Part 37 (2/2)

The writing was tremulous, and the paper bore the marks of having been soiled with seaweed. It was unsigned. The writer had evidently been obliged to close it hastily.

After reading this in silence the captain refolded the letter.

”No wonder, Minnie, that Sw.a.n.kie did not dare to offer such things for sale. He would certainly have been found out. Wasn't it lucky that we heard him tell Spink the spot under his floor where he had hidden them?”

At that moment there came a low knock to the door. Minnie opened it, and admitted Davy Spink, who stood in the middle of the room twitching his cap nervously, and glancing uneasily from one to another of the party.

”Hallo, Spink!” cried the captain, pus.h.i.+ng his spectacles up on his forehead, and gazing at the fisherman in surprise, ”you don't seem to be quite easy in your mind. Hope your fortunes have not sprung a leak!”

”Weel, Captain Ogilvy, they just have; gone to the bottom, I might a'most say. I've come to tell ye--that--the fact is, that the press-gang have catched us at last, and ta'en awa' my mate, Jock Sw.a.n.kie, better kenn'd as Big Sw.a.n.kie.”

”Hem--well, my lad, in so far as that does damage to you, I'm sorry for it; but as regards society at large, I rather think that Sw.a.n.kie havin'

tripped his anchor is a decided advantage. If you lose by this in one way, you gain much in another; for your mate's companions.h.i.+p did ye no good. Birds of a feather should flock together. You're better apart, for I believe you to be an honest man, Spink.”

Davy looked at the captain in unfeigned astonishment.

”Weel, ye're the first man that iver said that, an' I thank 'ee, sir, but you're wrang, though I wush ye was right. But that's no' what I cam' to tell ye.”

Here the fisherman's indecision of manner returned.

”Come, make a clean breast of it, lad. There are none here but friends.”

”Weel, sir, Ruby Brand--”

He paused, and Minnie turned deadly pale, for she jumped at once to the right conclusion. The widow, on the other hand, listened for more with deep anxiety, but did not guess the truth.

”The fact is, Ruby's catched too, an' he's awa' to the wars, and he sent me to--ech, sirs! the auld wuman's fent.i.t.”

Poor Widow Brand had indeed fallen back in her chair in a state bordering on insensibility. Minnie was able to restrain her feelings so as to attend to her. She and the captain raised her gently, and led her into her own room, from whence the captain returned, and shut the door behind him.

”Now, Spink,” said he, ”tell me all about it, an' be partic'lar.”

Davy at once complied, and related all that the reader already knows, in a deep, serious tone of voice, for he felt that in the captain he had a sympathetic listener.

When he had concluded, Captain Ogilvy heaved a sigh so deep that it might have been almost considered a groan, then he sat down on his armchair, and, pointing to the chair from which the widow had recently risen, said, ”Sit down, lad.”

As he advanced to comply, Spink's eyes for the first time fell on the case of jewels. He started, paused, and looked with a troubled air at the captain.

”Ha!” exclaimed the latter with a grin; ”you seem to know these things; old acquaintances, eh?”

”It wasna' me that stole them,” said Spink hastily.

”I did not say that anyone stole them.”

”Weel, I mean that--that--”

He stopped abruptly, for he felt that in whatever way he might attempt to clear himself, he would unavoidably criminate, by implication, his absent mate.

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