| | 1 | Author: | Ingraham
J. H.
(Joseph Holt)
1809-1860 | Add | | | Title: | Bonfield, or, The outlaw of the Bermudas  | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | Still shorter was a short winter's day
rendered by a heavy and gloomy mist
that filled the atmosphere and made it
murky twilight long before the sun went
down. It had just ended, in blasts and
pelting rain, when a Thames boatman,
chilled and wet by exposure, and with
a pair of oars upon his shoulder, entered
the door of his humble abode by the
river side. `I have just learned that you are desirous
of communicating with the fleet
under Admiral Nelson, and are looking
for a fleet sailing vessel. I offer you
mine, and my services at any time after
twelve o'clock to-night. My schooner's
sailing qualities I need not speak of as
they are doubtless well-known to your
lordship, for some of his Majesty's cruisers
have of late tested them. I offer
your lordship my services in good faith,
and will perform my errand with punctuality
and honesty. Though a smuggler
by profession, I am an Englishman at
heart. If your lordship will forget that
I am the former, I will only remember
that I am the latter. I pledge myself to
reach Lord Nelson within eight and forty
hours after I take the despatches on board
if the present wind holds. `Well, you rogue, you are wanted
again. You must be in London with
your schooner within five days without
fail. Come up under revenue colors in
the day time until within ten miles of
London, and then keep on after dark
and anchor off a pier one mile and a
half below the Tower. You will know
the place by two large oaks that grow at
the head of the pier and by a red light
which you will see suspended in the
branches of one of the oaks. You will
answer this light by another in your
rigging. Your motions must be secret
and cautious. When you reach the
place, which you must try to do at least
two hours after dark (there will be a
six days' moon), drop your anchor short
and trail up, not furl. Lay there till
you see a boat put off to you. It will
hail you and ask the news from Nelson.
This boat you will let come on board,
when you will give yourself up to the
services and interests of those who shall
visit you. You will be well paid, and
all you are desired to do in return is to
be faithful and secret.' `Sir,—The bearer of this is Captain
Bonfield. He takes out as passengers, a
young woman and child. The female is
deaf and dumb. You are hereby desired
to receive them into, your house, and
take care of them, maintaing and providing
for them as for members of your
own household. She is to pass for your
sister, and the child as your niece. For
their expenses you will draw two hundred
and fifty pounds a year in addition
to your present allowance, and from the
same source. On no account must the
woman or child be permitted to leave the
island. For their safe detention you will
be answerable. You will be watched.
Be faithful, therefore, to those who have
it in their power to injure you. Ask no
questions. Preserve silence, and be discreet,
and your conduct will meet with
recompense. The bearer after leaving
them safely in your hands, is empowered
by me to receive four thousand pounds;
for which an order is enclosed on —
which you will endorse and present for
payment. The child's name is Virginia,
to which you may add your own family
name; as it will henceforward grow up
and be regarded as one of your own
family. As soon as possible you may
forget that she has ever been otherwise.
The woman who is deaf and dumb you
will treat with kindness and respect, and
provide for all her wants, seeing that she
lacks nothing for her comfort. Upon the
exact and faithful performance of all
these requisitions will depend your own
future interests. `This night I have landed with an
armed party and invested the cottage of
Robert Oakford, where the two passengers
you entrusted to me six years ago
are placed under his protection. I have,
by force of arms, taken the two out of
his possession, and am about to convey
them on board my vessel and sail with
them from the island. Believe me that
your agents, Robert Oakford and sister,
have done all that they were able to prevent
me from taking them away; but as
I was determined at all risks to get them
both into my possession, they have had
no other alternative but submission. Sir,—The bearer of this has informed
me, in an accidental manner, of his
obligations to you, and the circumstances
under which they were entered into. I
need not say I am surprised at hearing
the facts. They are characteristic of
yourself. You will, upon reading this,
give him a receipt in full for all and whatsoever
claim upon him or the father you
may hold; the incarceration and long illness
consequent thereupon having in
equity fully cancelled your debt. `I have but a few hours to live. I
must see you before I die. Let nothing
prevent your hastening to me without a
moment's delay. `I am married. The noble and
amiable Flora is mine. Her relatives in
England have sent for her, and we leave
in the vessel which is anchored near
the gardens. On board this vessel I was
united to Flora at eight o'clock this
morning. I go to England with my dear
wife to gratify her; for you must know
she is no relative of the old gardener, but
is an orphan, who was placed under his
charge in a mysterious way with money
in plenty for him to educate her. This
he has done. Tbe captain of the vessel
says that her relatives have been discovered
in England, and that they have sent
him express for her. He has just told me
that they are certainly noble. But this
assurance does not make me think more
of Flora. I have loved her in her humility.
I could love her no more were she
a princess. No title of nobility could
make her nobler than she is in my eyes.
But as the captain is not sure even of the
name of her relatives, who seem to have
kept him in the same kind of mystery
which from childhood has hung about
Flora, it may be that they are of humble
degree. But should I find that they were
of the peasantry, and dwelt in earthen
hovels, I should think no less of Flora.
To me she would always be Flora. I
shall probably return after an absence of
three months. Present my regards to my
father. Still and ever, whatever you
may be to me, Margaret, I have just arrived in London with
Flora. I wait your orders. `I write to say that you need not
take the trouble to visit Hawthorn Lodge,
for we have resolved to disown our relationship
with one who has shown himself
unworthy to belong to the best society.
As for your wife, I trust that you
will see that she never presumes to speak
to me, should I be so unfortunate as to
meet her in the street. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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