Part 33 (1/2)

”Yes, boy. I am,” answered the pirate, and a gleam of kindliness crossed his face for a moment, but it was quickly chased away by a look of deep anxiety, and Corrie retired.

Now that the danger of the night was over, all the people on board became anxious to save Henry or ascertain his fate; but although they searched the ocean far and wide, they saw not a vestige of him or of the _Wasp_. During this period Gascoyne acted like a bewildered man. He never quitted the helm, night nor day. He only ate a biscuit now and then when it was brought to him, and he did not answer when he was spoken to.

Every one felt sympathy with the man who seemed to mourn so deeply for the lost youth.

At last Montague went up to him and said in a gentle voice--

”I fear that Henry is gone.”

Gascoyne started as if a sword had pierced him. For one moment he looked fiercely in the young captain's face; then an expression of the deepest sadness overspread his countenance as he said--

”Do you think there is no hope?”

”None,” said Montague. ”I grieve to give pain to one who seems to have been an intimate friend of the lad.”

”He was the son of my oldest and best friend. What would you advise, Mr Montague?”

”I think--that is to say, don't _you_ think--that it would be as well to put about now?”

Gascoyne's head dropped on his chest, and for some moments he stood speechless, while his strong hands played nervously with the tiller that they had held so long and so firmly. At last he looked up and said, in a low voice--”I resign the schooner into your hands, Mr Montague.”

Then he went slowly below, and shut himself up in his cabin.

Montague at once put down the helm, and, pointing the schooner's prow northward, steered for the harbour of Sandy Cove.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

SURLY d.i.c.k--THE RESCUE.

We must turn aside here for a short time to follow the fortunes of the _Talisman_.

When that vessel went in chase of the _Foam_, after her daring pa.s.sage across the reefs, she managed to keep her in view until the island was out of sight astern. Then the increasing darkness caused by the squall hid the two vessels from each other, and before the storm pa.s.sed away the superior sailing qualities of the _Foam_ carried her far beyond the reach of the cruiser.

But Mr Mulroy was not a man to be easily baffled. He resolved to continue the chase, and, supposing that his commander must have got safely to the sh.o.r.e, he made up his mind to proceed southward for a short time, thinking it probable that the pirate would run for the shelter of those remote islands which he knew were seldom visited by merchant s.h.i.+ps. The importance of keeping the chase in view as long as possible, and following it up without delay, he felt it would be accepted as a sufficient excuse by Montague for not putting back to take him on board.

The squalls which happened to prevail at that time drove the _Talisman_ farther south than her first lieutenant had intended to go, and she failed to fall in with the pirate schooner. Mulroy cruised far and wide for fully a week; then he gave up the chase as hopeless. Two days after the breaking of the storm that wrecked the _Wasp_, the _Talisman's_ prow was turned northward towards Sandy Cove.

It was the close of a calm beautiful evening when this was done. A gentle breeze fanned the topsails, although it failed to ruffle the sea.

”I don't like to be baffled in this way,” said Mulroy to the second lieutenant, as they paced the quarterdeck together.

”It is very unfortunate,” returned the other. ”Would it not be as well to examine the man called Surly d.i.c.k before leaving these waters? You know he let out that there is some island hereabouts at which the pirates are wont to rendezvous. Perhaps by threats, if not by persuasion, he may be induced to tell us where it lies.”

”True. I had forgotten that fellow altogether. Let him be sent for.”

In a few minutes Surly d.i.c.k stepped on the quarter-deck and touched his cap. He did not appear to have grown less surly since his introduction on board the frigate. Discipline had evidently a souring effect on his temper.

”Your late comrades have escaped me,” said the first lieutenant, ”but you may depend upon it I will catch the villains in the long run.”

”It'll be a pretty long run before you do,” remarked the man, sulkily.