A TALE OF FIFTY TEARS AGO. CHAPTER XII.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 22, 10 December 1874, Page 7

A TALE OF FIFTY TEARS AGO. CHAPTER XII.

JACK BLOSSOM* AND 1 CHARLES WIN"fIATE TAKE A ,*BERTH IN THE

* f friends. "

So Victor Moredant and "bis cousin Olive ljad come tp !kriow; and to love each other unwittingly, and while under the idea that they had done their best to escape from each other, and from the odious marriage which has been designed for them. Truly, taatters had now assumed a strange aspect | Nature, Jeft to itself, is bringing about the very thing which Waited Moredant had wished for, but had taken false means to. accomplish. But how profound is the' ignorance of the young people with regard to their identity. How little do they imagine that the Barnes by wbicb they are known to one another are fictitious. HoW little do they dream what real personages these spurious names "represent. Olive belives Charles Wingate to be exactly what he seems— an underwriter's clerk, —respectable, honourable, and noble in heart and mmd — but poor and friendless "with onley his salary to live on for the present, and his abilities to trust to for the future. Believing this to be his social position she has yet given him the whole love of her heart, and has promised to. be his wife. She did this without scruple and without fear — satisfied only with this, that she truly, fondly loved him, and that he was worthy of her love. It was, in truth, Ms worthiness that had gained her affection. The qualities she found him to possess were such as to command her admiration, to draw Iter toward -him with a sweet jp|y, 'to leali , '(lpqil bis: strength, to trust his goodness, to findthe essence of her life in his society and 'companionship. He Was- all that she wished for, and when jtft 'rength -he avowed in words the affection Which many a previous look and tone had told that he cherished, she blushlngly, but . without disguise, owned that the affection was returned, and 'that she would willingly — joyfully be his. Had she forgotten herself when she did so ? Had she failed to remember that she was not May "Blossom, a sailor's daughter, but Olive Moredant, the only child of a rich Indian merchant ? No, she had not forgotten this. Her name and family were fully present in in her mind, but the recollection did not appear to her to involve scruple or hesitation. She had voluntarily, deliberately, and irrevocably renounced the position which was hers as Olive Moredart, and bad not tbe right, even if she had the wish — Which most certainly she had — to count on any superiority thus derived. In every essential respect she was socially as humble and obscure as ifshe had been Teally Jack Blossom's daughter. Her name, her birth, could henceforth give herno advantage ; but even had these been still hers intact, what Were they 'to weigh against the nobility of heart and soul possessed by Charles* Wingate ? With pride and joy she would have become nis wife all tbe same.

She remembered then who she was, l>ut she forbore to tell her lover the truth for the present, so sweet was the consciousness that it was as a sailor's daughter that he loved her — that no thought of rank or wealth had assisted to the formation and growth of his attachment — that it was on herself alone his regards were centred, She intended by-and-by to declare the truth to him, because she did not forget that, though she had renounced Beechwood, she was still under her father's will en^ titled to fifty pounds a year ; and this annuity she meant to claim in his inte resti as well as in her own. This, however, as we have said, was to be "" by-and-by," on the eve of their marriage, and the time for that event had not yet been mentioned— it "was something they were learning to look toward to, but as yet it lay in the dim undetermined future. ... . Such was the state pf matters from Olive's Side ; how did the case stand on the sideof Victor 1 Had he experienced no scruple in asking.. aTsailor's daughter to be his wife ?. Nto—iftmei nor even the faintest shadow t>f one. With him the idea of : marriage as nAtttraliy followed the existence of; love a*. light followed the rising of the sun. If the fact that May was but a sailor's daughter had any power 'over him, it would have prevented him from fixing his affections upon her. But that was a consideration that never dawned on Victor's mind. Affinity of soul, kindred tastes, thoughts, feelings, sentiments, and aims— these were in his estimation the only proper basis *df mariarge. All these be had found to exist in a wonderful degree between May and himself; and had she been the wealthiest lady in the land he would not have declared his. affection with leSS, diffidence, respect, and sincerity than he had manifested when he asked her whom he supposed to be a sailor's daughter to be his wife.^ ; ... He,, too, had resolved that ere the day came which was to unite them he would confide to her his true'name and the reason why e he had relinquished ;it for another. It was a reV^lajion he . 'could piaVe-to her without . a hlush,. for it would give per additional- confidence —if that were indeed possible — in the Reality of his affection.

What must be the amazement of both when the mutual avowal is made ! How thrilling the discovery "which must then ' take placis even should it come in the way they have separately and silently designed ! But is it not possible that events may transpire which shall retard the discovery or bring it in strange and important circumstances. Verily, it seemeth so ; and our wonder and interest are roused to learn how and when the truth .will Come out. Clearly enough it cannot be for a while. The difficult and dangerous mission Victor, as Charles Wingate, has undertaken in conjunction with vFack Blossom must of necessity interrupt the current of discovery in its flow, and until that mission has had its result, either iv failure or success, they Will Continue to remain known to each other only as Charles Wingate and May Blossom.

This being the case it will save us trouble if we also adhere to these names for the present ; and as we have now to relate the manner in which the two •confederates carried out their plan of sailing in the ship which M'Dougal had ijisured, as well as the adventures which befell them in tlie enterprise, we shall throughout this part of bui* stary speak of Victor Moredant only under the name be -has assumed, and ijall him what those. around. him call hiui — viz, Charles Wingate, just as if we were as ignorant as they that, he had a better right to another name. Charles and Jack agreed that Mrs Blossom and May should not be made acquainted with the nature of the enterprise in which they were to engage. It would only fill them with alarm and anxiety during their absence, and leave, them a prey to continual fears for their safety. They resolved to represent to them that Charles had to go to Hamburg on his master's business, and that Jack had engaged himself as a sailor In the same ship. This made their difficulties at the outset all the greater, for they had to effect their preliminary "measures in secrecy, and as these were ; in themselves peculiarly delicate and ' critical, this necessity for Concealment tended greatly to embarass them in their operations. Before tbey could even announce their departure on such a voyage they required to secure an engagement in the ship, and that they might find to be impossible. The captain might have the full compliment of his crew made tip and refuse to take them, in which case.their whole scheme would fall to the ground. It behoved them, therefore, to see to this as the first thing, and they found it no easy task to take the required steps without raising the curiosity of May and Molly. Many stealthy inquiries had to be made, and a sailor's dress had to be procured for Charles ; then they would have to go together to 'the ship, where she lay at the Broomielaw, and offer their services to the captain. By dint of planning, however, and by the exercisie of a deal of ingenuity, the inquiries were made and the dress obtained, and the night came w r hen they resolved 'to seek a berth in the Friends, which they learned had begun to take in her cargo, and would very soon saiL . It was arranged between them that on the niglit in question Charles should done his disguise in the private room of Gilbert's office, and should, when re^dy sal ly forth to the corner of the street, where Jack would be waiting for him. Then together "they would proceed to the ship and make their application That afternoon at the usual hour Mr Gilbert's office was closed, "and the clerks went off to their several homes. Mr Gilbert also made his exit by the private way, and his confidential clerk with him, just as if they had quitted the premises for the 'day, and 'had no intention of returning till the following morning. A few hours later however, and just as dusk was approaching, Charles came quietly back, and let himself into the deserted pvemises, where he remained for fully balf-an-honr, at the, end- of which time the private door was opened from within very slowly and without noise, when forth came a youth in sailors garb, With a black bushy beard, olive Complexion, tarstained hands, and every mark of a regular " salt," even to the rolling gait and outspread leg's which he assumed as he swung carelessly along, whistling the tune of a popular sea-ditty. Jack Blossom Btood at the Corner tinder the shadow of an archway waiting for him. He had tyeen there for some time, and was getting anxious least some mischance had occured at the very outset, but the moment Charles appeared in his. disguise. Jack's fears gave way to nnpualified admiration and delight. Lor' love him. he'd deceive the admiral himself," he ejaculated, with a triumphant chuckle as he came forth from under the arch, with a broad grin upon his features.

" Well, hiessmate, what cheer ?" exclaimed" the youth, in tones which seemed to owe their formation to the storm roaring among sails and rigging. «* A fair wind and all dear ahead, I hope. No squalls approaching, no breakers oh the lee bow. I say, how do. you like the cut of my jib. Do you find me. all trim; fore and aft ?".

'<?- Beautiful," burst out Jack, in rapture. ! "The moment I clapped eyes on you^ Master C'narles, I said to myselfas how you'd deceive the sharpest admiral in her Majesty's fleet." "Avast/ there, messmate. Wear ship, and mend your jawtackle a bit.

Mind your lingo, I say. Send Master Charles to Davy Jones till the cruise is over, and let; only Charley come reeling off your towline."

" Lor ! only to think of it," said Jack, with a broader grin than ever. ulf we could only get a berth apiece aboard the Friends, you'll get an AB rate in no time." " You think me all ship -shape then — deck, rigging, hull, bows — everything." "Could'nt be better," responded Jack. •• Oh, if May and Molly could see you now, my eye 1 how they would stare ! We'd best get s along though, and see what luck we are tc^pave." •' All right, heave ahead,'* laughed.Charlie, " and 111-k eep alongside. You' are pilot, you know." " And I hopes as how I shall be able to make good steering on this ticklish tack," remarked the other, as they moved away in the direction of th.c Bromielaw. The Bromrelaw was a very different place then from what it is now. The narrow, shallow river was not filled with the huge hulls which now crowd along its -broader banks,' there was no such 'forest of spars, and- masts 1 as at present tower towards the sky, but only a thinly planted: line of, small craft moored to the shabby, ill-lighted landing place— one here,, one there, with gr^at gaps of solitude and darkness between.

At that hour the harbor was nearly deserted. At the side of one or two of the vessels which were discharging or taking in cargo, some noise and bustle was manifested, but on board some of the ships rhe utmost silence prevailed Some had no lights at all, while others had a feeble lamp burning in the binnacle, and the form of a solitary watchman might be seen pacing the deck or lounging against the bulwarks. Along the shore oil lamps hung suspended at far distances, and these seemed but to deepen the gloom of the starless night. Jack knew where the Friends lay, for he had been taking a " squint" at her a few days before, and had not been over well pleased by her appearance. She was a small schooner, of no great tonnage, though as large a ship as could then come up to Glasgow — an old dingy worn-out hulk of a thing, as he could see at a glance, only she had been newly painted and made to look fresh, so that, by a casual and unexperienced observer, she would have been taken fora trim, well-formed craft. She occupied a berth by herself, and as they now approached her utter silence reigned on board, but a light was hung abaft on deck, and a man's form could be seen walking to and fro. " I say, Charley, there*s a tidy little craft," observed Jack, in a tone meant to be heard by the solitary watcher. The eulogium was anything but sin- J cere ; for he had just prefaced it by "the whispered opinion that she was " a shapeless old tub ;" but it did'nt serve their purpose to speak their mind at the moment, and Charley assented to the verdict with a gruff but her rty endorsement. " Ay, ay, messmate, that she is ; and I'll lay a day's £*rog to a quid that she takes the seas like a dn.'-k " '*■ Looks to me," added Jack, ** as if those who built her knowed the. right lines to lay down. Her breadth of beam is about four times her length from stem to stern, and them's the proportions for speed and safety — as all the best judges allow." '" Ain't her masts well placed, too," said Charley, hazarding a random compliment. '" First rale," responded Jack ) " that main is just abaft the keel stroke, and the fore is well "for'ard. Oh, she's a regular beauty, Charley — she is; and those as have berths in her ain't to be pitied." ,f Hilloa, lads !" sung out the voice of the man on board who had come to the side and listened to their observations. " Hilloa !" responded Jack cheerily. < 4 What ship t" demanded the voice. '" None." answered Jack, indifferently. Come into port lately and discharged My mate and I are having a bit of a cruise on shore." " Won't you take a berth with us ? We sail for Trinidad in a few days, and hav'nt got our hands made full up." " What say you, Charley V asked Jack of his companion. " Shall wp shorten our land cruise and go out of port again?" " Bless'd if I care what we do Jack," answered Charley. ** I've got a shot or two in the locker yet." I "Ah ! and my old woman ain't tired of my company neither," remarked Jack. "So mayhap we had best bear along a little longer."

" No, no, take a berth in the Friends —fine ship — good kit — large allowance of grog — liberal captain, and I am the mate. Come, don't don't miss the chance of a snug voyage."

They stood silent and hesitating, which the mate perceiving, he, with some eagerness, asked them to come on board, and" have a look at the vessel. The truth was that two of the crewhad taken ill of the small-pox, and their places had to be supplied * and as there was little time for procuring new hands, the mate was anxious _, to secure the two men who had. turned up so accidentally. Littl6 dreaming, that they were more eager to* be engaged' than he was to secure them, he earnestly urged

them to come up the side and have a further talk on the suhject. With an admirable assumption of an indifference that seemed on the whole to be. governed by an inclination to stay a little longer on shore, the two confederates responded to the invitation and presently stood by the mate's side on the deck of the Friends. The appearance of both men pleasea him highly, and made him more anxious to get them to sign the articles for the voyage. So he had them down to the captain's cabin, and proffered them a brimming glass of brandy. Jack tossed his off with great gusto, and Charles ■ professed to do the same, but he swallowed only a mouthful of the fiery liquid, and managed, unseen by the mate, though perceived by Jack, to throw the greater part out at the porthole. Jack nudged him adinonishingly, thrusting his tongue into his cheek, and favoring him at the same time with a wink from his left eye > all which hints the youth resolutely disregarded, for to have imbibed the whole of that brandy would have been to pass into a state of intoxication, and this he certainly had no mind to do. So, with a jerk, he tossed the contents of -his glass through, the open port when the. mate was returning the bottle to the locker, and hy the latter the act was not observed.

They were now taken over the vessel and shown all its good points, each being descanted on in order to induce them to ship for the voyage. Jack, who had been used to large, first-class vessels, had a poor opinion of everything, yet lavished praise indiscriminately, and Charles added a word or two now and then of like approval, though in his secret soul he was filled with disgust almost amounting to dismay at sight of the dingy, low-roofed cribs, the holes in which the sailors slept, the roughness of the accommodation, and the discomfort he would be Called on to to endure. Had the motive which prompted the adventure not been of the very strongest character he would have shrunk from prosecuting it further * but when he thought of that he concealed his repugnance, and, taking his cue from Jack, affected to be pleased with everything. " What's the cargo ?" asked Jack, with quite an innccent look.

" Calicoes," replied the officer • " and that you know is a safe thing to carry. No danger of shifting in a rough sea ; and no deck lumber to hamper us in the handling of the ship"

"In course not, and that of itself is something comfortable.

Jack would have liked to have got a peep into the hold to see the method of stowage, but as the mate showed no intention of conducting them to that portion of the vessel, there was no way of gratifying his curiosity in this particular, so, having inspected all the places between decks, they came aloft where Charley was glad to breathe again the fresh air.

"Look here, mate," exclaimed Jack at length, "it strikes me as 'how we might do worse nor take a berth in this clever little craft. She took the eye of both of us when we seed her ; and South Ameriky ain't in bad latitudes, leastways, not the north part where Trinidad lies."

" All right, Jack; I'll do as you do. If you sign the articles so will I, for we all'as mates together." '" tfo we do, Charley ; and that/ he added, turning to the mate, "* is one of the chief things to be agreed on If we ship in the Friends, we share the same berth and the same watch. You see, I'm Jack Blossom, as has sailed the seas for many a year, but my mate here, Charley Wingate, he ain't so old a hand, and I've taken him in tow, d'ye see. So, sir, I hopes as how this is clear atween us "

"Oh, its all one so as the work is kept forward."

" Then, sir, Charley and I will ship with you."

" Of course you will, for, a,s you say, you could'nt do better, cried the mate, with huge satisfaction. " And we'll have the business settled at once. The Captain is along* at the' Jolly Tars, in the Candleriggs. I'll take you there, and you'll sign the articles. The pay is four pounds a month, and all found. I Wish that rascal Jeff would come and relieve me. He was to have been here more than an hour ago, and I can't leave the ship till he takes the watch. But he can't be long now: Come down and have another glass of grog." This proposal was declined by Jack, greatly to the other's relief, and ere' it could be* repeated the mate's attention was arrested by an approaching footstep. "" Ah, here comes the rascal, Jeff," \he exclaimed, and in a minute more the new-comer came nimbly up the side, and he and the mate went aft towards the light, the latter rating him soundly for being so. late. They stood together by the binnacle, and seemed there to hold an earnest conversation regarding some papers which Jeff delivered to the mate. Jack drew Charles in front of the foremast, and-then,. fdrlhe. firsttime,; they .were free to exchange ideas- regarding, their .position. . " Well, Charley, we've got the berth easy enough. Isn't it lucky for us that them two men ~ were down with the . small-pox?'' "' '.' : ,' '".•■".' V ".'.""* ' " Yes ; but what do you'thiWbf 'the ship, Jack ? Do you consider her Al 1'•

"Al •!" returned Jack, contemptuously. "If your governor and the other underwriters have gone in for a heavy insurance on her, they've been took in ; that's all."

" Ah, you think so ?" " I'm dead sure on't." "And. the mate* don't you think he's a sinister-looking fellow?" " He's of a piece with that precious messmate of ours who has just come on board, and an uglier ; , physiognomy I never seed in a. forecastle."

,"I didn't notice' him." returned Charles ; " I merely heard the mate call him Jeff."

, " Well, take a look on him now, as the light shows off his nasty figurehead, and you'll see as likely a tassle for the yard arm as ever skulked behind the bulwarks of a pirate ship." Thils inVited to scrutinise the sailor with whom the mate held such earnest conference, Charles had no sooner obtained a View of his features than he gave a violent start, and uttered a suppressed exclamation. "By heaven, -Jack," he whispered, that is the scoundrel who assailed May at Nelson's monument."

" What!" returned Jack, starting as violently as the other had , done • " aren't you joking, Charley ?" "Certainly not. It is the very fellow, r was" close to him at the time, and took note of his appearance * and you can judge, Jack, if a hang-dog countenance like his Can ever be forgotten. . I hope he hasn't such a vivid recollection of me."

"By the Lord Harry but I'll give him a trimming with a rope's end when I get the chance," hissed Jick, with fierceemphasis, at the same time shaking his clenched fist with "threatening gesture in the direction of the binnacle, where the two still stood in close confab. " Rut only to think of a thief and robber being one of the crew," said Charles. " Why, aint they all thieves and robbers together ?" remarked Jack, with a grim smile. "We only suspect so," returned Charles, smiling too, but with less asperity. "There's not a bit o'doubt in it," responded Jack. «' This here Bhip is meant to go to the bottom. I can read all the signs of it, and we'll need to keep a sharp look out so soon as we get fairly to sea, for atween the land rats and water rats we've got into a pretty nest of them "

" Hush ! Here they come aft," whispered Charley, and impressively he laid his hand on Jack's arm, whereupon the two began sauntering round the bulwarks as if taking further survey of the vessel to which they were about to sign the voyage articles The mate and Jeff came towards them, and Charles grew seriously uneasy when he noticed that the sailor carried in his hand the light which had been burning in the binnacle. Should he be recognised by Jeff as the youth who had baulked him in his attempt on May's diamond ring*, the consequences might be disastrous. He therefore awaited with no little anxiety the result of "the scrutiny which Jeff no doubt intended to bestow Upon them. His fears Were groundless. Jeff gruffly greeted them as new messmates, but cast no suspicious look upon either. He had brought the light to obtain something from the 'forecastle. Its friendly gleam was serviceable in enabling' Charles's unpractised steps to descend the side in the wake of the mate

and Jack, and the three took their way to the Candlerijyg-s to see Captain Duncan at the Jolly Tars,, and sign the papers -which would make them two of the Friends* crew foi* h6r Vayage to Trinidad. (To be continued.')