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diff --git a/75728-h/75728-h.htm b/75728-h/75728-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af66a32 --- /dev/null +++ b/75728-h/75728-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7043 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Driven to bay, vol. 3 of 3 | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .blockquot { + margin-left: 7.5%; + margin-right: 7.5%; +} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 75%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tiny {width: 5%; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} +hr.tb {width: 25%; margin-left: 37.5%; margin-right: 37.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +img.drop-cap +{ + float: left; + margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; +} + +.x-ebookmaker-2 img.drop-cap +{ + display: none; +} + +span.drop-cap +{ + color: transparent; + visibility: hidden; + margin-left: -1em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker-2 span.drop-cap +{ + color: inherit; + visibility: visible; + margin-left: 0; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +th {text-align: center;} +td {padding-left: 0.5em;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.bbox {border: 2px solid; padding: 1em;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} +.large {font-size: 125%;} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75728 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph2">DRIVEN TO BAY.</p> + +<p class="ph1">VOL. III.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/title_page.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1>DRIVEN TO BAY.</h1> + +<p><span class="xlarge"><i>A NOVEL.</i></span></p> + +<p>BY<br> +<span class="xlarge">FLORENCE MARRYAT,</span></p> + +<p>AUTHOR OF<br> + +‘LOVE’S CONFLICT,’ ‘MY OWN CHILD,’<br> +‘THE MASTER PASSION,’ ‘SPIDERS OF SOCIETY,’<br> +ETC., ETC.</p> + +<p><span class="large"><i>IN THREE VOLUMES.</i></span></p> + +<p><span class="large">VOL. III.</span></p> + +<p>LONDON:<br> +<span class="large">F. V. WHITE & CO.,</span><br> +31 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C.</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p>1887.</p> + +<p>[<i>All Rights reserved.</i>]</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center">EDINBURGH<br> +COLSTON AND COMPANY<br> +PRINTERS</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_contents.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak"><i>CONTENTS.</i></h2> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_contents_line.jpg" alt=""></div> +<table> + + +<tr><td class="tdr"><small>CHAP.</small></td><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Private Farce</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1"> 1</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Grace and Godfrey</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_20"> 20</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Iris and Vernon</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39"> 39</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The House Amidships</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56"> 56</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Face to Face</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72"> 72</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Rendezvous</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_88"> 88</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Murder</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108"> 108</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Missing</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125"> 125</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Mr Fowler</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_142"> 142</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Drifting Back</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_157"> 157</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Change</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175"> 175</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Exposure</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_192"> 192</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Lee Shore</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_209"> 209</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Shipwrecked</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_224"> 224</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Farrell’s Revenge</span>,</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_239"> 239</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="bbox"> +<p class="ph2">“SELECT” NOVELS.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. each.</i></p> + +<p class="center">AT ALL BOOKSELLERS AND BOOKSTALLS.</p> +<hr class="tiny"> + +<table> +<tr><th colspan="2">By FLORENCE MARRYAT.</th></tr> + + +<tr><td>THE HEIR-PRESUMPTIVE.</td><td> HER WORLD AGAINST A LIE.</td></tr> +<tr><td>THE HEART OF JANE WARNER.</td><td> PEERESS AND PLAYER.</td></tr> +<tr><td>UNDER THE LILIES & ROSES.</td><td> FACING THE FOOTLIGHTS.</td></tr> +<tr><td>MY OWN CHILD.</td><td> A BROKEN BLOSSOM.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">MY SISTER THE ACTRESS.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By ANNIE THOMAS (Mrs Pender Cudlip).</th></tr> + +<tr><td>HER SUCCESS.</td><td> JENIFER.</td></tr> +<tr><td>KATE VALLIANT.</td><td> ALLERTON TOWERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">FRIENDS AND LOVERS.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By LADY CONSTANCE HOWARD.</th></tr> + +<tr><td>MATED WITH A CLOWN.</td><td> MOLLIE DARLING.</td></tr> +<tr><td>ONLY A VILLAGE MAIDEN.</td><td> SWEETHEART AND WIFE.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By MRS HOUSTOUN, Author of “Recommended to Mercy.”</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">BARBARA’S WARNING.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By MRS ALEXANDER FRASER.</th></tr> + +<tr><td>THE MATCH OF THE SEASON.</td><td> A FATAL PASSION.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">A PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By IZA DUFFUS HARDY.</th></tr> + +<tr><td>ONLY A LOVE STORY.</td><td> NOT EASILY JEALOUS.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">LOVE, HONOUR AND OBEY.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By JEAN MIDDLEMASS.</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">POISONED ARROWS.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By MRS H. LOVETT CAMERON.</th></tr> + +<tr><td>IN A GRASS COUNTRY.</td><td> A DEAD PAST.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">A NORTH COUNTRY MAID.</td></tr> + +<tr><th>By DORA RUSSELL.</th><th>By LADY VIOLET GREVILLE.</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc">OUT OF EDEN.</td><td class="center">KEITH’S WIFE.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By NELLIE FORTESCUE HARRISON, Author of “So Runs my Dream.”</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">FOR ONE MAN’S PLEASURE.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By EDMUND LEATHES.</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">THE ACTOR’S WIFE.</td></tr> + +<tr><th colspan="2">By HARRIETT JAY.</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2">A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.</td></tr> +</table> +</div></div></div> + +<p class="center">COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph2">DRIVEN TO BAY.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i001a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p class="ph2">DRIVEN TO BAY.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_contents_line.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.<br> + +<small>A PRIVATE FARCE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_m.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="M"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">M</span>ISS VERE was not only a +clever woman, and a woman +of the world, she was an excessively +warm-hearted and generous woman,—one +who, with a large mind, could +take pleasure in little things, and especially +if they gave pleasure to others. +All this was plainly typified by the +interest she took in the <i>Pandora’s</i> theatricals, +and the trouble she put herself to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> +concerning them. She gained nothing +by the act. She had reaped her own +laurels on the public boards, and wanted +no applause from private individuals. +She was busy, moreover, with study for +the New Zealand tour, and had no more +time than was necessary for her own +work. Yet she laid it all aside to coach +her fellow-passengers in their parts; to +design their dresses; to suggest the +rough scenery, and even to superintend +some of the preparations. The sailors +had rigged up a temporary stage in the +steerage, where they had been giving +some uncouth performances themselves; +and when the ladies and gentlemen proposed +to act, Captain Robarts had given +leave for it to be draped with the ship’s +flags to form a proscenium, whilst some +of the men were told off to daub back +canvases to serve as scenery for the +different acts. It was difficult to place +‘The Rivals’ on such a stage with any +effect, but the difficulty seemed to enhance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> +the excitement attendant on the +amusement; and what with the ladies’ +energy and Miss Vere’s suggestions, the +dresses promised to be marvellous, considering +the drawbacks placed in their +way. For a week previous to the performance, +the good-natured actress had +always one or more of the aspirants +for histrionic honours closeted with her +in her private cabin, whilst she drilled +them in tone and gesture until they were +perfect in their parts. And with no one +had she taken more trouble than with +Harold Greenwood. The poor little +man had been so palpably ‘sent to Coventry’ +by his fellow-passengers, since the +fright he had given them, that his forlorn +condition had excited Miss Vere’s compassion, +and she had shown him all the +more kindness in consequence. But she +little knew the damage she was doing. +Ever since their first meeting, Mr Greenwood +had secretly worshipped the fascinating +actress. She was just the sort<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> +of woman to attract a man of his calibre. +Love invariably loves a contrast. She +was big, and he was small. She was +strong and energetic, and he was weak +and incapable. She was full of mirth and +humour, and he was romantically and +sentimentally inclined. His nature unconsciously +bowed before her strength and +ability, and he mistook the feeling for +something different; for magnetism, if it +be not love itself, is quite as powerful, +and more binding than the master +passion. Had Mr Greenwood’s fancy +stopped there, it would have done no +harm to anybody; but, unfortunately, he +mistook Miss Vere’s good-natured attempts +to make him forget the <i>contretemps</i> +which every one else seemed +determined he should remember, for a +direct interest in his own puny little +person, and plumed his feathers accordingly. +His conceit and self-satisfaction +became so offensively apparent, after the +actress had invited him to her cabin,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> +and coached him there, in some unimportant +part for which she had cast +him, just as a salve for his wounded +vanity, that Jack Blythe, whom he chose +as a <i>confidant</i>, felt inclined to kick him +into the sea. The subject alone would +have been a source of irritation to Blythe, +without the mode in which Harold +Greenwood conveyed it to him. Poor +Jack was not in a humour just then +to receive love confidences from a successful +suitor. He was suffering terribly +from the disappointment he had experienced, +and it took all his time to +cast the devils of jealousy and envy +out of him, and bring his mind forcibly +to bear upon his duty. And the intense +conceit of Harold Greenwood would +have been sufficient to stir the wrath +of a man less irritably disposed than +Vernon Blythe.</p> + +<p>‘Out of the way, there!’ he called +sharply, on the morning of the theatricals, +as a coil of rope came whizzing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> +along the deck about the legs of Mr +Greenwood, causing the little man to +jump a couple of feet in the air, to +avoid being thrown down by it.</p> + +<p>‘Dear me!’ he ejaculated, ‘you might +have given me warning, Mr Blythe. +You are all so awfully sudden in your +movements on board ship, don’t you +know. One never has a moment to +one’s self. And it’s really most important +that I should not be disturbed this +morning! I’m studying my part for +this evening, don’t you know? You +haven’t forgotten the theatricals, eh?’</p> + +<p>‘We can’t think of theatricals, or any +other rubbish, when there’s work to be +done,’ replied Jack, somewhat roughly. +‘If you want to study, you’d better go +below. There’ll be more rope coming +along by-and-by.’</p> + +<p>‘No, thank you. I’m quite what Miss +Vere calls “word perfect,” don’t you +know? A grand woman, Miss Vere, +isn’t she now? Dear creature! what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> +hours of happiness we have had together +in her cabin, preparing for these theatricals. +You’d envy me, Mr Blythe, +if I told you all that has passed between +us.’</p> + +<p>‘Perhaps I might. But I don’t know +what right you have, Mr Greenwood, to +speak of any lady in such ambiguous +terms. The more you have received from +a woman, the less you should say.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah! but this is no secret, don’t you +know? Everybody will hear it soon. It +will all be settled this evening.’</p> + +<p>Jack looked at the pigmy with unfeigned +surprise.</p> + +<p>‘What the d—l!’ he exclaimed. ‘You +don’t mean to tell me there’s anything +serious in it?’</p> + +<p>Mr Greenwood looked quite offended.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Serious</i>, Mr Blythe. Why don’t you +ask me at once if I’m a man of honour, +or not? Do you suppose I’d let any +woman get talked about just for my own +amusement? I’ve been brought up different<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> +from that, don’t you know? and +whatever gentlemen may be accustomed +to do in the merchant service—’</p> + +<p>‘Here! just stow that about the service, +will you?’ interrupted Jack quickly. +‘There are as good men in the merchant +service as out of it, and please to remember, +when you speak of it, that I’m +one of them. And, at all events, we +sha’n’t go to <i>you</i> to teach us how to treat +a woman.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, dear! Mr Blythe, I meant no +offence. I was only speaking at random, +don’t you know? But you seemed to +think it strange I should have any intentions +with respect to Miss Vere, eh? +Well, of course I know I shall have +trouble with my own family about it, +because we’ve never done anything of +the sort before—married an actress, don’t +you know? But I’m of age,’ said Mr +Greenwood, drawing himself up to his full +height, ‘and in these affairs I ask leave +of no one.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>‘Except the lady, I presume,’ replied +Jack dryly.</p> + +<p>‘Except the lady, Mr Blythe, as you +say. But the women—God bless them—are +not hard to please.’</p> + +<p>‘I should think not,’ said the young +officer, glancing at Harold Greenwood +critically; ‘and this lady, therefore, I am +to presume, has already succumbed?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes,’ replied Mr Greenwood, tittering; +‘she <i>has</i> succumbed—decidedly succumbed. +I had not made up my own +mind concerning it until this morning, +but she made up hers a fortnight ago. +Oh, I’ve had plenty of encouragement, +don’t you know? The only thing that +has kept me back a little, is the fact of +her being an actress; but I shall make it +a proviso that she gives up the stage.’</p> + +<p>‘I should think she would give up +anything for <i>you</i>,’ remarked Jack ironically.</p> + +<p>‘Well, I generally find them pretty +amenable,’ returned Harold Greenwood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> +with the most ineffable conceit. ‘There +is a little girl in England now that is +most doosidly gone on me, don’t you +know? She would have followed me to +New Zealand if I hadn’t prevented her,—hid +in the hold or the steerage—’pon my +soul she would, only to be near me, and +to see me, don’t you know? They’re very +faithful creatures, women are, when they +<i>really</i> love. Don’t you think so?’</p> + +<p>‘I really cannot boast of your unlimited +experience,’ replied Jack. ‘No one has +ever hidden in the hold, or the steerage, +I am afraid, just to catch a glimpse +of me.’</p> + +<p>‘Really. Well, I suppose it depends +very much on a fella himself, don’t you +know? But the women always said I had +a way with me.’</p> + +<p>‘And when are you going to exercise +your “way” on Miss Vere?’</p> + +<p>‘This evening. Oh, yes, it’s quite +settled between us that I shall speak this +evening. She’s expecting it, don’t you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> +know? But we’ve been so busy the last +fortnight studying our parts, I thought it +best not to unsettle our minds by thinking +of other things. But this evening it’ll +be all right. I suppose you’ll be coming +down to the theatricals, Mr Blythe, +eh?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes, I hope to be there.’</p> + +<p>‘Then, when they’re over, I shall have +the pleasure of introducing you to the +future Mrs Greenwood. It’ll be all settled +by then, don’t you know? Oh, she’s +a glorious creature. Such eyes—such a +mouth—such splendid hair, and such a +beautiful figure! I do hope my people +won’t make a jolly row about her being +an actress. But if they do, I’ve made +up my mind to go on the stage too, and +play her lovers. I don’t think I should +like any other fella to play her lover. +It would make me so horribly jealous, +and when I’m jealous, I’m as bad as +Othello, don’t you know?’</p> + +<p>‘Dear me!’ said Jack, ‘you must be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +very dangerous. I shouldn’t like to be +the woman you caught tripping.’</p> + +<p>‘By Jove! I’d kill her, don’t you know?’ +replied Greenwood; ‘but don’t let’s talk +of anything so horrid. Emily—that’s +Miss Vere, you know—will never give +me any cause for jealousy—I’m sure of +that. She loves me too well. If you’d +seen her this morning when we went +through our scene together, you’d have +been ready to die of envy.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, I congratulate you,’ said Jack. +‘She’s a very handsome woman, and a +very clever one, and a mine of gold +into the bargain. If you win her, +you’ll be a lucky fellow. But don’t +count your chickens before they’re +hatched.’</p> + +<p>Harold Greenwood was indignant at +the suggestion.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t count my chickens before +they’re hatched!’ he repeated. ‘But +they <i>are</i> hatched, Mr Blythe, don’t you +know?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>‘All the better for you, my boy,’ laughed +Jack, as he walked away.</p> + +<p>That afternoon at dinner time Mr +Coffin was on duty, and Blythe took his +place at the table. As he did so, he +glanced with some curiosity at the upper +end, where Miss Vere, the Vansittarts, +and the Leytons were all clustered about +the captain. Harold Greenwood was sitting +opposite the actress, devouring her +with his eyes, and listening open-mouthed +to every word she said. As his glance +met that of Vernon Blythe, he nodded to +him in a self-satisfied manner, and threw +a significant look across the table, as much +as to say, ‘Now, you will see, don’t you +know?’ and Vernon, in consequence, kept +his ears open for all that went on between +them. Miss Vere appeared to be in excellent +spirits, and quite looking forward +to the evening’s amusement.</p> + +<p>‘My little “Julia” here, is simply +perfect,’ she said to Captain Lovell, as +she laid a kindly hand on Alice Leyton’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> +shoulder, ‘and when you see her in her +short-waisted frock, I expect you all to +lose your hearts.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Miss Vere! how can you talk +so?’ exclaimed Alice. ‘When I hear you +speak, I shall be ashamed to open my +mouth.’</p> + +<p>‘That’s nonsense, dear,’ replied the +actress. ‘If you could play as well as I +do, who have been so many years on the +stage, my time and labour would have +been completely wasted. But you are +an excellent little actress, for an amateur, +and if you had had my training, you would +play quite as well.’</p> + +<p>‘You say that to encourage me,’ said +Alice.</p> + +<p>‘And why shouldn’t I encourage you? +I assure you I am very proud of my +“scratch” company, and feel sure we are +going to have a most enjoyable evening. +Mr Greenwood will distinguish himself +for one, I know.’</p> + +<p>‘I shall do my best to please you, Miss<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> +Vere, in every way, before the evening’s +over, don’t you know?’ replied Harold +Greenwood, with a knowing glance, which +almost amounted to a wink, at Vernon +Blythe.</p> + +<p>‘That’s right,’ she said cheerfully. +‘Captain Robarts, I hope <i>you</i> mean to +honour us by your attendance?’</p> + +<p>‘Certainly, Miss Vere, unless the ship +claims my attention elsewhere. But you’ll +have a good audience without me. Everybody +is looking forward to it with the +greatest expectation. The steward told +me there was quite a disturbance amongst +the steerage passengers when they heard +that they were all invited to attend.’</p> + +<p>‘Poor dears!’ sighed Miss Vere softly. +‘I remember once when my husband and +I were—’</p> + +<p>But here she was interrupted by Alice +Leyton.</p> + +<p>‘Miss Vere,’ she exclaimed, loud enough +for all the table to hear, ‘do you know +what you said?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>‘<i>What</i> did I say?’ asked the actress, +smiling.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Your husband!</i> Are you really +<i>married</i>?’</p> + +<p>At that question, the curiosity of all +the passengers was aroused, and none +more so than that of Vernon Blythe. The +actress glanced up and down the table at +the expectant faces, in amused surprise.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Married!</i>’ she echoed, laughing merrily. +‘I thought all the world knew as +much as that. Why, <i>of course</i> I’m +married. Do I look like an old maid? +What horrible suspicions have attached +themselves to me! I’ve been married for +the last ten years. I have five children,’ +she added, in a faltering voice, ‘at home.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Five children!</i>’ repeated Alice. ‘Oh, +Miss Vere, do tell me about them. What +are their names, and are they boys or +girls?’</p> + +<p>‘Not now, dear,’ said her friend, as she +dashed her hand across her eyes. ‘Come +to my cabin to-morrow, and you shall see<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> +all their photographs. But if I talk of +them now—well, not to put too fine a +point upon it, I shall begin to cry, and +spoil my looks for to-night.’</p> + +<p>‘How can you make up your mind to +leave them?’ said Alice stupidly.</p> + +<p>‘I am obliged to make up my mind to +it. I leave them for their sakes as well +as for my own. But my heart is very +much divided, you know. It is half in +England, and half in New Zealand. My +husband is my business manager, and preceded +me there by three months. I shall +meet him when we arrive at Canterbury, +and that thought is quite enough to +counterbalance the pain of parting with +my children.’</p> + +<p>Poor Harold Greenwood had been fidgeting +so dreadfully on his seat during +this conversation, that he attracted the +actress’s attention.</p> + +<p>‘You mustn’t be offended, Mr Greenwood,’ +she continued, smiling with her +beautiful eyes still wet with unshed tears,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> +‘if I tell you that why I took a fancy to +you is because there is something in your +face, and the colour of your hair, that reminds +me of my eldest boy. Dear little +fellow! he went to school for the first +time when I left England, and I thought +we should both have broken our hearts. +If Mr Perkins were only with me—’</p> + +<p>‘Is Mr Perkins your husband?’ inquired +Alice.</p> + +<p>Miss Vere burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, my dear! It is really true; but +for Heaven’s sake don’t pursue the subject. +<i>I am Mrs Perkins.</i> But I keep it a +secret of blood and death. Please never +call me anything but Emily Vere, or +I shall not answer to the name. And +now it must be time to go and see after +our dresses. Mr Greenwood! didn’t I +promise to be your lady’s-maid to-night? +If you find any difficulty in arranging +your costume, come to my cabin, and I +will try and imagine you are my little +boy, and play “nurse” to you—’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>‘No, no, thank you!’ stammered +Harold Greenwood, as he tried to make +his escape from table. ‘I shall be all +right, don’t you know?’</p> + +<p>But Jack Blythe was not sufficiently +magnanimous to let the humiliated +wretch pass him, without standing a +jest at his own expense.</p> + +<p>‘I say, old fellow,’ he called out, as +Greenwood tried to slink by his chair, +‘don’t you forget your promise to me +of this morning. You’ll be sure to introduce +me to the future Mrs Greenwood +as soon as the theatricals are +over, won’t you? For the chickens +are all hatched, you know, and the +business is as good as settled already.’</p> + +<p>But the unhappy Mr Greenwood would +not even attempt to say a word in his +own defence. Wrenching his coat-sleeve +from the grasp of Vernon +Blythe, he rushed to his berth, and +was seen no more till he appeared +upon the stage.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_contents.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.<br> + +<small>GRACE AND GODFREY.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_g.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="G"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">G</span>ODFREY HARLAND and +Grace Vansittart were neither +of them included in the amateur +company that was to perform that +evening on board the <i>Pandora</i>. Parts +had been allotted to both of them at +first, but Miss Vansittart, who had no +idea of acting, found so much difficulty +in learning her lines and taking up +her positions, that she had voted the +whole concern a bore, and thrown up +her engagement in consequence. Upon +which Mr Harland had thought it politic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> +to follow suit. He knew that Grace +would not like to sit out and watch +him making mimic love to another +woman, so he told her that he preferred +sitting out as well; and she was only +too delighted at his apparent devotion +to refuse to accept it. It was an old +story between them. The woman was +so deeply in love as to be blind to the +arts by which the man led her to believe +that he shared her feelings. And it +was Godfrey Harland’s policy to be +more than usually attentive to Miss +Vansittart at this period. He saw +plainly that something had gone wrong +with the older folks. They were still +polite; but all the cordiality with which +they had first greeted him had died away. +Mr Vansittart’s manner had become +distant and cool, whilst the old lady +avoided him on every possible occasion. +He began seriously to fear that they +were only keeping up appearances until +they arrived at Tabbakooloo, and that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> +some disagreeable surprise awaited him +there. It therefore behoved him to +make all the running he could with the +daughter before they reached their destination, +so that there might be no +chance of her acquiescing in the decision +of her parents, if that decision +proved to be against him. He was +quite unprincipled enough (as Will +Farrell had suggested) to get the girl +into his power, so that there should be +no turning back for her.</p> + +<p>The little stage on which the comedy +was to be represented, consisted of a +few planks raised in the steerage, with +a row of footlights before them, which, +to do honour to this grand occasion, +had been surmounted above and around +with the Union Jack and other flags, +in the form of a proscenium. The +auditorium, which was filled with chairs, +benches, chests, barrels, and any other +articles capable of being used as seats, +was left in complete darkness, the only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> +light being an oil lamp hung in the +entry to guide the feet of the audience. +A rope tied across the upper end distinguished +the ‘stalls,’ reserved for the +saloon passengers, from the ‘pit,’ which +was given over indiscriminately to the +rest of the ship’s company. All had +been cordially invited to attend, and the +place was crammed for some time before +the hour of commencement; but Will +Farrell had been before everybody else, +and secured seats for Iris and Maggie +and himself on the benches that stood +nearest to the reserved portion of the +arena. Iris had, of course, informed +Maggie of the confidence that had +taken place between herself and Mr +Farrell, and the women were equally +anxious to see what the evening would +reveal to them. No one who was not +expecting to see her would have recognised +Iris Harland. She had pleaded an +attack of toothache as an excuse for +wrapping up her head in a black woollen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +shawl, and had so enveloped her features +that they would have scarcely been visible, +even had there been light enough +to distinguish them. A few minutes +before the representation commenced, the +captain appeared, followed by the saloon +passengers, who, with a good deal of +laughing and talking, took their seats, +and Iris shrank back as she saw her +husband conduct Miss Vansittart to the +chairs just in front of her, so that there +were but a couple of feet between them. +He threw a careless glance behind him +as he took his seat; but seeing only a +couple of dowdy-looking steerage passengers, +as he imagined, did not give +them a second thought throughout the +evening. Grace Vansittart was looking +flushed and handsome, though dressed in +an extravagant fashion for a performance +on board ship, and Godfrey Harland was +most attentive in folding her crimson shawl +about her shoulders, and seeing that she +had something to rest her feet upon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>‘Do keep it on, my darling,’ Iris heard +him say in French, as Grace threw the +wrap rather impatiently from her. ‘There +is a horrid draught in this place, and you +know you have a slight cold. For <i>my</i> +sake keep it on.’</p> + +<p>‘I was <i>sure</i> he’d bring her here,’ whispered +Farrell to Iris. ‘All the old people, +you see, get as close as they can to the +stage, so that they may see and hear the +better. But <i>his</i> object is neither to be +seen nor heard. Can you understand the +lingo they’re talking, Miss Douglas?’</p> + +<p>Iris nodded her head.</p> + +<p>‘Oh! well, then, it’s all right. But I +was afraid he was going to trick us. He +<i>is</i> a deep ’un, and no mistake.’</p> + +<p>‘Hush, Will,’ said Maggie, ‘the play’s +going to begin.’</p> + +<p>At that juncture all eyes turned to the +stage, and divers were the opinions as to +whether Miss Vere’s short-waisted dress +of sunflower hue, tied with a sash under +her arms, or Miss Leyton’s soft white<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +muslin, became her best. The acting +went smoothly, and the majority of the +audience were intensely interested in the +comedy and its exponents. But for some +there, a more thrilling drama, the incidents +of which were interwoven with +their very lives, was being enacted in the +auditorium.</p> + +<p>Will Farrell had no personal interest +in Godfrey Harland’s infidelity to his wife, +but he hated the man as he hated hell, +and longed to see him exposed on every +point. Maggie, too, had her reasons for +wishing to be revenged on him; and Iris +felt intuitively that in some unknown +way the happiness or misery of her +whole future life lay in the discovery of +that evening. As she listened to her +husband’s conversation with Miss Vansittart, +she was convinced of one thing—that +she loved him no longer. Not a +particle of jealousy or regret assailed her +as she heard him pouring his tale of +love into another woman’s ear. All she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> +felt was an intense surprise that she +should ever have believed in, or fancied +she cared for, him. He seemed to appear +before her for the first time in his +true colours. Had she seen him long +ago, she thought, as she did then, she +never could have married him.</p> + +<p>And while Iris thought thus, another +face rose up before her—the pleading, +earnest eyes of Vernon Blythe gazed into +hers, and she felt the tears of regret +rise to dim her sight. But she brushed +them hurriedly away. She would not +have had Farrell and Maggie think she +was weeping at what she saw before her, +for all the world. Besides, she wanted +to keep her mind clear, in order not to +lose a word of what was passing between +her husband and Miss Vansittart. And +as she listened she knew that all that +had been told her was true, and Godfrey +designed to ruin another life as he had +done hers.</p> + +<p>‘In a few more weeks,’ he whispered,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +when the curtain, amidst much applause, +had descended on the first act of the +‘Rivals,’ ‘we shall be in New Zealand, +Grace. Shall you be glad or sorry when +our voyage is at an end?’</p> + +<p>He still spoke in French, which he +had acquired fluently whilst knocking +about in the Southern States of America, +and Grace, fresh from her boarding-school, +retained sufficient knowledge of +the language to understand and answer +him.</p> + +<p>‘Why should I be sorry?’ she replied +to his question. ‘We shall be as much +together then as we are now, shall we +not?’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, that is the doubt that worries +me,’ said Harland; ‘will your parents +permit a free intercourse between us? +You know how few opportunities for +meeting occur on land to what they do +on board ship; and unless I am received +as your accepted suitor—’</p> + +<p>‘But you <i>must</i> be received as my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> +accepted suitor! I will have no one +else,’ interrupted Grace determinately.</p> + +<p>‘My dearest, if it depended only on +<i>you</i>, I know what my happy fate would +be. But it is this horrid £ <i>s.</i> <i>d.</i>, Grace! +I am so poor. Your father is certain to +look for money, in exchange for his +daughter’s hand.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, I don’t know that, Godfrey! +Papa has often told me he is rich enough +to be able to afford to let me choose for +myself. And I <i>have</i> chosen! If he +doesn’t like it, it can’t be helped! But +I have chosen <i>you</i>.’</p> + +<p>‘My sweet girl! You will not be persuaded +to give me up, then, Grace?’</p> + +<p>‘Not for worlds! How <i>could</i> I?’</p> + +<p>‘But if, on arriving at Tabbakooloo, +your father should absolutely refuse to +consent to our engagement, what +then?’</p> + +<p>‘I shall marry you without his consent! +Godfrey, you <i>will</i> marry me?’ she added, +with a quick look of alarm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>He laid his hand on hers, with a soothing +gesture.</p> + +<p>‘Do you doubt me, my darling? Have +we not sworn to belong to each other? +If you are determined to stick to me, +through thick and thin, I want nothing +more—’</p> + +<p>She turned her head towards him then, +and whispered in his ear, and Iris could +just see the glistening tear in her eye, as +one of the lights fell across her face.</p> + +<p>‘I understand,’ he answered, ‘and your +assurance was all I needed to make me +perfectly happy. It is an agreement, then? +Whatever any one may say or think, you +are to be my wife as soon as I can make +you so?’</p> + +<p>‘Whenever you like,’ she said, slipping +her hand into his under cover of her +shawl.</p> + +<p>They spoke without reserve, because +they quite believed that it was safe to do +so. The rest of the saloon passengers +were well in front of them. As to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> +inmates of the second cabin and steerage, +who sat behind, they did not suppose for +a moment that any of them could understand, +even if they overheard, their words. +How little they imagined <i>who</i> sat just behind +them.</p> + +<p>‘Godfrey,’ said Grace, after a pause, ‘I +cannot believe I am really the first girl +to whom you have said such sweet things! +Tell me the truth now. Have you often +been in love before?’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Never!</i> That is, <i>really</i> in love, Grace. +I have had my flirtations and <i>amourettes</i>—what +man of my age has not?—but I +never felt what it was to be <i>in earnest</i> +until now.’</p> + +<p>‘Have you never thought of marrying +any other woman?’</p> + +<p>At this point-blank question, Iris could +see, even through the gloom, that Godfrey +winced.</p> + +<p>‘Now, don’t call me to book for my +thoughts, you little tyrant!’ he answered, +with affected gaiety. ‘The fact remains<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +that—that—I am going to marry <i>you</i>. Is +not that sufficient?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, more than sufficient. It makes +me so happy,’ said the girl earnestly, ‘to +think that I shall belong to you only, and +that you will belong only to me! The +world will seem like fairyland when we +share it together.’</p> + +<p>‘Still, my darling, the truth remains +that, since they have seen that we love +each other, your parents have not been so +cordial to me as they were. You never +hear your father ask me to take a hand +at whist in the evenings now; and as for +your mother, she scuttles out of the way +whenever she sees me coming. It makes +things very unpleasant for me, especially +as I am in Mr Vansittart’s employment. +Has he ever warned you against me?’</p> + +<p>‘Never mind,’ replied Grace soothingly; +‘it can make no difference to us if he <i>has</i>. +We are going to marry each other, whatever +they may say; and when it is once +over, they will not hold out long against<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> +their only child. Why, who have they +but me? It will all come right, Godfrey, +never fear. And, meanwhile, we love +each other, and nothing on earth can +alter that.’</p> + +<p>As Iris listened to the words of this +girl, whom love, however misdirected, was +transforming from a pert boarding-school +miss to a thoughtful woman, the tears +ran down her cheeks with pity and compassion. +It was terrible to her to sit +there, the lawful wife of Godfrey Harland, +and hear another woman express +her implicit faith and trust in him; whilst +she knew that, before long, she herself +must inevitably be the instrument to +open that woman’s eyes, and expose the +treachery and falsehood of which she had +been made the victim. The idea turned +Iris sick and faint, and she rose from +her seat with the intention of leaving the +theatre.</p> + +<p>‘What is the matter?’ asked Farrell; +‘are you ill?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>‘Yes,’ she whispered back to him; +‘I have heard enough! Let me go to +my berth.’</p> + +<p>They both wanted to accompany her, +but she over-ruled their request, and +begged them not to make a commotion +that might attract attention to their party. +So they let her have her own way, +and as soon as she could do so without +disturbing the audience, she crept away. +She was trembling all over, however, +as she did so; and when she reached +the entrance of the auditorium, and felt +the fresh air blowing on her face, she leant +against the side for a moment to recover +herself, and pulled the wrap off her face.</p> + +<p>‘Are you not well?’ said a voice by +her side.</p> + +<p>She looked up and encountered Vernon +Blythe. The sight of him set her tears +flowing in earnest.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes! thank you. Only the place +is too hot for me, and I am going on +deck instead.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>‘Let me go with you.’</p> + +<p>‘No! no! Why should I take you +away from your amusement? I am perfectly +well able to go by myself.’</p> + +<p>‘Have I made you afraid of me, Iris?’ +he asked gently. ‘You need not be. +You must know that if I offended you, +it was done in ignorance of your position, +and I shall never repeat it. Show +me that I am forgiven by letting me +attend you now.’</p> + +<p>‘There is nothing to forgive,’ she faltered, +placing her hand upon his for a +moment; ‘and I was only sorry that +circumstances had misled you. But why +have you never spoken to me since? +Am I to lose your friendship as well +as—as—everything?’</p> + +<p>‘I have been too unhappy to be able +to trust myself to speak to you,’ said +Vernon frankly, as he led her on to +the quarter-deck. ‘The shock of your +intelligence was greater to me than you +may think. I had been living on my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +hope ever since I met you again, and +believed you to be free, and when you +dashed it from me, it knocked me over—that’s +all. Don’t be angry with me. +A woman can’t understand a man’s feelings +in such matters. We can’t drink +milk after brandy. And so I have kept +out of your sight, that I might dream of +you as little as possible. And I didn’t +think that you would miss me.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes, I have,’ replied Iris simply. +‘All my pleasure seemed gone with +you. Perhaps, as you say, I cannot enter +into your feelings; but I think I would +rather have “milk” than nothing at all.’</p> + +<p>‘Let us have some “milk” now, +then,’ replied Jack, almost cheerfully, as +he placed her under the shelter of the +long-boat, and established himself by her +side. ‘Let us be friends, since we can +be nothing more. And now, what is the +fresh trouble, for I can see there is something +fresh by your face? Treat me like +a friend, and tell me everything.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>‘Yes! indeed I will,’ said Iris, ‘for +I feel that it will be a great comfort, +and perhaps a help to me. I will tell +you everything, and you shall advise +me what is best to be done. And in +the first place, Mr Blythe—’</p> + +<p>‘That’s a bad beginning,’ interrupted +Jack, ‘for in the first place, you must +not call me “<i>Mr Blythe</i>.”’</p> + +<p>‘What am I to call you then?’</p> + +<p>‘What <i>used</i> you to call me when we +walked and talked together at Dunmow?’</p> + +<p>‘Ah! that was such a long time ago, +and you were such a boy!’</p> + +<p>‘Well, some people say I’m not much +more than a boy now, and, at all events, +it is not so long ago as to be forgotten. +I think you used to call me “Vernie” +then. Won’t you call me by that name +now?’</p> + +<p>‘If it will please you—’ commenced +Iris hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>‘It will give me about as much pleasure +as I am capable of, Iris. If I may<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +not be your lover, let me fancy myself +your friend.’</p> + +<p>‘There is no fancy about <i>that</i>,’ she +answered warmly; ‘and I will call you +whatever you like. Come nearer to me +then, Vernie, and let me tell you all.’</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i038.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i039a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.<br> + +<small>IRIS AND VERNON.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_h.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="H"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">H</span>E drew nearer to her, on that +invitation, and took her hand +in his. Iris trembled slightly, +but she did not withdraw it.</p> + +<p>‘The worst thing I have to accuse +myself of, with regard to you, Vernie, +is that I deceived you on our first meeting, +by letting you believe I was a widow. +But I was frightened into the deception. +I did not know what else to say. You +asked me why I was masquerading on +board the <i>Pandora</i> under the name of +Douglas, and it was impossible for me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +to tell you <i>then</i>. Now, things have gone +so far, that I feel I must confide in some +one, and I know you will respect my +confidence.’</p> + +<p>‘I will respect as much as I shall +value it, Iris. But tell me all that has +happened to you since we parted. You +can’t think how ignorant I am. After +that never-to-be-forgotten day, when I +rushed half mad from your presence—but +there, we won’t say another word +about <i>my</i> troubles—but since that time +I have never heard anything of you +except the bare fact of your marriage. +I do not even know your husband’s +name, unless it is Douglas. I don’t +know where you have been living, or +if you have been happy or miserable. +Tell me your whole story—that is, if it +will not give you pain.’</p> + +<p>‘I mean to tell it you, Vernie. I wish +you to hear it. Until you do, you cannot +give me the counsel of which I +stand so much in need. You know that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> +when we met, I was already engaged to +be married. My poor old father, who +was very weak and easily taken in, had +made the acquaintance of a good-looking +young Englishman, fresh home from +America, who seemed to have plenty +of money, and to have been everywhere, +and seen everything,—a man with a +pleasant, free manner and a glib tongue, +and no objection to tell an untruth, +though, of course, I didn’t know that +at the time. Well, he brought him to +our house, and he fell in love with me, +and—and—’</p> + +<p>‘And you fell in love with him, Iris.’</p> + +<p>‘I suppose I did.’</p> + +<p>‘Why do you say “<i>suppose</i>”?’</p> + +<p>‘Because I have my doubts now as to +whether I ever <i>did</i> love him. However, +I was only eighteen, and I thought I did. +He seemed everything that was delightful to +me, and <i>you</i> looked such a boy by his side.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah! poor me. Leave <i>me</i> out of the +story altogether.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>‘No; I don’t want to do so. I am +proud to remember that you cared for me, +and feel honoured by your preference, and +still more, Vernie, that it should have +lasted all this time.’</p> + +<p>He squeezed her hand, but made no +answer.</p> + +<p>‘Well, we were married not two months +after I had sent you away, and he took me +to Liverpool.’</p> + +<p>‘What <i>was</i> his name, Iris?’</p> + +<p>‘Wait a minute, and I will tell you. I +was too young at first to understand what +the mode of my husband’s life could mean. +I thought it very strange that it altered so +constantly; that sometimes we lived in +big hotels, and sometimes in squalid +lodgings; that at one time he would +appear to have his pockets full of money, +and at others we had nothing but bread +and cheese to eat, and creditors were +clamouring all day to have their bills +paid. My husband, too, spent all his +evenings and most of his nights away,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> +and I was very friendless and solitary in +consequence. One thing I did very soon +understand, and that was, that he was +addicted to intemperance. He was seldom +quite sober, and his violence when intoxicated +kept me in constant dread of him.’</p> + +<p>‘My poor darling,’ cried Jack impetuously, +and then correcting himself, ‘I beg +your pardon, Iris,’ he continued; ‘but why +didn’t you go back to your father?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Vernie, how could I? Don’t you +remember how poor my father, Captain +Hetherley, was? He had nothing but his +half-pay to live on, and he was getting old, +and needed a few comforts. How could I +have thrown myself on him for support? +Besides, he died in the first year of my +marriage. His home could not have provided +me with shelter for long.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, dear, go on. What next?’</p> + +<p>‘There were other things for me to bear +beside the shame of debt, and the fear of +my husband’s cruelty. I discovered, only +too soon, that his love for me had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> +but a passing fancy, and that his fancy +altered like the wind. Had I cared for +him, I might have broken my heart from +jealousy of others.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Iris. What man could have the +baseness to treat you in such a manner. +<i>You</i>, who had been so delicately nurtured +and trained, and so much indulged. Why +<i>I</i> could have given you a happier and more +respectable lot than this.’</p> + +<p>‘I have often thought so too,’ she +whispered.</p> + +<p>‘Have you really?’ exclaimed Vernon +joyfully. ‘Is it possible that in the midst +of so much misery you had time to think +of <i>me</i>?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, often, often. When I have been +most unhappy and most disappointed, the +remembrance of you has come back to me +most clearly, and I have longed to be able +to tell you that I was sorry I had caused +you so much pain.’</p> + +<p>‘Never mind, my dearest. You are +making it up to me now a thousand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +fold. Let me hear the rest of your +story.’</p> + +<p>‘It was not long before my husband +took me away from Liverpool, and then +we lived in all sorts of places, but it was +always the same life of solitude and discomfort +for me, until Maggie came to live +with us, and be my friend. He never +dared to treat me so unkindly after she +came. She seemed to hold some sort of +power over him—in fact, I often thought +he was half afraid of her. Well, this went +on until about a year ago, when we came +to live in London. And there I found out +that my husband made his money entirely +by gambling. He hadn’t a penny of his +own, and he was constantly getting into +scrapes, and having to run away and keep +in hiding for weeks together, and Maggie +and I used nearly to starve whilst he was +gone. But he made some rich friends in +London nevertheless, during some of his +lucky moments, and spent half his time +with them. And one day he told me he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> +should be obliged to run over to France +for a few weeks, as his creditors were +pressing him very hard, and I believed +him, until I picked up a letter he left +behind him by accident, and found that +he had accepted an appointment in New +Zealand instead, and was going out in this +very ship.’</p> + +<p>‘In the <i>Pandora</i>!’ exclaimed Jack. +‘You don’t mean to tell me your husband +is on board this vessel?’</p> + +<p>‘I do mean to tell you so. I am the +wife of Godfrey Harland.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Of Mr Harland.</i> Good heavens!’ +said Jack; ‘but, Iris—’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t interrupt me, Vernie. I have +nearly reached the end of my story. You +can understand now why Maggie and I +are here, hiding in the second cabin. +Mr Harland intended to leave us in +England to beg—to steal—or to starve. +He knew we had no other means of +subsistence. But I determined to circumvent +him. If he was to draw a good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> +salary as Mr Vansittart’s agent, I did not +see why he should not support me as I +have a right to be supported. So Maggie +and I sold all our little belongings, and +came after him, with the intention of not +revealing our identity until we landed in +New Zealand. But now I hardly know +what to do.’</p> + +<p>‘You are <i>Godfrey Harland’s wife</i>?’ +mused Vernon Blythe. ‘It seems incredible +to me. And yet how intuitively +that man and I have disliked each other +from the moment we met. But, Iris, do +you know that he is passing himself off +as an unmarried man, and that all the +ship says he is engaged to Miss Vansittart?’</p> + +<p>‘I know more, Vernie. I sat just behind +them this evening at the theatricals, +and heard their conversation. They spoke +in French, and thought, therefore, they +could do so unreservedly. She considers +herself undoubtedly engaged to him. +They discussed their marriage prospects<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> +together, and agreed that if, on landing. +Mr and Mrs Vansittart refused their consent, +they were to be married at once +without waiting for it. And now I have +told you all this, that you may be able +to advise me. What ought I to do? +What is my duty to do in this matter?’</p> + +<p>‘To stop it at once, Iris. What has +this poor girl Miss Vansittart been guilty +of that you should let her suffer one +jot more than is necessary? Were I +you, I should go this evening to +Mr Vansittart, and tell him the whole +story.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no,’ replied Iris, shrinking from +the idea; ‘not till I have spoken to +Godfrey, Vernie, and given him the +opportunity to return to his duty. Would +it not seem like malice, or jealousy, to +go to the Vansittarts first? They don’t +like him, you know, and they look coldly +on his attentions to their daughter—Miss +Vansittart acknowledged as much to-night—and +so they would not blame him for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> +withdrawing from them. And with her, +of course, he must make his own peace.’</p> + +<p>‘And what is to follow the disclosure +of your proximity?’ demanded Jack, +somewhat sarcastically. ‘Tears, kisses, +repentance, forgiveness, blue-fire, and +general rejoicings.’</p> + +<p>Iris was silent.</p> + +<p>‘Tell me, Iris, are you going to tumble +into your husband’s arms as soon as you +meet him, and take him back again if he +promises to be a good boy and never do +it again?’</p> + +<p>‘You don’t <i>know</i> me,’ was all she +answered.</p> + +<p>‘I know what women are, as a rule, +stupid, soft-hearted creatures, that believe +every word that is said to them, and are +always ready to think themselves in the +wrong.’</p> + +<p>‘Up to a certain point, Vernie, perhaps +we do. But there comes a day for most +of us, when we feel that we can forgive +no longer. And I have reached that day<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +and passed it. Were I of a revengeful +nature, I should think there was no motive +but revenge in what I am going to +do now.’</p> + +<p>‘It would be a solemn duty left undone +were you to ignore it, Iris. Whatever +might happen to that poor girl +hereafter, would lie at your door. Were +I to follow my own wishes, I should say,—let +the brute commit bigamy, and free +yourself from him. Why should you be +linked all your life to a man who is less +than a husband to you? It is not <i>he</i> who +deserves our pity. But for the woman +who is innocently walking into the trap +he has laid for her, we cannot feel too +much. I think you should inform the +Vansittarts, and deprive Harland of the +appointment they have promised him, at +once. Why should such a scoundrel be +placed in a position of trust and emolument?’</p> + +<p>Iris’s hazel eyes dilated with horror.</p> + +<p>‘But, Vernon, you don’t know him.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> +What should <i>I</i> do under such circumstances—left +at his mercy in a strange +land? Why, he would <i>kill</i> me, in revenge +for his loss. Oh, no; <i>I dare not</i>! I shall +not even threaten him with the disclosure +that I am his wife. I don’t want to live +with him again. I detest the thought of +it. All I meant to tell him was that I +am here, and as long as he sends me +enough money to live on, I promise to +remain quiet.’</p> + +<p>‘But, Iris, that looks like collusion to +me. Under such circumstances, you will +leave him free to work what villainy he +chooses, so long as you get your remittances. +Is that just?’</p> + +<p>The girl bent her head upon her knees +and rocked herself backwards and forwards, +moaning.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, dearest, don’t do that!’ cried +Vernon; ‘you distress me beyond measure. +Is it possible this brute inspires you with +so much fear?’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Fear!</i>’ she repeated, with a shudder,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> +‘I am so much afraid of him that I feel, +when the moment comes, I shall be too +cowardly to speak at all! Oh, Vernie! +let him go on. What does it signify to +me? Miss Vansittart is as well able to +take care of herself as I was; and if +she suffers—well, we <i>all</i> suffer! I think +we are born for nothing else. But I +<i>cannot</i> go back to him. I would rather +throw myself overboard at once!’</p> + +<p>‘Iris,’ said Vernon, and his voice shook +audibly as he spoke, ‘don’t be angry +with me for what I am going to say. +I should not have dared to speak my +mind, had not your distress emboldened +me. But—if I am not utterly distasteful +to you, darling—let me save you from +all this misery. Let me take you away +from it! You shall never say then that +you need love or protection. My heart +has been yours since we first met, and +my arm shall be at your service till +death parts us! Will you come, Iris? +will you be <i>my</i> wife—in deed if not in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +name—and let me try and make up to +you for the wretched failure of your +married life?’</p> + +<p>She looked up into his brave, kind +young face with surprise, but without +any horror.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, how <i>good</i> you are!’ she exclaimed +gratefully; ‘and how you must love me +to make such a proposal. To offer to +cloud all your life and prospects with the +burden of a disappointed and broken-hearted +woman,—a woman who would +bring shame on your name and your +mother’s, and be but a sorry pleasure +to you after all, so that you may patch +up her ruined life, and make her feel +at ease once more. Do you think I +would accept your offer, Vernie?—that +I would be so selfish as to do it? Some +women might forget to be grateful, in +prating to you of the wrong of such an +action. But I can’t. I can only see the +love that prompted it, and thank you +from the bottom of my heart. But I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> +don’t mean to avail myself of it all the +same.’</p> + +<p>‘You could never be a burden to me, +Iris,’ he answered simply; ‘for I have +loved you so long. And as for my +mother—you don’t know what a good, +generous, warm-hearted creature she is. +She would brave anything for the sake +of the woman who loved <i>me</i>.’</p> + +<p>‘But I have never said I loved you,’ +returned Iris, with a faint smile.</p> + +<p>‘Will you say it now? It would make +me so very happy! Will you say that—if +you were free—you would be my +wife?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes! yes! A thousand times over!’ +she answered, weeping. ‘<i>I do love you</i>, +Vernie; I love you as much as you love +me. But don’t talk of it; it will never, +<i>never</i> be! Such things don’t happen in +this world. I have forged my own chains, +and I must wear them, however hardly +they may press upon me; but I shall never +forget what you have said to me to-night,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> +and the remembrance will make me happier +to the last day of my life.’</p> + +<p>‘Then I won’t wish my words unsaid, +Iris. But with respect to Harland, what +do you intend to do?’</p> + +<p>‘I will think it over to-night. I have +resolved to speak to him. The only thing +is, how shall I do it? Perhaps I will +write a letter, and you shall give it to him. +I would not like to trust <i>anybody</i>; or, as +he has a deck cabin to himself, I may go +and speak to him after he has retired for +the night. It little matters <i>how</i> it is done, +but it <i>will</i> be done before this time to-morrow.’</p> + +<p>‘That is a brave girl,’ said Blythe, ‘and, +remember, there is no cause for fear. <i>I</i> +am here to protect you, dearest, and not a +hair of your head shall be harmed on land +or at sea, so long as I stand by to prevent it!’</p> + +<p>‘You make me feel so safe,’ replied Iris, +with a grateful sigh. ‘I will go below now, +Vernie, and dream that I have one friend +left to defend me against my enemy.’</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i056a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV.<br> + +<small>THE HOUSE AMIDSHIPS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_t.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="T"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">T</span>HE next morning the weather +was damp and squally, the air +close and depressing. There +was a faint breeze from the westward, but +the clouds, which at times obscured the +sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, +were making a northerly course.</p> + +<p>The day was by no means an enjoyable +one, and the spirits of the passengers—which +were suffering a reaction after the +excitement attendant on the theatricals—would +have fallen considerably with the +state of the atmosphere, had they not been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> +kept up by the welcome news, that should +the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair +wind, they would actually sight land in +less than a week. In a week’s time, perhaps, +they would step ashore, and those +fond meetings, of which they had dreamt +throughout the voyage, would be realised. +Under such thoughts and anticipations, +they were mostly flurried and restless, +given to talking excitedly and laughing at +untoward moments, and appearing on deck +after every squall to look out for the +longed-for gale that should blow them to +their destination, only, however, to be +driven below again by a remorseless storm +that enveloped the <i>Pandora</i> in a drenching +shower.</p> + +<p>There was one portion of the vessel +which played an important part upon the +voyage, but has not yet been mentioned. +This was the forward house amidships. +There were two houses built upon the +maindeck, one abaft the mainmast on the +quarter-deck, the other abaft the foremast.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +The former was the smoke-room, the latter +was divided into five separate sections, +and to make their respective positions +clear, it is necessary to give a full description +of them.</p> + +<p>In the after-part of the house amidships, +on the morning in question, Billy +Banks, the West Indian cook, was busily +employed in peeling potatoes. Seated +on a kid in solemn majesty, with his +rolled-up sleeves displaying two coal-black +arms, he disengaged the spuds +from their jackets, and tossed them into +a bucket of water to rinse, previous to +putting them in the copper. Occasionally +he would turn towards the stove, +and lift the cover of a saucepan, lest the +contents should boil over; and the sailors +came and went meanwhile, but Billy never +answered their coarse jests except by a +movement of the head.</p> + +<p>The after-door, which faced the main-hatch, +was partly hidden by the donkey +winch, and under this convenient shelter,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> +Billy, surrounded by his pots and pans, +was able to roast and boil at his ease.</p> + +<p>Now and then a lazy shellback would +stretch himself out before the galley fire, +and spin him a long yarn, and Billy +would reward him for his trouble with a +savoury ‘flap-jacks’ (the sailor’s name +for a pancake), or the remains of a dish +that had left the saloon table; for the +black cook seldom left the galley, and +the steward, whose business it was to +look after him, always found him at his +post. In truth, Billy had nowhere else +to go. He disliked the rough horse-play +of the seamen, and could not stand +‘chaff’ well enough to associate happily +with them; the carpenter and boatswain +seldom invited him to their berths, and +his own was far from agreeable, even to +a black man’s nostrils. It was situated +on the right side of the house, built fore +and aft, and was certified to hold four +men, therefore he had ample room. But +the odour pervading the place was more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +than any one could be expected to endure. +In the top bunk Billy slept. His bedding +consisted of an old straw mattress +and pillow, two red blankets, and a stained +and faded monkey jacket, which he used +as a coverlet. Across the room, suspended +on a line, hung sundry dilapidated +and discoloured articles of linen, +supposed to be clean; and in the corner, +lashed to the deck, was a sea-chest, +adorned with the brightest colours, like +a Runcorn flat.</p> + +<p>In the lower bunks, tin pannikins, new +brooms, chopping-boards, and kids were +securely stowed, so that the rolling of +the vessel might not set them clattering +against each other; and in the after +corner four mysterious casks were made +fast to the stanchions. These casks contained +‘slush,’ which is always recognised +as part of the cook’s perquisites at sea. +And Billy, who was either too lazy or +too frightened to stow it, like a rational +being, in the forepeak, kept the unsavoury,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +nauseous matter in his berth. +Few, perhaps, may, luckily for themselves, +be acquainted with the stuff. It +is the skimming of all the greasy liquids, +the odds and ends which may be left +upon the dinner plates, the scrapings of +the frying-pans, the searchings of the +‘kids’—in fact, every conceivable kind +of oily substance which may fall into the +cook’s hands, and which is carefully collected +and stowed away, to be sold on +landing at a high price for the manufacture +of different kinds of machinery oil.</p> + +<p>When the ‘menavellins’ have been kept +for a month, the sickly stench from their +decomposition may be well imagined, and +no living creature but a negro could have +slept in the fœtid air which exhaled from +them. It is very certain that coloured +noses can stand much more than white +ones. It only needs the introduction of +an European to Cow Yard, which is the +‘nigger’ locality of Port of Spain, or to +the back slums of China Chowk, Calcutta,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> +or to Twenty-Seventh Street, in +Rangoon, to demonstrate the truth of the +assertion. The cleansing of the mythical +Augean stables would be a simple task +compared to the purification of any one +of the above-mentioned localities. In +such squalid filth and rank odours can +both the East and West Indians live +and thrive.</p> + +<p>But enough of Billy Banks. On the +other side there slept, in a berth of the same +dimensions, two more wholesome personages—Alexander +M’Donald, the carpenter, +commonly called ‘Chips,’ and William +Hanlin, boatswain. Their little domicile +was ship-shape, and displayed an air of +comfort. The upper bunks were used +for sleeping berths, and the lower served +as lockers for different stores.</p> + +<p>Iron bolts, nuts, sheaves, and screws +were kept in different compartments, besides +spun yarn, mallets, small blocks, +and marlinspikes.</p> + +<p>There were three sea-chests that were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> +used as seats, and a small table (that +could be shipped for meals, and lowered +when room was required) was hinged to +the bulkhead.</p> + +<p>Under the swinging lamp above the +table a neat pipe rack, filled with ‘clays,’ +had been fixed by the carpenter, and his +shipmate had added to their homely comforts +by making a fancy lashing for the +water-beaker, which was resting on +chocks at the further end.</p> + +<p>As for their beds, a patchwork quilt, +like Joseph’s coat of many colours—a +parting present from his wife—distinguished +Hanlin’s resting-place from that +of ‘Chips,’ which was covered by a traveling +rug, representing a furious orange +and red tiger, in the act of springing on +a defenceless green and yellow woman, +cowering under a blue and purple garment.</p> + +<p>The boatswain, like his commanding +officer, was a man of few words. His +voice was gruff, and his hard life had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> +made him reserved and unpolished, but +he was good hearted, and often passed +over the faults that came under his notice. +The men in his watch were engaged upon +various duties that did not require his +supervision, so, after satisfying himself +that they were steadily at work, and the +mate was nowhere in sight, he stepped +over the weatherboard of his berth, and +lighting a pipe, sat down to refresh +himself with a few unlicensed puffs.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards he was joined by +‘Chips,’ who entered ostensibly to fetch, +a new cold chisel, but when he discovered +that his friend was drawing the calumet +of peace, he chopped up a pipeful of +plug, which he produced from under his +mattress, and came to an anchor by his side.</p> + +<p>The carpenter (as his name denoted) +hailed from Scotland, and was a loquacious +fellow, often amusing himself whilst at +work by singing snatches of his favourite +Burns, extoling the virtues and beauties +of his native land.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>‘Dirty weather!’ he remarked, as he +took his seat beside Hanlin.</p> + +<p>‘We shall get a spell of this wind in +the wrong quarter, if I’m not mistook,’ +said the boatswain, with an ominous +‘<i>Humph</i>,’ as he filled the berth with +clouds of smoke, sucking at his pipe +as if he had not enjoyed such a treat +for weeks past.</p> + +<p>‘Ay, ay, laddie; but it’s unsteady’ +replied Chips, ‘and maybe it will shift +round to the right quarter before midnight. +Them lassies aft are near piping +their eyes because she’s made so little +headway, but they’ll see their men before +a week’s over their heads for all that.’</p> + +<p>‘What’s for dinner?’ demanded the unsentimental +boatswain.</p> + +<p>‘Peasoup and pork,’ replied ‘Chips.’ +‘I can eat the salt meat this weather; +it gives me a twist; but I shall be glad +when we gets alongside the New Zealand +mutton—not the tinned stuff, you ken, but +the real article.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>‘Hand me a pannikin’ said the boatswain, +who detected the approach of the +first officer, and stooping down, he drew +a mug of water, and drank it off. Then, +without a look at his colleague, he put +the pannikin in the lower bunk, and +stepped out upon the deck.</p> + +<p>‘Look here, boatswain,’ said Mr Coffin, +‘send a couple of hands up to shift that +royal; and, carpenter,’ he continued to +M’Donald, ‘I want you to see about the +steps of that side ladder’; and with an +‘Ay, ay, sir,’ the petty officers prepared +to carry out his orders.</p> + +<p>Between the two berths was a large +air-shaft which was used as a ventilator +to the ’tween decks, and separated the +cosy little place just described, and which +was pervaded by a healthy smell of +Stockholm tar, from the inodorous hovel +of Billy Banks.</p> + +<p>The fifth division of the house formed +a room which was called the spare galley. +An iron partition alone separated it from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> +the kitchen, which rendered it so hot +that it would have been impossible for +any one to live, or sleep there; and as +it was considered a dangerous locker in +which to keep the spare suit of sails, it +was thrown open for the public use. It +was but a small compartment, built +athwart-ships, with a teak-wood door, and +dead-lights at either side.</p> + +<p>The jolly-boats were kept, bottoms +upward, on the skids which rested upon +the house, and served as shelter from the +squalls, and a welcome haven for the sailors +on watch on rainy nights.</p> + +<p>During the morning in question, a +purple curtain rose and shut out the +faint gleam of the sun, and then burst +suddenly upon the <i>Pandora</i> in a pitiless +storm of rain, mingled with large hailstones.</p> + +<p>Iris Harland, who had been walking +up and down the deck, trying in vain to +decide how she should disclose her identity +to her husband, without encountering<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> +danger from the vials of his wrath, was +caught by the shower, and obliged to +run for shelter under the boats until +the violence of the gale should have somewhat +passed over.</p> + +<p>‘Look ’ere, missy, step inside there,’ +said one of the sailors, opening the door +of the spare galley; ‘it’ll be nice and +warm for ye.’</p> + +<p>‘Thank you,’ replied Iris, whose slight +clothing was already wet through; and +as she took advantage of his offer, the +sailor (whose watch below it was) firmly +closed the weather door, leaving the +one to leeward open.</p> + +<p>‘Ye’ll soon be ashore now, missy,’ +he said, wishing to open a conversation; +‘we’re a’most there by this time.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; I’m very glad,’ replied Iris +vaguely, looking dreamily before her; +‘we have had a capital voyage, have +we not?’</p> + +<p>‘Nought to growl on,’ answered the +man; ‘fine weather—a good ship—no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +deaths—and a doctor ready to give us a +clean bill of health. I ’spose now, +missy, as you’re goin’ out to meet your +friends,—your sweetheart, may be—if I +may make so bold. Ah, it won’t be +long before <i>you’ll</i> get a husband, <i>I</i> +know.’</p> + +<p>But Iris did not answer him. Her +frame was trembling like an aspen leaf—her +cheeks were blanched—her breath +had almost stopped. For another passenger +had rushed suddenly in to take +refuge from the storm, and stood beside +her, and that other was Godfrey +Harland, her husband. The moment +for discovery had come, and notwithstanding +all the encouragement that +Vernon Blythe had tried to give her, +Iris felt like a criminal tied to the +stake.</p> + +<p>‘You are not well, missy,’ said the +sailor, noticing her perturbation; ‘shall I +fetch you some water?’</p> + +<p>She motioned him away with her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +hand, afraid to trust herself to speak, +and Harland’s attention was attracted +by her very silence.</p> + +<p>‘Can <i>I</i> be of any assistance?’ he +asked, coming forward; and in her desperation +Iris pulled her hood off her +face, and turned to confront him. She +never thought of the sailor’s presence, +or that it would be better to delay +speaking to Godfrey until they should +be alone together. She was like a +patient, forced sooner or later to undergo +a cruel operation, who puts it off and +off, until at some critical moment he +rushes blindly at his fences, lest his +courage should again fail him by delay. +As Harland caught sight of her face, +he staggered backwards.</p> + +<p>‘Good God!’ he exclaimed; ‘<i>you</i> +here? What farce is this, and why +have I been kept in the dark all this +while?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes,’ Iris answered slowly, but with +teeth that chattered with apprehension,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +‘<i>I</i> am here, <i>I, your wife</i>. And by +what right do you claim to have +been told <i>where</i> I was, or for what +purpose?’</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i071.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i072a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V.<br> + +<small>FACE TO FACE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_a.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="A"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">A</span>T this juncture the sailor, seeing +breakers ahead, began to feel +awkward, which he evinced by +passing his cap from one hand to the +other, and shuffling his feet about.</p> + +<p>‘Well, missy, as ye’re better now,’ he +said, breaking in upon their conference, +‘I think I’ll make bold to leave ye. +Good-morning.’</p> + +<p>‘No, no!’ cried Iris, with quick alarm, +‘don’t go.’ And then, ashamed of the +inference of her words, she added,—‘Oh, +yes! of course, you have your work to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> +do. I am all right, thank you, and I will +stay with—with—this <i>gentleman</i>.’</p> + +<p>She spoke with so bitter a sarcasm, that +as soon as the sailor had departed, Godfrey +Harland seized her arm.</p> + +<p>‘Good heavens!’ he exclaimed, ‘what +do you mean by speaking like that? Do +you want the whole ship to guess our +history?’</p> + +<p>Iris shook off his grasp as though he +had been a viper.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t dare to touch me,’ she said defiantly, +‘or the whole ship <i>shall</i> hear our +history. <i>You</i> know which of us would +suffer most in that case. And don’t imagine +I am friendless here. Heaven has +sent protectors to me in my need. I +have but to raise my voice, to be defended +against your violence.’</p> + +<p>‘Another lover, I presume. Who is +the happy man?’ asked Harland sarcastically.</p> + +<p>Iris’s cheeks glowed scarlet.</p> + +<p>‘How <i>mean</i> you are,’ she answered.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> +‘Your prospective good fortune has not +altered your nature one whit. You still +try to find a cover for your own faults, +by the pretence of laying the same blame +on others. You <i>know</i> that I have never +encouraged the attentions of any man +since I had the misfortune to receive yours. +It would be well if you could say as much +for yourself.’</p> + +<p>‘I do not understand you,’ said Harland, +with affected unconcern.</p> + +<p>‘I can easily make my meaning plain +to you,’ replied Iris, as she looked him +steadily in the face.</p> + +<p>Now that the supreme moment had +actually arrived, her timidity vanished +as if by magic. She appeared to be +inches taller, as she stood before him, +with her feet planted on the deck—every +muscle in her body strained, and her lips +firmly pressed upon her teeth. She looked +like some mother about to do battle for +her child,—like a martyr ready to die for +her religion. The delicate, fragile girl had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> +become majestic under the influence of +her righteous wrath, and as Harland tried +to meet her flashing eyes, he cowered before +their gaze.</p> + +<p>And Iris felt as dauntless as she looked. +All the misery of her married life came back +to her in that moment—her husband’s violence +and cruelty—his cowardly attacks upon +her honour—the mean way in which he had +intended to desert her—to give her courage. +She had the strength of twenty women as +she stood before him, and had he attempted +to lay a hand upon her, she would have +struck him across the face. The tones of +his sarcastic voice, ringing with the old +insults, had raised her blood to boiling +pitch, and few would have recognised Iris +Harland, sitting in judgment on her recreant +husband, with the Miss Douglas who had +looked like a drooping lily in the second +cabin, or even with the tearful Iris who +had sat with her hand in Jack Blythe’s +the night before, and told him of the suffering +she had passed through.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>Godfrey Harland hardly recognised her +himself. He trembled with fear. All his +vaunted courage fled before the woman +whom he had wronged, and left nothing +but a sullen brutality behind it. How +should he answer the questions she would +put to him? In what possible way excuse +himself? He felt there was nothing to be +done, but to try and make peace with +her. ‘Peace at any price,’ must be his +motto, at all events for the present, and +the future must take care of itself. And +so all he answered to her assertion was,—</p> + +<p>‘I really don’t know why you should +meet me in this extraordinary manner, as +if I had committed some crime in leaving +England. You know that I was <i>forced</i> +to leave it. I told you so plainly. What +I want to know is, why <i>you</i> have left it +also?’</p> + +<p>‘I left it to follow your fortunes, as I +have a right to do,’ replied Iris. ‘You +thought to evade me,—to leave me to +starve in London. You knew that my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> +pride would not have permitted me to +appeal to any of my friends, but, so long +as I was off your hands, you did not care +what became of me.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no, no; come, childie, it was not +so bad as that,’ replied Harland, trying to +soothe her. ‘I am going out to New +Zealand for your good, as well as my own, +and always intended to send you half of +all that I may be able to earn there.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>It is a lie</i>,’ replied Iris; ‘and don’t you +dare to call me by that name, for I will +not stand it. What you intended by going +out to New Zealand was to marry Grace +Vansittart, and ignore me altogether. +Don’t take the trouble to deny it, for I +know everything. I sat behind you last +night at the theatricals, and heard every +word you said to each other. And now +Godfrey Harland, who holds the trump +card—you or I?’</p> + +<p>He did not attempt to answer her, but +turned his face towards the open door, +and stood gnawing his moustaches, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> +wondering how he should extricate himself +from the morass of perplexity in +which he was sinking.</p> + +<p>‘You did not give one thought to <i>me</i>—left +to struggle with poverty as best I +could. Had I remained behind, I might +have become anything—a lost, abandoned +woman—God knows! But I have followed +you, as you see, and I am here to +claim you as my husband.’</p> + +<p>‘How did you find out I was travelling +by the <i>Pandora</i>?’ he asked. ‘Who has +been playing the spy upon me?’</p> + +<p>‘No one but yourself! You are supposed +to be a clever man, but cleverer +men than you have been foiled before now +by a woman. Did you think I believed +all you told me about your flight to +Harfleur, when you bid me good-bye, and +left your Judas kisses on my lips. Why, +I had Mr Vansittart’s letter in my pocket +at that very moment, and knew that +you had accepted the offer contained +in it.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span>‘<i>Mr Vansittart’s letter</i>,’ stammered +Harland.</p> + +<p>‘Yes; the letter which you left behind +you when you went to keep the appointment +which sealed your fate and mine. +Godfrey, I have followed you across the +Atlantic, not from feelings of affection, +but revenge. I have a right to claim +support and recognition at your hands, +and if you refuse to give them me, you +must take the consequences.’</p> + +<p>‘What will you do?’ gasped Harland.</p> + +<p>‘I will expose you before the whole +ship’s company. I will let Captain Robarts, +and the Vansittarts, and everybody +know <i>what</i> you are, and <i>who</i> you are—not +Mr Godfrey Harland, the gentleman +who is not too proud to work for his +living, in order that he may aspire to the +hand of his employer’s daughter; but +Godfrey Harland, the married man who +deserted his wife—Godfrey Harland, the +gambler and bettor, who had to fly from +his creditors—nay, more than that,’ continued<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +Iris, waxing louder in her excitement, +‘Godfrey Harland, who is not +“Godfrey Harland” any more than they +are, but <i>Horace Cain, the forger</i>, +who—’</p> + +<p>‘Stop, stop, for God’s sake!’ he cried, +in a hoarse voice, as he extended a trembling +hand towards her mouth. ‘<i>Stop</i>, +and let me think for a moment what is +best to be done.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah, Godfrey, <i>you</i> are the one to +plead for mercy now!’ she exclaimed +triumphantly, as she watched him wipe +away the beads of perspiration that had +started to his brow.</p> + +<p>The violence of the squall still prevented +the sailors that were below from +leaving their retreat, and the passengers +from coming on deck. Had it been fine +weather, this conspicuous place of meeting, +and the high words that were passing +between Harland and his wife, would +certainly have attracted notice; but the +howling of the wind, and the raging of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> +the turbulent sea, were more than sufficient +to drown their conversation.</p> + +<p>‘I suppose that brute Farrell has been +talking to you,’ said Godfrey, when he +had somewhat recovered his equanimity; +‘and I have to thank him for the information +you are so ready to believe. But +I can tell you, you have been made a +dupe of. The man is a confirmed liar. +I met him before we came on board ship, +and gave him a bit of my mind, and he +is trying to revenge himself on me for it +now. However, that is <i>my</i> concern. +You can safely leave me to deal with +Mr Will Farrell, and his unauthorised +libels. But what am I to do with regard +to yourself. You have chosen to follow +me out of England against my wishes, +and to put in your claim to be considered +my wife. Suppose,’ he continued, significantly +lashing his legs with an end +of rope he had picked up from the +deck, whilst he eyed her with his sinister +glance, ‘<i>suppose</i> I choose to accept the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> +position, and treat you as a husband +has a right to treat a rebellious wife—what +then?’</p> + +<p>‘You <i>dare</i> not,’ she panted. ‘If you +attempt to raise your hand against me +in the slightest degree, I will carry out +my threats at once, and appeal to the +passengers for help.’</p> + +<p>‘And what if I wait to punish you for +your cursed impudence till we get on +shore.’</p> + +<p>‘I will have you placed in arrest,’ she +answered, ‘as a suspected forger. Don’t +think I have no proofs against you. +Farrell has them all ready, in case of need. +If you begin to bluster and bully in your +old fashion, you will find that I have the +upper hand, and I mean to keep it. +Remember that in another week we shall +be in harbour, and I shall only have to +summon the police to see you carried back +to England in irons.’</p> + +<p>‘That’s a nice thing for a wife to say to +her husband,’ commenced Harland angrily,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> +and then changing his tone, he continued, +‘Come, you would never go as far as that, +I’m sure. Whatever you may think of +me now, you loved me once, and for the +sake of the old times, let us try and talk +reasonably together. Tell me what it +is you want, and if I can agree to your +terms, I will.’</p> + +<p>‘I am your wife,’ replied Iris firmly, +‘and I want my rights—that is, I want a +home kept over my head, and for you to +remember that you are not free to court or +marry another woman.’</p> + +<p>‘But yet you do not care for me yourself,’ +he said.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Care for you!</i>’ she echoed scornfully. +‘<i>How</i> can I care for a man who has shown +himself to me in so utterly contemptible a +light? No, Godfrey Harland, I hate and +despise you. But you shall not ignore +what you are to me for all that. I will +not permit you to commit a crime at my +expense.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, nonsense!’ he said, in his old <i>nonchalant</i><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +manner. ‘A crime is no crime +unless it injures somebody. Now what is +the use of you and me keeping together? +You say you hate me, and although I +would not be so rude as to use so harsh +a term as that to a lady, I certainly must +confess that I am somewhat tired of you. +Now, look here, Iris,’ he continued, +drawing closer to her, ‘why shouldn’t we +play into each other’s hands? You can’t +have any real jealousy of me, and I daresay +(if the truth were told) there is some +nice young fellow in the background whom +you like much better. Promise to leave +me alone, and I’ll make it worth your +while to do so. Let me settle you at +Canterbury, and go on quietly with the +Vansittarts to their destination, and carry +out my little plans with regard to Grace, +and I’ll engage to remit you a certain sum +quarterly, as long as you leave us in peace. +And then you know, my dear, my misconduct +will set you free—morally, if not +legally—to marry again yourself, and we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +shall both be much the better for the +arrangement; and in a new country, no +one need ever be the wiser. What do you +say? Is it a bargain?’</p> + +<p>But Iris’s hazel eyes, wide open with +horror and indignation, flashed fire on him.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Godfrey,’ she cried, ‘you must be +a devil in the shape of man, to tempt me +to such a crime!—to bargain with me for +so much a quarter, not only to keep silence +with regard to yourself, but to follow your +example, and sin too. Do you know what +it means? Do you know that you will be +a bigamist,—a criminal within the pale of +the law,—and liable to transportation for +your offence. Oh, isn’t the other terrible +misdeed bad enough, without your wishing +to add to it like this?’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t whine, or preach,’ he said impatiently. +‘You know how I hate sermonising +and cant. Will you do it, or +will you not? That is all I want to hear +from you.’</p> + +<p>‘No, no, no, a thousand times over.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +Do you think I am as degraded as yourself? +I will not do it, nor countenance it. +I will go straight to the Vansittarts (as I +ought to have done at the beginning) and +warn them against you, as a bad man and +a deceiver. You shall not ruin another +woman’s life as you have done mine.’</p> + +<p>‘I defy you to do it!’ exclaimed Harland, +grasping her tightly by the arm; ‘I +will throw you into the water first!’</p> + +<p>‘Leave go of me at once, or I will call +for help. Ah! you do not frighten me +with your threats, you coward! You can +wage war with helpless women, but your +face would tell a different tale if a man +rushed in to my assistance. And I tell +you that I am determined. I have made +up my mind. If you do not abandon at +once and for ever your infamous intentions +with respect to Miss Vansittart, I shall +inform her parents who I am, and why I +am here. But I will give you one more +chance. I cannot believe but that, when +you have time to think more calmly, you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +will see the utter folly of the course you +are pursuing. So I will say nothing until +to-morrow. Give me your written word +by then, that you will live as you should +do for the future, and my tongue is silent. +And now you know my mind, and can +make up your own.’</p> + +<p>And with that Iris stepped out from +the house amidships, and left Godfrey +Harland by himself.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i088a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI.<br> + +<small>THE RENDEZVOUS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_h.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="H"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">H</span>E did not stir for some moments +after she had disappeared. He +was fearful lest the sailors on +deck should suspect there was some connection +between them if they quitted the +place together. And his reflections as he +paced to and fro the berth, were anything +but pleasant ones.</p> + +<p>‘How <i>dared</i> she follow me?’ he soliloquised, +with rage and anger gnawing at +his heart. ‘She has blighted my last<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> +chance, frustrated all my plans, and now +defies me to save myself! Farrell, of +course, has blurted out all that infernal +business to her. I suppose that was the +revenge he threatened me with the other +night; and she will use it as a weapon +against me. But I will put a stop to her +tongue, curse her! She shall not stand +in my way to fortune.’</p> + +<p>He thought he might venture to leave +the spare galley by this time, and making +his way over the wet deck, he walked +straight aft to the saloon, and throwing +himself on one of the lounges, called +the steward to fetch him a brandy-and-soda.</p> + +<p>He had never felt so upset in his life +as he did from this annoying interview. +It had half maddened him! What on +earth could he do or say to stop the +chattering tongue of a jealous and spiteful +woman? It would be as easy, he +thought, to dam the falls of Niagara! +And it took more than one brandy to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> +quiet in any degree his shaken and agitated +nerves.</p> + +<p>Then he rose and walked, trembling +in every limb, to his own cabin, and, +locking the door, threw himself down +upon the bed and tried to think what +was best to be done. One thing only +seemed clear to him. If he allowed Iris +and Farrell to have their own way, he +stood a very good chance of ending his +days as a felon! She had said that +Farrell held the <i>proofs</i> of his forgery! +What proofs? Where had he procured +them? What did he retain them for, +except to work his ruin? <i>If</i> he could +only get rid of those proofs, he would +be safe. But then there was Iris—his +bane and his curse—always ready to reappear +and spoil his chances with Grace +Vansittart. She was too virtuous to consent +to go halves with him in obtaining +their mutual freedom; but she would not +prove too virtuous, he would bet, to +drag him from the quiet and respectable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> +life he intended to lead, back to poverty, +and shame, and public disgrace! What +if he could get rid of them <i>both</i> together! +If he could only induce Iris, on the +pretence of following her wishes in the +matter, to bring him the proofs that +Farrell held against him, by night, and +then—</p> + +<p>‘But no,’ he thought, with a visible +shudder, as his hands twitched nervously, +‘I couldn’t—<i>I couldn’t</i>! I am in her +devilish clutches,—actually in her power, +and there is no way out of it but one. +I must give up Grace, and all my future +prospects, and return to my old life of +hopeless impecuniosity. Oh, it is <i>too</i> +hard! Why on earth was I such a fool +as to let her discover my intentions? I +ought to be hung, for such a piece of +senseless imbecility.’</p> + +<p>Here he lay for some time in silence, +thinking deeply. After a while, a cold, +cruel smile crept over his hard features, +as though his perplexity were solved.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>‘Of course, <i>the surgery</i>. Nothing can +be easier; and I’ll have those proofs, if +nothing else. I’ll send Iris a model letter, +asking her to meet me to-night in the +spare galley, to settle what is best to be +done in the matter; and if I can persuade +her to bring the proofs with her, I’ll take +good care she doesn’t take them back +again. I’ll put one witness against me +out of the way, at all events, until I have +determined what to do with the other.’</p> + +<p>After this fashion Godfrey Harland +talked to himself, whilst locked up in +his berth; and by the time the dinner-bell +rang, he felt too nervous and excited +to trust himself to join the other passengers.</p> + +<p>It was a bleak, cold evening. The sky +was blue, and spangled with bright stars, +and every now and then the moon shot +forth white darts of light; but they were +frequently obscured by heavy squalls +which covered the heavens, whilst they +lasted, with a heavy drapery.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>In the rare intervals, the white sails +and masts of the <i>Pandora</i> stood out in +bold relief against the sky, and the crested +swells were lit up with rays of silver. The +ultra-marine blue above, with its thousands +of little lamps, contrasted strangely with +the sage-green waters; and a wicked-looking +cloud that was rising astern +served as a most becoming background +for the sea and air.</p> + +<p>The deck was cast well in shadow +when the figure of a man, who had been +standing about for some time in feverish +suspense, emerged from the shade of the +companion-ladder, and stole towards the +surgery door, which was between the +long saloon passage and the berth of the +second officer. Glancing around more +than once, to make sure that no one +was at hand, he pushed back the lock +with his clasp-knife, and with a sudden +wrench turning the handle, disappeared +from sight, and closed the door behind +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>The saloon passengers, as they finished +their dinner, rose from table and donned +their overcoats and wraps, with a view +to going on deck.</p> + +<p>‘Now, that’s a bargain, doctor!’ laughed +Alice Leyton; ‘six pairs of gloves if the +<i>Pandora</i> gets in under three days?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, Miss Leyton; and from the very +best glover in Canterbury.’</p> + +<p>‘I take sixes, remember, and never +wear less than eight buttons,’ said Alice.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t count your buttons before we +reach the goal,’ replied the doctor merrily. +‘I think (luckily for me) they are still +looming a long way in the distance; for +if we do not get a strong breeze by to-morrow +at latest, Mr Coffin tells me we +cannot possibly drop anchor till Sunday. +But if you will excuse me, I will run and +get the paregoric lozenges I promised +Miss Vere.’</p> + +<p>And Dr Lennard disappeared into the +passage.</p> + +<p>‘Very strange,’ he muttered to himself,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +as he turned the handle of the surgery +door. ‘I thought I locked it before +dinner. Hullo! hullo! Who’s that? +What are you doing in here?’</p> + +<p>‘It’s all right, doctor,’ replied Harland, +confronting him with rather a confused +countenance; ‘don’t be alarmed. I was +sitting smoking on the weatherboard, +and dropped the end of my cigar inside, +so I came after it, in case it might be +dangerous.’</p> + +<p>‘There’s nothing to catch alight here, +though, of course, you should be cautious,’ +said the doctor, half suspiciously. ‘By +the way, did you find the door open?’</p> + +<p>‘Well, <i>rather</i>,’ rejoined Harland. ‘You +don’t suspect me of keeping skeleton +keys, do you?’</p> + +<p>‘I don’t suspect anything, but I certainly +thought that I had locked the door +when I put the key in my pocket. I +must be more careful in future, or some one +will be after my case of medical +port.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>‘By Jove! yes,’ acquiesced Harland. +‘If any of these thirsty dogs of shellbacks +were knocking about, they’d make +short work of a dozen of port—wouldn’t +they? The brutes drink like fishes.’</p> + +<p>‘They’re not the only people aboard +that know how to drink,’ answered the +doctor dryly, with a meaning glance at +his companion, who laughed awkwardly, +and turned away to the lee side of the +vessel.</p> + +<p>At the same moment, Iris was reading +over a letter which she had received from +her husband, to Maggie and Farrell.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t you go,’ pleaded the former; +‘don’t go nigh him, my pretty. He only +wants to try and talk you over; and you’re +so soft-hearted, I’m not sure but what +you’ll give in to him.’</p> + +<p>‘Surely you will not keep this appointment, +Miss Douglas,’ urged Farrell. ‘We +have only a few more days to spend on +board now, and during that time, you +should avoid him as much as possible.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +He only wants, as Maggie says, to persuade +you to alter your mind. Write and +tell him that it is made up, and you +have nothing more to say to him on the +subject.’</p> + +<p>‘You both seem to think me terribly +weak,’ said Iris, almost irritably. ‘Do +you suppose I can’t take care of myself? +I told Mr Harland my intentions plainly, +and he quite understands there is no alternative. +All he wishes is to see me again, +in order that we may arrange together +how best to carry out our plans. I think +that is only reasonable. Did you listen +attentively to his letter? Let me read it +to you again:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>‘<span class="smcap">My dear Iris</span>,—I have been thinking +deeply over what you said to me this +afternoon, and I see you are right, and +I must have been crazy to dream of doing +anything else. Can you forgive me? +If you can, it will help me to do my +duty for the future, and I promise you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> +to act on the square. You say that +Farrell holds proofs against me. Were +I convinced of this, it would materially +alter my plans for our well-doing. Are +they accessible? I should much like to +see them. Try and persuade him to let +you have the custody of them for half-an-hour. +I pledge you my word of honour +not even to touch them. How could I +do anything repugnant to your wishes, +in so public a place as the spare galley? +If you will meet me there to-night at ten +o’clock, when the passengers are at supper, +I will tell you what arrangements I have +made for you on landing. It is possible +we may be at Canterbury sooner than +you anticipate, and it is best (in order +to save gossip) that we should not leave +the ship together. Do not fail to meet +me to-night.—Yours,</p> + +<p class="right">G. H.’</p> +</div> + +<p>‘Cant! Humbug!’ exclaimed Farrell. +‘There is some deep scheme hidden under +this pretended repentance. You will be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> +a fool, Miss Douglas, if you comply with +his request.’</p> + +<p>‘You are both against him,’ said Iris. +‘I know he has a hundred faults, but +he <i>may</i> be sincere in wishing to amend +his life. And <i>I</i> am not the one who +should refuse to help him.’</p> + +<p>And as she spoke, she twisted up the +note, and held it in the flame of the +swinging lamp.</p> + +<p>‘What are you doing?’ cried Farrell +quickly, as he attempted to rescue it.</p> + +<p>‘Burning my letter. Have I not a +right to burn it?’ returned Iris, in a tone +of annoyance.</p> + +<p>‘Certainly; but I do not consider it a +judicious act. It is evidence against him. +Chicanery is written in every line. What +should he want to see those proofs for, +except to destroy them?’</p> + +<p>‘You all suspect him. Because he has +sinned <i>once</i>, he can do nothing right in +your eyes now,’ said Iris impetuously. +‘And I suppose, Mr Farrell, if I asked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +you for those proofs, you would refuse to +trust them to me?’</p> + +<p>‘I should, indeed; for <i>your</i> sake more +than my own. It is of little consequence +to me whether he suffers the penalty of +the law or not; but it is of the utmost +importance that he should be kept in fear +of it, to protect your interests.’</p> + +<p>‘Then I shall go and see him without +them, and tell him that you have no pity,’ +replied Iris, as she rose and went to her +own cabin.</p> + +<p>‘Will she <i>really</i> go?’ demanded Farrell +of Maggie.</p> + +<p>‘I’m much afraid she will, unless I stop +her. Ah, Will, she’ll be a deal too good +to him. Them few soft words have melted +her like fire does snow. Sometimes I +think I’ll tell her all, and let her see +what a double-dyed rascal he is; but +then I couldn’t bear for her to look +coldly on <i>me</i>. Lord! how the wind +howls. It’s an awful night, ain’t it? A +reg’lar storm. And what’s that? The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> +mistress cryin’! Ah, I must go to her, +poor dear. This business has upset her +altogether.’</p> + +<p>‘Try all you can to persuade her not +to see that man again, Maggie.’</p> + +<p>‘I’ll do my best; but if she’s set on +it, she will. But, there, let me go to +her. I’ve a notion in my head I’ll find +a way out of it yet.’</p> + +<p>She rushed to Iris, and found her (as +she had anticipated) in hysterics. The +excitement had overtaxed her strength, +and Harland’s apparently repentant note +had finished the work. She sobbed and +cried for a long time without control, and +then was so exhausted she was obliged to +lie down in her berth.</p> + +<p>‘Now! you’re better,’ said Maggie +soothingly; ‘and if you’ll promise to lie +quiet till I come back, I’ll run and get +something for you from the doctor.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, no, Maggie! I must get up. It +is time to go and meet Godfrey,’ replied +Iris, trying to rise.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>‘I am sure it isn’t. It has only just +gone nine. You have a whole hour yet. +Rest a bit, my pretty, and let me get you +some camphor, or you won’t be able to +speak to him.’</p> + +<p>Iris closed her eyes in acquiescence, +and Maggie ran off in search of Dr +Lennard.</p> + +<p>‘Doctor,’ she said persuasively, ‘my +lady, Miss Douglas, has had the high-strikes, +and I want to get her to sleep +at once. Will you mix her a sleeping-draught, +in some camphor, that she can +take straight off.’</p> + +<p>After a few questions, the doctor compounded +the soporific, and Maggie took +it back to the cabin and made Iris +swallow it. In a few minutes her sobs +relaxed, her eyes closed, her hands folded +themselves over her heaving breast, and +she was asleep. Maggie drew the blankets +closely over her, and sat by her side until +she was fairly off.</p> + +<p>‘<i>That’s</i> right,’ she thought, chuckling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +to herself; ‘that was very neatly done. +She’ll sleep sound, poor dear, till it’s ten +o’clock to-morrow morning. And now, +shall I tell Will what I am going to do? +I think not. He’ll want to interfere, and +spoil everything. I can manage matters +much better by myself. I will go and +meet Mr Harland, and find out what he +really means to do; and I can pretend +I’ve got the papers, until he’s told me +all his mind, and then I can discover +I’ve left ’em below stairs after all. But +I mustn’t let him guess as it’s me until +I know his plans for the mistress, or he +won’t tell ’em. Let me see! How can +I disguise myself?’ looking round the +cabin. ‘Ah! there’s my pretty’s cloak, +and the black worsted wrap; and I can +put a veil over my face, and say I was +afraid of being recognised by the saloon +people. And now I must hoodwink +Will. Lord, what a trouble all these +men are! You can’t do nothing with +them without lying all round.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>A moment later she was in the general +cabin.</p> + +<p>‘She’s gone off nicely,’ she whispered +to Farrell. ‘I got a draught for her from +the doctor, mixed up in camphor, and +she took it like a lamb and was asleep +in five minutes. And I guess Mr +Harland will have to wait a long time +in the spare galley before he bullies her +to-night, poor dear.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, you <i>are</i> a clever girl,’ said +Will admiringly; ‘you’ll be the smartest +wife for miles round when you and I +are married, Maggie.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, mind you make me a husband +to match, then,’ she answered, laughing. +‘But I’ll go to bed myself now, Will, +for I’m reg’lar tired. I think the wind +makes one sleepy.’</p> + +<p>‘All right! I’m just off for a game +at cards with Perry. Good-night, my +dear!’</p> + +<p>Maggie whisked away, with the cloak +and shawl thrown over her arm, and at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +ten o’clock she issued from the steerage +so completely enveloped in them that +no casual observer could have said if it +were she or her mistress. The night +was pitchy dark. Nothing could be +seen all round the vessel but the boiling +foam, flashing with sparkling diamonds +of spray, that rushed in seething suds +from the vessel’s bows. To watch the +<i>Pandora</i> at this moment from her topgallant +forecastle was a glorious sight. +The bank of snowy lather that was dispersed +on either side to make way for +her keel, tossed and rolled over in impotent +fury; the plunges of the ship’s +cutwater, that often dipped her harpoon-shaped +martingale deep into the sea; +the angry waves that dashed against +her figurehead, and the breakers that +leaped fitfully against her sides, as if +they panted to drag her down to the +unfathomable deep, composed a scene of +majesty and awe. The sailors knew that +they might expect a stiff gale. Mr<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +Coffin had stowed all her smaller sails, +shortening her down to topsails, and +clad in his long weather coat awaited +the coming storm.</p> + +<p>The freshening wind hummed in the +rigging, and made the loose ropes beat +against the backstays. With a long +stretch the <i>Pandora</i> careened over on +her side, and set off at a swinging pace +on her course.</p> + +<p>The sailors on watch, considering they +had done enough work for that evening, +and knowing there would be plenty for +them by-and-by, had turned into the +forecastle to put on their oilskins. Only +the ‘wheel’ and the ‘look-out’ were on +deck, and the darkness made even them +invisible, as Maggie Greet, disguised +in Iris’s long mantle, entered the open +door on the leeward of the spare galley. +Godfrey Harland was already there, and +moved a few steps towards her.</p> + +<p>‘I felt sure you would see the wisdom +of meeting me,’ he said; ‘we will soon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> +set this matter right now. Come from +the open door and stand nearer this +way; there will be the less chance of +what we say to each other being overheard.’</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i107.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i001a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII.<br> + +<small>THE MURDER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_m.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="M"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">M</span>AGGIE did as he desired her, +in silence, and the two stood +close together in the seclusion +of the spare galley. The wind roared +and howled outside, and lashed the waves +into a murderous fury against the proud +ship that dared to plough her way through +them, but Harland spoke in low, incisive +tones, and every word he uttered was +audible to his companion.</p> + +<p>‘I have been thinking over what you +said to me this morning,’ he commenced, +‘and I felt it was quite necessary we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> +should see each other again. The fact +is, you took me so completely aback by +your unexpected appearance and your +vehement accusations, that I really did +not know what to say to you. But you +are utterly mistaken in thinking I have +any <i>real</i> intention to marry Miss Vansittart. +How <i>can</i> I have, when I am +married to you? The thing is too silly +to be refuted. You say you overheard +me talking a lot of nonsense to her last +night. I acknowledge I did. The girl +has taken an inordinate fancy for me, +and I don’t quite see my way out of it; +and so—well you know what we men +are,—bad hats, the very best of us, when +there is no one by to keep us straight,—but +I never meant anything serious by +it, upon my word of honour. Don’t you +believe me?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes,’ replied Maggie, in the lowest of +whispers.</p> + +<p>‘You needn’t be in the least afraid of +our being overheard. It would take a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +speaking-trumpet to make one’s self +understood through this gale. However, +what I want to explain to you, Iris, is, +that my worst fault has been in concealing +the fact of your existence from +the Vansittarts. <i>He</i> made it a proviso +that his agent should be an unmarried +man, and as I did not intend to take +you out with me, I thought there was +no harm in holding my tongue on the +subject, at all events until I had made +myself indispensable to him. And the +deception has entangled me in a dilemma, +as deceptions generally do. But the idea +of my marrying Miss Vansittart is too +utterly ridiculous. I have let her talk +as she pleased about it, and I have +“chaffed” her back in return, but she +knows, as well as I do, that it can never +be. Do you understand?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes,’ repeated Maggie, in the same tone.</p> + +<p>‘Well, as that affair is settled, I’ll tell +you what I think will be best to do for +both of us. I can’t afford to give up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +this appointment (it’s six hundred a year, +and will be raised by-and-by), and I +should not be able to support you if I +did. So you must let me settle you +quietly at Canterbury in some respectable +boarding-house, where you will have +society, and I will send you remittances +monthly until it is safe for you to join +me again. It won’t be long first. Of +course, since you are in the country, it +will be to my advantage to have you +with me, and I shall seize the very first +opportunity to confess the truth to Mr +Vansittart, and ask his pardon for not +having informed him of my marriage +from the first. I don’t think he will be +hard upon me, especially as he sees his +daughter has taken a fancy to me, and +is anxious to put a stop to it. For, of +course, I should never have been a +suitable match for her, even if I had +been free. He will require money with +any suitor for her hand. Are you quite +satisfied now?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>Again Maggie answered only by a +monosyllable, and her reticence aroused +Harland’s suspicions.</p> + +<p>‘What the deuce is the matter with +you, that you can’t speak?’ he said, irritably. +‘Are you trying some game on +me? I warn you not, for I won’t stand +it. Now, look here. I can’t do as I have +told you, unless I feel that I am free from +that brute Farrell. It’s of no use my trying +to make a position for myself in a +new world, if he has the power to come +forward whenever it pleases him, and denounce +me as a criminal. You say he +holds certain written proofs against me. +Is this really the case? Have you spoken +to him about them? Have you got them +with you?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes,’ she said again.</p> + +<p>‘Let me see them,’ replied Harland +quickly; and as he spoke he struck a +match against the heel of his boot, and +held it on a level with her face.</p> + +<p>The sickly blue flame flared up for a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> +moment, and revealed the features of +Maggie Greet.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Maggie!</i> by all that’s holy!’ exclaimed +Harland, starting backwards. ‘What do +you mean by playing this trick upon me? +Why was I not told of this before?’</p> + +<p>‘Told of <i>what</i> before?’</p> + +<p>‘That you were on board ship, in company +with my wife. That I had been +tracked by a couple of you—confound you +both!’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes! I daresay you’d like to confound +us both, very much. You’ve tried +your best to do it already, Mr Harland, +but you ain’t clever enough. That’s where +the fault lies, you see!’ cried Maggie unabashed. +‘And now, what may you have +to say to Mrs Harland, as you can’t say +to me?’</p> + +<p>‘Be quiet, you baggage!’ returned +Godfrey angrily, ‘and go back to your +berth. My business lies with your mistress, +and not with you.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh! well, then, you won’t see my mistress,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> +and so you may do as best you can +without her. She has friends on board +as won’t consent to her being handed over, +without protection, to the clutches of a +brute like you; and so if you have any +message for her, you can send it through +me.’</p> + +<p>‘Go to the d—l!’ cried Harland, turning +on his heel. ‘I shall not stay here a +minute longer.’</p> + +<p>‘Not even to get them papers?’</p> + +<p>‘What do <i>you</i> know about the papers?’</p> + +<p>‘As much as yourself, I fancy, and +p’r’aps more. You asked me just now if +I’d got ’em, and I said “<i>yes</i>;” but if +they’re no use to you, I may as well carry +them back again.’</p> + +<p>‘From whom did you get them?’ demanded +Harland, retracing his steps. +‘From that brute Farrell?’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t you call better men than yourself +names,’ retorted Maggie sharply. ‘Farrell’s +worth fifty of you, any day. Yes, I +did get them from him. Who else?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>‘Your mistress showed you my letter, +then?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, she did, and a pack of lies it was, +into the bargain.’</p> + +<p>‘Take care how you insult me!’ cried +Harland.</p> + +<p>‘Look here, Godfrey Harland,’ said +Maggie, ‘don’t you try any nonsense on +me, for I’ll soon bring you to your marrow-bones. +Will Farrell’s papers is <i>my</i> +papers. Do you understand now? He +is going to marry me as soon as we +land in New Zealand, and there’ll be <i>two</i> +against you then, instead of one. What +do you say to that?’</p> + +<p>‘He’s welcome to my leavings: they’re +good enough for him,’ returned the man +ironically.</p> + +<p>Maggie’s hot blood rose to fever heat.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, you blackguard,—you black-hearted +villain!’ she exclaimed. ‘<i>This</i> is the reward +a woman gets for letting herself be +trampled on by men. You <i>know</i> I was +innocent enough when I first came to you.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +I was a poor, ignorant, country girl, as +hardly knew right from wrong, and you +left your sweet young wife, who’d never +done you an unkindness, to stoop to +teach me how to sin. Lord forgive me!’ +cried poor Maggie, with a choking sob in +her throat, ‘for I’ve never forgiven myself. +Many and many’s the time I’d have run +away and drowned myself, for I didn’t +feel fit to live, except for <i>her</i>. But she +wanted me, and I hadn’t the heart to leave +her alone with you. <i>I</i> knew how cruel +and wicked you could be, when the first +fancy had died out of you, and that you +weren’t fit to have the care of any woman. +Oh, how cruel and false you have been +to her, and made me be too! Oh, my +poor mistress! If I could die to make +her happy, I would. But nobody can be +happy as has to do with <i>you</i>.’</p> + +<p>‘You’re pleased to be complimentary,’ +sneered Harland.</p> + +<p>‘I speak the truth, master, and you +know it. You know you’ve been her ruin,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +as well as mine. I’m only a poor girl, and +don’t signify p’r’aps so much. But <i>her</i>, so +delicate and high-bred—sich a lady as she +is, from head to foot. You ought to be +hung for what you’ve done to <i>her</i>. Do +you think <i>I</i> believe all your palaver about +not marrying Miss Vansittart? Not I. +<i>She</i> might have, poor dear, but <i>I</i> know +you better. It was all put on to deceive +her, and get hold of the papers. You’d +have settled her in Canterbury, yes! and +then she’d never have heard of you, or +your money, again. Don’t I know the liar +you are?’</p> + +<p>‘Have you got those papers?’ demanded +Harland fiercely. ‘I suppose they’re for +sale. What’s their price?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes, they’re for sale—never +fear; but I doubt if <i>you</i> can buy +them. They’re going in exchange for +my mistress being acknowledged openly +as your wife, and placed in her proper +position, and treated with kindness for +the future, and <i>then</i>, p’r’aps, Will and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> +I may talk about letting you have the +papers.’</p> + +<p>‘D—n Will and you!’ exclaimed Harland, +as his eyes gleamed with hate and +fury on her.</p> + +<p>‘Will and I are much more likely to +do that for <i>you</i>, Mr Harland. We have +neither of us much cause to love you. You +have ruined both our lives,—robbed us of +our good names, and left a nasty stain +behind you which nothing will wipe out. +I don’t think we owe you much—unless +it is revenge. And we’ll have our revenge, +never fear, unless you buy us off. Do your +duty by the mistress, plain and above-board, +or we’ll take good care you don’t +work mischief to any one else. It wouldn’t +take many words from us to get you locked +up, and that’s what we mean to do, both +on us, as sure as your name’s Godfrey +Harland.’</p> + +<p>‘You <i>do</i>—do you?’ replied Harland, +with clenched hands and teeth.</p> + +<p>He had made up his mind how to act<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +whilst she was speaking. The dose he +had obtained for Iris would do just as +well for Maggie, and he pressed closer +to her with it in his hand. She, foreseeing +meditated violence in his action, +raised her fist and struck him in the face, +then turned and rushed out of the spare +galley on to the darkness of the quarter-deck. +It was still deserted, the passengers +were in the saloon, the seamen in the +forecastle, and the howling of the gale +permitted only itself to be heard. As +Maggie tried to stem her way against the +driving wind, which seemed to push her +backwards with every step, she stumbled +against the steam-winch, and in another +moment Harland had caught and held +her from behind.</p> + +<p>A murderous hand was placed upon her +throat, a handkerchief, which exhaled a +sickly, sweet, intoxicating fume, was pressed +tightly over her mouth and nostrils, and +her body was held by his against the main +rail. She could not move; she could not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> +scream; she could not even think. For +a moment she struggled feebly, and +clutched with her dying grasp at Harland’s +garment. But the next, all things +seemed growing dim—the memory of +her wrongs—the fear for her safety—even +the knowledge of the presence of +Death faded from her as the fumes of the +chloroform mounted to her very brain, +and her breath came in gasps, which grew +shorter and shorter until they ceased altogether. +Then her body was lifted +quickly in strong arms from the deck, +and thrust over the mainrail, and it hit +the bumpkin with a dull thud, as it dropped +silently into the seething deep.</p> + +<p>It plunged beneath the surface and rose +again, and the <i>Pandora</i> passed ahead of +it, scattering banks of white foam in her +wake, like a sea shroud for the dying. +For in that moment Maggie Greet’s +senses had returned to her. She felt the +icy water flowing over her head, and into +her ears and mouth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>Oh, what was this? What had happened +to her?</p> + +<p>‘Is it some awful dream? Where am +I? Who put me here? Oh, Will, Will, +save me!’ But the wind roared to prevent +all chance of her feeble cry being +overheard, and the merciless waves flowed +over her head again, and sucked her body +down. ‘Oh, to die like this! My +poor mistress! God in heaven! forgive +me.’</p> + +<p>Again her body disappeared, and after +an agonising struggle for life, poor +Maggie rose once more, feebly murmuring, +‘I forgive—forgive,’ and then sunk +beneath the waves for ever.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Meanwhile, Godfrey Harland leant +against the mainrail, sick and dizzy with +horror at the deed which he had done, +and staring with blank eyes at the boiling +sea, in which the girl he had ruined had +disappeared. The handkerchief he had +pressed against her nose and mouth,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +reeking with chloroform, was still held in +his hand. In his confusion, he did not +even know that it was there. He had +never meant to go so far as this. He +had prepared the chloroform to use in +case of his experiencing any trouble in +getting the papers into his possession, +but when he saw Maggie so completely +unconscious, and realised the danger of +being caught in the act of searching her +body, it seemed so much easier to throw +her overboard, and get rid of her dangerous +tongue and the proofs of his forgery +at the same time. And now it was over, +and there was no help for it. He gazed +at the boiling foam as it dashed past the +vessel, in a vacant manner, as though he +half expected Maggie’s face to rise from +it and confront him, Maggie who was +already miles away, drifting without sense +or motion in the under-current of the sea. +And as he gazed, strange to say, Godfrey +Harland did not think of her as he had +seen her last, but as she had been when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> +they first met—a pretty country girl, all +faith in him and eagerness to obey his +will—and his limbs shook under him as +he remembered it.</p> + +<p>‘Hullo! Harland! what are you doing +here? It’s a rough night for musing,’ +shouted a voice behind him. ‘We’re +going to the smoke-room! Come along +and spin us a yarn! The ladies have +beat a retreat, and there’s not much to +be done below.’</p> + +<p>Godfrey Harland turned round to confront +Captain Lovell and the doctor.</p> + +<p>‘All right,’ he said unsteadily. ‘I’ll go +with you. It’s the beastliest night we’ve +had for a long time.’</p> + +<p>As the three men ensconced themselves +in the smoke-room, and took their +seats, Dr Lennard snuffed the air.</p> + +<p>‘Who’s got chloroform?’ he asked curiously. +Lovell looked amused, and Harland +started. ‘Why, it’s <i>you</i>!’ continued the +doctor. ‘It’s on your handkerchief.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, yes,’ he stammered; ‘chloroform,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> +of course. I’ve been using it for a toothache. +It generally does me good.’</p> + +<p>‘Have you a toothache now?’</p> + +<p>‘No, it’s gone!’ replied Harland, with +an unquiet look round the cabin.</p> + +<p>‘Well! stow your handkerchief away, +for goodness’ sake, for it’s too strong to +be agreeable. I hate the smell of chloroform. +It recalls unpleasant operations +to me. You must have a sound heart, +to be able to inhale it at that rate. I +should think you must have had enough +to kill two people on that handkerchief.’</p> + +<p>And with a ghastly grin, that was intended +for a smile, Harland thrust it deep +into the pocket of his coat.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_contents.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII.<br> + +<small>MISSING.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_t.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="T"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">T</span>HE threatening aspect which the +heavens had assumed, turned +out to be nothing more after +all than a violent squall, which caused +the <i>Pandora</i> to fly along at her topmost +speed for a few hours, and then died away +as quickly as it had sprung up, leaving a +calm behind it. The wet sails beat with +loud flaps against the masts in time to +the roll of the vessel; the sheets and +tacks were limp and slack; and the +weather shrouds, which had made their +lanyards and dead-eyes creak and groan, +could be shaken with the hand—whilst<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> +the fine old ship, which had behaved so +gallantly under her widespread canvas, +lay like a log on the ocean, and refused +even to steer. The wheel was jammed +hard down, sheets flattened, and everything +done to help her, but it was of no +avail. All the coaxing of her officers +would not induce her to behave like a +lady, and she drifted along idly, with her +nose heading every point except the one +she was wanted to follow. The <i>Pandora</i> +was a true woman that night—wilful and +headstrong, and refusing all assistance. +She declined to answer her rudder—even +the head-sails had no control over her—and +her mizen had to be hauled up, +since it only made her the more perverse +and cantankerous. When all the sailors’ +efforts had failed, and they had given her +up—at all events, for the present—as a +hopeless job, a massive sheet of cloud +appeared in the eastward. It was like +its predecessor in shape and consistency, +but of a brighter shade—a greyish, half-mourning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> +hue—and as it crept slowly towards +them, like the mighty simoom of +the Desert of Sahara, it shut out the surrounding +scene from view. The moon +and stars that were reflected on the still +waters were soon enveloped in its dingy +mantle, and before daybreak, the <i>Pandora</i> +was hidden by a raw, penetrating mist.</p> + +<p>It was a wintry fog, that carried on +its breath the seeds of sickness and mortality; +that made itself felt through the +thickest garments, and attacked the joints +with stiffness and cramp; that made the +night humid, close, and unhealthy, and +the day dark and cheerless; that compelled +the stewards to screw down the +port-holes, lest the vapour should fill their +only refuge with its disease-inspiring +breath; that mildewed the dry provisions, +and rotted the vegetables that +hung in the long-boat, and transformed +the warm grasp of the friend of your +bosom into a cold and clammy touch. +When the passengers essayed to make<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> +their toilets, they had to light their +lamps, and discovered that their glasses +were dim, and their clothes damp with +moisture; nor could the pleasures of the +breakfast-table send a glow through their +benumbed bodies, nor restore the geniality +of their tempers.</p> + +<p>Captain Robarts, who has not as yet +figured prominently in this history, simply +because he never sought the society of +his passengers, or concerned himself about +their comforts, was that day more bearish +and blunt (if possible) than usual. He +was anxious about their safety. He was +not quite certain as to their exact position +on the chart, and he saw that he would +have to work the vessel out by dead +reckoning, instead of the surer method +of ascertaining his longitude by the +meridian altitude. He felt sure that +he was not many miles from the coast, +but if he had been able to shoot the sun, +his mind would have been more at ease, +and he would not have retreated to his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> +private cabin, and, after irritably slamming +the door, have solaced himself with +so many ‘nips’ from a mysterious flask +which he kept in a cupboard at the +head of his bunk.</p> + +<p>‘A gentleman from the second cabin +wishes to speak to you, sir,’ said the +steward, after knocking several times for +admittance.</p> + +<p>Captain Robarts opened his cabin door +and beckoned the man to enter, much +to the disappointment of several curious +listeners, who had hoped to hear all +about the wants of the gentleman from +the second cabin. A few minutes afterwards +the chief steward left the saloon, +and returned, accompanied by Will Farrell, +who was ushered in to the presence +of the captain.</p> + +<p>‘Morning, sir,’ said Captain Robarts. +‘I understand you have a communication +to make to me. I am ready to hear it.’</p> + +<p>Will Farrell stood before him, white +and trembling, hardly knowing how to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +begin. At last he stammered out that +it was ‘very serious.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, well, sir! I can’t afford to waste +my time over you. Let me know it, if you +please,’ replied the captain impatiently.</p> + +<p>‘One of the steerage passengers—a +woman—is missing, sir!’ said Farrell, in a +trembling voice.</p> + +<p>‘Indeed; and how did you find it out?’</p> + +<p>‘She—she—was my friend, sir—we +were to have married each other, and she +was quite safe last night at nine o’clock, +because I spoke to her, and bid her “good-night.” +But this morning she’s missing. +No one’s seen her, and the steward says +she didn’t sleep in her bunk last night.’</p> + +<p>‘And why did not the steward, whose +duty it is, inform me of this himself?’</p> + +<p>This question took poor Will Farrell +completely aback. He had come in his +grief and trouble to consult the chief person +in the ship, but the terrible news he +conveyed did not seem to move the hard, +unfeeling heart of the man before him one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> +whit. The steerage steward was an uncouth +being, working his passage out to +New Zealand, and Farrell had begged +leave of him to go and inform the skipper +that Maggie Greet was missing. But he +had not expected so cold a reception. +He had thought the captain would immediately +employ every available means to discover +the whereabouts of his passenger,—that +the ship would be thoroughly searched +from hold to galley, and that if the mystery +were not solved by it, a meeting +would be at once convened to inquire into +the cause of Maggie’s disappearance.</p> + +<p>When Captain Robarts saw that Farrell +preserved silence, he continued,—</p> + +<p>‘What is the woman’s name?’</p> + +<p>‘Greet, sir, Maggie Greet,’ was the +answer, given in a choking voice.</p> + +<p>‘Very good! That’ll do! The matter +shall be investigated,’ and rising from his +seat, the old sea-dog opened the door, and +showed his visitor the way out.</p> + +<p>It was not long after that Mr Sparkes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> +was sent for, and ordered to report, as +quickly as possible, on the particulars of +the case, and enter a full description of the +woman, with that of her friends, and when +and where she was last seen, with all <i>et +ceteras</i> in his day-book for the benefit of the +skipper, who would have to jot it down in +his official log. That Maggie Greet had +been only a steerage passenger, rendered +her disappearance of far less consequence +than if she had belonged to the saloon; +still Captain Robarts thought it worth +while to consult Mr Fowler on the subject, +and that worthy was consequently summoned +to a private interview in his cabin.</p> + +<p>‘What is it all about?’ cried the passengers +<i>en masse</i>, as Sparkes delivered +the skipper’s message.</p> + +<p>‘Only a steerage female passenger +missing,’ replied the young officer airily.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Only</i>,’ repeated Mr Fowler; ‘only the +chance of death for somebody.’</p> + +<p>‘But does nobody know where she has +gone?’ asked Alice Leyton stupidly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>‘No! or we shouldn’t be looking for +her. Stumbled overboard, perhaps, in the +squall. It was a roughish night. Mr +Fowler, the captain would like to speak to +you about it at once.’</p> + +<p>‘All right; I will go to him,’ and he went.</p> + +<p>The captain had soon repeated all he had +been able to gather of the case.</p> + +<p>‘You’d better leave it to me,’ said +Fowler; ‘it’s either an accident or foul +play, and in either case I’ll keep my eyes +open, and see what I can make of it.’</p> + +<p>‘There’s no suspicion whatever of foul +play. The young man Farrell, who was +to marry the girl, says she was safe at +nine last night, and left him to go to her +berth, but has not been seen since.’</p> + +<p>‘And how does he account for himself +since that time?’</p> + +<p>‘Why, you don’t suspect <i>him</i>, surely,’ +said the captain; ‘he is simply overcome +with grief.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; I have seen them overcome +with grief before. Never mind, captain.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> +I have my suspicions of more than one +person aboard this vessel, and perhaps +this little accident may be the wind-up of +it all. I’ll make things clear, if possible, +before we touch port.’</p> + +<p>‘How will you set to work?’</p> + +<p>‘By putting two and two together. +This young woman was rather strange in +her ways, you know, captain.’</p> + +<p>‘Was she? I didn’t know her, even by +sight.’</p> + +<p>‘There were two of them, and they +were always with this man Farrell, and +always wrapped up in shawls, so that +their faces couldn’t be seen. They never +came out till the evening, either, and +then they’d slink away towards the forecastle. +All they seemed to wish was to +avoid their fellow-creatures.’</p> + +<p>‘Perhaps it was some family trouble.’</p> + +<p>‘Perhaps it was, and it’ll prove a case +of <i>felo de se</i>. Though she was as sturdy +a damsel (this one that’s missing) as ever +I saw, and not at all like a romantic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> +suicide. But one never knows what +they’ll do, if there’s a man in the case. +I remember an affair something like this +one taking place in the <i>Wangarrie</i>, bound +for Auckland. There was a lady of title +on board, who had been confined to her +berth for some days. Well, the stewardess +had not left her above five minutes +one afternoon when she was gone. She +crawled out of one of the square stern +windows in her <i>robe de nuit</i>, and dropped +into the briny.’</p> + +<p>‘But this woman could not have gone +out of the ports.’</p> + +<p>‘No, I suppose they’re too small in +the ’tween decks. I’ll go down there in +the dog watch, and take a look round. +But she may have jumped overboard during +the squall, and no one have been the +wiser; or she may have been <i>pushed</i> over.’</p> + +<p>‘You can’t get the idea that it was intentional +out of your head, Mr Fowler.’</p> + +<p>‘No, sir; and sha’n’t, either, until I +prove it to have been otherwise. For,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +as I said before, I haven’t been sleeping +on the voyage, and I have my suspicions. +But I’ll clear out now, captain; I see +you are busy with your chart,’ and with +a curt nod, Mr Fowler went about his +business.</p> + +<p>Before noon every soul on board the +<i>Pandora</i> had heard and discussed the +terrible news, but all were equally at a +loss to account for it. Some agreed with +Mr Fowler that poor Maggie must have +been a little insane. Others suspected +(though they dared not say so) the unfortunate +Farrell, who (with Iris Harland) +was overcome with grief for Maggie’s +loss, and believed his tears were only +shed to avert suspicion from himself. +Godfrey Harland was forced to mix with +his fellow-passengers, and hear all their +comments on the subject, for he dreaded +doing anything unusual so as to attract +the general notice. He was very active, +therefore, in arguing the point, and suggesting +possible solutions of the mystery,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> +though he stuck faithfully himself to one +opinion, that <i>if</i> the unhappy girl had had +a lover, <i>he</i> was the person who should +know most about it.</p> + +<p>In every part of the vessel the unfortunate +accident was commented on. In +the forecastle, the galley, and the house +amidships; in the second cabin, the +smoke-room, and on the poop deck it +formed the sole topic of conversation.</p> + +<p>The wretched Farrell, with eyes bleared +and swollen from weeping, was bowed +down under a sense of his loss. It was +in vain that Iris implored him to take +courage, to bear his trouble like a man, +to remember how brave poor dear Maggie +was, and how she would have been the +first to condemn his utter prostration of +mind and body. There was a deeper +grief than the loss of his promised wife +underlying his condition. Both his suspicions, +and those of Iris, pointed to +Godfrey Harland, though they feared to +say so, even to each other. Maggie had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> +purposely sent Iris to sleep, and Farrell remembered +afterwards that she had carried +her mistress’s missing cloak and shawl upon +her arm. What had she taken them for, +unless she intended to go on deck, and +why should she go on deck but to meet +Harland, instead of his wife? The case +seemed clear to both of them, and yet +they were so helpless to take their revenge. +They did not even know where +she had gone to, or if Harland had kept +the appointment he made with his wife. +Farrell would neither eat nor drink. His +dinner and tea were carried away untouched, +while he sat in his berth with +his face buried in his hands, trying to find +some solution to the awful mystery.</p> + +<p>As the night watches were set, he was +roused from the stupor into which he had +fallen, by the advent of Mr Fowler, who, +having tapped at his door, entered without +further ceremony.</p> + +<p>‘Come, come, Farrell!’ he commenced +kindly, as he laid his hand upon the young<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> +man’s shoulder, ‘you mustn’t give way +like this. Let me send for some liquor +for you. Here, steward! bring Mr Farrell +a brandy-and-soda,’ and when it came he +forced Will to drink it.</p> + +<p>‘It is very kind of you, Mr Fowler, to +take the trouble to come and visit me,’ Will +said, as he tried to stop his gasping sobs. +‘Few have done it, except Miss Douglas. +I daresay you are surprised at my being +so overcome by this loss; but it was so +sudden—so unexpected—we were so full +of hope and anticipation that—’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes, my boy! I quite understand,’ +replied Fowler. ‘It was very dreadful—very +dreadful, indeed. But have you any +idea how it happened?’</p> + +<p>‘Not the slightest—at least, no certainty. +The last time I saw her I was +sitting down here, playing cards with my +friend Perry, and she told me the wind +had made her sleepy, and she should go +to bed. I wished her good-night, and that +was the last of it.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>‘She was a steerage passenger, I understand. +How came she to be in the second +cabin?’</p> + +<p>‘Well, sir, there’s a lady here, Miss +Douglas, who was a friend of hers. +Maggie was—well, I don’t know why I +should mind saying it—but my poor girl +was in her service in England, and followed +her across the sea, and used to +come in here and look after her sometimes. +Miss Douglas was ill last night, +and Maggie had given her a sleeping-draught +and put her to bed.’</p> + +<p>‘Pardon the digression, Mr Farrell, but +what made Miss Douglas ill?’</p> + +<p>Will Farrell’s eyes flashed. He would +have blurted out the whole truth concerning +Godfrey Harland to all the ship at +that moment. Only one motive restrained +him—the thought of Iris. But he clenched +his fist as he answered,—</p> + +<p>‘A scoundrel had been talking to her +and upsetting the poor thing. She isn’t +strong.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span>‘And this scoundrel—excuse me—is also +an enemy of yours, Mr Farrell?’</p> + +<p>‘I didn’t say so, Mr Fowler.’</p> + +<p>‘No, but I guessed it from the clenching +of your hand as you mentioned him. And +now let me tell you that I strongly suspect +there is foul play somewhere, and I want +you to assist me in clearing it up.’</p> + +<p>‘I suspect it too, sir—more, I <i>believe</i> it, +only I can’t give a reason why. But if I +tell you my suspicions, <i>how</i> can you clear +the matter up?’</p> + +<p>‘Because my name of Fowler is assumed +for professional purposes only. My real +title is Mark Rendle, of Scotland Yard, +and if things are not all square here, and +<i>you</i> will help me, I will bring the murderer +to justice.’</p> + +<p>‘I’m your man!’ cried Farrell, as he +stretched out his hand.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i039a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX.<br> + +<small>MR FOWLER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_i2.jpg" width="85" height="75" alt="'I"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">‘I</span> SUPPOSE you are a detective?’ +continued Farrell, after +a pause.</p> + +<p>‘You are right. I am a private detective, +but no one knows the secret but +Captain Robarts and yourself, and I should +not have confided it to you, except I feel +that, for your own sake, you will keep it +sacred. And now look here, my boy. I +am a man old enough to be your father, +and I have had much experience in these +cases, with which I have been mixed up +all my life. If we are to work together, +you must tell me <i>the truth</i>. You must<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +hide nothing from me; and you must give +me your word of honour not to disclose a +single thing that I may say to you.’</p> + +<p>‘I swear to you that I will not. But +first tell me, Mr Fowler, have you come +out to track any one aboard this vessel?’</p> + +<p>‘No. I am travelling in the interests +of Messrs Stern & Stales, whose New +Zealand firm has suffered lately from extensive +robberies, instigated, it is believed, +by the <i>employés</i>. The company sent me +over in the <i>Pandora</i> to avoid suspicion. +If I crossed in a steamer, certain business +people, who are always going backwards +and forwards through the Canal to Australia +and New Zealand, might recognise +me, and the news of my arrival would be +spread through the island, and warn the +thieves to be on their guard. Now let me +hear all you have to tell me.’</p> + +<p>Will Farrell then related in detail all +that he knew of Horace Cain <i>alias</i> Godfrey +Harland. He gave the whole history of +the forged cheque, and the clever way in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +which the suspicion had been cast upon +himself. He told how he had made the +acquaintance of Maggie Greet on board +ship, and learned through her that her +mistress, Miss Douglas, was in reality +Harland’s wife, and how Godfrey’s open +courtship of Miss Vansittart had induced +Iris to reveal her identity to him, and to +threaten to expose him. And he concluded +with the incident of Harland’s +letter to his wife, demanding another interview +at ten o’clock that night in the +spare galley, and entreating her to bring +the proofs that Farrell held against him, +for him to see.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes, yes,’ said Fowler impatiently; +‘that is a dirty story enough, but what has +it to do with Maggie Greet? I want to +hear about <i>her</i>, and not Mr and Mrs +Harland.’</p> + +<p>There was one thing which Farrell had +concealed, and that was the fact of Maggie’s +seduction by her master. He felt as if +death itself could not drag it from him,—as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> +if it would be an insult to the dead +woman he had loved even to allude to it. +But he had a detective to deal with.</p> + +<p>‘She was in their service when in England—I +have mentioned that,’ replied +Farrell confusedly; ‘and she was very +much attached to Miss Douglas. It was +all Maggie’s doing that she didn’t go to +that interview with her husband. She +meant to do so, but Maggie was afraid of +mischief (she told me so), so she procured +a draught from Dr Lennard, and sent +Miss Douglas straight off to sleep, under +pretence of soothing her hysterical condition.’</p> + +<p>‘Very good. What did Miss Greet do +then?’</p> + +<p>‘She came up to my side in the second +cabin, and said, after telling me about Miss +Douglas, “I’ll go to bed now, Will, for I’m +regular tired. I think the wind makes one +sleepy.”’</p> + +<p>‘And did she go to bed?’</p> + +<p>‘How can I tell, sir? I never saw her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> +again. But the steerage steward says she +didn’t.’</p> + +<p>‘Now, just think, Mr Farrell. Did you +remark anything strange about her manner +when she bade you good-night?’</p> + +<p>‘Not at the time, or I should have +spoken of it. But after she was missing, +Miss Douglas told me that her big cloak +that she always wore, and woollen wrap, +were also gone from her cabin, and then +I seemed to remember, like a flash of +lightning, that Maggie had a bundle of +cloaks or something over her arm when +she spoke to me.’</p> + +<p>‘And you think she took them on +purpose?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes. I think now she took them that +she might look like her mistress, and that +she went on deck to take her place, and +keep that appointment with Godfrey +Harland—<i>curse him</i>!’ said Farrell, between +his teeth.</p> + +<p>‘This becomes interesting,’ remarked +the detective coolly. ‘But now, Mr<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> +Farrell, the question arises, What reason +Miss Greet should have had to wish +to prevent her mistress meeting Mr +Harland?’</p> + +<p>‘She believed harm would come of it. +He had treated his wife cruelly before.’</p> + +<p>‘She had not a good opinion of her +master, then? She did not like him?’</p> + +<p>Farrell answered curtly in the negative.</p> + +<p>‘Do you know if Miss Greet had any +cause to mistrust him?’</p> + +<p>‘She knew he was a brute, and I had +told her about the forgery.’</p> + +<p>‘But <i>personally</i>, I mean? Was there +any feeling like jealousy or revenge at +work in the matter?’</p> + +<p>‘Not jealousy, certainly,’ answered Will. +‘She was going to marry me—she was +fond of me.’</p> + +<p>‘But formerly—before you met the +girl—had there ever been any love-passages +between her and this Godfrey +Harland?’</p> + +<p>Farrell opened his eyes in amazement.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>‘Are you a wizard?’ he asked.</p> + +<p>‘No, my boy, only a detective! But +that means a close observer of human +nature, and an aptitude for hitting on +the right cause for every effect.’</p> + +<p>Will was silent.</p> + +<p>‘Come, now! I appreciate your reticence, +but this is no time for false +modesty. Doubtless Miss Greet told +you all her secrets. Had she any reason +to wish to be revenged on Harland, or +he for getting rid of her? If you won’t +tell me the whole truth, I can do nothing +for you.’</p> + +<p>‘All right, sir! I <i>will</i> trust you, for it +can’t do <i>her</i> any harm now, and it may be +the means of avenging this cruel loss. +She <i>had</i> good cause to hate him, poor +thing, and he, perhaps, to be afraid of +her! He had seduced her years before, +when she first went to live in his wife’s +service, and Maggie despised him for it,—as +well she might, and all the more because +she had grown to be so fond of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> +Miss Douglas. That’s the truth, Mr +Fowler, and I hope you’ll keep it sacred.’</p> + +<p>‘You may depend upon me, Farrell, +and it’s a valuable clue. We have +arrived at this conclusion, therefore: At +the time that Mr Harland was waiting +to see his wife in the spare galley, she +was asleep in her berth, and Maggie +Greet, with her mistress’s cloak and +wraps over her arm, walked out of the +cabin, and was never seen again. She +was a woman also who mistrusted her +master, and had an old grudge against +him, and whose desire for revenge, too, +might prove very awkward to himself. +That is true, is it not?’</p> + +<p>‘It is so, Mr Fowler; and every moment +the case seems to become clearer to +me.’</p> + +<p>‘Now, Mr Farrell, do you really hold +the proofs you have mentioned against Mr +Harland?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; I have certain letters written, and +copies of statements made, at the time of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +the forgery, which would go very hardly +against him were I to produce them.’</p> + +<p>‘And did you lend them to Miss Greet?’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, dear, no! She never asked me +for them.’</p> + +<p>‘You are <i>sure</i> you have them still?’</p> + +<p>‘Quite sure! I was looking at them +this afternoon.’</p> + +<p>‘Then she could not have taken them, +as desired, for him to see?</p> + +<p>‘No; but I think she may have <i>pretended</i> +to have them, sir, just to gain time +to say what she wished to say to him, and +then, when he found he had been deceived, +the brute may have revenged himself on +her by—ah, it is too horrible to think of!’ +cried Farrell, breaking off in another +burst of grief.</p> + +<p>‘Or she may have fallen overboard by +accident, don’t forget that, Farrell. It +was a terrible night, and the sailors say +they couldn’t have heard any cries through +such a squall. It doesn’t lessen the loss +to think so, but it is as well not to accuse<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +anybody of a crime, even in our thoughts, +until we are sure of it.’</p> + +<p>‘That villain is capable of anything,’ +said Farrell doggedly.</p> + +<p>‘And now about this Miss Douglas, +as you call her? Is there any one on +board who knows her to be the wife of +Harland beside yourself?’</p> + +<p>‘I think not, and I have no proofs. +She and Maggie Greet both told me so. +That is all I know.’</p> + +<p>‘That is unfortunate. At present, it +seems to me that all we can do is to +watch and wait. Even if Mrs Harland +comes forward to tell what she knows, +we have no evidence that this Miss Greet +ever went up on deck at all. The case +seems pretty clear to you and me, but +we have to make it clear to others. So +I can do nothing more at present, and +you must not mention a word of our +conversation to any one on board, not +even to Miss Douglas. You must try +and be patient. I know you are burning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> +to charge Mr Harland with the deed—you +feel so positive he is the guilty party +that you almost wonder I do not clap +on the “darbies” at once. But that is +not our way of working. Supposing he +were able to prove that he was all the +time in the company of friends, we should +at once lose the case, which, if properly +worked, is bound to be cleared up one +way or the other. Do you go with +me?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes. I suppose it signifies little +either way. Nothing will bring my poor +girl to life again.’</p> + +<p>To this sentiment Mr Fowler had naturally +no refutation, and so he withdrew +noiselessly, and left Will Farrell to himself.</p> + +<p>Nothing occurred during the following +day of any interest. Iris Harland kept +entirely to the second cabin. She hardly +dared to <i>think</i> of how poor Maggie may +have come by her death, and she dreaded, +with a sickly loathing, the idea of meeting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> +her husband again. She even shrunk +from seeing Vernon Blythe. She knew +that he would question her so closely, +and sympathise with her so deeply, that +she was afraid of what she might say or +do before him; and in answer to more +than one kind note full of affectionate +anxiety, she only begged him to leave +her alone until she had somewhat recovered +from the shock of losing her +poor friend.</p> + +<p>So the day passed on, gloomy and uneventful. +The passengers conversed in +undertones on the marvellous disappearance +of Maggie Greet, and the captain +peered anxiously into the fog, which still +forbade him the use of his sextant, and +made him morose and irritable.</p> + +<p>The <i>Pandora</i> remained motionless upon +the water. The mist was so dense that +it was impossible to see farther than seven +yards from her side. It was a very perilous +position, for at any moment she might +have been cut down by a steamer. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> +patent Aurora foghorn was constantly +sounded, and every few seconds a long, +deep-toned roar, like the lowing of a +monster bull, echoed over the deep, and +denoted the whereabouts of the helpless +mariners and their living freight.</p> + +<p>The sea resembled a sheet of boiling +metal, throwing off vast clouds of steam, +which, gathering in huge volumes in the +air, hung suspended until some mighty +wind should arise to drive them away. +The mist clung about the rigging, and +fell thence in large drops like rain. The +decks were sodden and slippery. The +brass-work of the bridge railings, the +binnacles, and the gratings, which usually +shone like gold, had turned to a sickly +greenish hue, and red and orange rust +oozed from the bulwarks and combings +of the masts and stanchions, as if the +vessel had been punctured with a hundred +lancets, and was slowly bleeding to +death.</p> + +<p>The wretched cooped-up fowls, standing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> +upon one leg, with their heads buried +beneath their wings, uttered now and +then a croupy remonstrance; the ducks +huddled close together to try and keep +out the damp chill, which even their +natural oil could not withstand; and the +three surviving sheep filled up the intervals +between the lowing of the fog-blast, +with a series of monotonous bleats.</p> + +<p>In the forecastle, the seamen ‘yarned’ +together by the dim light of a miserable, +smelling, paraffin-oil lamp, which filled +the place with exudations of black smoke, +which, combined with the strong flavour +of cavendish, and the dank feeling of the +mist, was anything but agreeable.</p> + +<p>Now and again the foghorn of the +<i>Pandora</i> would be answered faintly by +a distant echo, which grew louder and +louder, till all on board wondered what +course the stranger could be making, till +suddenly a tall, dark spectre would shoot +rapidly past them in the gloom (like the +celebrated Phantom Ship), making their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> +hearts beat with excitement, and vanish +again as quickly in the fog, leaving only +the disturbed water as a sign that they +had been passed by an ocean-liner.</p> + +<p>And so the day closed, and morning +broke on the same blank prospect. The +officers grumbled, the passengers fretted, +and the shellbacks growled and swore like +so many surly bears. Captain Robarts +was still more uneasy than on the previous +day. He had noticed that the +barometer was falling, and he expected +nothing short of a strong gust of wind +to clear the horizon. He spoke to no +one except his officers, and with them +his consultations were short, hurried, and +uncommunicative. Every one on board +was in the dumps. It seemed as if the +disappearance of Maggie Greet had cast +the shadow of death over the vessel and +all concerned in her.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i072a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X.<br> + +<small>DRIFTING BACK.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_b.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="B"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">B</span>UT of every one on board the +<i>Pandora</i> Godfrey Harland was +in reality the most nervous and +uncomfortable. He longed to be able to +shut himself up in his own berth, and +refuse sustenance, but he could not afford +to do it. He felt it was indispensable +for him to appear at meals, and pretend +to have a good appetite, and to talk and +laugh loudly, as he had been wont to do, +but he was obliged to pay for it afterwards +by drowning his thoughts and dulling +his conscience with copious draughts<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +of brandy. And notwithstanding all his +efforts to appear jolly and at his ease, he +could see that his fellow-passengers were +not quite the same to him as they had +been before. Although Will Farrell and +Mr Fowler had kept their own counsel, +hints <i>would</i> leak out—a word was dropped +here and there, or a look given—and Mr +Harland’s companions began to glance +shyly at him. His jests were not responded +to; his offers of assistance were +rejected; and conversation was hushed +as he drew near. Even Grace Vansittart +seemed to avoid him, and drop her +big brown eyes confusedly when they +met his. Harland perceived the general +feeling, though no one was brave enough +to express it openly, and it drove him to +drink. For two nights he drank to intoxication; +and after some hours of torpid +sleep he ascended the poop deck, where, +with bleared eyes and flushed and feverish +face, he leaned upon the taffrail. The +nervous twitching of the fingers that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> +clawed the buttons of his coat, his startled +glances and trembling tongue, showed +what havoc the drink had made with +him. But the state of the weather was +in his favour. Had not the thoughts of +the ship’s company been occupied with +the fog and its possible danger, his conduct +would have been far more noticeable +than it was; but all minds were too much +wrapped up in their own welfare to have +time to concern themselves about the +doings of others.</p> + +<p>As Godfrey Harland left the saloon, +little Winnie Leyton escaped from her +mother’s side, and, disobeying orders, +clambered step by step up the ladder, +and landed herself on the poop deck. +Dodging the officer on watch, who happened +to be Vernon Blythe (who, she +knew well, would soon re-consign her to +her mother’s care), the mischievous little +imp concealed her tiny person behind the +mizenmast, waiting until the young sailor +had turned his back, and then pattered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> +aft along the wet deck to Harland’s side. +He hated children, and this one beyond +others, because both her mother and +sister had always displayed a marked +aversion to him. So, to her innocent +questions and remarks, he made no +reply; and, tired of his silence, Winnie +ran off to find a more congenial companion, +and commenced to play ‘peep-bo!’ +with the quarter-master on the lee +side of the wheel-house, much to the +amusement of that jolly tar. But children +soon weary of any employment; so, +after standing on the bench and shaking +her arch little head, with its golden curls, +at him through the window for the space +of five minutes, she kissed the helmsman +through the pane of glass, and jumped +on the deck again.</p> + +<p>‘Tum here, tum here!’ she cried presently, +tugging at Harland’s coat-tail; +‘tum and see dis tunny ting.’</p> + +<p>‘Go along, you little beast! Go down +to your mother, and don’t bother me!’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> +he said angrily, as he shook off the +dimpled hand.</p> + +<p>Winnie made a wry face, and puckered +up her rosebud mouth for a cry. She +was not used to be called by such ugly +names, and she did not understand them. +But she summoned up courage to remark, +before she did so—determined, like the +majority of her sex, to have the last +word,—</p> + +<p>‘<i>Not</i> boddering! Dere <i>is</i> a tunny +ting—in de water. <i>Dere!</i>’</p> + +<p>‘It’s only a fish. Run away! I’m +busy!’</p> + +<p>‘I tink it sark. Do tum and see,’ +persisted the child.</p> + +<p>‘Where is it then?’ inquired Harland. +‘I suppose you’ll give me no peace till +I <i>have</i> looked at it.’</p> + +<p>Winnie pulled him along gleefully, delighted +at having gained her own way.</p> + +<p>‘Dere! <i>dere!</i>’ she exclaimed, pointing +with her little finger to some object +in the water.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>But one look was enough for Godfrey +Harland. With his eyes starting from +their sockets with horror, he covered his +face with his hands.</p> + +<p>‘My God! my God!’ he exclaimed, +in a voice of agony, as he rushed away +and left the child by herself.</p> + +<p>Winnie was terribly frightened. She +couldn’t think what she had said, or +done, to make the ‘cross man’ so angry +with her; and bursting into a loud howl, +she attracted the notice of ‘Brother Jack’ +(as she still called him), who ran forward, +and took her in his arms.</p> + +<p>‘Why, what’s the matter, baby? Have +you hurt yourself?’ he inquired tenderly, +as he kissed the wet face.</p> + +<p>At the same moment he was joined by +Alice, who had been sent by Mrs Leyton +to bring the truant back.</p> + +<p>‘How naughty of you, baby, to run +away directly mother left the cabin,’ she +began reprovingly, but stopped on seeing +her little sister’s tears. ‘Why, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> +has made you cry, darling? Not +Jack?’</p> + +<p>‘As if “Jack” <i>would</i>,’ replied Vernon, +with mock reproach. ‘It’s <i>you</i> who make +<i>Jack</i> cry, Miss Alice.’</p> + +<p>‘Much you’ve cried for me,’ she answered, +in the same tone. ‘Why, you’ve +looked twice as young and handsome since +I set you free. But what has happened +to Winnie?’</p> + +<p>‘Man make faces at me,’ sobbed the +child.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Man!</i> What man?’ demanded Vernon.</p> + +<p>‘Dere,’ said Winnie, pointing to the +wheel-house.</p> + +<p>But when Jack searched in that direction, +he found no one. Harland, trembling +with terror, had already hidden +himself below.</p> + +<p>‘I expect it was Mr Harland,’ said +Jack. ‘He was the only person on +deck a few minutes ago. What did you +do to make him angry, Winnie?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>‘Sowed him a fis. I specks it’s dere +now.’</p> + +<p>‘Well, come along, and show it to +Alice and me,’ he said, walking aft with +the little child clinging to his hand. +‘We’ll look at Winnie’s “fis,” and see +if we can catch it, and cook it for +mammy’s dinner.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Jack, how <i>sweet</i> you are!’ cried +Alice enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>She was of a romantic disposition, and +occasionally given to these little outbursts +of sudden regret for the lover whom she +had voluntarily relinquished in favour of +Captain Lovell. Jack looked at her with +a world of merriment in his soft grey +eyes.</p> + +<p>‘Don’t be a fool, Alice,’ he said, +laughing.</p> + +<p>‘Oh! but you <i>are</i>,’ persisted the girl, +with a suspicious mist obscuring her +sight; ‘you are so kind to everybody. +It seems to me as if you only lived to +make other people happy.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>‘You’re very much mistaken then, for +I can make myself deucedly disagreeable +when I feel inclined. But let’s look out +for Winnie’s “fis.” By Jove! Alice, +that’s no fish! Wait till I get the +glasses.’</p> + +<p>‘What is it, Jack?’ asked Alice impatiently, +as he took a long survey of +the object in question. ‘Can’t you make +it out?’</p> + +<p>‘It looks like a black log from here; +but these glasses are not very clear. +But stay! there is something white on +it. Good heavens! it is a body! It +must be the woman who jumped overboard +the other night.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Jack! how <i>can</i> it be?’</p> + +<p>‘I can swear it is the body of a woman, +and with a black dress on. Here, Alice, +you had better take Winnie below. This +is no sight for either of you. And I must +go at once and report it to the captain.’</p> + +<p>Vernon Blythe was correct. Strange +as it may seem, it was the body of poor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> +Maggie Greet, which had risen to the +surface on the third day.</p> + +<p>The <i>Pandora</i> had gone far ahead in +the squall; but since then she had been +slowly but surely drifting back again, and +was now on the very spot where she had +been three nights before, and the murdered +woman floated on the waters within a hundred +yards of her stern.<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> + +<p>A boat was lowered at once, and +paddled to the quarter, and the corpse +was reverently lifted into it, and carried +to the surgery.</p> + +<p>There was tremendous excitement +throughout the vessel whilst the doctor’s +and captain’s examination of the body—at +which they invited Fowler and Farrell +to be present—was going on; but it resulted +in no discovery that could afford +a clue to the manner of her death. Her +long dark hair had fallen about her face, +having been washed down by the action +of the waves, and her face and figure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> +were much swollen, and beginning to +show signs of discoloration. But there +were no marks of violence to be seen, +nor any evidence of a struggle having +taken place, nor the slightest proof that +she had been in any way even acquainted +with Godfrey Harland. She still wore +Iris’s long cloak, tied round her throat, +but the woollen wrap had fallen from her +head. The poor dead girl formed a sad +and solemn spectacle, and Will Farrell’s +grief at the sight of her was profound. +After a rigid and careful examination, +Mr Fowler led the poor fellow away +to his own berth, fearful lest in his pain +he should say or do something to cast +suspicion on the man they both had in +their mind’s eye.</p> + +<p>In the dog watch, the body, sewed in +a canvas shroud, and heavily weighted +at the feet, was laid on a grating covered +with the Union Jack, and the bell was +tolled to announce that the funeral was +about to take place.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>The passengers, with serious faces, +clustered about the captain and his officers, +who stood close to the grating, and the +seamen, dressed in their Sunday clothes, +clean shorn, and holding their caps in +their hands, filled up the background. +A burial at sea is one of the most solemn +and impressive services imaginable.</p> + +<p>The skipper, officiating in the place of +a priest, with prayer-book in hand—the +silent corpse that lies under the flag, ready +to be committed to the deep—the infinite +surroundings of water and space—the +unfathomable grave—the words which +are pronounced as the grating is withdrawn, +‘We therefore commit this body +to the deep, to be turned into corruption, +looking for the resurrection of the body, +when the sea shall give up her dead’—the +hollow splash—and the sobs that +often break upon the succeeding silence, +form a scene that cannot be wiped +from the memory in a lifetime. There +were many things to render it more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> +solemn than usual on this occasion. The +mystery surrounding the sad fate of the +young woman who had been their fellow-passenger +affected most of the spectators +strangely; and Will Farrell, although he +had promised Iris to control himself, and +his hated enemy, Godfrey Harland, stood +with dry eyes within a few yards of him, +broke down so completely, as the body +disappeared from view, that his sobs +seemed to penetrate every part of the +vessel. Iris, though scarcely less affected, +made no scene. She trembled like an +aspen leaf when she saw her husband +take his place amongst the mourners, +and grew so deadly white that Vernon +Blythe (who never took his eyes off her) +thought she was going to faint. But she +made a strong effort to recover herself, +and stood silent throughout the ceremony. +When it was over, indeed, and the passengers +were dispersing, she walked to +the gangway and took a long look at the +water, whilst her tears dropped into it,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> +and she wished her poor faithful Maggie +farewell until the light of another world +should break upon them. And then she +turned, and laid her hand upon Will +Farrell’s arm.</p> + +<p>‘Come, Mr Farrell,’ she said gently, +‘and <i>leave the rest to God</i>!’</p> + +<p>As she spoke the words, she raised her +eyes, and encountered those of Godfrey +Harland, and in that glance the wretched +murderer read that his crime was known +to her.</p> + +<p>When the burial was over, and the sailors +had resumed their duties, the bell rang +for dinner, but few sat down to it. The +women were overcome by the scene they +had witnessed, and even the men were +not inclined to be jolly or conversational +after so solemn a ceremony.</p> + +<p>‘Farrell,’ said Mr Fowler, as he entered +the former’s berth, and fastened +the door securely behind him, ‘I am +afraid the examination of to-day will lead +to no results. There was absolutely nothing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> +to guide us as to the manner of +her death. If it did not occur by +accident, we shall have to use other +means by which to arrive at the truth.’</p> + +<p>‘I feel <i>sure</i> it did not occur by accident,’ +returned Farrell. ‘Have you been able +to speak to Harland yet?’</p> + +<p>‘I have not. He has been drinking +very hard the last few days, and kept to +his cabin, which is in itself a suspicious +circumstance. But I have ascertained +from the second officer, young Blythe, +that there was something very strange +about his conduct when the body was +discovered to-day. He did or said something +that nearly frightened Mrs Leyton’s +youngster into fits. But if he is guilty +of the murder, he must be a very hardened +villain, for I watched him narrowly +during the burial service, and I could not +detect the least signs of emotion. One +thing only have I ascertained for <i>certain</i>, +and that is, that he did not attend dinner +on the evening of Miss Greet’s disappearance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> +neither did anybody see him afterwards, +until Dr Lennard and Captain +Lovell went on deck about eleven o’clock +for a smoke, and found him leaning over +the mainrail, and apparently gazing at +the water. Of this there is no doubt. +They are both ready to swear to it. +Also, that he had so much chloroform +on his handkerchief that the doctor turned +quite sick, and begged him to put it away. +Harland said he used the chloroform for +toothache, and so he may have done. But +the doctor has an ugly little story to tell +about finding Mr Harland in his surgery +on the afternoon of the same day, without +his being able to give a good account of +himself, and also of one of his bottles of +chloroform being missing since.’</p> + +<p>‘But what can be clearer?’ exclaimed +Farrell.</p> + +<p>‘My dear fellow! it may be clear that +Mr Harland took the doctor’s chloroform +without his authority, but there is no proof +he did not use it (as he affirmed) for toothache.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> +We can do nothing in this matter +without hard, undeniable proofs.’</p> + +<p>‘We shall never do anything!’ cried +Farrell despairingly. ‘The brute will go +scot-free. It is always so in the world.’</p> + +<p>‘Not always, sir; in fact, <i>my</i> experience +is that very few criminals escape in the +long run; and this business won’t be forgotten +against Mr Harland—you may take +your oath of that!’</p> + +<p>‘I should think I might,’ returned +Farrell. ‘<i>I</i> sha’n’t forget it, Mr Fowler, +and if the law doesn’t punish him for it, +<i>I will</i>. I shall live for nothing henceforward, +but to see that man die as he +killed her. He robbed me of the first +half of my life, and just as I hoped I +might live to forget all I had gone through +on his account, and find some comfort in +the love of a true-hearted woman, he +robs me of her too, and in the cruellest +and most dastardly manner! But he shall +answer for it! I swear before God, he +shall live to suffer as she suffered,—to die<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> +hopeless, as she died! If the hangman +refuses the job, I’ll twist the rope round +his dirty neck myself!’</p> + +<p>‘Hush! hush! you must not speak like +that,’ said Mr Fowler; ‘you are excited, +and don’t know what you are saying. +Go to bed now, my good fellow, and try to +sleep. You will be worn out if you keep +this sort of thing up much longer!’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; I’ll take your advice, and get +into my berth. I may as well sleep now; +she’s sleeping under the water, and I can +never do her any more good in this world. +And I shall want all my strength, too, +Mr Fowler; I shall want it <i>for what’s +coming</i>!’</p> + +<p>He scrambled into his berth as he spoke, +and the kind-hearted detective having +administered a sleeping-draught to him, +under the guise of a stiff glass of whisky +toddy, left him to forget his troubles as +best he might.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>FOOTNOTE:</p> +</div> +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[A]</a> A fact.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i072a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI.<br> + +<small>A CHANGE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_d.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="D"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">D</span>URING that night a gentle +breeze rippled the bosom of +the ocean, and the unhealthy +mist, like a death-shroud hung over the +face of the living, was slowly lifted, and +passed away. By morning, when long +white shafts of light were appearing in +the eastward, there was a clear horizon, +and, better still, a fair wind. Then the +clouds assumed fantastic shapes, and +drifted towards the west, and a rosy hue +tinted the white sky, which turned to a +deep scarlet, and finally resolved itself to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +a rich orange, until a majestic ball of fire +shot up into the heavens, and lit the day +with golden beams.</p> + +<p>The <i>Pandora</i> was making her eight +knots an hour with flowing sheets. All +her sails were spread to the wind, and the +sun soon dried and warmed her decks. +Several other vessels were in sight—small +coasters—that were making northerly +courses, and occasionally a black pillar of +smoke from the funnel of a steamer could +be distinguished right ahead. The passengers, +recovered from their despondency, +had assembled with smiling faces on the +poop deck.</p> + +<p>Mr and Mrs Vansittart were present, +delighted at the idea of so soon reaching +<i>terra firma</i>, and resuming their life in the +bush, and not less so at the prospect of +getting rid of their troublesome companion. +For Mr Vansittart fully coincided +now with his wife’s opinion concerning +Godfrey Harland, and had quite +made up his mind to dismiss him as soon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> +as ever they reached New Zealand. He +would not be ungenerous, or unkind. +That was not in his nature. He would +recoup him liberally for his trouble and +loss of time, but he would not take him +up to Tabbakooloo. His behaviour with +Grace, and her evident infatuation for him, +would have been sufficient reason to prevent +it, without the very serious suspicions +that had lately attached themselves to his +name. So that matter was settled, eminently +to the satisfaction of Mrs Vansittart, +although her husband was not +equally delighted at the prospect of the +task that lay before him.</p> + +<p>Mrs Leyton, keeping one eye upon her +baby and the other upon Alice and +Captain Lovell, was smiling serenely at +the prospect of meeting her husband, and +having some one to look after her again, +and Miss Vere was in the same state of +joyful anticipation.</p> + +<p>The actress had made good use of her +time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>The long monotonous voyage had afforded +her ample leisure for studying her new +<i>rôles</i>, and she was looking forward with +the keenest pleasure to making her <i>débût</i> +and her name in a new country, and with +a new people.</p> + +<p>Her parts suited her to perfection, her +wardrobe was safe in the hold, her husband +was waiting to receive her with open +arms in Canterbury. What on earth +could any woman want more. She looked +radiant with health and happiness, as she +sat in her deck chair, talking with Harold +Greenwood, who generally played shadow +to her substance. This young gentleman +had not been so stricken by his disappointment +as some people might imagine, +neither had the unexpected revelation +that his divinity was married had any +effect in making him alter his pre-conceived +determination to follow her through +the New World. She could still be worshipped, +even if she <i>were</i> Mrs Perkins! +In fact, Mr Greenwood had not quite made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> +up his mind whether he might not yet +cut Mr Perkins out. And Miss Vere’s +manner to him may have favoured the +idea. She delighted in her little ‘masher,’ +and never lost an opportunity of letting +him make a fool of himself. He was her +fetcher and carrier, and general ‘walking-stick,’ +and she so often avowed that she +did not know what she should have done +on the voyage without him, that he quite +believed himself to be indispensable to +her comfort.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, <i>I</i> travel with “the company,”’ +he would reply to any one who asked him +what were his plans on reaching New +Zealand. ‘You see Miss Vere couldn’t +very well do without me. I’m her “factotum,” +as she is pleased to call it. In +fact,’ he would continue, lowering his +voice, ‘I ran a very good chance once +of becoming a near connection of Mr +Perkins’. No, that’s not it exactly,’ he +would say, correcting himself, with a +puzzled look upon his flabby face; ‘but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> +I <i>ought</i> to have been Mr Perkins, or +I <i>should</i> have been, if there had been no +Mr Perkins at all. You understand, I’m +sure. It’s the way of the world, but it’s +the sort of thing one can’t talk about.’</p> + +<p>So half the passengers thought Mr +Greenwood was a very wicked and immoral +young man, and the other half +thought—well, they thought, and justly, +that he was an ass, with something spelt +with a big <i>D</i> before it. But he was none +the less amusing on that account to Miss +Vere, who declared that he was the sole +thing that had kept her in health during +the voyage.</p> + +<p>Alice Leyton, leaning on the arm of +Captain Lovell, whose engagement to +her was known to the whole ship’s company, +walked blithely up and down the +deck, bandying jests with her old lover +whenever she came across him; and Mr +Fowler strutted in company with Dr Lennard. +Their colloquy, indeed, appeared +to be of more importance than that of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> +others, which was the reason, perhaps, +that they conversed with lowered voices, +and stopped every now and then and +leaned over the side of the vessel, whilst +they peered with solemn looks into each +other’s faces.</p> + +<p>Godfrey Harland, who was seated upon +the skylight benches, apparently shunned +by everybody, did not seem to like the +way in which Mr Fowler and the doctor +were talking to each other, for he watched +their movements and grimaces attentively, +though he was very careful not be caught +doing so.</p> + +<p>Captain Robarts, who was also on deck, +seemed to have shaken off ‘the black +dog’ that had clung to him so much of +late, and actually greeted the ladies with +the nearest approach he could manufacture +to a smile. The wind and the +weather had had a marvellous effect upon +him. Three or four times during the +morning he had rushed into the pilot-house +and examined his precious sextant,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> +and brightened up its silver arc with his +silk bandana. He was in exuberant +spirits <i>for him</i>,—thankful beyond measure +that the voyage had terminated with +so few mishaps, and that his barque was +within a day’s sail of the land. He forgot +his petty annoyances, and chatted to +his first officer in quite a lively manner. +He regarded his vessel with a complacent, +self-satisfied air, as if she owed +everything she was, or had done, to him +alone. He sometimes indulged in a low +chuckle to himself; and had he not considered +that he might have fallen thereby +in the estimation of his passengers and +crew, he might even have committed the +impropriety of bursting out into song. +But from this indiscretion his utter want +of voice or musical ability mercifully preserved +him.</p> + +<p>But the crowning bliss was yet to come. +Mr Coffin, obeying the instructions of his +superior officer, officially proclaimed to +the ladies and gentlemen on deck, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> +the following day would bring them to +the end of their voyage, and in two days’ +time (providing there was no quarantine) +they would all be on shore.</p> + +<p>This news was received with the greatest +excitement and applause. Miss Vere +set the example of clapping her hands, +which was taken up by all present, and +the second-class passengers, who had +been listening to the first officer’s harangue +from the quarter-deck, burst forth, on its +conclusion, into a loud cheer.</p> + +<p>Godfrey Harland joined in it. The intelligence +was, perhaps, more welcome to +him than to any one there. In a day +more he would be free—free from these +long faces and suspicious looks—free also, +he hoped, from his wife, and the scrutiny +of Farrell. As he thought of Iris, he +glanced down at the quarter-deck, and +saw her standing there by the side of +Perry, with her serious eyes strained in +the direction in which they had told her +the land lay. The idea flashed across<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> +Harland’s mind that it would be as well, +perhaps, to speak to her as soon as he +could do so without attracting notice. +He had had no communication with her +since <i>that night</i>. Would she not think +it strange if he did not ask the reason of +her not complying with his request? He +waited until most of the saloon passengers +had disappeared, joyfully bent on packing +their boxes, and writing letters with the +news of their arrival, to be despatched +to the old country which they had left +thousands of miles astern, as soon as they +touched land. And then, with a quick +look around, to see if he was observed, +Godfrey Harland descended the companion, +and made his way to the side of +his wife. Will Farrell was below at the +time, and Perry had walked away before +Harland appeared. There was no one +near enough to overhear their conversation.</p> + +<p>‘Iris,’ he commenced (but do what he +would, he could not help his voice shaking),<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +‘did you receive my letter the other +night?’</p> + +<p>‘I did,’ she answered, without looking +at him.</p> + +<p>‘Why did you not meet me then, as I +asked you to do, in the spare galley?’</p> + +<p>‘You know the reason well. Poor +Maggie came to meet you, instead of +me.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Maggie!</i>’ exclaimed Godfrey, with a +well-feigned start of surprise, ‘<i>Maggie!</i> +Was it in coming after <i>me</i> that the poor +girl met her death? This is terrible +news! It was a great shock to me when +I heard <i>who</i> was missing. Why did you +not tell me she was on board?’</p> + +<p>‘I did not see the necessity.’</p> + +<p>‘Of course I could have no idea she +would cross the sea with you: it was so +unlikely. What could have been her +motive in doing so?’</p> + +<p>‘I do not suppose it is any concern of +yours.’</p> + +<p>‘You are very cold and hard to me.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> +One would think I had been doing something +wrong. What is the matter? I +came down with the kindliest feelings, to +make some arrangement with you about +landing to-morrow. We cannot go together, +but I must not lose sight of you. +I cannot quite decide what is best to be +done.’</p> + +<p>‘Spare yourself the trouble, Godfrey; +I do not intend to go with you.’</p> + +<p>‘Who do you go with, then?’</p> + +<p>‘That is <i>my</i> business. But I will never +live with <i>you</i> again, rest assured of that.’</p> + +<p>This determination, so different from +what Iris had expressed before, when she +had threatened to compel him to acknowledge +and support her, filled Harland with +terror. There was evidently some deep +feeling at work, to have made her alter +her mind so soon, and speak so boldly to +him. Was it possible she <i>knew</i> how +Maggie Greet had come by her death, and +was resolved to expose him? What else +could imbue her with this sudden independence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +and hardihood? As he thought +of it, his knees knocked together with +fright. But he tried to brave it out.</p> + +<p>‘I can’t understand your tactics, Iris. +Last time we met, you told me that if I +would give you my written word to live +soberly for the future, everything should +be right between us. Well, I am ready to +give you my promise to that effect. I +wrote you that letter with the idea of +making up our quarrel, and I have hardly +spoken to Miss Vansittart since. Indeed +she is quite angry with me for my want +of courtesy. And now you appear to +have changed your mind. What is the +reason?’</p> + +<p>‘I don’t see that there is any need to +give it you, and I am quite sure you would +not like to hear it if I did. But I am +quite resolved not to owe anything to you +for the future. I will neither live with +you, nor take any maintenance from you. +I would rather starve, a great deal. And +now you know my determination, please<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> +not to speak to me again, or you may +drive me to do something for which we +may both be sorry.’</p> + +<p>Godfrey Harland understood her now. +He saw plainly that she <i>suspected</i>, though +it was impossible that she should <i>know</i>. +Still—if he aggravated her into giving +vent to her suspicions—it might be very +awkward for him. Conciliation all round +was the only card left for him to play.</p> + +<p>‘You have got some fancied grudge +against me, Iris, I suppose, though I can’t +for the life of me imagine <i>what</i>.’</p> + +<p>‘If <i>I</i> imagine it, it is sufficient for my +purpose.’</p> + +<p>‘True. But I am sorry. I had dreamt +we might turn over a new leaf in the new +country, and become a model married +couple.’</p> + +<p>‘No. That will never be—<i>now</i>,’ she +said significantly.</p> + +<p>‘You understand plainly that my little +flirtation with Miss Vansittart is completely +over, don’t you?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span>‘Yes.’</p> + +<p>‘And that my income is to commence +at six hundred a year.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes.’</p> + +<p>‘And I am willing to remit you half of +it, until I can disclose our marriage to +Mr Vansittart?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes.’</p> + +<p>‘And yet you refuse to live with me,—you +give me up altogether, at the very +moment when I have the opportunity to +keep you in a comfortable home.’</p> + +<p>‘I do. I refuse to have anything whatever +to do with you, from this hour to the +last day of my life.’</p> + +<p>‘Have you confided your intention to +any one else?’</p> + +<p>‘To no one.’</p> + +<p>He drew closer to her, and whispered +nervously,—</p> + +<p>‘Iris—if—if—you have taken any +absurd notions into your head, which have +not the slightest foundation—you—you +won’t ruin me, will you? You won’t go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +and make them public property, so as to +cast an unmerited stigma upon me, and +spoil all my future prospects?’</p> + +<p>Then she turned her pale face towards +him, and he read the truth in her eyes.</p> + +<p>‘You have no cause to fear me,’ she +answered contemptuously. ‘You will +never be betrayed by <i>me</i>. But—it must +depend on the condition that you never +claim me as your wife, nor try to marry +another woman. If you attempt to interfere +with me, or to force me to live with +you again, I shall adopt what means I can +to prevent you. Understand me plainly, +Godfrey Harland. You and I are parted +<i>for ever</i>. I would not even stoop to take +your hand, that is stained with—’</p> + +<p>‘Hush, hush! for God’s sake!’ he entreated; +‘it is a mistake; it is not true. +I had nothing whatever to do with it.’</p> + +<p>‘Say no more,’ she interposed, with a +quick look of horror. ‘Every word you +utter is a fresh condemnation. If you +want me to be silent—if you want me to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> +keep my promise and my senses, you will +leave me to myself, and never attempt to +see me again.’</p> + +<p>She turned from him, and by the convulsive +twitching of her face he saw how +difficult she found it to control herself. +He made one more effort to speak, but +Iris waved him from her, and feeling very +uncomfortable, conscience-stricken, and +alarmed, Godfrey Harland retreated to his +own cabin, to consider what steps it would +be wisest to take in the matter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i088a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII.<br> + +<small>EXPOSURE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_a.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="A"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">A</span>T four bells in the early watch +at the break of the ensuing +day, Captain Robarts was to +be seen walking in company with his +chief officer. The wind had continued +to blow steadily during the night, freshening +a little at eight bells, and the <i>Pandora</i> +had, at that time, but one hundred +miles to traverse. Should the elements +continue to favour them, the skipper +expected to be anchored in the Bay +before midnight. But the appearance of +the sun, which just peeped from a curtain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +of bright red clouds, bordered with +dull orange, formed the subject of a grave +discussion between the two officers.</p> + +<p>‘I don’t like the looks of it, sir,’ said +Mr Coffin, who had summoned his commander +to join him in an inspection of +the offending luminary; ‘and my opinion +is, that we shall get it before night +falls.’</p> + +<p>‘We ought to be at anchor by the +second dog watch,’ observed the captain; +‘have you noticed the barometer?’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; and it’s falling, sir,’ replied the +mate gravely. ‘Look at the lumpy sea, +too. The wind is not shifting about. +There is no reason why those waves +should toss about in that fashion.’</p> + +<p>‘I don’t mind the water so much,’ said +Captain Robarts; ‘but those blood-red +streaks about that washed-out sun look +dirty. What’s she making?’</p> + +<p>‘Eight and a-quarter when I hove the +log at eight bells, sir,’ answered Mr +Coffin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>‘Let me see, then. We ought to sight +the land by two. I shall go below now, +and get my coffee. Don’t alter her +course, but call me if there is any change. +And, by-the-way, Mr Coffin, tell Mr +Blythe that if he has time to do it this +morning, I want the booms put into the +foremast.’</p> + +<p>And with another glance towards the +east, Captain Robarts retreated to his +berth.</p> + +<p>Before the decks were washed, several +of the male passengers had ascended +the poop. It was the usual custom +with them aboard to be called at five +bells, and when six bells struck, and +the decks had been well scrubbed and +‘squeegeed’ down, to make their appearance +above.</p> + +<p>On the morning in question, however, +the shellbacks had not yet shipped their +pumps and hose when Captain Lovell, +Harold Greenwood, Mr Vansittart, and +others climbed up the ladder, and beset<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> +the mate with questions. But when the +nozzle commenced to play a stream of +water over their trousers, these gentlemen, +whose shore rig-out (unlike the +sea-boots of the ship’s company) could +not withstand the briny, took refuge in +the little pilot-house, and, lighting their +cheroots, waited till they might find a dry +resting-place outside.</p> + +<p>‘What did Mr Coffin say?’ asked +Captain Lovell.</p> + +<p>‘I couldn’t succeed in getting anything +out of him,’ laughed Mr Vansittart. ‘He +only muttered something about sighting +land this afternoon.’</p> + +<p>‘These sailors always like to be so confoundedly +mysterious,’ remarked another. +‘Why the deuce can’t the fellow satisfy +our curiosity, instead of talking in riddles? +He must know perfectly well when the +ship is due.’</p> + +<p>‘Wait till Blythe comes along. <i>He’ll</i> +tell us.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; he’s a very different build from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span> +these uncouth bears. Vernon Blythe is +a gentleman,’ said Lovell; ‘but Captain +Robarts doesn’t know how to answer a +civil question, and Mr Coffin thinks it +funny to slap you in the face (metaphorically +speaking) for asking it.’</p> + +<p>‘Any room inside there for a little +one?’ inquired Mr Fowler, looking in at +the doorway. ‘These fellows seem to +enjoy throwing the water over one.’</p> + +<p>‘Yes; come in. Good-morning. How +are you?’ said Lovell.</p> + +<p>‘Jolly, thanks. Had a capital night’s +rest. What’s the betting on the passage +now?’</p> + +<p>‘Well, I’m afraid the odds will be +longer, since the sun and barometer have +conspired to damp our hopes.’</p> + +<p>‘What; are we going to have a blow?’ +demanded Fowler.</p> + +<p>‘So the mate thinks. The skipper has +been on deck too, which is unusual for +him, I think. He does not, as a rule, +leave his blankets so early.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>‘I noticed something queer about the +sun when I was on the quarter-deck,’ +said Mr Fowler. ‘I am not much of a +judge of such matters, but it looked uncanny +to me. By Jove! do you hear +those gulls? They are uttering the most +discordant screams. I expect there is +something in that too.’</p> + +<p>The voice of the first officer here broke +in upon their conjectures.</p> + +<p>‘Clew up the mizen royal,’ he shouted +suddenly.</p> + +<p>‘Hullo! it has begun already!’ exclaimed +Captain Lovell; ‘let us go out on deck. +They can’t haul on the ropes and drench +our trousers through at the same time.’</p> + +<p>The sun had risen clear of the horizon +now, and was lighting up the seething +ocean, with its watery rays. The red +clouds still hung about, but their colour +did not appear to be so vivid. In the +westward, on the starboard bow, a dusty-looking +vapour obscured everything from +view. As the wind increased, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span> +<i>Pandora</i>, with flowing sheets, quickened +her speed. The log then told nine and +a half.</p> + +<p>On all sides, the sea, instead of rolling +in long swells, rose in the air in chops, +often breaking suddenly and dispersing in +rivers of white foam. The water gurgled +through the crevices in the ports, and +flowed back through the scuppers. After +much flapping, the royals were secured +and made fast to the yards, and then, +the mizen-topgallant sail was stowed, +which made spits bounce aboard over the +after mainrail.</p> + +<p>Several vessels were passed.</p> + +<p>A lively little coaster, under reefed topsails +and storm staysail, and a big smoke-jack, +breasting the sea, steaming in the +very teeth of the wind, dipping her bows +frequently, and ladling up large seas upon +her topgallant forecastle, that made the +‘look-out’ hastily lay aft, and take up his +responsible position on the bridge.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Pandora</i> had the best of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>She was before the wind, and all her +square canvas was drawing to advantage. +Little was eaten at the breakfast-table that +day. Excitement chased away hunger, +and the ladies emerged from their berths, +warmly wrapped in hats and cloaks, and +after swallowing a few hasty morsels, went +on deck to aid in keeping a good look-out. +A hundred times the binoculars and spy-glasses +were levelled towards the land, and +on each occasion the eager questioners received +an answer in the negative.</p> + +<p>Two people alone on board ship appeared +indifferent to their whereabouts, +and refused to sympathise with the animal +spirits and glad anticipations of the +passengers. These were the captain of +the vessel, and his chief officer, who regarded +the signs of the weather as far +more important and interesting than the +proximity of land. At noon, the main-topgallant +sail was taken off her, and she +then rolled heavily. Large seas thumped +over by the main chains, making the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> +gangway exceedingly difficult to traverse +without receiving a shower bath.</p> + +<p>The increased violence of the wind did +not hasten the speed of the <i>Pandora</i>, and +it was not till four o’clock in the afternoon, +when the passengers had become weary +of looking out for it, that a dark line in the +horizon, looming through the surrounding +mist, intimated that they were at last in +sight of land.</p> + +<p>‘That’s it, sure enough, sir,’ remarked +Mr Coffin. ‘Those ugly crags mark the +entrance to the bay. But I don’t think +we shall get anchorage to-night.’</p> + +<p>‘Nonsense! we are not thirty miles +off,’ replied the captain.</p> + +<p>‘But the wind is increasing, sir,’ +argued the mate, ‘and we sha’n’t get a +pilot. So how about anchorage?’</p> + +<p>‘Plenty of good anchorage there, Mr +Coffin. I shall run in this evening and +bring up under the cliffs. We shall be +under the hills by ten o’clock.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, sir; but I’ve known it to blow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> +stiffer when it comes down between +those hills than when outside.’</p> + +<p>To this remark Captain Robarts gave +no answer but a grunt.</p> + +<p>‘Are the anchors over the bows?’ he +asked presently.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, sir; we got them over in yesterday’s +dog watch.’</p> + +<p>‘See your cable ranged on deck clear +for running, and tell the carpenter to +look to his windlass,’ and turning aft, +the captain went to alter her course.</p> + +<p>‘Land, ho!’ shouted the man on the +look-out, which made the passengers +jump from their seats, and rush to the +side.</p> + +<p>‘Ay, ay,’ replied Captain Robarts +indifferently.</p> + +<p>‘Let her go off a point,’ he continued, +speaking to the helmsman, and having +satisfied himself that the vessel was on +her right road, he turned away to avoid +any questions that might be put to +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>As soon as that longed-for cry had +been sung out, everybody was naturally +eager to discern the promised land.</p> + +<p>‘But I can’t see <i>anything</i>!’ exclaimed +Alice Leyton. ‘I wish Jack was here; +I am sure there must be something +wrong with these glasses.’</p> + +<p>‘I expect it requires a practised eye,’ +said Captain Lovell. ‘By Jove! though, +I can make out a headland over there. +Can’t you see a grey peak?’</p> + +<p>‘I <i>think</i> I can,’ replied Alice, but her +tone was too doubtful to be relied on.</p> + +<p>But in the course of another hour, +when two bells had been sounded in the +dog watch, the tall rugged form was distinctly +visible, with its rough beetling +crags majestically facing the ocean, but +the foot was not apparent. There was a +thick pearly mist on the face of the +water, that hid the breakers that dashed +with such fury against the rocks from +view, and allowed only the summit of +the land to be seen.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span>Will Farrell paced the quarter-deck, +burning with thoughts of revenge. He +longed to confront his enemy Harland, +and prove him to be the murderer of +the woman he had loved, and yet he +dared not disobey the orders of the +detective.</p> + +<p>‘Yet what if he should escape?’ he +thought to himself, as his hands nervously +grasped the lappels of his coat. ‘Here we +are within sight of land, and the villain +is cunning enough for anything. Once +let him get on shore, and neither Mark +Rendle nor I will ever see him again. +He will hide like a fox. Surely the +passengers ought to share our knowledge +and suspicions, that there may be +the less chance of his getting off scot +free. He has done it once. Why +should he not do it again? Yet, if I +should ruin all my chances of revenge! +What <i>shall</i> I do?’</p> + +<p>Almost as he thought thus, Godfrey +Harland appeared before him. He had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +been considerably upset by Iris’s reception +of him the day before. Her look and +manner and speech had so palpably conveyed +to him the truth that <i>she</i> suspected +him of having had a share in the death of +Maggie Greet. And if she suspected it, +perhaps Farrell did so too. And yet of +what avail were their suspicions, when +they could not possibly have any proofs, +and would not dare to speak without them? +Even the doctor’s careful examination of +the body had resulted (as Harland had +taken good care to ascertain) in his being +unable to detect any signs of violence. +And now she was hidden from sight for +evermore—buried in the unfathomable +depths of the sea, and no one had the +right to call her accidental death by any +other name. At the same time, he had +decided it would be advisable to conciliate +Farrell, if possible, before going on shore, +so as to prevent his tongue wagging more +than was agreeable when he got there. +And to that intent Harland now approached<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> +his enemy, with a pleasant smile +and an outstretched palm. He could not +have chosen a more unfavourable moment +for making his overtures of peace.</p> + +<p>‘How are you, old man?’ he commenced +airily, as he proffered his hand. +‘Here we are, you see, at the end of our +journey, and to-morrow we shall part, perhaps +for ever.’</p> + +<p>‘What do you mean by speaking to +me?’ demanded Farrell, glaring at him.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Mean!</i> Why, that I want to part +friends with you. Come along, and have +a drink.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Have a drink!</i>’ replied Farrell, dashing +the offered hand to the ground. ‘Do you +imagine that <i>I</i> would drink with <i>you</i>?’</p> + +<p>‘And why not?’ said Harland, determined +to brave it out. ‘What harm have +<i>I</i> done you? Surely you are not going +to harbour that old grudge against me for +ever. Come, man, try to forget and forgive. +If ever it is in my power, I’ll make +it up to you—upon my soul I will; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> +just at present I expect I’m as poor as +yourself.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Make it up to me!</i>’ cried Farrell fiercely. +‘Can you give me back the character you +took away, or restore the woman who was +to have been my wife?’</p> + +<p>At that allusion Harland grew ashy +pale; for Farrell spoke so loud that the +whole ship might have heard him.</p> + +<p>‘Hold your tongue, you young fool!’ he +exclaimed. ‘You don’t know what you’re +talking about. I had no more to do with +the girl’s death than you had yourself. +What’s the use of talking such nonsense, +just because we had a bit of a tiff over our +play? Make it up like a sensible man, +and have a drink over it.’</p> + +<p>‘Stand off!’ thundered Farrell; ‘don’t +dare to approach me, or it will be the +worse for you.’</p> + +<p>‘What do you mean? Are you drunk, +or mad?’</p> + +<p>‘Whichever you please; but if you don’t +go at once it will be the worse for you.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>Harland would have gone as desired, +had not Bob Perry appeared at that +moment upon the scene.</p> + +<p>‘Hullo, Farrell!’ he cried, ‘what’s up?’</p> + +<p>‘This scoundrel dares to ask me to +drink with him,’ replied Will hotly.</p> + +<p>‘And, pray, what harm is there in that?’ +asked Harland <i>nonchalantly</i>.</p> + +<p>His manner irritated Farrell beyond +endurance.</p> + +<p>‘Do you presume to ask me?’ he cried. +‘Do you wish me to carry out my threat, +and expose you to the whole ship?’</p> + +<p>‘You <i>dare</i> not!’ hissed Harland in his +ear; ‘you have not a single proof to bring +forward to support your lies; whilst <i>I</i> +should ask you before them all how much +you know of the disappearance of your +leman over the ship’s side the other +night.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Liar!</i>’ exclaimed Will Farrell, flying +at his throat, and in another minute the +two men were rolling on the deck together, +locked in a furious embrace. Perry called<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +for help, and every one on deck was soon +witnessing the struggle. Again and again +did the combatants spring up and fly +afresh at each other, but at last the screams +of the women and the expostulations of +the men seemed to rouse them to some +sense of their disgraceful position, and, +bruised and bleeding, they allowed themselves +to be separated. Harland was +much the more severely punished of the +two, and seemed almost fainting, as he was +supported between Dr Lennard and Captain +Lovell; but Farrell, pinioned in the +strong arms of Vernon Blythe, was quite +ready to go on with the fight, and it demanded +all the strength of the young +officer to prevent his flying at his enemy +again.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i039a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII.<br> + +<small>A LEE SHORE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_t2.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="'t"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">‘T</span>HIS is disgraceful, gentlemen!’ +exclaimed Dr Lennard; ‘and +I am surprised at your so +forgetting yourselves. If you do not +cease fighting at once, you will compel +me to call in the authority of the captain.’</p> + +<p>‘Let me go,’ panted Farrell, as he +struggled in the detaining grasp of Jack +Blythe; ‘let me finish the brute whilst I +can! He is a forger and a murderer. He +is not fit to live.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>He lies</i>,’ murmured Harland, faint with +loss of blood. ‘He is mad; don’t listen +to him.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>But every one was listening. The saloon +passengers hung over the fiferail, the +stewards appeared in the cabin passage, +the shellbacks gathered in a group at the +main rigging, and the rest were clustered +upon every side.</p> + +<p>‘It is the truth!’ gasped Farrell. ‘He +has defied and insulted me, and I will +expose him.’</p> + +<p>‘Don’t let him speak,’ said Harland, +shaking with fear.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, yes! let us hear him,’ interposed +the second-class passengers.</p> + +<p>‘Ay, ay, let the lad have fair play!’ +exclaimed a veteran shellback.</p> + +<p>‘I will tell you about the murder,’ continued +Farrell, choking with excitement +and fury.</p> + +<p>‘<i>The murder!</i>’ echoed a dozen voices. +But at that moment Mr Fowler pushed +his way through the crowd, and caught +hold of Will Farrell.</p> + +<p>‘Stop, man, for Heaven’s sake!’ he +cried.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>‘No, no; you shall not stop me,’ replied +Farrell, wrenching himself out of his +grasp. ‘My blood is up, and everybody +shall know the truth of it.’</p> + +<p>‘I warn you—’ continued the detective.</p> + +<p>‘The time is past for warning,’ said the +unhappy Farrell; ‘all I want is my revenge.’</p> + +<p>‘Let us hear him. It’s only fair that +he should be allowed to speak!’ exclaimed +the crowd.</p> + +<p>‘That man, who calls himself Godfrey +Harland, is Horace Cain, the forger of +Starling’s cheque, who escaped to America, +and came back under an assumed name.’</p> + +<p>Harland’s white lips moved to refute the +assertion, but no sound came from them.</p> + +<p>‘He is the husband of the lady who +calls herself Miss Douglas, and whom he +deserted and left (as he thought) in +England; and the girl—the poor girl,’ +continued Farrell, in a choking voice, ‘as +came by her death the other night, and as +was to have been my wife, went up at that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> +very hour to meet him, and show him the +proofs I hold against him for forgery. +What do you say to that?’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Where</i> are your proofs?’ gasped Harland, +to whom terror seemed to have +restored his speech. ‘I don’t know Miss +Douglas, or the other woman. I never +spoke to either of them. You must mistake +me for some other man.’</p> + +<p>‘No, he don’t,’ interposed a sailor, ‘for +you met Miss Douglas when she was in +the spare galley along with me, sir, and +you knew her, and called her by her +name as soon as you clapped eyes on +her!’</p> + +<p>‘Can you swear to that?’ asked the +detective.</p> + +<p>‘<i>I</i> can swear to it,’ replied Iris, suddenly +appearing in their midst, ‘for I am his +wife, Iris Harland.’</p> + +<p>At this announcement, Grace Vansittart +gave a slight scream, and fell into the +arms of her mother.</p> + +<p>‘It is for <i>her</i> sake, not my own, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span> +I have said this,’ continued Iris; ‘and of +all the rest, <i>I know nothing</i>.’</p> + +<p>She swayed forward here, as though +she were about to fall, and Vernon +Blythe flew to her side and threw his +arm around her.</p> + +<p>‘Courage,’ he said, in a low voice, and +as he spoke she seemed to revive, like +a flower when the skies are opened.</p> + +<p>‘But who can speak to Mr Harland’s +having met Miss Greet on the evening +she fell overboard?’ demanded a voice +from the crowd.</p> + +<p>‘<i>I</i> know that when she was found she +wore Miss Douglas’s cloak, which she +had taken from her cabin after she was +asleep,’ said a steward.</p> + +<p>‘And I—’ interposed Dr Lennard, ‘that +on that evening, as I left the dinner-table, +I found Mr Harland in my surgery, +who told me he had dropped the end of +a cigar there. The same night, at about +eleven o’clock, Captain Lovell and I found +him alone by the mainrail, and asked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> +him to accompany us to the smoke-room, +which was immediately pervaded by a +strong smell of chloroform, proceeding +from his pocket-handkerchief. The next +morning I discovered one of my bottles +of chloroform was missing.</p> + +<p>‘I—I—told you—I had the toothache,’ +said Harland, with chattering teeth.</p> + +<p>‘So you are the hero of the Starling +forgery case, Mr Harland. You made +a plucky bolt of it, and though I have +been on the look-out for you several +times since, I little thought to find you +so many miles from home. Without a +warrant, my power is at present useless, +but I must detain you from going on +shore, on the charges of forgery and—suspected +murder!’</p> + +<p>‘Can I—can I—go to my cabin?’ +gasped Harland, who felt that every eye—that +of Miss Vansittart included—was +on him.</p> + +<p>‘Certainly; it is better you should do +so,’ replied Mr Fowler; ‘and I will see<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> +you are not disturbed nor molested in any +way.’</p> + +<p>The unhappy man shambled off, eager +only to hide himself from the scrutiny +of his companions, and the company on +the quarter-deck broke up.</p> + +<p>‘So you are a detective?’ said Captain +Lovell to Mr Fowler.</p> + +<p>‘Yes, sir. It is useless to keep up +the deception any longer. As soon as +I arrive at Lyttleton, I shall return by +the first mail to London. You little +suspected you had an official on board, +but as matters have turned out, it is as +well that I was here.’</p> + +<p>‘And why are you going to New +Zealand?’</p> + +<p>‘That I must not tell you, but you +may be sure it is not for pleasure. +Allow me to hand you my card.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>Mark Rendle!</i>’ exclaimed Captain +Lovell; ‘the hero of the International +forgeries! I am proud to know you,’ +extending his hand. ‘Had you only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> +thrown off your disguise, how you might +have amused us during the voyage.’</p> + +<p>‘Possibly; but I had my duty to think +of, and had I permitted pleasure to interfere +with it, this little game, for one, +would have been spoiled. But as it is +blowing hard, I will go below and get +my overcoat. The one I feel for most +in this business is poor Miss Vansittart. +There is no doubt this rascal has been +passing himself off on her as a single +man. How will she bear the shock?’</p> + +<p>‘Better than you think, I imagine,’ +replied Captain Lovell. ‘She is not a +young woman of very deep feelings, and +her vanity will be more hurt than anything +else. Will you join me in a glass +of whisky?’</p> + +<p>And Mr Mark Rendle having assented, +the two men strolled together to the +bar.</p> + +<p>It was then past seven o’clock, and +the shades of night had hidden the land. +The fog also made it very thick ahead,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> +so that the entrance to the bay could not +be distinguished.</p> + +<p>The wind howled and wailed with +piercing accents through the rigging, the +sea was very high, and boiling torrents +of foam hissed around the <i>Pandora</i>. The +mainsail and crossjack were both safely +rolled up, and the vessel began to labour +heavily in the turbulent sea.</p> + +<p>Long, grey clouds sailed across the sky, +making the moon appear as though she +were travelling at an enormous speed.</p> + +<p>For two hours more the good ship +stood on, and then the wind was blowing +a strong gale. Captain Robarts was +getting very uneasy. He was not certain +if he was steering straight for the mouth +of the bay, and it was too late for him +to turn back.</p> + +<p>The truth is, he was close to a very +dangerous lee shore. Mr Coffin and Mr +Blythe stood together by the rigging trying +to peer through the mist, whilst Mr +Sparkes, with two seamen, was on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> +look-out. Half-an-hour afterwards, a +voice sung out ‘Land ho! on the port +beam, sir!’ The <i>Pandora</i> had entered +the bay.</p> + +<p>‘Lower away the topsail halliards,’ ordered +the captain. ‘Stand by your port +anchor, Mr Coffin.’</p> + +<p>‘Land right ahead!’ shouted the voice +from the forecastle.</p> + +<p>‘What’s that?’ yelled the skipper. +‘Hard a-port with your helm, man!—over +with it!’</p> + +<p>There was a sudden movement made +by a few of the passengers toward the +wheel, the vessel answered her helm, +and paid off; but Captain Robarts had +miscalculated his position. A moment +afterwards there was an ugly, grating +noise, that seemed to scrape the ship’s +keel fore and aft,—a sudden lurch,—a +tremendous crash, and the <i>Pandora</i>, +with her fore and main-topgallant masts +and jiboom carried away—a pitiful, miserable +wreck—heeled over, with the sharp-pointed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span> +cruel rocks deeply imbedded in +her side.</p> + +<p>Before any one on board was fully +aware of their perilous situation, a monstrous +sea washed over her deck, carrying +the first officer, Mr Coffin, and several +sailors away before it, and half-filling the +cabin, followed by others that leapt over +at the fore and main chains. In a moment +all was confusion. Vernon Blythe +was witness to the disappearance of the +mate, and immediately took command in +his stead.</p> + +<p>‘Man the starboard lifeboat!’ he ordered, +in a firm, loud voice.</p> + +<p>All realised the meaning of those terrible +words. The women shrieked and clung to +each other, whilst their faces blanched with +mortal fear. With clenched teeth, and +eyes staring into vacancy, they tried to +pray, but only succeeded in wringing +their hands in despair. The furious seas +that were clearing the ship’s maindeck—the +wild confusion on board—the warring<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> +of the elements as they thrashed and +battled against the precipitous cliffs—resounding +in the chasms with the noise +of thunder, and retreating only to charge +again; the hoarse cries of the sea birds, +and the thought of their close proximity +to Death, appalled them beyond description.</p> + +<p>The men stood bewildered, clutching at +the rails, and watching the agonised frenzy +of the weaker sex without offering them +any comfort or assistance. They were +unnerved themselves, and showed their +terror by their scared and expressionless +faces, trembling limbs, and speechless +tongues.</p> + +<p>Vernon Blythe was busily employed on +the skids, cheering on the sailors, and +superintending the lowering of the lifeboat. +His face was very white and +strained, but his hands were steady; and +of all there, young or old, he was the most +courageous and self-possessed. He had +no leisure to think of the sad fate of his +chief officer, poor Abel Coffin, who, with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span> +five sturdy shellbacks, had been swept +from his side into the boiling deep. He +dared not even think of Iris Harland, +though every effort he made seemed to +be done for her, and her alone. He was +conscious of only one thing,—that, in that +fearful hour, he stood alone, responsible +for the actions of the sailors, and the +safety of their living freight. He stood +there, calm and collected, taking no heed +of the confusion by which he was surrounded. +His lip quivered a little, and +a drop of blood, which he had drawn +with his closed teeth, trickled slowly on +to his chin. But his orders were given +in a clear, authoritative voice—slowly and +deliberately, and without the least sign +of fear. The seamen noticed his cool +courage, and it urged them on to redouble +their efforts, and fight against the +raging storm. Vernon Blythe, young as +he was, to assume such a command, +taught them a lesson that night which +those who survived it never forgot. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span> +showed them the value of self-control in +a time of danger, and what a pitiable +creature the man without it can prove +himself to be.</p> + +<p>That man, strange to say, was the very +one who should have been to the front in +everything—the commander of the vessel, +Captain Robarts. There he stood, next +to Jack Blythe, with a face of ashen +paleness, a trembling frame, chattering +teeth, that rattled like castanets against +each other, wild, haggard looks, and a +total inability to supply his young officer’s +place. When the man was most wanted +to show an example of courage and trust +in God—when he should have taken the +sole command of his ship’s company, and +lived or died with them—his despicable +cowardice completely unsexed him, and +he might have been the smallest cabin-boy +on board, for the picture of abject +terror he displayed.</p> + +<p>When the tempest arose, and the wrath +of Heaven seemed poured out upon them,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span> +and that beautiful axiom of George Herbert’s—‘He +that will learn to pray, let him +go to sea’—appeared most applicable, then +Captain Robarts forgot his Creator, his +position, and his duty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i223.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i001a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV.<br> + +<small>SHIPWRECKED.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_i.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="I"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">I</span>N the midst of this terrible confusion, +the starboard lifeboat +of the <i>Pandora</i> was taken +from her chocks, and swung into the +davit tackles. Six sailors jumped quickly +into her, and took their places on the +thwarts, and the third officer, Mr Sparkes, +grasped the tiller in the stern sheets. +Then the women, with tear-stained faces +and dishevelled hair, were handed down, +some moaning piteously with fright, others +murmuring prayers to Heaven for help,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +and clinging to their companions in their +distress. The first to enter the boat was +Grace Vansittart, wailing louder than the +rest, and covering her face with her hands +to shut out the terrifying scene around +her. Her usually blooming face was +white as marble, and her large brown +eyes seemed to be starting from their +sockets. But her grief was all for herself. +No thought, in that awful hour, +of the wretched man to whom she had +been vowing protestations of fidelity +throughout the voyage occupied her +mind. She was too much alarmed on +her own account to remember anybody +else. Father, mother, and lover had +alike sunk into insignificance beside the +danger that threatened herself. There +was no doubt but that, should Miss Vansittart +survive the wreck, she would soon +enough be comforted for the loss of +Godfrey Harland. Mr and Mrs Vansittart +were the next to follow.</p> + +<p>The old man had wished to remain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span> +behind, but his wife had clung to him +with so tenacious a grasp, that Vernon +Blythe pushed them both in together.</p> + +<p>‘John! John!’ the poor woman had +exclaimed; ‘we have lived together for +thirty years! Don’t let us die apart!’</p> + +<p>And after all, as Vernon in the pride +of his young manhood thought, what +was an old man but a woman!</p> + +<p>Mrs Leyton followed with Alice, but +not before they had both turned round +and given him a farewell kiss.</p> + +<p>‘God bless you, dear boy,’ sobbed the +mother, ‘for all you have done for me +and mine.’</p> + +<p>‘Oh! Jack, Jack!’ cried Alice, ‘I +have never left off loving you! How +I wish—’</p> + +<p>‘All right, dear Mrs Leyton. All +right, Alice,’ he replied cheerily. ‘Keep +up your spirits! We shall meet again +before long,’ and so passed them into +the boat.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Jack! come with me!’ screamed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span> +Alice, as she found herself rocking on +the deep, but the wind prevented her +voice from reaching his ear, as he +busied himself with handing the baby +into the arms of the shellbacks.</p> + +<p>Poor little Winnie was as sorely frightened +as the rest, and loud in her lamentations. +Then came Miss Vere, pale +as a piece of Parian, but calm and collected; +and when her full complement +was made up, the lugger-rigged craft +was pushed off, and headed for the +harbour.</p> + +<p>The remaining hands then cut away +the lashings of the forward jolly-boat, +while others shipped the stanchions and +rigged tackles. The male passengers +had partly recovered from their scare by +this time, and followed the good example +of Vernon Blythe and the seamen, +in trying to launch the second +boat. It was a very dangerous task. +The seas had smashed up the smoke-room +as if it had been so much match-wood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span> +ripped up the main fiferail, and +torn away the after end of the house +amidships. The after companion-ladder +had also been swept away, and the +cabin could not be entered from the +quarter-deck.</p> + +<p>The port boats were stove in, and +innumerable planks, sea-chests, buckets, +and blocks, were washing about the +deck, making an incessant clatter that +was audible even above the howling of +the gale.</p> + +<p>Captain Robarts stood upon the poop, +his agonised and distorted face the very +picture of despair. One cannot judge of +a sailor’s qualities until he is seen under +circumstances of difficulty or danger. +Then his noblest or his weakest points +alike stand out in bold relief. A sailor +may traverse the ocean for years, and +never fall in with a mishap. It is easy +sailing to steer a craft in fine weather, +with plenty of sea room. But a heavy +blow in the Channel, with land on either<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> +side, and a forest of shipping to keep +clear of,—or a stiff breeze and a lee +shore, with an untrustworthy vessel—these +are the dangers which the mariner +has to look out for, and which will prove +him a man to be either esteemed or +despised.</p> + +<p>Standing by Captain Robarts’ side, +with an excited look in her eye, but no +fear upon her face, was Iris Harland—the +only woman left upon the sinking +ship. She had watched all the others +depart, she had even made a feint of +following them, but, after all, had kept +intentionally in the background, and let +the lifeboat go without her. But few +knew that she remained behind. Vernon +Blythe fully believed she was on her +way to land. His first thought and inquiry +had been for her, and one of the +sailors had told him she was lowered +into the boat. And so he had returned +to his duty, with his mind at ease as far +as Iris was concerned. Yet she stood by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span> +the skipper’s side, watching his gallant +efforts to save the remainder of the passengers +and crew—proud to think that +(after a fashion) he belonged to her, and +resolved to stay by his side to the very +last, and die with him, if it was ordained +that he should die.</p> + +<p>These two standing together—the old +experienced man, and the young untried +woman—were the exponents of a rule +which has but few exceptions,—that love +is strong as death. <i>She</i>, who was regarded +as the weaker vessel, made strong +by reason of her love, stood calm and +courageous in the midst of danger and +the sight of dissolution; whilst <i>he</i>, who +had but himself and his own credit +to consider, caved in like a coward +under a responsibility too heavy for +him.</p> + +<p>The jolly-boat was launched, and a +dozen passengers essayed to enter her +at once, pushing each other down in +their effort to be first, thinking only of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span> +their own safety, and not caring a rush +for that of their neighbours.</p> + +<p>One man, however, looked round before +he jumped into the boat, and catching +sight of Iris Harland on the poop, +elbowed his way towards her with an exclamation +of horror. It was Will Farrell.</p> + +<p>‘Miss Douglas!’ he cried excitedly, +‘why are you still here? Come! come! +before it is too late.’</p> + +<p>But Iris did not stir.</p> + +<p>‘Save yourself, Mr Farrell,’ she replied; +‘I shall remain behind until—until +the last.’</p> + +<p>‘What! to court death? Don’t you +know that before long the vessel must +be broken up,—that every moment may +be your last? Miss Douglas, for my +sake—for Maggie’s sake—come with me.’</p> + +<p>‘Do you think I have so much to live +for that I should fear death?’ she answered, +smiling. ‘Pray, Mr Farrell, don’t +waste time over me. I do not intend to +leave until the last boat goes.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>‘But there may not be another. Every +minute renders it more difficult to launch +a boat.’</p> + +<p>‘Then I shall die here,’ said Iris, with +her soft eyes following every movement +of Vernon’s form.</p> + +<p>‘You have lost your senses. Do you +realise what you are saying? Mr Blythe,’ +shouted Farrell lustily, ‘<i>make</i> Miss Douglas +come in the boat with us.’</p> + +<p>In a moment he was by her side, trembling +for her safety, when he had never +trembled for his own.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Iris, how is this? I thought you +were in the lifeboat. How came you to +be left behind?’</p> + +<p>‘I stayed of my own free will, Vernie,’ +she said sweetly; ‘I stayed to be <i>with you</i>. +Don’t deny me this poor privilege. We +cannot live together, but if we are to die, +oh! let me die by your side.’</p> + +<p>‘<i>My darling!</i>’ he exclaimed; ‘I will +guard your life with my own!’</p> + +<p>‘Oh, Mr Blythe,’ said Farrell, ‘don’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span> +let her throw that life away. Persuade +her—command her, to leave the vessel. +You <i>know</i> it cannot live much longer in +this sea.’</p> + +<p>‘I know that our lives are in the hands +of God,’ returned the young sailor simply, +‘and that there is as good a chance for +the next boat as for this. If Mrs Harland +prefers to remain with me, I shall +not prevent her from doing so.’</p> + +<p>‘Then God help you both. I must go, +or they will start without me;’ and without +another word Will Farrell ran off to +take his place in the jolly-boat. As it +pushed off, he found himself sitting next +to Godfrey Harland. The men glared at +one another like savage beasts, but fear +for themselves had swallowed up for the +time being even their desire for revenge. +Only one boat now remained that could +be called seaworthy, and that was the +cutter—for the captain’s gig could not +have lived in such a storm—and all hands +rushed towards the mainmast, and climbed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span> +up by the crossjack braces, and along +the mizen stay, towards the frail craft.</p> + +<p>By the aid of the bridge, Vernon Blythe +clambered again upon the poop, where +Iris was now standing alone, the captain +having staggered to the other side of the +vessel, so paralysed by the scene before +him as to be unable apparently either to +act or think.</p> + +<p>‘Iris,’ exclaimed Vernon, as he took +her in his arms for one mad moment, +‘Iris, my own darling! you have risked +your life to stay with me.’</p> + +<p>But words failed him. His heart beat +high with joy, although the murderous +waves were leaping around them, as +though they longed to lick them both +down together to a cruel death. The +warm tears filled his yearning eyes, and +a strange choking sensation assailed his +powers of speech. After an effort at +self-control, he resumed, hastily and +authoritatively,—</p> + +<p>‘Come, dearest! this is the last boat,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span> +and you must be the first to enter her. +Hold your shawl closely over you, and I +will see you lowered into it.’</p> + +<p>‘But, Vernie, <i>you</i> will come, too?’ she +asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>‘I will come too. I will follow you. +<i>I promise it</i>,’ he said.</p> + +<p>Then he clasped her closely to him, and +pressed a passionate kiss upon her quivering +lips, before he turned to superintend +the lowering of the cutter. With hatchets +and sheath-knives the lashings were soon +hacked through, and with the main-topmast +staysail halliards, they swung her +from her beds, and rove the patent +lowering gear.</p> + +<p>When Iris and the few men left on +the fast-sinking <i>Pandora</i> were safely +aboard, Vernon Blythe went to find the +captain, and entreat him to accompany +them. Nothing more could be done for +the ill-fated vessel, and it was folly to +throw away life without reason. But on +reaching the hatch, he was startled by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span> +hearing the report of a pistol, followed +by a heavy fall, and running to the foot +of the mizenmast, he discovered the body +of his unfortunate commander, shot through +the heart. The wretched man, not daring +to meet his employers, with the brand of +shame and failure on his brow, knowing +well that all the blame for the loss of the +<i>Pandora</i> would be laid upon his shoulders, +that his certificate would be suspended, +and he would stand before the authorities +a guilty man, had put an end to his +existence. The fact is, Captain Robarts’ +whole soul had been wrapped up in his +profession. His ship had been his wife, +his children, and his home, and without +her he felt he had nothing left to live +for. This unexpected fatal calamity, +which had dashed his brightest hopes +to the ground, in the very hour of their +fulfilment, had unsettled his mind, and +transformed him at once into an embittered, +broken-down man, who saw no +refuge before him except in death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span>Vernon Blythe knelt down by the side +of his expiring commander, and, raising +his head upon his arm, caught his last +faint orders.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Here—here</i>—in <i>her</i>.’</p> + +<p>What did he mean? Did he wish to +be buried with his ship?</p> + +<p>‘In the <i>Pandora</i>, sir?’ he asked. ‘Am +I to leave you here?’</p> + +<p>The dying man’s eyes opened with a +last gleam of intelligence, and then closed +for ever.</p> + +<p>There was no time to lose.</p> + +<p>Dragging the now lifeless form to the +pilot-house, Vernon Blythe laid it on the +spare bunk, and murmuring the prayer, +‘God have mercy on him,’ covered +the corpse with the house flag of +the vessel, which he took from the +locker, and hastily closing the door, +left the dead sailor in his desired resting-place.</p> + +<p>As he jumped into the cutter, the men, +weary and dispirited as they had become,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> +received their gallant young officer with +a cheer. But Vernon only thought of +one thing—that Iris was safe, and, for the +time being, they were <i>together</i>.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i107.jpg" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i039a.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV.<br> + +<small>FARRELL’S REVENGE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<div> + <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_dc_o.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="O"> +</div> + +<p><span class="drop-cap">O</span>NCE clear of the sinking vessel, +and the spars that floated about +her stern, the cutter went prosperously +on her way, but the jolly-boat +had not been so fortunate. Overladen by +the rush of excited passengers who crowded +into her, she had but small chance in such +a gale, and when she was some little distance +from the <i>Pandora</i>, a huge wave took +her suddenly on the wrong quarter, and +she capsized with all her living freight into +the sea. In the dark, with the boisterous +water knocking the breath out of their +bodies, what chance had the unhappy passengers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span> +of saving themselves. Indeed, the +immersion was so sudden and unexpected, +and they had been so thoroughly unnerved +before it occurred, that the majority of +them were sucked under, almost before +they knew that they were drowning.</p> + +<p>But when the <i>Pandora</i> ran upon the +scarp of rocks at the north-east side of +the bay, her fore-topgallant mast had gone +over the side. The sea had soon carried +it away from the vessel, and when the +luckless jolly-boat capsized, it proved a +harbour of refuge for three men. After +a brief struggle, one of them, a sailor, by +name Jack Andy, managed to grasp a +rope, and pull himself towards the spar, +which he hugged with a grip of iron till +he had recovered his breath, then perceiving +a shipmate in distress, who was +attempting to reach it also, he tossed him +a line, and dragged Will Farrell from a +watery grave.</p> + +<p>Slowly the mast drifted towards the land, +sometimes immersing the men under the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span> +huge rollers, then bringing them up again, +only to prepare for another breathless +dive.</p> + +<p>‘God help the rest of ’em,’ observed +Jack Andy, in one of these short intervals, +‘for if ever <i>we</i> get to shore, <i>they</i> won’t, +that’s certain. They’re all in kingdom +come by this time.’</p> + +<p>‘They’re just as well there as here,’ +replied Farrell, with teeth chattering from +the cold. ‘Hullo! here’s one of them, +though.’</p> + +<p>The moon had just beamed upon the +water, and by her white light, he could +discern the features of a man who, though +greatly exhausted, was clinging to the heel +end of the spar.</p> + +<p>It was Godfrey Harland.</p> + +<p>As Farrell recognised him, the anxiety +for his own preservation seemed entirely +to disappear, and a cruel, vindictive spirit +pervaded his countenance. With the utmost +difficulty, he sidled along the mast +until he faced his enemy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span>‘Now, <i>Horace Cain</i>!’ he exclaimed +loudly, ‘we meet face to face, and my +time has come at last.’</p> + +<p>‘What would you do to me?’ cried +Harland, in a voice of terror.</p> + +<p>‘Do to you? <i>Kill you!</i> as you killed +my love. Make you taste the same death +you meted out to her. We have no +weapons but our fast-failing strength, +but we stand on fair ground.’</p> + +<p>Like all bullies, Harland was a coward, +and his last remnant of courage forsook +him now.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, God!’ he howled, ‘spare me—spare +me! You are mad!’</p> + +<p>‘I <i>am</i> mad,’ replied Farrell, ‘mad for +my revenge. You have wrested from me +all I cared for in this world, and laughed +at the pain you caused me. You have +taken away my good name,—trampled on +my reputation,—killed the only woman for +whom I cared. Yes, Godfrey Harland, I +could not <i>probe</i> it perhaps in open court, +but I <i>know</i> you to be the murderer of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span> +Maggie Greet, and if the hangman is to +be cheated of his due, the sea shall do his +work for him. You have wounded my +heart till the last drop of human blood has +oozed from it, and changed me from +a man into a devil. Life is worth +nothing to me now, and I have sworn +not to die until I have avenged <i>her</i> +death.’</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Farrell crept nearer and +nearer to his victim, and Harland could see +his long, lean fingers curling themselves +in readiness to clutch his throat as he +approached.</p> + +<p>‘Oh, mercy! mercy!’ whined the cowering +wretch. ‘Farrell, I repent. I will +make amends. Have mercy on me, for +Heaven’s sake!’</p> + +<p>‘What mercy did you show to her?’ +yelled Farrell. ‘Doubtless my poor girl +cried to you in her terror, as you cry to +me, and how did you reply? You cast +her into the arms of the murderous sea, +as may God give me strength to cast you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span> +now. No, no! the fight is a fair one, and +let the best man win.’</p> + +<p>And throwing out his arm to grasp his +enemy, Farrell let go of the spar, and the +two men fell into the water together.</p> + +<p>Jack Andy looked on from the other +end of the floating mast in sheer amazement +at the scene that passed before him. +The wind was too strong to permit him +to hear what they said to one another; +but as the timber to which he clung was +carried each moment farther into the bay, +the water became calmer, and he was enabled +to keep his head clear of the rolling +billows, and to watch everything that +took place between his companions.</p> + +<p>‘Why, how’s this mates!’ he exclaimed, +as he saw them relinquish their grasp of +the spar; ‘hold on, whatever you do! +for we’ve the chance of life afore us now +for the first time.’</p> + +<p>But they were deaf to every voice but +that of their own evil passions. Directly +Jack Andy perceived their murderous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> +intentions, he edged towards them, with +the idea of calling them to reason, or +saving them by main force. But he was +too late. Godfrey Harland was the +stronger of the two, although he had been +taken somewhat unawares, and as soon +as he realised that Farrell was about to +strangle him, he prepared with all his +force to throw off his assailant.</p> + +<p>But the younger man had fixed his +nails so firmly in his throat that he prevented +his using his arms with any effect, +and they both disappeared beneath a heavy +roller. When they rose up to the surface, +they were beyond Jack Andy’s reach. +Harland’s face had turned purple, and +the whites of his eyes were staring upwards +at the moon.</p> + +<p>‘<i>Die!</i>’ hissed Farrell, in his own death +struggle, ‘die, as <i>she</i> died, and be cursed—<i>for +ever!</i>’</p> + +<p>Down they went again beneath the +remorseless sea, who opened her arms +so willingly to receive them, locked together<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span> +in a fierce embrace of hate and +revenge; and when Jack Andy looked +back for the last time, he saw the two +men, gripped together in death, sink +down to the bottom of the deep.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The lifeboat and the cutter both got +safe to land, and Mr Blythe and Mr +Sparkes, as the only two surviving officers +of the ill-fated <i>Pandora</i>, were bound +to return to England by the first steamer, +to report the particulars of the wreck to +their employers, and to stand their own +trial for the loss of the vessel—a trial +which resulted in so much credit to them +both, for their promptitude, coolness, and +courage, that they were immediately re-appointed +as first and second officers of +the <i>Hebe</i>, one of the finest ships in the +possession of Messrs Stern & Stales.</p> + +<p>And when Vernon Blythe was forced +to leave England again, which (luckily +for himself) did not take place for some +months afterwards, he had to say good-bye<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span> +to his wife as well as his mother. +For after that time of trial and distress, +he had felt that it was equally impossible +to leave Iris friendless and alone in New +Zealand, or to bring her home with him, +unless she were his wife. And so they +had been privately married within a few +days of landing, and the girl had felt as if +she had exchanged earth for heaven ever +since.</p> + +<p>‘Do you know, Vernie,’ she said, as +she stood by the side of her handsome +young husband in the window of the +Southsea cottage, on the very day he +brought home the news of his appointment +to the <i>Hebe</i>—‘do you know that I +sometimes think I <i>must</i> have died in the +wreck of the <i>Pandora</i>, and this is quite +another woman who stands beside you +now.’</p> + +<p>‘I am very glad it is <i>not</i> another +woman, Iris,’ he answered, as he stooped +to kiss her.</p> + +<p>‘But the world is all so changed for me.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span> +I feel as if I had passed beyond every +trouble, and landed in a haven of peace. +Even my sorrow at parting with you, +darling,’ said Iris, with her bright eyes +filled with tears, ‘is tempered by knowing +that your dear mother loves me, and that +it is a comfort both to you and her that I +should be her daughter whilst you are +away. But, oh, you will come back to +me, Vernie!’ she added, in a sudden +burst of grief, ‘you <i>will</i> come back to +me!’</p> + +<p>‘I <i>will</i> come back to you,’ he said, +sweetly and solemnly, as he folded her +in his arms. ‘We are each other’s, dearest, +for life or death. Whether it be in +this world or the next must be decided +by a wiser love than ours, but so long as +my soul exists, <i>I will come back to you</i>.’</p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> +<p class="center">COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75728 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75728-h/images/cover.jpg b/75728-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed95d59 --- /dev/null +++ b/75728-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75728-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/75728-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 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