are supplying. And do not think to bully us.
32:59
Speaker 1: When I shake this handkerchief out at the window which
33:03
Speaker 1: is at my elbow, your ship goes to the bottom.
33:07
Speaker 1: Remember she lies under the guns of our battery. And
33:11
Speaker 1: how many of these guns are honeycombed? Mister mayor, said Cleveland.
33:16
Speaker 1: He put the question by chance, but instantly perceived from
33:20
Speaker 1: a sort of confusion which the provost in Vain endeavored
33:24
Speaker 1: to hide, that the artillery of Kirkwall was not in
33:29
Speaker 1: the best order. Come, come, mister Mayor, he said, Bullying
33:34
Speaker 1: will go down with us as little as with you.
33:38
Speaker 1: Your guns yonder will do more harm to the poor
33:41
Speaker 1: old sailors who are to work them than to our sloop.
33:46
Speaker 1: And if we bring a broadside to bear on the town,
33:50
Speaker 1: why your wives crockery will be in some danger. And
33:54
Speaker 1: then to talk of us of seamen being a little
33:57
Speaker 1: frolicsome ashore, why when are they otherwise? You have the
34:03
Speaker 1: Greenland whalers playing the devil among you every now and then,
34:08
Speaker 1: and the very dutch men cut capers in the streets
34:11
Speaker 1: of Kirkwall like porpoises before a gale of wind. I
34:16
Speaker 1: am told you are a man of sense, and I
34:19
Speaker 1: am sure you and I could settle this matter in
34:23
Speaker 1: the course of a five minutes pilever well, sir, said
34:27
Speaker 1: the provost. I will hear what you have to say,
34:31
Speaker 1: if you will walk this way. Cleveland accordingly followed him
34:36
Speaker 1: into a small interior apartment, and, when there addressed the provost. Thus,
34:42
Speaker 1: I will lay aside my pistols, sir, if you are
34:45
Speaker 1: afraid of them, damn your pistols, answered the provost. I
34:50
Speaker 1: have served the King and fear the smell of powder
34:53
Speaker 1: as little as you do. So much the better, said Cleveland,
34:58
Speaker 1: for you will hear me the more coolly. Now, sir,
35:02
Speaker 1: let us be what perhaps you suspect us, or let
35:05
Speaker 1: us be anything else, what in the name of Heaven
35:10
Speaker 1: can you get by keeping us here but blows and bloodshed,
35:15
Speaker 1: for which, believe me, we are much better provided than
35:18
Speaker 1: you can pretend to be. The point is a plain one.
35:23
Speaker 1: You are desirous to be rid of us, We are
35:27
Speaker 1: desirous to be gone. Let us have the means of departure,
35:31
Speaker 1: and we leave you instantly. Look, ye, captain, said the Provost,
35:36
Speaker 1: I thirst for no man's blood. You are a pretty fellow,
35:41
Speaker 1: as there are many among the buccaneers in my time.
35:45
Speaker 1: But there is no harm in wishing you a better trade.
35:49
Speaker 1: You should have the stores and welcome for your money,
35:53
Speaker 1: so you would make these seas clearer of you. But
35:56
Speaker 1: then here lies the rub. The halcyon frigate is expected
36:01
Speaker 1: here in these parts. Immediately when she hears of you,
36:05
Speaker 1: she will be at you. For there is nothing the
36:09
Speaker 1: white lapel loves better than a rover. You are seldom
36:13
Speaker 1: without a cargo of dollars. Well, he comes down, get
36:18
Speaker 1: you under his stern, blows us into the air, if
36:21
Speaker 1: you please, said Cleveland. Nay, that must be as you please, captain,
36:27
Speaker 1: said the Provost. But then what is to come of
36:31
Speaker 1: the good town of Kirkwall that has been packing and
36:34
Speaker 1: peeling with the King's enemies. The burg will be laid
36:38
Speaker 1: under a round fine, and it may be that the
36:42
Speaker 1: Provost may not come off so easily. Well, then said Cleveland,
36:48
Speaker 1: I see where your pinch lies. Now suppose that I
36:52
Speaker 1: run round this island of yours and get into the
36:56
Speaker 1: roadstead at Stromness. We will get what we want on
37:00
Speaker 1: board there, without Kirkwall or the Provost seeming to have
37:05
Speaker 1: any hand in it, or if it should be ever questioned,
37:09
Speaker 1: your want of force and our superior strength will make
37:13
Speaker 1: a sufficient apology, that may be said the Provost. But
37:18
Speaker 1: if I suffer you to leave your present station and
37:22
Speaker 1: go elsewhere, I must have some security that you will
37:26
Speaker 1: not do harm to the country. And we said Cleveland,
37:31
Speaker 1: must have some security on our side, that you will
37:34
Speaker 1: not detain us by dribbling out our time till the
37:38
Speaker 1: halcion is on the coast. Now, I am myself perfectly
37:42
Speaker 1: willing to continue on shore as a hostage on the
37:46
Speaker 1: one side, provided you will give me your word not
37:49
Speaker 1: to betray me, and send some magistrate or person of
37:54
Speaker 1: consequence aboard the sloop, where his safety will be a
37:58
Speaker 1: guarantee for mine. The Provost shook his head and intimated
38:03
Speaker 1: it would be difficult to find a person willing to
38:07
Speaker 1: place himself as hostage in such a perilous condition, but
38:11
Speaker 1: said he would propose the arrangement to such of the
38:15
Speaker 1: Council as were fit to be trusted with a matter
38:19
Speaker 1: of such weight. End of Chapter fourteen.