The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 12 November 1914, Page 3

The Storyteller

(By John Boyle O’Reilly.)

MOONDYNE

BOOK FOURTH.—THE CONVICT SHIP. . XV. s ' THE NEW PENAL LAW. There being no female passengers in the cabin of the Houguemont, it was decided that Alice Walmsley should remain in her room -with. Sister Cecilia till the end of the voyage. The only change mad© was in her dress, and this, by some strange foresight on the part of the little Sister, as it seemed, was quite extensively and fittingly provided for. Alice selected the quietest possible dress, and when she stood arrayed in it, after so many weary years in prison grey,* she could not help glancing at her face in the glass, and blushing as she looked; and at this very pretty and womanly moment Sister Cecilia came upon her and gave a pleasant little laugh. Upon this, Alice blushed deeper, and turned her confused face away, while Sister Cecilia reached after it, and drawing it to the light kissed her affectionately. * Why, Alice,’ she said, with a provoking smile; ‘ you are quite a beauty.’ Unquestionably, even a few days without the burden of bondage had worked wonders in Alice’s life. She was no longer moody ; she instantly and naturally began to take fresh interest in everything she saw and heard around her. The ship cleared the Tropics and raced, down towards the Cape in the vigorous Southern trades. The blustering winds and the rough sea brought refreshment even to the feeble, and to Alice renewed strength. Her face lost the pallor of confinement, and her step became elastic. The years of her imprisonment had kept dormant the energies that waste with exertion. She began to feel as youthful and as cheerful as when she was a girl. One day she was standing beside her open window, looking out on the , sea, when she plainly heard above her, on the poop deck, a voice that held her rooted to the spot. ‘I cannot foresee the result she heard these words—‘ but I shall go on to the end. I have loved her dearly always; and I shall, at least, prove >it to her before the dream is dispelled.’ Alice held herself to the window, not meaning to listen to the words so much as to obey the strong prompting of her heart to hear the honest ring of the voice. * ' It was Will Sheridan who spoke stood on the poop with Mr. Wyville— Alice knew the voice. After so many years, it came to her like a message from her girlhood, and bridged. over the chasm in her life. - No other words reached her; but the conversation continued for a long time and still she stood beside the window, her cheek laid on her hands, while she allowed the familiar tones to transport her back., to', happy scenes. 4 , ■ : Sister Cecilia found her so, and playfully coaxed her to tell her thoughts but Alice’s diffidence was so evident that the little nun sat down and laughed heartily. ’ - 1 ; The voyage round the Cape had no special interest ; and a few weeks later the officers began their preparations for disembarkation. The air grew balmy once more, and the sky cloudless. . _ * We ; are just three hundred ‘ miles from the mouth of 'the'. Swan River,’ said Sheridan one day to Mr. Wyvill<e, when he had taken his observations. ‘ Have you ever landed at Fremantle?’ -.I ./ A ' <, ‘Yes, oncte—many years < ago,’- said Mr. Wyville, and he crossed the deck • to. observe something in the sea." -I; iL. ; ■

Throughout the .voyage; neither ; Sheridan nor WyReen Alice WahhSley. Each in his own mind t best /to leave- her undisturbed with « Sister | Mft^Wy^ville was still impressed with the con- i Iheri dan’s unhappy kh^hopeleSs-affection for t ut he was much perplexed tby her - forgetful- ■ i|ess of . his; name. However, when they reached Auswalia;, one day ashore would clear up matters without | preliminary explanation. , v $J. r h 'I ’ ~after day, .in .the ( mild, southern air, the ship glided Slowly on; and still the watchers on the crowded deck saw no sign of land. t* From morning ■ light they l|ant on the rail, looking away over the smooth sea s tp where the. air was yellow with heat above the unseen where the was yellow with heat above the unseen ; ntinent. There was a warmth and pleasure in the. omise it gave. ° w * ; " j The straining eyes were saved the long pain of .' Watching the indistinct line. . The shore- of y Western Australia is quite* low, and the first sign of land are t|dl mahogany trees in. the bush. The ship passed this first sight-line early in the night; and r the next nlornipg, when the convicts t Were allowed on deck, they r saw, «nly a, few miles distant, the white sand and dark woods qf their land of bondage and promise. " ; ' t The.sea was as smooth as a lake, and the light air impelled the ship slowly. At noon they passed within a etone’s !f ithrow .of -the Island of Rottenest, and every bye witnessed the strange sight of gangs .of native black, fiaen working like beavers in the sand, the island being y used as a place of punishment for refractory natives. -- - An hour later, the ship had approached within a mile .of the pier at ' Fremantle. : The surrounding sea and land were very strange and beautiful/. The green shoal-wafer; 1 the soft air, with a yellowish warmth, the pure white sand of the beach, -pud the dark green of the unbroken forest beyond, made a scene almost like fairyland. v ,v‘ - But there - was ■ a stern reminder of reality in the little town of Fremantle that lay between the forest and the sea. It was built of wooden houses, running , down a gentle hill and ’in the centre of the houses, spread out; like a ; gigantic star-fishy was a vast stone prison. ' There was a moment of bustle and noise' on the deck, through which rang the clear/ commanding voice of Sheridan, and next moment the anchor plunged into the sea and the cable roared through the hawse-hole. Every 1 soul on board took a long breath of, relief at =, ; the c end lrl bi the voyage; : , » A..tug was seen coming from the wharf, the deck of Which was crowded. At its mast-head floated the : Yefrior’s‘‘flag; On the deck was the governor of the Colony with his staff, and a host of convict officers from, the prison. . ’-“' The tug steamed alongside, and the governor came; on board the convict ship. He wore a blue tunic, with •epaulettes like a naval . officer,.' white ; trousers, and i a cbcked hat. He greeted Mr, Wyviile With official wel-come-on account of his position, and warmly expressed his admiration of his philanthropy. , d^ c^itinderst‘andVybu bring us a new penal system,’ said' the governor. ‘ I hope it is a stronger; one than that we have.’ . .. s , Ibf&lfe certainly is stronger,’ said Mr. Wyville, * for it. is milder -and duster .’ f , y- ' , ‘Well, well,’ said the governor, who was a testy old general, ‘ I hope you won’t spoil them.' They need • a stiff hand. ‘ Now, I suppose you want those warders from the prison to get your crowd into order for landing. Shall I order them on .board ;■ ||- . Mr. - Wyville had, been looking down .on the tug, , observing the officers, who were a rough, crew, each one carrying a heavy: can© or whip, as well as a , pistol- in the belt, arid a sword. He turned with' a • grave face ’ to the governor., h v > > I am sure, will see the wisdomof beginning with our new code at once. We have here I the' .best opportunity, to emphasise its first • principles. Shall ! proceed ?’ , ; ;• *• By* all means; sir ;-s you) have absolute ; control of your ’ department. I shall watch your method with interest.* .

: •» At his order, the warders boarded the ship, formed in line, and saluted. Mr yyille. descended from the. 'poop, and carefully inspected them as they ■ stood in v rank. . ; - -■ - -,. - >; Go -t& the steward,’ he said to. the chief warder, as he came to the end of the line, and get from him a large basket.’ ;.■' f] ■■ : The man was astonished, f but he promptly obeyed. In a minute he returned with a capacious hamper. • : ‘ Begin on the right/ said' Mr. Wyville, in' curt tones, ■' and place in that hamper your pistols, swords, canes, and whips.’ - The warders; scarcely believed their ears; but they obeyed. . - ■ ,/./ , ... .. ‘Now listen!’ i said Mr. ; Wyviile,^ and his voice thrilled the warders with its depth and earnestness. ;, ‘ I am going to read for you the new law of this colony, of which you are the officers'. Its first word is, that if any of you strike or maltreat a prisoner, you shall be arrested, discharged, and imprisoned.) . . . . The warders fairly gasped with astonishment. The old governor, who had listened , attentively at first opened his eyes wide, then nodded his head in decided approval, ; f ' * 3' - ■'*. "* * »*> Mr. Wyviile read the heads of the new law,, emphasizing the mild points. As he proceeded, the faces of the warders lost all expression but one of < blank amazement. v The entire . meaning, of . the law was that .convicts were expected,to rise from bad to good, rather than descend from bad to worse. In other words, it was a law meant for reformation, not for vengeance. In passing along the line, Mr. Wyville’s eye rested on a silver medal worn by one of the warders. He looked at it keenly. . . f . i ’:

* What is that medal for?’ he asked. • v ? ; . • I For the mutiny of two years ago,’ said the chief warder ; this officer killed three mutineers.’ ■ ‘ Take that medal off,’ said Mr. Wyyille to the warder, ‘and never put it on again. We are to have no more mutiny.’ , ’.; - :■ The - warders were then dismissed from the rank, and instructed to go below and get the convicts in order for: disembarkation. As they departed, Mr, Wyville gave them one word more. ' : . - ;. Remember, you are dealing with men, not with brutes—with men who have rights and the protection of law.’ :iV

. , ; When they had disappeared into the hold, the old governor shook Mr. Wyville warmly by the hand. , v ,‘-By the lord Harry, sir, this is excellent,’ he said, heartily. * This d — colony has been a menagerie long enough. , If -you succeed with your system, we’ll make if. a civilised country at last.’

XVI. v : .. /A PRISONER AT LARGE. The disembarkation of the convicts was a novel scene to them, and to the officers directing their movements. The absence of shouting and violence made it . quite unprecedented to the warders. The convicts reached the wharf on badges, ; and marched; in single file up the little street-leading to the great gate of the,. , prison of Fremantle. ■' :<]■_. Inside the gate, in the centre of - an immense yard or'' walled sand-plain, the governor and comptrollergeneral,stood and as the long line of convicts filed .by each saluted in military fashion, and passed on to the prison. . ~ . vri-f ; J - . -v ■ : ;’*• ” ’ ’ - t ~ /, ji,^ ; lt was late in the afternoon • when the last . convict; ' passed. The,-governor was about to leave the ground, when his attention was called to one more Estranger from the ship, who approached. ./ ,It was Draper. Hie walked slowly, as if still feeble illness; but he was carefully dressed, and was really much more vigorous than he pretended. He raised 1 hinf hat to the governor as he approached, ? and : received a curt return* of the by; a cold stare. The governor had - looked into Captain Draper’s case - forenoon..’;./'/ v iin f-*: JsK-;; ', , f

'■ *V-- .vicft.T* ri-i’f, •-• v w**rjft-i'»if..!• 7 -•* «v > «* ••; ;; Sliall I retain the crew, your " Excellency said Draper, with an obsequious smile; ‘or is ship to ’go pufcof commission for the present?' ', !• - .> v ‘I don’t know,- sir/ said the stiff old '‘governor,' not-hiding his dislike and contempt.;; and I don’t care, sir. The ship belongs to the - Convict Department.- He turned on his heel as he spoke. , fV . J ?■* ljl ; ‘ Captain Draper,’ said Mr. Wyville, in an; official tpne, ‘ you are relieved of your command. The ship goes:out of commission.’ w ■ '' N -*■ Draper’s face... was a study of disappointment at the news. ',dvH*y?7 • " f The crew will remain ’ he began. r 7 7 • ‘ The■„crew will be .'.taken to Adelaide‘on my yacht, which will arrive .this week.’ ' > ' ~.vj, * Shall I - have quarters on board?’ asked Draper, with an alarmed look B. 3 77' ■• { ; ‘ No, sir,7 said" Mr. Wyville shortly, ‘you must seek some other means of transport.’ ‘ f ‘ yj = ' ‘ But,’ - said Draper, ' imploringly, ‘there are no ships in the colony nor are any expected. I shall have to remain here.’ ‘ • 17 .• ‘ True/ said the governor, who enjoyed the scene. ‘ There will be no visitors here for twelve months to come, nor any means,of leaving.’ .. : Draper looked from one to the other of the men before-him; but he drew no, gleam of satisfaction from their faces. He began to .feel a sinking of the heart, such as all cowards feel in the presence of danger. He instinctively knew that his cunning 'had - been overreached, and was useless. He knew not where to look for the hand that had played against him but through every- nerve the knowledge.rushed on him that he had been . overmastered ;by a superior intelligencethat ,he was beaten, 1 discovered; and impotent. , This knowledge came suddenly, but it came overwhelmingly. At one glance he saw that he had been led into a trap, and that the door had just closed. He turned to Mr. Wyville, crestfallen. ' * If you refuse to let me go on the steamer, I might as well be a prisoner here.’ ' •‘Precisely,’ said Mr. Wyville. :v; - ‘ Except that you will be a prisoner at large,’'said the governor. - ‘There is a saying in this colony,’ he added'laughingly to Mr. Wyville, ‘ that there' are only two classes here—the people who are in prison, and the people who ought to be. Come, now, the . horses are waiting ; we have a ride of ten miles to Perth before we get dinner.’ ~ „ v , , - The governor, Mr. Wyville, and the gentlemen of the staff moved off, leaving Captain Draper alone in the centre of the prison yard. He regarded .them with baleful... eyes till they went..through the gate and disappeared. Then he followed, emerged from the gate, and was directed by one of the prison guard to an inn or public-houise for ticket-of men, where he took up his'-residence. . . . , .. , . ■ ■i ? . (To be continued.)