The Madman and the Pirate Part 22

"Always returning good for evil, Zeppa," said Rosco, in a more cheerful voice. "I think it is this tremendous weakness that crushes my spirits, but come--I'll try to 'cheer up,' as you advise."

"Dat's right ma.s.sa!" cried Ebony, in an encouraging tone; "an' jus' look at the glipperin' steepil. He'll do yous heart good--somet'ing like de fire in de wilderness to de Jips.h.i.+ns--"

"To the Israelites you mean," said Orley.

"Ah, yis--de Izlrights, to be sure. I mis-remembered. Ho! look; dar's de house-tops now; an' the pine grove whar' we was use to hold palaver 'bout you, Ma.s.sa, arter you was lost; an'--yis--dat's de house--yous own house. You see de wife lookin' out o' winder bery soon. I knows it by de pig-sty close 'longside whar' de big grumper sow libs, dat Ziffa's so fond o' playin' wid. Ho! Lippy, come here, you little naked ting," (he caught up the child an' sat her on his broad shoulder). "You see de small leetil house. Dat's it. Dat's whar' Ziffa lubs to play, but she'll hab you to play wid soon, an' den she'll forsake de ole sow. Ho!

but I forgit--you no understan' English."

Hereupon Ebony began to translate his information as he best could into the language of the little creature, in which effort he was not very successful, being an indifferent linguist.

Meanwhile the vessel gradually neared the island, stood into the lagoon, and, finally, dropped anchor. A boat was at once lowered and made for the sh.o.r.e.

And oh! how intensely and intently did those in the boat and those on the sh.o.r.e gaze at each other as the s.p.a.ce between them diminished!

"They not look like enemies," said Betsy in subdued tones.

"And I don't think they are armed," returned Marie, with palpitating heart, "but I cannot yet make out the faces--only, they seem to be white, some of them."

"Yis, an' some of 'em's brown."

Thus--on the sh.o.r.e. In the boat:--

"Now den, ma.s.sa, you sees her--an' ha! ha! dar's Betsy. I'd know her 'mong a t'ousind. You sees de bonnit--tumblin' about like a jollyboat in a high sea; an' Ziffa too wid de leetil bonnit, all de same shape, kin you no' see her?"

Zeppa protested, rather anxiously, that he could _not_ see them, and no wonder, for just then his eyes were blinded by tears which no amount of wiping sufficed to clear away.

At that moment a shriek was heard on sh.o.r.e, and Betsy was seen to spring, we are afraid to say how many feet, into the air.

"Dar', she's reco'nised us now!" exclaimed Ebony with delight; and it was evident that he was right for Betsy continued to caper upon the sands in a manner that could only be the result of joy or insanity, while the coal-scuttle beat tempestuously about her head like an enraged balloon.

Another moment and a signal from the chief brought the ambushed Christian warriors pouring down to the sh.o.r.e to see the long-lost and loved ones reunited, while Ebony ran about in a state of frantic excitement, weeping copiously, and embracing every one who came in his way.

But who shall describe the agony of disappointment endured by poor Betsy when she found that Waroonga was _not_ among them? the droop of the spirits, the collapse of the coal-scuttle! Language is impotent. We leave it to imagination, merely remarking that she soon recovered on the faith of the happiness which was yet in store for her.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

And now, once again, we find ourselves in the palm-grove of Ratinga Island. It is a fine autumn afternoon. The air is still as regards motion, but thrilling with the melody of merry human voices as the natives labour in the fields, and alive with the twittering of birds as they make love, quarrel, and make it up again in the bushes. Now and then a hilarious laugh bursts from a group of children, or a hymn rises from some grateful heart, for as yet there is no secular music in Ratinga!

In the lagoon lies a man-of-war, its sails neatly furled, and its trim rigging, dark hull, and taper spars, perfectly reproduced in the clear water.

As the sun sank lower towards the west, our friend Ebony might have been seen slowly climbing the side of one of the neighbouring hills with Richard Rosco, the ex-pirate, on his back.

"Set me down now, my friend," said Rosco, "you are far too good to me; and let me know what it is you have to say to me. You have quite roused my curiosity by your nods and mysterious manner. Out with it now, whatever it is."

The negro had placed Rosco in such a position on a ledge of rock that he could see the lagoon and the s.h.i.+p at anchor.

The ex-pirate had by that time recovered some of his former strength, and, although there rested on his countenance an air of profound sadness, there mingled with it a hue of returning health, which none who saw him land had expected to see again. But the care of gentle hands and the power of gladsome emotions had wrought miraculously on the man, body and soul.

"I's heerd ma.s.sa an' Cappin Fizzroy talkin' about you," said the negro, crossing his arms on his chest and regarding his questioner with a somewhat quizzical expression.

"Ha! I thought so. I am _wanted_, eh?"

"Well, yis, you's wanted, but you's not getted yet--so far as I knows."

"Ah! Ebony," returned Rosco, shaking his head, "I have long expected it, and now I am prepared to meet my deserved fate like a man--I may humbly say, a Christian man, thanks to G.o.d the Saviour and Zeppa the instrument. But, tell me, what did the commander of the man-of-war say?"

"What did he say? Well, I's tell you. Fust he hoed into ma.s.sa's house an' shook hands with missis, also wid Missis Waroonga wot happined to be wid her, an' hims so frindly dat he nigh shookt de bonnit off her head.

Den dey talk 'bout good many t'ings, an' after a while de cappin turn full on ma.s.sa, an say,--

"'I's told Missr Zeppa dat you's got dat willain Rosco de pirit here.'

"Ho! you should hab see poor ma.s.sa's face how it grow long, I most t'ink it also grow a leetil pale, an' missis she give a squeak what she couldn't help, an' Betsy she giv' a groan an' jump up, slap on hers bonnit, back to de front, an' begin to clar out, but de cappin jump up an' stop her. 'Many apologies,' ses de hipperkrit 'for stoppin' a lady, but I don't want any alarm given. You know dat de pirit's life am forfitid to his country, so ob course you'll gib him up.'"

"And what said Zeppa to that?" asked Rosco eagerly.

"I's just a-goin' to tell you, ma.s.sa. You see I's in de back kishen at de time an' hear ebery word. 'Well,' ses ma.s.sa, awful slow an'

unwillin' like, 'I cannot deny that Rosco is in the island, but I do a.s.sure you, sir, that he is quite unable to do any furder mischief to any one, for--an ma.s.sa stop all of a suddint.'

"'Well,' ses de cappin, 'why you not go on?'

"'Has you a description of him?' he asked.

"'Oh! yes,' ses de cappin, drawin' out a paper an' readin' it. De bery ting, as like you it was as two pease, even to de small mole on side ob you's nose, but it say not'ing 'bout you's feet. Clarly he nebber heerd ob dat an' ma.s.sa he notice dat, seems to me, for he ses, 'Well, Cappin Fizzerald, it may be your duty to seize dis pirit and deliber him up to justice, but it's no duty ob mine to help you.'

"'Oh! as to dat,' ses de cappin, 'I'll easily find him widout your a.s.sistance. I have a party of men with me, and no one knows or even suspects de reason ob my visit. But all of you who now hear me mus'

promise not to say a word about this matter till my search is over. I believe you to be an honourable Christian man, Zeppa, who cannot break his word; may these ladies be relied on?'

"'Dey may,' ses ma.s.sa, in a voice ob woe dat a'most made me cry. So w'en I hear dat I tink's to myself, 'oh! you British hipperkrit, you's not so clebber as you t'inks, for Ebony's got to wind'ard ob you,' an'

wid dat I slips out ob do back winder an' run to you's cottage, an' ask if you'd like to have a ride on my back as usual, an' you say yis, an'-- now you's here, an' I dessay de cappin's lookin' for you."

"It is very kind of you, Ebony," said Rosco, with a deep sigh and a shake of the head, "very kind, both of you and Zeppa, but your efforts cannot now avail me. Just consider. If the description of me possessed by Captain Fitzgerald is as faithful and minute as you say, the mere absence of my feet could not deceive him. Besides, when I am found, if the commander of the man-of-war asks me my name I will not deny it, I will give myself up."

"But if you do dey will hang you!" said Ebony in a somewhat exasperated tone.

"Even so. It is my fate--and deserved."

"But it would be murder to hang a innercent man what's bin reformed, an'

don't mean for to do no more mischief--not on'y so, but _can't_!"

"I fear you won't get the broken law to look at it in that light, Ebony."

"Broken law! what does I care for de broken law? But tell me, ma.s.sa, hab you make up you's mind to gib youself up?"

"I have," returned Rosco sadly.

"Quite sure an' sartin'?"