Part 35 (2/2)

The captain also told the wondering sailor that he would be the acknowledged heir to their country, which had for many years been rent with civil war between divers pretendants thereto, among whom there was no one sufficiently powerful to secure the throne, since the magic sword--on which their country's safety in some way depended--had been lost, and reserved by a protecting power for him.

”Now nothing more is wanting,” said he, ”to enable thee to reclaim thy mother's dominions, and its people will gladly receive thee to give peace to the distracted country.”

The young sailor was much surprised by what the captain related, and still more so when he said that about the time Arluth was following the white doe Pengersec came on board his s.h.i.+p and proposed to hire him and his crew to kidnap and carry away his son and his servant, merely to gratify a step-dame's spite. The captain said his only reply to the befooled and unnatural father's proposal was to tell him he should never leave his vessel alive if he spoke to one of his crew, and to order him over the s.h.i.+p's side immediately.

Being stupified with grief, he didn't think, however, of another vessel--then anch.o.r.ed at no great distance--that came from a city where the people mostly lived by piracy; the crew of this s.h.i.+p--which sailed under any colour that suited their ends--made it their business, among other things, to land in lonely places, maraud the country, carry off young people, and sell them in Barbary for slaves.

”Had I but thought of it in time,” said the captain, ”we would have taken off Pengersec and given him a taste of the sea, for I knew much more of him than he suspected.” Having seen Pengersec go on board and leave the pirate s.h.i.+p, the captain and Arluth, knowing the gang would even murder their own brothers for a trifle of gold, determined to watch their proceedings, and rescue the young men if need be.

It was bargained between Pengersec and the pirates that, for a small sum, they would kidnap his son and Uter, either when they went out a-fis.h.i.+ng--as was their practice almost nightly--or land and steal them from the castle.

Meanwhile, Arluth had arms placed in a boat; and when twilight darkened into night he saw a boat leave the pirate s.h.i.+p. ”Now, may the G.o.ds help me!” he exclaimed, springing up and brandis.h.i.+ng his sword, ”my first use of this shall be to save my brother.” Arluth with several of his crew gave chase.

Marec and Uter, being on their way to the good captain's s.h.i.+p, were encountered by the pirates, overpowered, and put in irons, when their companion of the morning sprang into the pirate's boat and cut in pieces every one of the gang.

Having released and embraced the captives, Arluth bore away to the pirate s.h.i.+p, boarded her, hanged the rest of her crew, and took the craft as a lawful prize; and a rich prize they found her.

Arluth, having returned to the good captain's s.h.i.+p and informed Marec and Uter how the old lord intended to serve them, said, ”Come with me and never more put foot in the place whilst thy crafty stepmother's head is above ground.” Marec replied to the effect that he didn't like to go away until he had furnished himself and Uter with money and needful changes of clothing. ”Don't touch a thing in the accursed place,”

returned Arluth, ”for you have a brother belonging to the land whither we are bound, who will share his last stiver with thee, and shed his heart's blood in thy defence. Nay, brother, be not surprised,” continued he, in drawing Marec to him, ”this brother of thine will ere long be king of the country.”

”Would to heaven thou wert my brother, thou heart-of-oak, and I would joyfully go with thee to any land,” replied Marec.

The captain gave the young men of Pengersec a cordial welcome, set before them the richest wines in his s.h.i.+p, and--smiling with satisfaction to see the brothers' attachment, and Marec's puzzled look--he related to him the history of his father's exploits, which had been told to Arluth, for the first time, only a few hours before.

Marec had been altogether ignorant of much that the old commander related of his father's youthful adventures; he rejoiced, however, to find a brother in Arluth, and to go with him, he cared not whither. Uter had such a strong regard for his master that he would gladly accompany him to the world's-end.

Arluth, having taken command of the captured pirate s.h.i.+p, with his brother for mate--Uter, and a few hands spared from the other vessel, as his crew--they at once made sail.

Whilst the two s.h.i.+ps go sailing on, with clear skies and favouring gales, we will return, for a brief s.p.a.ce, to Pengersec. About the time they got under way, the priest was told that the old lord had during the day been on board two eastern vessels; the good man, fearing this visit portended mischief, watched all night for Marec. When morning dawned, there being no appearance of the young men nor their boat--and the s.h.i.+ps having left the bay--he sought Pengersec; found him and his wife, early as it was, in the hall. The priest and steward accused the lady of having conspired with her woman and others to destroy her step-son and husband. Venna, being summoned, turned against her mistress; the old lord, seeing how he had been fooled, ordered both women to be cast into the dungeon, mounted his horse and rode in all haste to Market-jew to see if any craft might be procured to sail after the departed s.h.i.+ps and recover his son. Finding nothing there to the purpose, he returned at night-fall--distracted with remorse and rage--fully determined to hang his wife and her woman from the highest tower of his castle.

On nearing the thicket, from which the doe started on the preceding day, out sprang the white hare with flaming eyes, right in face of his horse; the terrified steed turned, galloped down to the sh.o.r.e, and, to escape the pursuing hare, took to sea. Neither the horse nor its rider were evermore seen.

The lady was released by her father's people; she became covered with scales, like a serpent--from the effects of the poison she had taken it was supposed--and she was shut up, as a loathsome object, in a dark room of G.o.dolphin.

Venna escaped to her aunt the witch of Fraddam. The old lord having confessed, in his anguish, how he had disposed of his son and Uter, the people of Pengersec supposed they were taken to Barbary and sold as slaves; hoping, however, to discover them, the old servants took good care of everything, in order to save money and effect his ransom.

The two s.h.i.+ps kept as near as might be on their voyage; and it was noticed that a beautiful white bird followed them from Mount's Bay; it often came within bow-shot but no one dared to aim a shaft at it, for the eastern mariners believed it to be the spirit of a departed friend who guarded them from harm.

Marec frequently pa.s.sed to the old captain's vessel, when they were becalmed, for he liked much to hear him tell of eastern magicians and the wonderful things they did.

Having arrived at their destined port, they found their country in great disorder from the war waged by many pretenders to the throne, as before stated by the old commander. He had no sooner, however, presented to the people the young man, whom they had long known as his son, and related to them the history of his birth, and of the recovered magic sword, than they all flocked to Arluth's standard and proclaimed him their king.

Arluth but little valued his new dominions at first, and would have preferred the command of a good s.h.i.+p. Yet, to please his people, he consented to rule them, and soon became fully occupied with the cares of his government, which he regulated like the prudent captain of a well-ordered s.h.i.+p; he would have no idle hands nor waste of stores in his dominions.

King Arluth wished his brother to live with him as chief mate and adviser, and offered to dwell in any place he might choose, so it was near their princ.i.p.al port, that he might superintend the traffic.

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