Part 18 (2/2)
The lady was not a little disconcerted on receiving the officers. With cool determination they made known their purpose. There was no escape.
The lady retired. The butler came; and soon, several silver salvers, and other articles of value, were silently deposited in the parlor in the presence of the officers and Israel.
”Mister Butler,” said Israel, ”let me go into the dairy and help to carry the milk-pans.”
But, scowling upon this rusticity, or roguishness--he knew not which--the butler, in high dudgeon at Israel's republican familiarity, as well as black as a thundercloud with the general insult offered to an ill.u.s.trious household by a party of armed thieves, as he viewed them, declined any a.s.sistance. In a quarter of an hour the officers left the house, carrying their booty.
At the porch they were met by a red-cheeked, spiteful-looking la.s.s, who, with her brave lady's compliments, added two child's rattles of silver and coral to their load.
Now, one of the officers was a Frenchman, the other a Spaniard.
The Spaniard dashed his rattle indignantly to the ground. The Frenchman took his very pleasantly, and kissed it, saying to the girl that he would long preserve the coral, as a memento of her rosy cheeks.
When the party arrived on the beach, they found Captain Paul writing with pencil on paper held up against the smooth tableted side of the cliff. Next moment he seemed to be making his signature. With a reproachful glance towards the two officers, he handed the slip to Israel, bidding him hasten immediately with it to the house and place it in Lady Selkirk's own hands.
The note was as follows:
”Madame:
”After so courteous a reception, I am disturbed to make you no better return than you have just experienced from the actions of certain persons under my command.--actions, lady, which my profession of arms obliges me not only to brook, but, in a measure, to countenance. From the bottom of my heart, my dear lady, I deplore this most melancholy necessity of my delicate position. However unhandsome the desire of these men, some complaisance seemed due them from me, for their general good conduct and bravery on former occasions. I had but an instant to consider. I trust, that in unavoidably gratifying them, I have inflicted less injury on your ladys.h.i.+p's property than I have on my own bleeding sensibilities. But my heart will not allow me to say more. Permit me to a.s.sure you, dear lady, that when the plate is sold, I shall, at all hazards, become the purchaser, and will be proud to restore it to you, by such conveyance as you may hereafter see fit to appoint.
”From hence I go, Madame, to engage, to-morrow morning, his Majesty's s.h.i.+p, Drake, of twenty guns, now lying at Carrickfergus. I should meet the enemy with more than wonted resolution, could I flatter myself that, through this unhandsome conduct on the part of my officers, I lie not under the disesteem of the sweet lady of the Isle of St. Mary's. But unconquerable as Mars should I be, could but dare to dream, that in some green retreat of her charming domain, the Countess of Selkirk offers up a charitable prayer for, my dear lady countess, one, who coming to take a captive, himself has been captivated.
”Your ladys.h.i.+p's adoring enemy,
”JOHN PAUL JONES.”
How the lady received this super-ardent note, history does not relate.
But history has not omitted to record, that after the return of the Ranger to France, through the a.s.siduous efforts of Paul in buying up the booty, piece by piece, from the clutches of those among whom it had been divided, and not without a pecuniary private loss to himself, equal to the total value of the plunder, the plate was punctually restored, even to the silver heads of two pepper-boxes; and, not only this, but the Earl, hearing all the particulars, magnanimously wrote Paul a letter, expressing thanks for his politeness. In the opinion of the n.o.ble Earl, Paul was a man of honor. It were rash to differ in opinion with such high-born authority.
Upon returning to the s.h.i.+p, she was instantly pointed over towards the Irish coast. Next morning Carrickfergus was in sight. Paul would have gone straight in; but Israel, reconnoitring with his gla.s.s, informed him that a large s.h.i.+p, probably the Drake, was just coming out.
”What think you, Israel, do they know who we are? Let me have the gla.s.s.”
”They are dropping a boat now, sir,” replied Israel, removing the gla.s.s from his eye, and handing it to Paul.
”So they are--so they are. They don't know us. I'll decoy that boat alongside. Quick--they are coming for us--take the helm now yourself, my lion, and keep the s.h.i.+p's stern steadily presented towards the advancing boat. Don't let them have the least peep at our broadside.”
The boat came on, an officer in its bow all the time eyeing the Ranger through a gla.s.s. Presently the boat was within hail.
”s.h.i.+p ahoy! Who are you?”
”Oh, come alongside,” answered Paul through his trumpet, in a rapid off-hand tone, as though he were a gruff sort of friend, impatient at being suspected for a foe.
In a few moments the officer of the boat stepped into the Ranger's gangway. c.o.c.king his bonnet gallantly, Paul advanced towards him, making a very polite bow, saying: ”Good morning, sir, good morning; delighted to see you. That's a pretty sword you have; pray, let me look at it.”
”I see,” said the officer, glancing at the s.h.i.+p's armament, and turning pale, ”I am your prisoner.”
<script>