Part 30 (2/2)

”Not so,” cried Lucilla, ”it is a merchant vessel, and they are making straight for the mouth of our stream.”

”I will stay here with you,” said d.i.c.kory, ”and stand by you, unless I may help your family seek the cave you speak of.”

”No, no,” said Mander, ”they don't need you, and if you will do so we will go down to the beach and meet these men; that will be better than to have them search for us. They will know that people live here, for my canoe is drawn up on the beach.”

”Is this safe?” cried d.i.c.kory; ”would it not be better for you to go with your family and hide with them? I will meet the men in the boat.”

”No, no,” said Mander; ”if their vessel is no pirate, I do not fear them. But I will not have them here.”

Now, after Mander had embraced his family, they hurried away in tears, the girl Lucilla casting not one glance at d.i.c.kory. Impressed by the impulse that it was the proper thing to do, d.i.c.kory put on his coat and waistcoat and clapped upon his head his high c.o.c.ked hat. Then he rapidly followed Mander to the beach, which they reached before the boat touched the sand.

When the man in the stern of the boat, which was now almost within hailing distance, saw the two figures run down upon the beach, he spoke to the oarsmen and they all stopped and looked around. The stop was occasioned by the sight of d.i.c.kory in his uniform; and this, under the circ.u.mstances, was enough to stop any boat's crew. Then they fell to again and pulled ash.o.r.e. When the boat was beached one of its occupants, a roughly dressed man, sprang ash.o.r.e and walked cautiously towards Mander; then he gave a great shout.

”Heigho, heigho!” he cried, ”and Mander, this is you!”

Then there was great hand-shaking and many words.

”Excuse me, sir,” said the man, raising his hat to d.i.c.kory, ”it is now more than two years since I have seen my friend here, when he was marooned by pirates. We were all on the same merchantman, but the pirate took me along, being short of hands. I got away at last, sir” (all the time addressing d.i.c.kory instead of Mander, this being respect to his rank), ”and s.h.i.+pping on board that brig, sir, I begged it of the captain that he would drop anchor here and take in water, although I cannot say it was needed, and give me a chance to land and see if my old friend be yet alive. I knew the spot, having well noted it when Mander and his family were marooned.”

”And this is Lucilla's s.h.i.+p,” said d.i.c.kory to himself. But to the sailor he said: ”This is a great day for your friend and his family. But you must not lift your hat to me, for I am no officer.”

For a long time, at least it seemed so to d.i.c.kory, who wanted to run to the cave and tell the good news, they all stood together on the sands and talked and shook hands and laughed and were truly thankful, the men who had come in the boat as much so as those who were found on the island. It was agreed, and there was no discussion on this point, that the Mander family should be carried away in the brig, which was an English vessel bound for Jamaica, but the happy Mander would not ask any of the boat's crew to visit him at his home. Instead, he besought them to return to their vessel and bring back some clothes for women, if any such should be included in her cargo.

”My family,” said he, ”are not in fit condition to venture themselves among well-clad people. They are, indeed, more like savages than am I myself.”

”I doubt,” said Mander's friend, ”if the s.h.i.+p carries goods of that description, but perhaps the captain might let you have a bale of cotton cloth, although I suppose--” and here he looked a little embarra.s.sed.

”Oh, we can buy it,” cried d.i.c.kory, taking some pieces of gold from his pocket, being coin with which Blackbeard had furnished him, swearing that his first lieutenant could not feel like a true officer without money in his pocket; ”take this and fetch the cloth if nothing better can be had.”

”Thank you,” cried Mander; ”my wife and daughters can soon fas.h.i.+on it into shape.”

”And,” added d.i.c.kory, reflecting a little and remembering the general hues of Lucilla's face, ”if there be choice in colours, let the cloth be pink.”

When Mander and d.i.c.kory reached the house they did not stop, but hurried on towards the cave, both of them together, for each thought only of the great joy they were taking with them.

”Come out! Come out!” shouted Mander, as he ran, and before they reached the cave its shuddering inmates had hurried into the light. When the cries and the tears and the embraces were over, Lucilla first looked at d.i.c.kory. She started, her face flushed, and she was about to draw back; then she stopped, and advancing held out her hand.

”It cannot be helped,” she said; ”anyway, you have seen me before, and I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm a sailor boy, and have to own up to it. I did hope you would think of me as a young lady, but we are all so happy now that that doesn't matter. Oh, father!” she cried, ”it can't be; we are not fit to be saved; we must perish here in our wretched rags.”

”Not so,” cried d.i.c.kory, with a bow; ”I've already bought you a gown, and I hope it is pink.”

As they all hurried away, the tale of the hoped-for clothes was told; and although Mrs. Mander wondered how gowns were to be made while a merchantman waited, she said nothing of her doubts, and they all ran gleefully. Lucilla and d.i.c.kory being the fleetest led the others, and d.i.c.kory said: ”Now that I have seen you thus, I shall be almost sorry if that s.h.i.+p can furnish you with common clothes, what you wear becomes you so.”

”Oho!” cried Lucilla, ”that's fine flattery, sir; but I am glad you said it, for that speech has made me feel more like a woman than I have felt since I first put on this sailor's toggery.”

In the afternoon the boat returned, Mander and d.i.c.kory watching on the beach. When it grounded, Davids, Mander's friend, jumped on sh.o.r.e, bearing in his arms a pile of great coa.r.s.e sacks. These he threw upon the sand and, handing to d.i.c.kory the gold pieces he had given him, said: ”The captain sends word that he has no time to look over any goods to give or to sell, but he sends these sacks, out of which the women can fas.h.i.+on themselves gowns, and so come aboard. Then the s.h.i.+p shall be searched for stuffs which will suit their purposes and which they can make at their leisure.”

It was towards the close of the afternoon that all of the Mander family and d.i.c.kory came down to the boat which was waiting for them.

<script>